Sponsoring Spouse while outside Canada

[FastSnorky]

Hello all,

I'm a Canadian citizen married to a South African and we are planning to move to Canada. I had intended to apply for my wifes residence visa before leaving SA. I believed it would be quicker and it means she would be eligable to work and have access to healthcare upon our arrival.

I've just checked the processing times and according to the website this type of application can now take up to 18 months. I seem to recall it being 9 months the last time I checked. Does anyone know if it is possible for her to enter Canada on a tourist visa with the intention of applying for residency while in Canada and then obtain a work permit while her application is in progress? And if possible how long would she potentially wait for the work permit?

Many thanks for any advice.

[Leon]

What they changed on the website when listing the processing times that instead of posting 30%, 50% and 80% for each office, they now only post the 80%  The average might still be 9 months for all you know but of course you also don't know if you will be in the lower or upper half of the average.

She can enter as a visitor and then apply for sponsorship but she is not supposed to officially move to Canada on visitor status.

Inland now as you see here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp takes 9-10 months for first stage approval and work permit and another 9 average for PR.  You must send the work permit application along with the sponsorship package.  Use a change of status form and write that she wants an open work permit to be granted upon first stage approval.  She should not leave Canada while inland is in process because if for any reason she is denied entry again, you will lose the application and all the waiting time you have put in will be for nothing.

[PMM]

Hi

What they changed on the website when listing the processing times that instead of posting 30%, 50% and 80% for each office, they now only post the 80%  The average might still be 9 months for all you know but of course you also don't know if you will be in the lower or upper half of the average.

She can enter as a visitor and then apply for sponsorship but she is not supposed to officially move to Canada on visitor status.

Inland now as you see here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp takes 9-10 months for first stage approval and work permit and another 9 average for PR.  You must send the work permit application along with the sponsorship package.  Use a change of status form and write that she wants an open work permit to be granted upon first stage approval.  She should not leave Canada while inland is in process because if for any reason she is denied entry again, you will lose the application and all the waiting time you have put in will be for nothing.

The difficulty maybe getting a TRV (visitor visa) for her, married to CC, intention to remain permanently.

[Leon]

Yes, it will probably be difficult and may force them to apply outland anyway because they are left with no other option.

[FastSnorky]

Thanks for the info.

Is it possible to start the application in South Africa and then I can move on to Canada by myself and meet her once her application is complete.

At what point do I as the sponsor no longer need to remain in South Africa?

Thanks

[Leon]

If you start the sponsorship from S-Africa, you need to show plans to move to Canada when the wife gets PR but there is no requirement for you to stay in S-Africa at any time.  If you are already in Canada when you start sponsorship, you do not have to show plans to move.

[FastSnorky]

If the application is processed in Pretoria and I return to Canada, would I potentially need to attend an interview in Pretoria?

[Leon]

No but your spouse might.

[FastSnorky]

Thanks for the help. This helps a lot with my plans for 2011.