confusion about outland application for US Citizen duration

[skystride]

Hi,

I applied for my wife who is a US Citizen in July (Outland submitted to Ottawa). From this forum, it seems some people are starting to get their application from that time period processed around now (other US citizens). Is it realistic to expect 6-8 months?

When I asked my MP to check the status, she came back saying the following:

The agent confirmed that your application for Spousal Sponsorship outside of Canada was received on July 30, 2014 and that you were approved as your wife’s sponsor on September 22, 2014. At that time your application was transferred to the Ottawa processing office where the processing times for stage 2 is currently 16 months.

So what should I expect? Is it really that long? That would be really tough for us as my wife needs PR to work in Canada as a Nurse Practioner. We were hoping it would be closer to the 6-8 month range and not 16 months!

Thoughts?

 

[Ponga]

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/us-outland-applicants-thread-t106068.0.html

Lately, the processing times have been closer to 6-8 months TOTAL ( for both approval stages).

Here's the Outland spreadsheet that will give you more information:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aq6VF-LGjkR9dGNpLUxQZ1Z0Mm80aE5ZWDBvWklEQUE#gid=0

 

[rhcohen2014]

the MP is simply quoting the processing time that is on the CIC website. those processing times do not reflect realtime experiences for applicants TODAY. the times posted online are not true averages and basically represent "worst case scenarios". The blue link in my signature below is the spreadsheet used to track Ottawa applications. What you see on the spreadsheet and on this forum is what you can expect to see with your own application.

Currently, June and July applicants are seeing approvals. Ottawa has seemed to slow down the processing a bit, so the 5-6 month processing has increased slightly back up to 7-8 months (which is still less than this time last year). the processing time will go up and down based on a number of factors such as application volume.

 

[Panamai]

Your wife is a nurse practitioner? Has she applied to receive licensure in your province yet? If not, I'd suggest she start on that right away! That process (at least in Ontario) takes much longer than the PR process. I am a licensed practical nurse in the US and I put in my application to the Ontario College of Nurses in January 2014 and I still don't have a definitive answer as to whether or not I'll be allowed to sit for the registered practical nurse licensure exam.

 

[keesio]

Yes agree with Panamai! The bigger issue you will have is getting fully licensed in Canada for health care professionals. It took my wife over a year to get credentialed and pass the two exams to be eligible to apply for a physiotherapist license in Ontario. That process took longer and was more expensive and arduous than the actual sponsorship process.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I thought Canada just adopted the same licensing test as the us, so there is no need to retake a test, and it's just a matter of applying to recipricate the license to the appropriate province? I'm pretty sure this announcement/change happened sometime this summer.

 

[Panamai]

For all nurses or just nurse practitioners? I don't think that's the case for me. They have already told me that even after working for 12+ years as an LPN in the US, my one year practical nursing program is not equivalent to the practical nursing program in Ontario. I had to write an essay explaining how my experience is enough to sit for licensure and I'm waiting for them to let me know if it's enough. I'm not feeling optimistic about it.

 

[ChellyCat]

the MP is simply quoting the processing time that is on the CIC website. those processing times do not reflect realtime experiences for applicants TODAY. the times posted online are not true averages and basically represent "worst case scenarios". The blue link in my signature below is the spreadsheet used to track Ottawa applications. What you see on the spreadsheet and on this forum is what you can expect to see with your own application.

Currently, June and July applicants are seeing approvals. Ottawa has seemed to slow down the processing a bit, so the 5-6 month processing has increased slightly back up to 7-8 months (which is still less than this time last year). the processing time will go up and down based on a number of factors such as application volume.

Rhcohen, I added my info to your spreadsheet I really hope the time decreases to 6 months again! That would be amazing....

 

[skystride]

I thought Canada just adopted the same licensing test as the us, so there is no need to retake a test, and it's just a matter of applying to recipricate the license to the appropriate province? I'm pretty sure this announcement/change happened sometime this summer.

You are right, at least for a NP. At first they made a mistake and told her she has to take the exam and then when she told them that she took the exam in NYC, they said that would be sufficient.

Thanks for all the info guys! Hoping a status change on the application will come soon.

 

[rhcohen2014]

For all nurses or just nurse practitioners? I don't think that's the case for me. They have already told me that even after working for 12+ years as an LPN in the US, my one year practical nursing program is not equivalent to the practical nursing program in Ontario. I had to write an essay explaining how my experience is enough to sit for licensure and I'm waiting for them to let me know if it's enough. I'm not feeling optimistic about it.

I thought it was for all nurses. my sister is a registered nurse, so i know she doesn't have to retake a test. she would just need to pay for reciprocity. perhaps it depends on the level of degree/licensing?

 

[Panamai]

Really? This is new? Wow, I'm being put through the ringer.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Really? This is new? Wow, I'm being put through the ringer.

yes, this is new. i think it was announced this summer. not sure if it went into effect immediately or for 2015.

 

[Panamai]

Is she an associate or bachelor level RN? I'm wonder if I were to finish the ADN and test in New York if they would still allow me to practice as an RN in Ontario..? I did find some info, says it started September 2014, but it doesn't say if they still require a BSN.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Is she an associate or bachelor level RN?

bachelor.