Spousal Sponsorship Timeline

[shoe4life]

Hello,

I am a Canadian citizen looking to submit an application for my common-law spouse. We are planning to submit the application by the end of December 2014. We are also planning a trip to Cuba in mid-February. I have looked into it, and there seems to be no problem with this trip, as long as my wife can re-enter Canada. She is able to as she has a study permit

The only thing I am worried about is when the interviews are scheduled. I am concerned that if we go on this week long vacation trip, that we may miss the interviews. Typically, I would like to know when interviews are scheduled after the application has been submitted if the process goes smoothly?

Thanks in advance.

 

[scylla]

How are you applying? Inland? Outland? Through which visa office?

 

[shoe4life]

My spouse currently lives with me in Canada. Yes we are applying Inland. (IMM5289)

 

[sophieee]

Hello,

I am a Canadian citizen looking to submit an application for my common-law spouse. We are planning to submit the application by the end of December 2014. We are also planning a trip to Cuba in mid-February. I have looked into it, and there seems to be no problem with this trip, as long as my wife can re-enter Canada. She is able to as she has a study permit

The only thing I am worried about is when the interviews are scheduled. I am concerned that if we go on this week long vacation trip, that we may miss the interviews. Typically, I would like to know when interviews are scheduled after the application has been submitted if the process goes smoothly?

Thanks in advance.

What's the nationality of your spouse? Outland route may be faster and she can live with you in Canada during the whole process.
Just a very few application require an interview, but if you go with the inland route you can't expect it before 2016.

 

[shoe4life]

She is Chinese. Why does In-land take so much longer than Outland? Thanks.

I might add if it is relevant, that she is here on a student permit, and she is currently going to school at Humber College in Toronto.

 

[rhcohen2014]

that is a loaded question, and I don't think anyone can give a straightforward answer to that. the short answer is that it's probably related to application volume, how long it takes to get cic to get security and background info from an applicant's country, how many officers are assigned to work on applications and plenty of "internal protocols" we as every day people are not privy to.

it doesn't matter if your wife is here as a visitor, worker or student. she can still apply OUTLAND, and it's most likely going to be significantly shorter than applying inland. applying outland has NOTHING to do with where the applicant currently holds status. it has to do with where the applicant is from and where the application is being processed. to know the real time stats for the visa office that handles Chinese applications, find the thread specific to that office.

 

[Rob_TO]

I have looked into it, and there seems to be no problem with this trip, as long as my wife can re-enter Canada. She is able to as she has a study permit

Nothing guarantees re-entry to Canada. That decision is always up to the CBSA officers encountered at POE, no matter what visas or permits one has.

In general it's not recommended to travel outside Canada with an inland app in progress.

In your case if your wife already has a valid study permit, I would advise to definitely submit an OUTLAND application. Could even request CPC-Ottawa as outland processing office if her permit is valid for at least 1 year.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Could even request CPC-Ottawa as outland processing office if her permit is valid for at least 1 year.

I am not sure this is true anymore, as the question related to which visa office the applicant wants to be processed at is no longer on the application - as of November. it does not appear CIC wants the applicant making that choice anymore. it seems to be in their hands only. of course, there's no telling if CIC will automatically send student and worker applications to Ottawa if they do hold legal residence for 1+ year.

 

[Rob_TO]

I am not sure this is true anymore, as the question related to which visa office the applicant wants to be processed at is no longer on the application - as of November. it does not appear CIC wants the applicant making that choice anymore. it seems to be in their hands only. of course, there's no telling if CIC will automatically send student and worker applications to Ottawa if they do hold legal residence for 1+ year.

Interesting. The OP manuals have actually stated for years that the applicant could not choose processing office, yet they kept the field in the application. I guess now they have finally updated it to match this rule.

Of course one can always write a cover letter to the application, stressing the reasons they want processing at a particular office. No guarantee a visa officer will care or even read it, but can't hurt to try.