Questions about the inland and outland family sponsorship process for a spouse

[theJuls]

Hello everyone!

I am an American citizen and my fiance is Canadian. We will be getting married around October or November this year and initiating the process.

As it stands, we will be going through with the inland process, however I am still quite confused about it. It just seems to go to be true. According to the immigration services I spoke to, all I have to do is upon entering the country I have to tell the officer that I am coming to get married and apply to immigrate through the sponsorship program within Canada and he will stamp my passport. After the wedding and all, I must send in the documentation, as well as apply for the Open Work Permit which will most likely be granted after about 8 months or so. Then a few more months later, it will be over and I will become a PR.
Is that really it? Has anyone ever done it before and has it gone through that smoothly? I get worried about the immigration officer not allowing me in for trying to do so... But maybe I'm just over thinking things...

On the other hand, from what I've read on the cic website, the alternative would be the outland way which seems absolutely insane! I mean, the waiting times according to the website are 30 months from the NY office, which I find absolutely ludicrous! Also, reading about the topic, they say the outland process is better because it is a lot quicker... I am quite confused about that since it did say on the cic website that NY is 30 months. I am sure there is some kind of misunderstanding on my part there or some kind of issue with clarification. Could anyone give me some insight on this?

Thank you for your time!

 

[Rob_TO]

As it stands, we will be going through with the inland process, however I am still quite confused about it. It just seems to go to be true. According to the immigration services I spoke to, all I have to do is upon entering the country I have to tell the officer that I am coming to get married and apply to immigrate through the sponsorship program within Canada and he will stamp my passport. After the wedding and all, I must send in the documentation, as well as apply for the Open Work Permit which will most likely be granted after about 8 months or so. Then a few more months later, it will be over and I will become a PR.
Is that really it? Has anyone ever done it before and has it gone through that smoothly? I get worried about the immigration officer not allowing me in for trying to do so... But maybe I'm just over thinking things...

Actual current times are 11 months for stage 1 and getting OWP, then another 8 months for stage 2. So 19 months total, during which you are not supposed to leave Canada at all.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

On the other hand, from what I've read on the cic website, the alternative would be the outland way which seems absolutely insane! I mean, the waiting times according to the website are 30 months from the NY office, which I find absolutely ludicrous! Also, reading about the topic, they say the outland process is better because it is a lot quicker... I am quite confused about that since it did say on the cic website that NY is 30 months. I am sure there is some kind of misunderstanding on my part there or some kind of issue with clarification. Could anyone give me some insight on this?

If you actually read the entire outland guide, you'll see it links to this page that shows visa offices: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

US citizens are processed at CPC-Ottawa for outland apps, and current times these days is in the 10 month range.

In practically all cases it's better/quicker for US citizens to apply outland.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Ok first off, US citizens should never apply inland! It is recommended you apply OUTLAND! You will hear many people tell you this on the forum. There is absolutely NO benefit for a US citizen to apply outland!

The CIC processing times you see online are not accurate. #1 - ALL US applications get processed in OTTAWA, NOT LA OR NY. NYC doesn't even process family class PR applications anymore, and files get sent to LA for specific reasons (ie: red flags in the application). The current trend for US OUTLAND applicants found on the tracking sheets on THIS forum is 8-10 months, sometimes 12 months to landing. Which means you can work legally and be a full PR within that time, assuming the application is straight forward.

So yes, you are right, inland applicants can get an OWP after stage 1 approval in the inland process, which is currently 8 months. After that, you will have to wait AT LEAST another 8 months for 2nd stage approval. So even though you can work legally after stage 1 approval, you are still not fully through the process for at least 1.5 years! There is now even a backlog with inland applications since they moved offices, so the wait is going to be longer.

Also, with an inland application, the applicant CAN NOT leave canada. If they do, and are denied re-entry, the application will be thrown out. There is no right to appeal. Those who have applied inland greatly regret the decision once they realize they are locked in canada for nearly 2 years, and see others who have applied outland at the same time have successfully landed within 1 year.

With an outland application, an applicant can be IN canada during the application process. They can enter as a visitor, and extend the visit through the end of the process. Many people do this, and have successfully stayed in canada legally as a visitor for 1+ years. The application can even be mailed in when the applicant is in canada as a visitor. Visitors can not work while in canada. Visitors CAN work for NON-Canadian companies remotely while in canada. Outland applicants are not eligible for OWP.

Bottom line... you are a US citizen... APPLY OUTLAND!

 

[Ponga]

The only real reason to consider an Inland application is if the American applicant is out of status, as the Inland application MAY delay/prevent the applicant from being removed by CBSA.

For a person that can maintain their legal visitor status, Outland is the no-brainer choice!

 

[CMLR]

Hello everyone!

I am an American citizen and my fiance is Canadian. We will be getting married around October or November this year and initiating the process.

As it stands, we will be going through with the inland process, however I am still quite confused about it. It just seems to go to be true. According to the immigration services I spoke to, all I have to do is upon entering the country I have to tell the officer that I am coming to get married and apply to immigrate through the sponsorship program within Canada and he will stamp my passport. After the wedding and all, I must send in the documentation, as well as apply for the Open Work Permit which will most likely be granted after about 8 months or so. Then a few more months later, it will be over and I will become a PR.
Is that really it? Has anyone ever done it before and has it gone through that smoothly? I get worried about the immigration officer not allowing me in for trying to do so... But maybe I'm just over thinking things...

On the other hand, from what I've read on the cic website, the alternative would be the outland way which seems absolutely insane! I mean, the waiting times according to the website are 30 months from the NY office, which I find absolutely ludicrous! Also, reading about the topic, they say the outland process is better because it is a lot quicker... I am quite confused about that since it did say on the cic website that NY is 30 months. I am sure there is some kind of misunderstanding on my part there or some kind of issue with clarification. Could anyone give me some insight on this?

Thank you for your time!



I am in the process as an in Canada spouse being sponsored. It is not quite as easy as you have been told. I have been told by our immigration specialist that until my spouses sponsorship is approved I cannot try to work. At this time that takes about 10 months. Once we get a letter stating I have a sponsor then I can cross the boarder just for a little bit come back in, hand them my letter stating the sponsorship is approved then I will be given a work permit. It will take about 8-9 months after that before I am a PR. You can be on a visitor status from the USA for 6 months. If you leave during that time even for one day your 6 months can start again. I was not sure I would be able to leave so we decided to apply for an Extension of my Visitor Status. It cost us about 100 dollars but I can now be here a year without leaving and not be concernd that I would not be allowed to stay. I hope this was helpful.

 

[rhcohen2014]

I am in the process as an in Canada spouse being sponsored. It is not quite as easy as you have been told. I have been told by our immigration specialist that until my spouses sponsorship is approved I cannot try to work. At this time that takes about 10 months. Once we get a letter stating I have a sponsor then I can cross the boarder just for a little bit come back in, hand them my letter stating the sponsorship is approved then I will be given a work permit. It will take about 8-9 months after that before I am a PR.

i am confused. Are you applying inland and not currently in Canada? You are not suppose to leave canada if you have an inland application in process. If you are denied entry upon your return, your application will be thrown out. Outland applicants are not eligible for work permits, so i'm not sure why you applied for one if you are applying outland? Certainly handing immigration your sposorship approval letter will NOT allow you to get a work permit as an outland applicant. US applicants who apply OUTLAND can potentially land in 8-10 months. I am very confused how your response relates AT ALL to the subject of this thread?

You can be on a visitor status from the USA for 6 months. If you leave during that time even for one day your 6 months can start again.

this is not necessarily true. There are many US citizens with stories that contradict this belief. I would be interested to hear if your experience is different.

 

[CMLR]

I have applied inland. I have not tried yet for a OWP as I am waiting until stage one letter saying my spouses sponsorship is approved. I have gotten an extension on my visitors status which was done by application and I am here for a year on that extension. However I have gone into the US recently with my spouse and we had no problems crossing the boarder. I think people need to do what feels right to them. I hope the person who wrote the original post is able to figure out what is best for them soon and get it started. As no matter what way you choose it takes to and patients to wait it out.

 

[Amalthea]

I have applied inland. I have not tried yet for a OWP as I am waiting until stage one letter saying my spouses sponsorship is approved. I have gotten an extension on my visitors status which was done by application and I am here for a year on that extension. However I have gone into the US recently with my spouse and we had no problems crossing the boarder. I think people need to do what feels right to them. I hope the person who wrote the original post is able to figure out what is best for them soon and get it started. As no matter what way you choose it takes to and patients to wait it out.

You really should not leave Canada if you filed "INLAND". If they refuse you at the border, your ENTIRE application is THROWN OUT.

 

[Amalthea]

Hello everyone!

I am an American citizen and my fiance is Canadian. We will be getting married around October or November this year and initiating the process.

As it stands, we will be going through with the inland process, however I am still quite confused about it. It just seems to go to be true. According to the immigration services I spoke to, all I have to do is upon entering the country I have to tell the officer that I am coming to get married and apply to immigrate through the sponsorship program within Canada and he will stamp my passport. After the wedding and all, I must send in the documentation, as well as apply for the Open Work Permit which will most likely be granted after about 8 months or so. Then a few more months later, it will be over and I will become a PR.
Is that really it? Has anyone ever done it before and has it gone through that smoothly? I get worried about the immigration officer not allowing me in for trying to do so... But maybe I'm just over thinking things...

On the other hand, from what I've read on the cic website, the alternative would be the outland way which seems absolutely insane! I mean, the waiting times according to the website are 30 months from the NY office, which I find absolutely ludicrous! Also, reading about the topic, they say the outland process is better because it is a lot quicker... I am quite confused about that since it did say on the cic website that NY is 30 months. I am sure there is some kind of misunderstanding on my part there or some kind of issue with clarification. Could anyone give me some insight on this?

Thank you for your time!

Hi Juls! Actually, I was in the same boat a few weeks ago. I was very confused about the wait times for Outland. Since Outland applications from the US are actually processed at Ottawa, we have seen they are being processed in as fast as 5-6 months! Most are taking 8-10 currently. It's much better, convienent, and faster to apply Outland. That also saves you your right of appeal, as Inland applications cannot be appealed if they are denied.

Inland applications are taking 19 months or longer, so by all means I urge you to apply Outland since it's about a third the wait. There is a US Outland thread if you'd like to join us! Even a facebook group, hehe.

 

[Amalthea]

You can even stay with your husband in Canada while you wait for the Outland application to go through, given you keep current on your visitor visa. I'm not an expert on it, but it's very possible, and way smarter considering applying outland takes about a third as long and you're free to travel as you please (Inland means you are stuck in Canada the whole wait)

 

[rhcohen2014]

However I have gone into the US recently with my spouse and we had no problems crossing the boarder.

sure, of course there will be no issues for a US citizen to cross INTO the US. The concern is what happens when you attempt to cross BACK into CANADA? It sounds as if you are still in the US, and NOT in Canada at the moment.

I have applied inland. I have not tried yet for a OWP as I am waiting until stage one letter saying my spouses sponsorship is approved. I have gotten an extension on my visitors status which was done by application and I am here for a year on that extension. However I have gone into the US recently with my spouse and we had no problems crossing the boarder. I think people need to do what feels right to them. I hope the person who wrote the original post is able to figure out what is best for them soon and get it started. As no matter what way you choose it takes to and patients to wait it out.

if you've left canada with an inland application, have you crossed back IN to canada yet? Would love to hear how successful you are with this...

 

[rhcohen2014]

There is a US Outland thread if you'd like to join us! Even a facebook group, hehe.

is there a US applicant facebook group, or are you referring to the family sponsorship FB group just made by leahdoll?

 

[theJuls]

Hello again everybody!

I must say this is quite rough... Basically almost all of you are telling me to do the outland process. The thing about it my fiance and I hate is the worry of having to be 8-10 months apart. But you all say it is ok to keep going and coming back from Canada every 6 months? The thing about this is I am still worried about getting stopped at the border because I will have no proof of going back so soon. I would also have no idea how to extend my visa just because I want to stay with my then-husband. It is however a relief knowing it isn't a whole 30 months of waiting time. I am sorry if that was stupid, I find the immigration website very confusing.

The only real reason to consider an Inland application is if the American applicant is out of status, as the Inland application MAY delay/prevent the applicant from being removed by CBSA.

For a person that can maintain their legal visitor status, Outland is the no-brainer choice!

What does an "out of status" american me exactly? I didn't understand that bit.

 

[scylla]

What does an "out of status" american me exactly? I didn't understand that bit.

"Out of status" describes anyone who has overstayed their allowable stay in Canada.

 

[theJuls]

"Out of status" describes anyone who has overstayed their allowable stay in Canada.

Ohh! Ok. It's odd, sounds almost like a loop-hole.

Hi Juls! Actually, I was in the same boat a few weeks ago. I was very confused about the wait times for Outland. Since Outland applications from the US are actually processed at Ottawa, we have seen they are being processed in as fast as 5-6 months! Most are taking 8-10 currently. It's much better, convienent, and faster to apply Outland. That also saves you your right of appeal, as Inland applications cannot be appealed if they are denied.

Inland applications are taking 19 months or longer, so by all means I urge you to apply Outland since it's about a third the wait. There is a US Outland thread if you'd like to join us! Even a facebook group, hehe.

This is also good information to take note of... Being denied by the end of 19 months sounds like a nightmare...

I just found the thread you were talking about. Could you send me the link of the facebook group?