Spouse Visa - Going to Canada to apply???

[ScotCanuck]

Hello Everyone!

I am here looking for information about a spouse visa for Canada, and also to find out if we are going about this the wrong way. Any help would be greatly appreciated...

I am a UK citizen, my wife is Canadian citizen and we have a 1 year old son who was born in the UK.

We have been married 18 months and living together in Scotland for the last 3 years +. My wife was offered her job back in Canada and it was basically an offer that she couldn't refuse. We talked about it and decided the move would be better for our son and better for her career path. We also own property in Canada.

We are looking for information about what might happen if we fly into Canada on a one way ticket, with the purpose of applying for the visa within Canada??? Is this even possible or will we be likely to encounter problems at border control??

Again any advice on this matter will be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[ScotCanuck]

Anyone with any Info.?????

 

[scylla]

Yes - it's possible you might run into trouble at the border.

You should purchase a return ticket instead (they're typically cheaper anyway) and make it clear at the border that you know you're entering as a visitor. Since you're from the UK - you should be applying for PR via the outland route (rather than inland) - much faster. You should aim to complete and submit your application BEFORE you fly to Canada and then bring proof with you for the border crossing that you have submitted the application and are working on making your status in Canada permanent. And yes - you can certainly be in Canada while your application is being processed via the outland route.

 

[ScotCanuck]

Thanks for the reply!

If I can enter Canada after making an outland application, surely i can enter Canada to make an Inland application??? It would pretty much be the same application either way??? Time isn't an Issue for us as my partner's job is well paid and someone needs to be around to look after our 1 year old.

The problem we have is that my wife needs to start her job in 7 weeks!! What kind of trouble would we likely encounter at border control???

 

[scylla]

Thanks for the reply!

If I can enter Canada after making an outland application, surely i can enter Canada to make an Inland application??? It would pretty much be the same application either way??? Time isn't an Issue for us as my partner's job is well paid and someone needs to be around to look after our 1 year old.

The problem we have is that my wife needs to start her job in 7 weeks!! What kind of trouble would we likely encounter at border control???

I was suggesting that you first apply outland and then enter Canada (this is different than entering Canada and then applying). If you encounter any issues at the border (hopefully you won't), the fact you have already filed the application will help you. If you don't have time to file the application before you leave, then pay all of the fees ($1040) and bring proof you have paid.

It is definitely not the same application process for outland and inland (they are sent to different places, they have different stages, they take different amounts of time, one allows appeals for refusals and one doesn't, etc.). Regardless of whether you apply while you are outside of Canada or inside of Canada - use the outland process. Again, the processing times should be much faster outland.