A few questions if you would kindly oblidge me. :)

[lemony_20]

Well, Hi there. I have been reading this forum for quite a while now and I am very interested to share my story and hopefully a few of you could answer some of my questions.
My husband and I were married in the States in July and came here to be together. He is the Canadian citizen and I am American. We applied inland and our application arrived in Vegreville this afternoon. From what I understand from the application processing times, they are still backlogged and looking at stuff from January of this year with a wait time for 8-9 months of processing afterwards. Should I expect to wait quite awhile to hear anything about my application? How long should I wait before I call the center and ask for my client ID #? My status as a visitor here is soon to expire, should I apply to extend my stay as a visitor or temporary worker? I heard it's best to wait until you pass approval during your application process and just apply for a work permit. Would anyone like to share their experience with what I should be expecting now?

Thank you so much for your hospitality and guidance in this matter, it is very much appreciated.

Sam

 

[potcakes]

First question, why are you applying inland???? Its so much quicker outland, and because you are not from a visa exempt country you can come and stay for upto 6 months at a time. I assuming you have applied for your work permit at the same time, that is the one bonus about applying inland you put your work permit in at the same time as your application.
Dont phone them, they wont give you any answers until the ecas page says that they are dealing with applications from October 2010, the times can and do fluctuate. Is just a waiting game i am afraid, and if you came in as a visitor then you will extend your visa as a visitor.

 

[kelKel]

If you applied outland through Buffalo you most likely would have your full PR in 8 or 9 months and could have stayed in Canada as a visitor the whole time. Regardless if you didnt send a Open Work Permit or visitor with your application you will have to extend your stay as a visitor. Just include a copy of receipt paid and you should be good as well as proof of financial support

 

[lemony_20]

Potcakes, I didn't realize that it was much easier to apply outland and stay in Canada than to apply from within. I did not send in my work permit with my application as the guideline said I would be contacted when it was appropriate to apply for one .
Kelkel, Thanks I will be sure to do that. This has been helpful.

 

[angelbrat]

I am from the UK and applied Inland. I can only share my story.

We applied in September 2009, I believe that CIC actually got our application on 1st October 2009. Like you, I assumed at the time that I could only apply Inland as I was in Canada at the time. Also, like you, I had no idea about submitting the OWP application at the same time as my PR application. Sometimes, ignorance is a hinder not a bliss.

We heard nothing from CIC Vegreville for months, no update, no letter...nothing. I tried to log in at least once a week, to be told that our details did not exist at that point and therefore my application was not in process. Finally, on 27th April 2010, I was able to log in. The status showed "decision made".

That very same day, two brown envelopes arrived bearing the Immigration post mark. My partner stared at them for an hour, unwilling to open them. We finally opened them, the first one (addressed to my partner) stated that his sponsorship of me had been approved. The second one (addressed to me) stated that my PR application, had reached first stage approval and had been approved for PR. They also offered me the chance to apply for an open work permit (approx 1 month to complete)

I immediately sent off my online work permit application, as others on this forum had warned that the delay from AIP to PR could be years. On the 29th April, I received another letter stating that my Inland landing appointment was booked for 20th May 2010.

I landed on 20th May, still not having received my OWP at this point.

On 2nd June ( I think?) I received another letter from CIC, it was enclosing a cheque for $150, as they were processing my work visa application and realized I was now a PR, so did not need it. There had been no prompting from me for a refund.

So, Inland under common law spouse, I was granted and a landed PR in just under 8 months.

I hope my story gives you hope.

 

[potcakes]

Its the whole 'hearing nothing' bit that frustrated me. We didn't hear anything until September this year. ironically i was in the UK at the time so my husband scanned and sent me the paperwork. Typical eh I had to leave as my dad was having treatment for cancer. Anyhow is back to the waiting game for the interview. It wont be too bad though I have just landed a job so at least the time will go quickly. Mind you I did reduce my golf handicap considerably over the summer thanks to not being able to work

 

[eyeoftheocean]

I too aplied inland not realisng about the OWP , was only after AIP I sent off for it as advised by my IO , maybe we are missing some important informaion on the guide manual as I never came accross it although I have to admit, before I sent off my application for PR in dec 08 I went to see a Immigration Consultanat just to see what forms I needed and she wrote everything down for me on poster size paper , like it should be hanging on my living room wall ..yeh im sure lol , anyway , after all the confusion and stress of filling in my application and sending it off, weeks later I thought , OK let me see this poster size information to see if I missed anything, and to my horror , I should have sent of my OWP with PR application ..... OK I SHOULD HAVE PUT THE POSTER ON THE WALL !!

I am from England and havnt been back in 2 years , Christmas is coming which is the hardest time for me as I miss seeing my family , my children are in their late teens and its so heart breaking not seeing them this time of year , I didnt have the guts to chance leaving Canada while my application is in process as Ive heard so many times from my IO the chances of getting back in to Canada are 50-50 and your case may be classed as abandoned if you get caught , I am in the final stages of security checks and its been a long 6 month waiting , Ive ordered FOSS notes and everything is in order , I wrote to CSIS and they replied in the middle of October saying my case is still in process , and they advised me it could take 16 month in any case to complete their search....so may as well keep my chin up and sit and wait longer

 

[lemony_20]

angelbrat, your story truly inspires hope in me. I thank you so much.
potcakes, hehe the hearing nothing part is going to be the biggest challenge for me. I am sorry to hear about you father, as I have been stuck in Canada while my dad was sick in the hospital. Today he went home to finish recovering. The week before my dad got really sick, my little brother was in a motorcycle accident too. It's rough being so far away and now not being able to leave since we applied inland (I really wish we knew to apply outland beforehand )
eyeoftheocean, I went through my handbook again it said that the immigration services would send me a letter when I would be approved to apply for the work permit, so I never thought twice about sending in the work permit with my initial application. I'm really sorry to hear you haven't seen your kids in 2 years, you are strong to keep your chin up!