Hi Leon, Thanks for your reply as I am in similar situation. I have a question: If the sponsored spouse is in Canada with a visitor visa for 6 months and the Inland processing takes more than 6 months, what happens to the spouse's legal stay in canada? Does the spouse must leave Canada with in the 6 months period or is there any way to extend the stay or visa legally inside Canada? Is there any provision to extend the stay on a visitor visa legally with going outside of Canada? Thanks in advance.