Lebanese sponsorship - early advice please

[r1dutch]

Hi, I have been looking around this forum and found some scary stuff regarding Lebanese immigration - I wonder if anyone can offer any advice.

My situation: I am a PR of Canada with a UK passport, considering applying for full citizenship (but that's a separate matter).
I met a Lebanese girl on holiday in Turkey, and we are considering marriage. At this time our options are open to decide whether to move me to Lebanon, move us both to UK/EU or move her to Canada.
Our preference would be Canada, as I have a good career here and we would like to stay.
I feel I am getting a little ahead of myself, as we have not set a date to marry - but I want to be prepared.

My questions:
How long does a spousal sponsorship typically take, and is there anything we can prepare in advance of marriage? Anything we could or should be doing now?
Does anyone know if the process to immigrate to the UK is quicker or easier than to immigrate to Canada?
Would full Canadian citizenship on my side help the process? (I am eligible and intend to do it anyway, but I'll hurry up if it helps)
Where are the best resources for sensible advice and assistance specific to Lebanese immigration to Canada?

Sorry if my questions are very basic, I am totally ignorant of our options but as our relationship has become serious I need to get a feel for the long road ahead of me.

Thanks!

 

[scylla]

Canadian citizenship will not make the sponsorship process faster. However if you are a citizen, then you can sponsor your wife while living outside of Canada. If you are a permanent resident, then you must be living in Canada when the sponsorship application is submitted and continue living in Canada while her application is processed.

In terms of what you can do in advance, start collecting supporting documentation that proves your relationship is genuine (e.g. cards, emails, photos, letters, bank statements, bills, etc.) and start filling out the forms to see what kind of information you will be expected to provide.

It appears that applications from Lebanon as processed through the Damascus office. This means that application processing times are apprximately 1 month in Mississauga + approximately 11 months in Damascus (although a percentage of applications are processed faster):

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp

 

[r1dutch]

Many thanks, Scylla,

One year doesn't sound as bad as I feared... my PR took 3 years from the UK so I know it could be a lot worse.

We'll make sure to send each other some letters and emails that we don't mind giving to the government...