Abroad or Within Canada?

[Skil]

Hello fellow Sponsors & Sponsorees!

My Japanese fiancee is now in Japan. I am now in Canada, and I am a Canadian citizen.

She will arrive in Canada in November 2009 and we will get married then.

My question is this. (I have searched for it, but my apologies if it has already been answered). Is it better to fill out:
(a) Application for Permanent Residence in Canada--Spouse or Common-law Partner ?
(b) Application to Sponsor a Member of the Family Class ?

According to the CIC website, (a) is for spouses who live with me in Canada, and (b) is for spouses who live abroad. Since she *WILL* be living with me in November (but presently is not), I am unsure of which application forms to download. Simple question, but is driving me nutty.

As a side question, is it even a good idea for her to come to Canada (as she will be subsisting off my humble salary), or should she stay in Japan, and I travel to meet her around every 6 months? (definitely not the ideal!)

Thank you greatly in advance. I have searched for this in the forums, but have not found a simple answer -- my apologies if someone has already posted this information. I am just getting the ball rolling now on immigration (I wish we had gotten this started 5 years ago!) (^^)

Best,

Skil

 

[RobsLuv]

Hello fellow Sponsors & Sponsorees!

My Japanese fiancee is now in Japan. I am now in Canada, and I am a Canadian citizen.

She will arrive in Canada in November 2009 and we will get married then.

My question is this. (I have searched for it, but my apologies if it has already been answered). Is it better to fill out:
(a) Application for Permanent Residence in Canada--Spouse or Common-law Partner ?
(b) Application to Sponsor a Member of the Family Class ?

According to the CIC website, (a) is for spouses who live with me in Canada, and (b) is for spouses who live abroad. Since she *WILL* be living with me in November (but presently is not), I am unsure of which application forms to download. Simple question, but is driving me nutty.

As a side question, is it even a good idea for her to come to Canada (as she will be subsisting off my humble salary), or should she stay in Japan, and I travel to meet her around every 6 months? (definitely not the ideal!)

Thank you greatly in advance. I have searched for this in the forums, but have not found a simple answer -- my apologies if someone has already posted this information. I am just getting the ball rolling now on immigration (I wish we had gotten this started 5 years ago!) (^^)

Best,

Skil

Actually, she will not be "living" with you - she will only be admitted to Canada as a visitor which means she has no right ot work, go to school, or (usually, but depends on the Province) have health care benefits. Best case scenario for an inland application - you're looking at at least 6-7 months for her to be able to work - and she won't be able to leave Canada if things are taking too long because she'll be required to be in Canada with you in order to be approved. There are definite drawbacks to the "in-Canada" (or inland) process - especially when someone is visa-exempt. This thread on this forum should be of interest to you - read through and then feel free to ask specifics to your case. Japan is also visa exempt - so, aside from the distance, it's pretty much the same deal as someone coming from the States or the UK, etc.

 

[Skil]

RobsLuv,

Thank you!! After reading your comment, I think we will go with the inland option (Application for Permanent Residence in Canada--Spouse or Common-law Partner), despite the potential drawbacks. There's a whole new set of vocabulary to learn ahead of me, and I appreciate the help. I have a feeling I'll be coming back to this forum quite a bit.

Best,

Phil

 

[RobsLuv]

Can't imagine why, but it's your choice. Maybe you did not understand (because I didn't say it specifically) but it is possible for her to be in Canada, with you, even with an outland PR application in process. Outland does not mean she has to be outside Canada - outland only means that the applicant part of the application is processed outside Canada. As long as she has valid temporary status, she is able to stay with you in Canada and await finalization of her PR ap - especially as a visa-exempt national. Personally I really think you'd regret filing inland.

 

[Skil]

Thanks for the clarification, RL. I think I must've misread what you wrote, possibly thinking you said "best case scenario *IS* for an inland application". I've looked into it since then, and am beginning to see what you mean.

Best case scenario for an inland application - you're looking at at least 6-7 months for her to be able to work - and she won't be able to leave Canada if things are taking too long because she'll be required to be in Canada with you in order to be approved.

I only have one problem: which of CIC's two application sets is "outland"? Is it (a) or (b)?

(a) Application for Permanent Residence in Canada--Spouse or Common-law Partner ?*
(b) Application to Sponsor a Member of the Family Class ?

*from: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse-apply-how.asp#step1

I think you mean (b), but I'd like to be certain before I start filing... (No searches on CIC's website mention "outland" or "inland"). I'd feel pretty foolish if I filled in the inland application thinking it was the outland application.

Thanks again!

 

[Leon]

B is outland. That is the application form for a spouse who is living abroad.

 

[Skil]

Thank you Leon and Robsluv.