Inland VS Outland

[parker24]

Wondering the differences between them (besides the obvious time difference!) And also wondering which route to go on. I was suggested on here to go outland, but because I am on ODSP, they told me once I get a letter stating it is in process, my husband can be added onto my ODSP and be able to use the benefits (Dental and the like). I just don't know if using outland would work for that as he has to be living with me in order to be getting those benefits.

So, please inform me the differences! I've been mostly looking at inland, until recently. Now I'm just confused!

Thanks in advance

 

[sidkrose]

If he comes from a visa exempt country then he can still live with you as a visitor in Canada while the outland application is being processed. He can stay as a visitor for six months and then apply to extend his visitor record; lots of people do this.

Besides the extra time it takes for inland, there is also the fact that he should not leave Canada during the entire process, in case, for some reason, he is denied entry. Also, you cannot appeal a decision with the inland route.

 

[parker24]

What does "visa exempt" mean? I've seen this term used a few times but never did get a definition. We did apply for an extension, just waiting to hear back.

My only issue is, if applying for outland, then my ODSP will not allow him to be put on my benefits, and the amount doesn't go up. The ODSP barely covers my rent (which is about 85% of my ODSP, not much for food and the like) so having him added on increases the amount enough to cover everything. Does that make sense?

 

[Indigo]

What does "visa exempt" mean? I've seen this term used a few times but never did get a definition. We did apply for an extension, just waiting to hear back.

My only issue is, if applying for outland, then my ODSP will not allow him to be put on my benefits, and the amount doesn't go up. The ODSP barely covers my rent (which is about 85% of my ODSP, not much for food and the like) so having him added on increases the amount enough to cover everything. Does that make sense?

Visa Exempt country means, a country of which its citizens don't need to apply for a visitor visa before visiting Canada. If you are from a visa exempt country, you can just come to Canada and only need to go through customs and get his passport stamped to get in. You usually get a stamp for 6 months.

If you are not from a visa exempt country, you have to apply for a visitor visa to be able to enter Canada, and wait for it to process. If Canada decides to grant you a visitor visa, you may come to Canada as a visitor.

 

[sidkrose]

Am I correct in thinking that he can only be added to your ODSP account after First Stage Approval with and inland application? If so, then you will still be waiting 10 months or so during which time he will be living with you. Depending on which VO the app would go through if you applied outland, there is a very good chance that the entire application could be done before 10 months. In certain VOs, well before.

 

[parker24]

Am I correct in thinking that he can only be added to your ODSP account after First Stage Approval with and inland application? If so, then you will still be waiting 10 months or so during which time he will be living with you. Depending on which VO the app would go through if you applied outland, there is a very good chance that the entire application could be done before 10 months. In certain VOs, well before.

All I know is once we get a paper from CIC saying that it is in process, then he can be added. I have wondered how long the whole process is for outland, and if it would be better to be waiting for the entire thing rather than just the first stage.

@Indigo- THANK YOU!

 

[CharlieD10]

If you apply Inland, CPC-Vegreville won't reply to you before 10-11 months, which is when you will have AIP and be able to add him to your ODSP. If you apply through Buffalo, he could have his PR in hand by around the 7 or 8 months mark. Check out the current statistics on the Buffalo thread.

Additionally, as has been pointed out before, he can leave Canada if need be with an Outland application without jeopardising it. Although he is visa-exempt and there is less uncertainty about him possibly being denied re-entry if he needs to leave Canada, it is still not a 100% guarantee. Others have had exclusion orders issued against them because the border officers were not convinced of their intent.

 

[parker24]

Makes sense. My other question is, he already had the medical and they said they send their reports to Ottawa... Would I still be able to use the report from that doctor (who was on the DMP list) for outland?

Thank you! ;D

 

[amikety]

I'm very confused about the inland vs. outland process myself. I'm a natural born U.S. citizen. My boyfriend/fiance is a natural born Canadian citizen. We have been living together since July 2011 in Calgary. I have temporary resident status until November 2012. (I applied with copies of his paystubs, my divorce decree from Sept 2011, explained our 'grand plan' of getting married once BF is divorced too. He got his approval for the divorce two weeks after I sent in my temp res application. We are waiting on the certificate and will probably marry right away. I'm not sure what his "plans" are for that, lol. I already ruined my Christmas surprise by asking too many questions! Don't want to ruin any wedding surprises.)

My BF works and I cannot. I am going out of my mind. I very much want to go back to work. Several employers have *informally* offered me jobs, but don't want to go through the mess of a work permit. We could also use extra money - like most people!

We would also like to have children. I have a very common, easily treatable fertility issue AND I don't have health care, which is preventing us from working on this. I'm fairly young atm, 30, but I do worry somehow my application will take 3-4 years, then another 2-3 to even get pregnant. Both of us would prefer to have kids a little younger than that. Not knocking anyone who does, just our personal preference. (And BF has baby fever worse than any woman I've ever met!) Neither of us has kids now.

I have a clean background as well - like not even a parking ticket. BF has usual stupid young male stuff, speeding ticket here and there. He does have a minor felony conviction from 12 years ago (maybe more). According to him, its the lowest level felony in Alberta. Nothing in years aside from a traffic accident that wasn't his fault. He's been on his current job 6 years. I was with my previous employer 5 and will look to continue in the same field.

We've been advised both ways on the process. I'd like to do whatever is quickest. However, under no circumstances do I want to leave Canada or FLY anywhere. I get extremely airsick... and there really isn't a better way to get to Buffalo from Calgary besides air. Not mention without me working, flying anywhere isn't very affordable. I also can't prove I plan to leave Canada, as I have no job back home and my address is Calgary...

I would leave if I had to. If its a difference between 10 months and 3 years, I will collect change out of seat cushions to afford the flight.

Also, I've read as a tempt res I can apply for Alberta Healthcare once my 3 months residency is done. Is this true? If so, at least we can tackle my infertility issue while we wait. (As I said before, its a common issue that is usually solved by a prescription. It won't fall under true infertility treatment, which isn't covered by health care. I have a friend here with the same problems.)

Sorry if my post is long and boorish. And sorry if I have horrible grammar or spelling. My computer doesn't seem to want to hold the text box and allow me to see what I am typing... very annoying.

Thanks!

 

[CharlieD10]

Amikety - If you applied Outland, with a straightforward and well-thought out application, you wouldn't need to leave Canada at all. Interviews are not convoked unless there is insufficient proof of a genuine relationship or some other concern with the application and supporting documents.

For most Americans, there is very little to no advantage whatsoever of going the Inland route. Additionally, it may even take longer than going through Buffalo. Buffalo's official average is 11 months, but most of the cases I have seen on here are completed in 6-8. Inland is 10-11 months for stage one approval, and there is NO getting around that timeline. It is what it is.

Parker24 - The medical forms for Inland and Outland applications are different, and the Inland form is addressed specifically to CPC-V. Is this the form you used for your medical? >> http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1017SCLE.pdf

 

[amikety]

Okay, I'm going to continue asking the stupid questions.....

I've seen a lot of talk about "pictures." We have ONE. Neither of us are 'camera people.' We have pictures he took of me when he took me to BC to meet his dad, pictures of flowers he's bought me (as we all know flowers are 110% complete and total proof of a real relationship). I'm probably paranoid, but will the lack of pictures hurt us?

Also, neither of us is that social... so I don't have tons of friends that know about him to be my reference. I don't talk to most of my family by choice so they know very little and have never met him. My best "references" for personally knowing I had a relationship with a Canadian are HIS father and a few internet friends. (His poor mother knows all about our relationship as she's been our roommate and had to listen to us make out. In her own words, however, I'm a 'cow' so I don't think I should count on her.)

We do have chat logs on Yahoo, Skype, text messages, birthday, Christmas cards, etc. We also fight like a real couple, but SOMEHOW I don't think that would make the best proof!

Is the fact we're private people without much a social life going to be held against us? Or am I way too paranoid?

 

[CharlieD10]

No such thing as stupid questions.

Yes, photographs are proof items they normally look for. However, this is not to say that a couple with a dearth of photographs is considered immediately to not be genuine or that a couple with tonnes of pictures is automatically genuine. As you well know, photographs can be faked. In a case like yours, what you do is explain why you lack pictures (nothing wrong with being camera-shy!), submit a copy of that one you do have, and bolster your application with the other types of proof you do have. So the chat logs, Skype history, texts, cards etc, all that needs to be present so they can see it.

And don't be afraid to ask internet friends for letters attesting to your relationship, if they are the best you have. If they have been able to observe you together, or are acquainted with you as a couple, ask them to write letters on your behalf too. The principle is the same: how long have they known you, what do they know of your relationship, do you present as a couple before them, why are they convinced you are in a genuine conjugal relationship?

Definitely do list the people in his family you have met. Their opinion of your relationship is not the issue, their awareness of it is.

 

[amikety]

I will do. Thanks for helping me!

 

[parker24]

Amikety - If you applied Outland, with a straightforward and well-thought out application, you wouldn't need to leave Canada at all. Interviews are not convoked unless there is insufficient proof of a genuine relationship or some other concern with the application and supporting documents.

For most Americans, there is very little to no advantage whatsoever of going the Inland route. Additionally, it may even take longer than going through Buffalo. Buffalo's official average is 11 months, but most of the cases I have seen on here are completed in 6-8. Inland is 10-11 months for stage one approval, and there is NO getting around that timeline. It is what it is.

Parker24 - The medical forms for Inland and Outland applications are different, and the Inland form is addressed specifically to CPC-V. Is this the form you used for your medical? >> http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM1017SCLE.pdf

Yes, we used that one. Crap. And to do the medical he'd have to go back to the states for that correct? For outland anyway?

 

[CharlieD10]

parker24- No, he can use the same DMP in Canada, but he will have to complete the Outland form, and that medical will go to Ottawa to await a request from Buffalo when they process it. Outland forms include a space for the identification of the visa office which will process the application, so it can be correctly coded and identified for retrieval when requested by Buffalo. It doesn't matter where the DMP is located that you get the medical done, as long as you use the correct form and identify the visa office to which the medical will eventually go.