Outland Canadian Permanent Residence

[Beehivefive]

I will be applying for my wife's Permanent Residence from outside Canada (we live in the U.S. at the moment). I have heard the process could take a while, but is it possible to move to Canada with my family while the outland application is in process, or would that complicate things?

Speaking of which, anyone have any experience in applying for a PR for an American spouse? Wondering how long it takes. My case seems pretty straight-forward, so I guess I'm hoping it doesn't take as long as the CIC website quotes.

Thanks!

 

[zardoz]

Assuming that you are a Canadian citizen, you should have no real problems. It will take a while to process, especially with the current industrial action underway with PAFSO.

Your wife cannot "move" to Canada, but she could certainly "visit". Don't say the "M-word" at the border. Also, she should travel separately from the family possessions in case the CBSA decide that she is "moving". It's all a silly game, but you have to play by the unwritten rules.

 

[Beehivefive]

Thanks for your reply. What is PAFSO, by the way?

Also, any notion as to how long a straight-forward PR would take for a spouse these days? I'm canadian-born, she's US, and we've been married for 7 years and have a daughter.

 

[zardoz]

PAFSO is the foreign service officers union. They are currently on work to rule and/or striking.
How long it takes is in the lap of the gods. There are figures published but you have to take them with a pinch of salt.

 

[parker24]

Thanks for your reply. What is PAFSO, by the way?

Also, any notion as to how long a straight-forward PR would take for a spouse these days? I'm canadian-born, she's US, and we've been married for 7 years and have a daughter.

It can take anywhere from 8 months to 2 years. My husband is American and ours took 10 months. There's another user here, Simb, hers took 2 years.

 

[Millertimez]

It can take anywhere from 8 to 12 months, but the current strike could make it even longer. I plan on filing my application in September, however, it won't get processed right away with all the backlog of applications.