yes it is confusing , I'm looking for the best way forward , I think my question would probably be if you were me what would you do?
Return to Canada - PR
- Thread starter return2025
- Start date
As a PR, you cannot apply to sponsor your spouse abroad, you must physically be in Canada.
You really only have one choice in near term: whether spouse applies for visa now or not. That has no significant impact if refused.
If spouse gets visa, you can travel together and apply to sponsor 'inland'*. If spouse doesn't, you apply outland when you arrive.
Spouse can then apply for visa again after AOR is received.
This is pretty much the only sequence of decisions, I think.
*As noted, you can also apply outland sponsorship even if in Canada. In my view this doesn't make much difference. You can start preparing the documents as 'outland'.
Agree with @armoured. IRCC will likely actually dictate what happens because the outcome of the TRV application(s) will narrow down your possibilities. If your spouse applies for TRV now and gets denied you gave no other option but to return to Canada on your own and start the sponsorship process. TRV processing can take up to months so you also may not have the results before you have to book flights and travel to Canada. Would suggest that your spouse remain employed since that can have a big impact on TRV approval because it creates ties to your home country.
I guess a little bit of context would help , I'm right now in USA on H1B and my wife is doing her masters as of now in US
Then she may have better chance of getting a TRV (assuming she's not from a visa waiver country). Otherwise all still basically the same.
Nothing wrong with that approach. Note that OWP app is after AOR and the applicant has arrived in Canada.