Landing in Canada - future inland Sponsorship for wife

[Db1980]

Hi,

I'm Canadian and my wife is Swedish. We have 2 young children (aged 3 and 4 months whom both have Swedish Passports as they were born in Sweden). We recently applied for my children to receive there "Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificates" and will acquire Canadian Passports for them by end of March. My wife and I got married in Canada on July 11 2009.

Basically, I got a job offer to work for my dad starting April 1 2017 so we have arranged plans to move home and do an "inland Sponsorship" for my wife. I'm am really confident this process will go smooth (albeit will take some time).

My question is: when we arrive in Toronto should we tell customs we are just coming for a visit and once in the country start the inland Sponsorship process or should we be up front that our intention is to get in Canada and start an inland Sponsorship process? My gut tells me to just be honest with them to avoid any unnecessary headaches that could rise.

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated...

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi

You may want to consider submitting an outland app now. London averages around 8-9 months and Ottawa averages less than 6 months; she would most likely be a PR by October/November or earlier. There is no issue with her coming to Canada as a visitor while the outland app processes.

If you wait and apply inland in April, she won't get the OWP until around August and wouldn't become a PR until sometime next year.

 

[Db1980]

Hi,

Thank you for your response. After reading a bunch of posts I understand that I should apply "oultland" from inside Canada once we arrive in April. Unfortunately we do not have 6-9 months to wait and to do an "Outland" application now. My job will start at the beginnings nog of April and we would like to get to Canada ASAP. Hence, us waning to get into Canada and start the process from there. Our situation should be fairly straight forward as I met my Swedish wife in December of 2005, lived together since September 2007, got marri d in Canada in 2009 and now have 2 beautiful children both whom wer born in Sweden. My wife has since 2006 visited Canada every summer for 1-3 month visit and even was in Canada on the "holiday working visa" 2 times. I am going to work for my father me am lucky enough to earn a salary that will allow my wife not to have to seek work during the application process and beyond.

All we want is to know now how we should approach customs. I would rather tell customs our plans then goof around that we are just visiting (knowing my intention is to do a Sponsorship). FYI, we will have a return ticket for September for the 4 of us (that we plan on not using, but wants Justin case).

More advice would be helpful...

 

[Db1980]

Sorry for the spelling mistakes

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi,

Thank you for your response. After reading a bunch of posts I understand that I should apply "oultland" from inside Canada once we arrive in April. Unfortunately we do not have 6-9 months to wait and to do an "Outland" application now. My job will start at the beginnings nog of April and we would like to get to Canada ASAP. Hence, us waning to get into Canada and start the process from there. Our situation should be fairly straight forward as I met my Swedish wife in December of 2005, lived together since September 2007, got marri d in Canada in 2009 and now have 2 beautiful children both whom wer born in Sweden. My wife has since 2006 visited Canada every summer for 1-3 month visit and even was in Canada on the "holiday working visa" 2 times. I am going to work for my father me am lucky enough to earn a salary that will allow my wife not to have to seek work during the application process and beyond.

All we want is to know now how we should approach customs. I would rather tell customs our plans then goof around that we are just visiting (knowing my intention is to do a Sponsorship). FYI, we will have a return ticket for September for the 4 of us (that we plan on not using, but wants Justin case).

More advice would be helpful...

Yes, but applying outland NOW would not preclude you both going to Canada in April, if anything it might help as by then your application would probably be 'Sponsor Approved' and your wife could go under 'dual intent' (with of course the near certainty of PA approval a few months later).

Just my tuppence worth.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

After reading a bunch of posts I understand that I should apply "oultland" from inside Canada once we arrive in April. Unfortunately we do not have 6-9 months to wait and to do an "Outland" application now.

As I already stated, you can apply outland now and then come to Canada for April without issue. It makes absolutely no sense to wait until you get to Canada to submit an outland app.

Apply now. When you enter Canada, you can tell CBSA you have a PR app in process. There won't be any issues.

 

[Db1980]

Hi,

Ok, I apologize for my lack of knowledge regarding this issue and really do appreciate the help. So, I should apply "outland" from here in Sweden. I will look into the process and if any further answers to questions I have are needed I will be certain to get back on here. Very much appreciated your replies!!!

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi,

Ok, I apologize for my lack of knowledge regarding this issue and really do appreciate the help. So, I should apply "outland" from here in Sweden. I will look into the process and if any further answers to questions I have are needed I will be certain to get back on here. Very much appreciated your replies!!!

Check this out for a quick bit of reading on inland vs outland.

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spousal_Sponsorship-Canada#Inland_vs_Outland_Applications

 

[redherring]

I would say that if your wife is not looking into working in the next few months, you can consider outland application and you can apply now and start early. I believe that outland usually takes shorter time for most countries. Your wife can live with you for 6 months while it is being processed and then she can apply for a visa extension. You can state that you're waiting for the processing and they'll usually approve the extension. She'll probably become a PR close to year end. If you do inland in April, she'll get an open work permit around August and maybe a PR around April 2018. Few months difference for outland PR vs inland open work permit. But for outland PR vs inland PR, it would be longer. It would depend on which one she'll want to get first.

 

[Db1980]

Hi,

My wife will not be seeking work for a few years so we got time to wait out her application. I agree that we should start the application from here in Sweden now and appreciate the advice. Now, we will book a flight to Canada for the 4 of us on April 2nd or 3rd, which is approaching fast. If I/we send an application by the end of January will we get a response by the time we are to board our flight?? (Need a week or two to gather documents and send a thorough application).

As stated previously, both of our children's applications to receive "Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificate" are being processed now and marked "urgent". I spoke to a Canadian Consulars Assistant in Stockholm yesterday who will call us by the end of the for an update on the status. Once received we will apply for my children's Canadian Passports. They are aware we will fly early April as I included a written letter in the applications along with reiterating during phone conversations. Children are taken care of so now it's just to start process for my wife which to me is a straight forward case.

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi,

My wife will not be seeking work for a few years so we got time to wait out her application. I agree that we should start the application from here in Sweden now and appreciate the advice. Now, we will book a flight to Canada for the 4 of us on April 2nd or 3rd, which is approaching fast. If I/we send an application by the end of January will we get a response by the time we are to board our flight?? (Need a week or two to gather documents and send a thorough application).

As stated previously, both of our children's applications to receive "Proof of Canadian Citizenship Certificate" are being processed now and marked "urgent". I spoke to a Canadian Consulars Assistant in Stockholm yesterday who will call us by the end of the for an update on the status. Once received we will apply for my children's Canadian Passports. They are aware we will fly early April as I included a written letter in the applications along with reiterating during phone conversations. Children are taken care of so now it's just to start process for my wife which to me is a straight forward case.

If you get your application submitted by the end of January (perfectly possible), then yes, you would definitely get some sort of response by April. Provided you get it right (and don't miss any vital forms or documents), you should be 'sponsor approved' by the start of April - a vital step. It is likely that after SA, they will send the paper to the Canadian visa office in Sweden for processing of your wife for PR, I don't know how quick (or otherwise) Sweden are on that, but unlikely to take more than one year from submission to PR, and likely less.

You also IMHO have the right idea as regards your children (an attachment explaining why you are not sponsoring them as they are entitled to Canadian citizenship and that you are in the process of obtaining this and subsequently their Canadian passports)

 

[canuck_in_uk]

It is likely that after SA, they will send the paper to the Canadian visa office in Sweden for processing of your wife for PR, I don't know how quick (or otherwise) Sweden are on that, but unlikely to take more than one year from submission to PR, and likely less.

Swedish apps are processed through London.

 

[Db1980]

Thanks again and giving me peace of mind that when we send an in-depth and correct application for my wife we should receive a response by the time of our departure at the beginning of April. Shall I send a letter stating we have flights book for start of April to hopefully get a response quicker? As well, is there response a letter, email or? Do we show a letter/email to customs in Canada or will they be able to trace our actions through passports?

 

[Hurlabrick]

Thanks again and giving me peace of mind that when we send an in-depth and correct application for my wife we should receive a response by the time of our departure at the beginning of April. Shall I send a letter stating we have flights book for start of April to hopefully get a response quicker? As well, is there response a letter, email or? Do we show a letter/email to customs in Canada or will they be able to trace our actions through passports?

Aaah - so Swedish apps are processed through London. Please see the spreadsheet link in my signature line, this monitors other people outland spousal sponsorship applications through the London office, so very relevant to you!

No point in attaching a letter IMHO, it wont get it processed any quicker. On the other hand, sending copies of your flight bookings will act as excellent evidence of your proof to intend to return to Canada (one of the things they will want from you).

I don't understand your last point, but I have tried to answer on what I think you are asking. Once you submit your pack, CPC Mississauga may or may not acknowledge receipt of your application (can take 2 / 3 weeks after they receive it, in some cases, nothing is heard). But the next thing you will definitely hear is either a query or more likely your 'Sponsor Approval' (within 4 - 8 weeks after receipt) then they tell you which visa office they have sent the pack onto for PA assessment / approval, it will either be London or Ottawa (you cannot request or influence where they send it).

To show to CBSA in your April trip, I would print off and show them:

1. The signed receipt for your spousal application when it is signed for in CPC Mississauga (strongly recommend you send it by courier, like DHL, FEDEX etc. to the special address in CPC Mississauga so that it gets a proper signature on receipt)

2. You 'sponsor approval' letter that CPC Mississauga will email to you (as a PDF attachment) once they have approved you as sponsor (see the spreadsheet for how long they are currently taking, the last few applications have been 30 - 45 calendar days).

You can tell them you are entering under dual intent (see the link below) and ask for a 6 month visitor stamp for your wife - it is at that point that you should explain your spousal sponsorship and show them the 'evidence' I have listed above to prove you have submitted it and where it is in the process (how long they give you is at the discretion of the CBSA officer, but 6 months is the max - you can later apply to extend it, but if you are already sponsor approved by then, it is likely that your wife would be approved before the end of the six months, but not guaranteed).

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spousal_Sponsorship-Canada#Can_I_wait_in_Canada_while_my_application_is_being_processed:_Dual_Intent

Please see the link below for a more detailed explanation of what happens after you apply:

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spousal_Sponsorship-Canada/FAQ#What_happens_after_I_apply.3F

Note that once they have acknowledged receipt of your application, you can sign up via MyCIC to track progress and answer any queries they may raise. See here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/account.asp

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Spousal_Sponsorship-Canada/FAQ#All_about_MyCIC

Hope this all helps. I am sure it will. Respectfully suggest that you get a move on now with your April timescale in mind.

 

[Db1980]

Hi,

Thank you for reply and additional information that will be of great help!!!

I am planning to send out our applications by themail start of next week and in the meantime will gather information and send a very well put together package to make the process go as smooth and fast as possible.

Maybe a stupid comment, but our plan was to go to Florida a couple weeks after our arrival to Canada (relax and settle down a bit before our new life in Canada). Is my wife able to go? The 4 of us would go to FLA for a couple weeks and visit my mother who spends the winter down south.