Debating pros and cons of Inland v. Outland from US...

[tylerfts]

First of all, this forum is great. Lots of good information and helpful people. It's been a huge help for me!
Anyway, here's my situation - hopefully you all can give me some insight in to the best course of action.

My wife, daughter and I currently live and work in Alberta and we are plannng on moving to BC (in the next few months, most likely). They are both Canadian citizens. I am not the biological father of the child, though I would like to adopt her. I am a US citizen working in AB on a temporary work permit that expires in May. I have a job offer from a business in BC, but they hire as independent contractors. It is my understanding that an LMO does not apply to this my situation and I would be unable to work for this company (though if there's ways to make it legally work, I'm open to them!). My job falls under NOC class B, and I have worked in AB for about 10 months.

I would like to apply for PR (seems like spousal sponsorship is the best route to go), but I have some US traveling to do over the next year (family wedding, workshops, etc - no travel over a week in length, though). Would applying inland allow me to work more quickly? Or should I just apply outland and suck it up and wait to work? If I apply outland, it is my understanding that I need to maintain status in Canada through a work permit or visitor visa - if I travel, does a vistor visa allow me re-entry in to Canada? And does a Nexus card help my situation?

Thanks!

 

[amikety]

If you need to travel, Outland is probably the best option. Inland doesn't recommend travel, because if you're rejected for any reason, your application is abandoned.

Since you live with your wife, you're already establishing a good track record for genuine relationship. I know Ottawa has 13 months posted as processing time, but almost everyone I've had contact with on the forum is getting done faster. The Ottawa spreadsheet is in my signature. You can have a look.

Work permit.... Inland is 6-7 months. Outland is when you land, which goes anywhere from 4 months to who knows when. You're living with your Canadian spouse, which CIC looks favorably on. If you mail in a complete application with sufficient proof, you will probably be approved before the 13 month mark. Based solely on my observations, it seems 7 months is about normal for most American couples.

Whichever way you decide to go, start preparing your application. That can take 2-3 months alone. Get your police clearance in order (took 5 weeks for mine and I'm in Alberta too). You don't need one from Canada - they get that themselves. Save the medical for last as they are valid for one year. Buuuuuuuuuut the FBI clearance must be mailed in within 3 months of getting it. Timing is tricky, so read through the papers.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/3900ETOC.asp#3900E2

 

[Reflectoman]

as an american, you don't need a visitor visa, you can cross with your passport and when you do enter you will be given a 6-month entry which you can renew and extend online for $75. with an outland application, you can still enter and exit canada, and if for any reason you are refused entry, your application still continues since it expects you to be outside of canada. in comparison to the inland, which would be considered abandoned if you can't re-enter canada for any reason.

 

[truesmile]

And I just like to add, while exit and re-entry "should" be no problem, if you get your NEXUS card (takes approx 8 weeks) that will significantly expedite your border crossings both by car and air.

 

[tylerfts]

Thanks everybody for your great responses!

I know it's a total amateur question, but what does "landing" mean? I've seen it mentioned a number of times, but couldn't find a clear definition.

It seems like outland is the way to go, especially since it there's the possibility that I might be able to work within a similar amount of time (give or take a couple months). If we're moving to BC,
should I wait until we've got our new address set up there?

Last question (I swear!): what's the interview for the Nexus card like? Will I have to be in the US to do the interview?

Thanks again, and amikety: my native statehood requires me to say one thing: boo Buckeyes, GO BADGERS! ;D

 

[amikety]

Landing means when you go to Immigration to have your PR papers finalized. It can be done a variety of ways, at the border, by appointment, at the airport if you fly in. You go, they ask you a few questions, you sign, they stamp..... then welcome to Canada.

If you're going Outland, do it as soon as your application is ready and you're comfortable. You can move halfway through the process, no problem. Just one tip - CIC seems bad about updating addresses, so if you know you're moving, you might want to put your mailing address as something permanent - like a parent's address. Someone you trust and don't see moving ever You list your physical address as your 'home' and the other as 'mailing.' Just to make sure things don't get wonky lost.

PS: I have no clue about the Nexus card.

PPS: I wasn't aware Wisconsin hated Ohio too. Just Michigan....... oh well........

 

[tylerfts]

Gotcha. And to be honest, WI only hates OH when you beat us!

I'm a bit preoccupied with the Nexus card/visitor visa because I have two times I need to cross the border in the near future: at the end of May and in July. Both times I'll be out of Canada for a week or less, but my work permit will be expired by then, so I want to give myself some semblence of security crossing back in to Canada. But if I've filed my PR stuff, it sounds like they're pretty decent about letting you back in to Canada as a visitor, as long as you have copies of that paperwork, correct?

And does it matter if the mailing address is Canadian or US? My Canadian mother-in-law is between houses right now, and my parents live in the States.

 

[amikety]

Gotcha. And to be honest, WI only hates OH when you beat us!

I'm a bit preoccupied with the Nexus card/visitor visa because I have two times I need to cross the border in the near future: at the end of May and in July. Both times I'll be out of Canada for a week or less, but my work permit will be expired by then, so I want to give myself some semblence of security crossing back in to Canada. But if I've filed my PR stuff, it sounds like they're pretty decent about letting you back in to Canada as a visitor, as long as you have copies of that paperwork, correct?

And does it matter if the mailing address is Canadian or US? My Canadian mother-in-law is between houses right now, and my parents live in the States.

It doesn't matter which address you use. Even though I'm a visitor, I use a Canadian address as my permanent one. The only downside would be, they would mail your COPR to the US and your parents would need to mail to you in Canada (if CIC doesn't take the address change).

Carry along copies of your marriage certificate and PR documents - the AOR or Stage 1 approval letters. Receipt if you don't have either yet. That should help.

 

[tylerfts]

This all makes so much more sense now, thank you.

I also learned there is a difference between a visitor record and visitor visa. The internet is such an informative place!

Now I've got to get to work assembling all this crap. I'm sure I'll be back researching and asking many, many more questions.

:'(