Inland Spousal Sponsorship???

[amyers]

I could really use some advice on how best to apply for spousal sponsorship given my situation:

My husband is a Canadian citizen who moved to Montreal from the US over a year ago for a job offer. I recently joined him (from the US as well) as a visitor. When I drove through the border, I told the border patrol that I planned to stay the entire six months that I was allowed. He asked about any immigration plans, but because we hadn't started the application process, I said that we were undecided as to whether or not I was going to apply. So anyway, I am legally here through the end of the year as a visitor, and I would like to apply for pr as well as a work visa. And of course, I would like to stay here in Canada with my husband throughout the entire process. But because I'm here as a visitor, am I allowed to apply inland? It seems that everyone says applying outland is best, but the processing time in New York is 30 months, while the inland processing time is 8 months. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! This whole process is so overwhelming!

Thanks in advance!

 

[scylla]

Apply outland. Way faster for Americans. Your file will be processed through Ottawa - not NY.

 

[scylla]

FYI - inland processing is not 8 months. It's 11 months for first stage and then an additional amount of time (anywhere from several week to many months) for the second stage.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Ok you are greatly mistaken. Let's correct the information about Inland vs. Outland. OUTLAND is the best way for a US citizen to apply for sponsorship and here is why.

First of all... All us applications are processed in OTTAWA, NOT LA/NY. The ONLY applications that get kicked back to the US are applications that are problematic and have red flags (ie: criminal or relationship issues). 99.9% of applications from US citizens go to the visa office in Ottawa. The statistics listed on the CIC website are not a true indicator of the average wait time TODAY. That is statistic is not an "average", and is from last year during the strike and consolidation of offices. Ottawa's processing time has sped up considerably since then and is processing applications in 5-8 months TOTAL time. Recent applicants are landing in 5 months!

Outland - 2 step process - step 1 - sponsorship approval (currently 2 month wait time). Step 2 - approval from visa office in Ottawa. Current wait time is 3-6 additional months. Outland applicants are not eligible for work permits. Visitors CAN work for NON CANADIAN employers remotely while in canada. the wait time for TOTAL processing is decreasing.

Inland applications - this is also a 2 step process. The FIRST stage (AIP) is at an average of 11 months right now. This stage is for sponsor approval and relationship validity. AFTER 11 months, THEN the applicant can get an open work permit and apply for jobs. THEN stage 2 is another 8-9 months, totalling a wait time of over 1.5 years for Inland approval. Because of office changes, the wait time is increasing, not decreasing.

So the choice is, Apply outland, travel back to the states without risk to your application and land as a PR in 5-8 months which then allows you to legally work, live and apply for healthcare OR apply inland, and feel "trapped" in canada for 1.5-2 years by risking being denied entry and having the application thrown out, wait 11 months to start applying for jobs, and 1.5 -2 years to be a legal resident and enjoy the benefits.

Easy decision... Extend your stay as a visitor, and apply OUTLAND!

 

[amyers]

Wow- I definitely had my facts mixed up. Thanks so much for the advice!