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BrookeTravels

Star Member
Jan 22, 2016
112
2
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
31-10-2016
AOR Received.
10-11-2016
File Transfer...
30-11-2016 (SA)
Med's Request
Upfront - Passed
Med's Done....
22-06-2016
Interview........
None
VISA ISSUED...
DM 3-3-17!
As mentioned in the title, my current status in Canada is MARRIED to a Canadian. I have been here since September on a legal Visitor Status (I'm a US Citizen), and before my 6 months visitor status expired, I submitted an extension application online (last month) and requested I be able to stay here as a visitor for 1 additional year so we can apply for PR and not be separated during the process.

My main question and concern: If for any reason they decide to deny my Visitor extension request, what would happen if I had already applied for PR status? I understand that as a PR applicant in process you have implied status, just like with my current wait on the Visitors Extension.

Online, it's saying I won't hear from them on the extension request for at least another 2 months. I'd like to submit my PR application before that time because the wait is long enough. *sigh*

If my status remains as 'implied' an an Outbound applicant applying from within Canada, even if a visitor extension is denied, then I need not worry, correct?

Maybe to prevent this problem, I should apply 'Inbound', even though the wait will be longer?

Any and all help with this would be greatly appreciated!
 
Do not apply inland - it will make your life miserable.

There is no implied status with outland applications. If your visitor extension is refused, nothing will happen to your outland application. It will continue to be processed like normal. However you will need to leave Canada.
 
scylla said:
Do not apply inland - it will make your life miserable.

There is no implied status with outland applications. If your visitor extension is refused, nothing will happen to your outland application. It will continue to be processed like normal. However you will need to leave Canada.

Thank you for the response, however applying Inland is a feasible option for some people in unique situations. I know it isn't ideal, but if it keeps me with my wife? prevents us from bring apart? it is worth discussion.
 
As an American working on the PR process, it's very very unlikely that you will be denied for a visitor extension. I'm here as an American and I just applied outland and will be renewing my visitor status in a few weeks. I'm not worried at all that it will be refused.

Ottawa is processing applications as fast as 4 months, but on average it's closer to 6 months. Inland right now is at about 2 years. Please, apply outland. I do not believe applying inland is necessary in your case.
 
BrookeTravels said:
Thank you for the response, however applying Inland is a feasible option for some people in unique situations. I know it isn't ideal, but if it keeps me with my wife? prevents us from bring apart? it is worth discussion.

Inland should never be a choice for an American.

The chances of your extension being denied are very low. If it is denied, you still have the option of applying for Restoration of Status.
 
Decoy24601 said:
As an American working on the PR process, it's very very unlikely that you will be denied for a visitor extension. I'm here as an American and I just applied outland and will be renewing my visitor status in a few weeks. I'm not worried at all that it will be refused.

Ottawa is processing applications as fast as 4 months, but on average it's closer to 6 months. Inland right now is at about 2 years. Please, apply outland. I do not believe applying inland is necessary in your case.

Thank you very much for the advice, being in the same shoes and all. I guess I'm just afraid and nervous for no reason. I have nothing to hide, although I did leave everything in the USA and don't have many ties there anymore aside from my bank account. I sent them one months statement in my application, a letter of explanation saying we were going to apply for PR, and my wife gave me a letter as well saying that she has been supporting me and intends to fully pay for my stay as a visitor. (we both signed our letters and scanned drivers licenses on there for identity purposes).

Phew. I hope that's good enough. Being in Limbo and having all our eggs in one basket is scary.

*raises hand* I promise to not be tempted to apply inbound and will be a smart American and apply Outbound. :)
 
canuck_in_uk said:
Inland should never be a choice for an American.

The chances of your extension being denied are very low. If it is denied, you still have the option of applying for Restoration of Status.

Thanks for keeping me on track and away from the panic train of applying Inbound. *thumbs up* The lack of certainly is getting to me I guess.

Also, I didn't even think restoration of status would be an option if a visitor visa was denied while my PR was in process. I figured that would mess up my PR application.
 
BrookeTravels said:
Thank you very much for the advice, being in the same shoes and all. I guess I'm just afraid and nervous for no reason. I have nothing to hide, although I did leave everything in the USA and don't have many ties there anymore aside from my bank account. I sent them one months statement in my application, a letter of explanation saying we were going to apply for PR, and my wife gave me a letter as well saying that she has been supporting me and intends to fully pay for my stay as a visitor. (we both signed our letters and scanned drivers licenses on there for identity purposes).

Phew. I hope that's good enough. Being in Limbo and having all our eggs in one basket is scary.

*raises hand* I promise to not be tempted to apply inbound and will be a smart American and apply Outbound. :)
It sounds like you have a really good chance of the extension being approved. Even on the slim chance that it won't be, there are still options. To put it in perspective, I just submitted my outland app a few days ago. I'll be applying for a visitor extension by paper in a couple weeks. The processing time for that is about 110 days. I will most likely have SA before they even touch my application. If the visitor extension application takes just under 4 months to be approved, then that is very close to when I might be getting DM for my PR application. Some applicants have taken as little as 4 months. I'm expecting about 6 months anyways.

Just remember that in terms of being in Canada as a visitor, the CIC treats it differently than the CBSA. I've had a bad experience at the border with CBSA for wanting to visit my husband (before we were married) for an additional month after visiting for 2 months. Granted, CBSA is generally more lenient if you have a PR application in process, but still. I'm a very paranoid person because of my bad experience. I was actually considering inland too for about a month until I realized that it was really better to apply outland.

I would also send off your application as soon as possible. If you send it in a week or so, you will most likely have AOR before they even touch your visitor extension application. That way, they can actually see that you have a PR application in process now.

Good luck on your PR application. I don't think you have much to worry about in terms of your visitor extension.
 
If it makes you feel better, my (American) husband was approved for something like 7 visitor extensions before they finally refused one. And the only reason they refused is because we forgot to pay the fee. I would not recommend trying that though :)
 
BrookeTravels said:
Also, I didn't even think restoration of status would be an option if a visitor visa was denied while my PR was in process. I figured that would mess up my PR application.

The outland PR application has absolutely nothing to do with any other visitor status extensions or restoration of status you may have in progress.

An outland PR app will continue on, irrelevant of your current status, where you are living, or what other things (visitor, student or worker) you are applying for.
 
Aquakitty said:
If it makes you feel better, my (American) husband was approved for something like 7 visitor extensions before they finally refused one. And the only reason they refused is because we forgot to pay the fee. I would not recommend trying that though :)

Thanks, great to know, definitely helps relieve my stress! You've been very helpful in my various threads, I always appreciate your input.
 
We applyed outland, husband stayed a few weeks, we tried to get back in and they got all squirrely, gave him a VR. We were worried, left for a week, came back, got in no issues.

Got out COPR in under 4 months.

Apply outland, don't stress, etc. etc.
 
Aquakitty said:
If it makes you feel better, my (American) husband was approved for something like 7 visitor extensions before they finally refused one. And the only reason they refused is because we forgot to pay the fee. I would not recommend trying that though :)

Haha! Thanks. Do you mind me quickly asking how your husband handled the required purchasing of an FBI background check? The wait for the results is like 13 weeks currently... I imagine I can pay for it and just include the receipt, then forward it along to them when I finally get it? I think that'll make my process longer than the 4-6 months ppl are saying on here.

It'll be funny because they'll get a boring FBI report, ;) I've never even been pulled over in the US all my years!
 
ayrazar said:
We applyed outland, husband stayed a few weeks, we tried to get back in and they got all squirrely, gave him a VR. We were worried, left for a week, came back, got in no issues.

Got out COPR in under 4 months.

Apply outland, don't stress, etc. etc.

Thanks for the help and advice, sounds like it couldn't have gone more smoothly! I'd love to talk sometime about the application process ... does your husband have any sage advice to help make it easier?
 
I applied Outland in August, had 2 visitor extensions. In November I was given a 1 year VR at the border, since then I never had an issue crossing into the US and back, some weeks I would cross a few times. I always carried all my paperwork and receipts but never needed it except to get the VR.
I got my COPR on Friday and landed yesterday.