Apply within or outside???

[visanews]

My girlfriend and I have been together for 10 months. She is from Quebec and I am from the UK. I have just spent 3 months in Quebec studying french and am going back in September where we intend to marry and rent a property together. I work in the far east and she has been out to visit on two occassions prior to my stay in Quebec totalling 4 weeks and will be coming this summer for a further 6 weeks so I think we have enough evidence to show our commitment to one another. I will not be going back to the far east once in Quebec, my aim is to continue learning french and eventually work at some point. So my question: My partner will be applying to sponsor me and i am not sure whether to apply from outside or inside Canada?? She obviously lives in Quebec and I will be going in on a 6 month tourist visa with the intention to extend if thats possible?? My concern is if we applied from within, its suggested that I remain in Canada for the process but will there be an issue if I cannot get an extension, leave and not permitted back in?? or, is it possible to apply outside Canada whilst being in Canada?? Sounds a daft question but its possible to get the application to London. I am aware its a two step process in terms of the Quebec acceptance aswell. I have read all the pages on the CIC site and now am very confused as to the best way to approach this...........................Also, is it worth applying for jobs to see if I can get a sponsor for work in the interim? Any help would be most welcome. Thanks

 

[CharlieD10]

It is quite possible to apply Outland while being in Canada. It is also much faster than Inland, and you retain your right to appeal. As an example, some Outland applicants from Feb 2011 who went through London are now receiving requests for the passports in order to get their PR visas. Inland applicants from Feb 2011 will not have their applications considered for first stage approval for another 7 months.

If you can get an employer to hire you with an LMO approved, you could also work in the meantime. If you enter on a tourist permit, you cannot work, study full-time or access public healthcare.

 

[visanews]

Thanks CharlieD10 for your advice. we know which way to go now which is great! I am aware that I cannot work etc. My plan initailly is to go to language school like I have just done and am aware that I can study upto 6 months without a visa. My problem in terms of getting one is that I am only in the Uk for a couple of weeks and the process time is longer. Do you think I can apply for an extension to stay after the 6 months or would it be easier to leave and come back in? Does the fact that we are applying for sponsorship go for or against me in terms of staying/extending/re-entering?

 

[CharlieD10]

If your processing time extends beyond your initial 6 months' entry, then you may apply for an extension (at least 30 days before the original stay expires!) and show that you are waiting for your PR application to be finalised as your reason for requesting the extension. Again, many persons like yourself from visa-exempt countries have done so.

You needn't leave to re-set the clock, but you can do so if needed. If you leave and return, the extension request is not necessary.

 

[Stumpedmom]

Thanks CharlieD10 for your advice. we know which way to go now which is great! I am aware that I cannot work etc. My plan initailly is to go to language school like I have just done and am aware that I can study upto 6 months without a visa. My problem in terms of getting one is that I am only in the Uk for a couple of weeks and the process time is longer. Do you think I can apply for an extension to stay after the 6 months or would it be easier to leave and come back in? Does the fact that we are applying for sponsorship go for or against me in terms of staying/extending/re-entering?

Are you sure about this?? I believe in order to study you need a student or study visa...might be wrong tho...

 

[CharlieD10]

You need a student permit for courses of study lasting longer than a minimum period, which is 6 months, if memory serves me right. That is why I qualified my answer by saying he couldn't study "full time" without a permit. So, yes, he should be able to take short courses without a permit.

 

[visanews]

Thank you for the advice. As always there is another question. Any idea how long you can apply for an extension for and the cost?

 

[CharlieD10]

An extension is $150, I believe, but the CIC website will give you the correct amount. I believe you can ask for 6 months or a year even, some persons generally ask for 6 months more, as by that time their processing should be finished (within a year).

 

[CandC2009]

To extend your stay as a Visitor the fee is $75. (According to the cic.gc.ca website)

 

[CharlieD10]

Ah, marvelous, thank you for that correction!

 

[CandC2009]

Ah, marvelous, thank you for that correction!

No prob! I only know this because we just applied to extend my Husbands stay

 

[CharlieD10]

Great! You can help the OP out with how you went about the process. Good luck with that and speedy processing.

 

[CandC2009]

Thanks!

All we did was print out the forms, read through the directions, paid online and sent it off to alberta. We mailed in our app because we wanted to add in a copy of our marriage cert, passports, copy of his current visitor record, and a copy of the sponsorship approval. We sent it through purolator (wanted the tracking number) and included a short cover letter. We explained that we wanted him to stay with me while our application was in process and thats about it (we only sent it last week so it will take some time before we hear anything )