completing a Canadian PR application

Yes, definitely "outland" for your case. While neither route is "fast", the outland process is definitely much quicker. Also, it's safer: if something goes wrong, you can re-apply. You can't do that with the inland route. Also, you can usually visit Canada while your outland application is on progress (bring your kids and a copy of your application with you).

Thanks for writing. We aren't through it yet at all, which is why I don't have more information posted. We're only at the phase where I've been approved as a sponsor and the application's been forwarded to the visa office in Japan.

It sounds like you applied via the inland process? That seems to take much, much longer, but at least you don't run the risk of needing an interview in New Delhi. All the best to you!

The "outland" option is by far the best. Depending on her country of origin, the entire thing could be wrapped up in well under four months (I've witnessed this for people coming from the UK and Austria, for instance). You can also reapply through the outland route if your application fails or if you withdraw. Note that if you leave the country during the outland route there's a good chance that you'll get back in if you simply present yourselves and have a copy of your PR application in hand. That's what my wife did this summer when she returned to see her grandmother, who's not well. We took a chance, though, because it was up to the whim of the individual immigration officer. Do not be fooled, Canada's system is not as flexible and encouraging as its critics would have you believe.

The "inland" process was a more recent addition to the government's policies, and it was created to allow people who'd been living in Canada illegally with a means of landing. It takes about two years. And during that time you absolutely cannot leave the country. Moreover, it's a one-shot thing—if you withdraw your application or it fails for some reason, you can't apply again.

I suggest you join this forum and find some useful threads or start your own:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/family-class-sponsorship-b5.0/

My other advice:

1. Decide if you can really put up with months and months of waiting in limbo. If she's going to live with you in Canada she will be unable to

I have no idea, my friend. You should contact Immigration directly, and if you can't get any help perhaps contact your member of parliament.

There will be long delays no matter which way you go, but you definitely want to file "outland". Have a look through the questions and comments on my site, there is a lot of information there.

Thanks for dropping by,

-Michael

Thanks for the heads-up, L A. I'd already let the fact of the card's expiry drift aimlessly from my mind.

This system's a grim screwy one. My colleagues were amazed that people are now going to lengths such as giving birth in bathtubs to get around the denial of health insurance during The Long Wait.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/02/24/bc-motelbaby.html

Some info on the expiry of Canadian PR cards, for those who need it:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/index.asp

It does indeed. Good luck with your long wait. (P.S. Did you apply inland or outland?)

Hello, Marie;

You can start with this unofficial immigration wiki:

http://immipedia.ca

It's been put together by people who have been through the experience. My strongest advice is:

1. Follow the so-called "outland" procedure, some guidance from the gov't is here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/famcls.asp

And here are the forms.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

(Your v.o. is London, not Buffalo.)

2. Start gathering proof of your relationship such as emails, photos of you together, photos of you with each other's family and friends, records of how you came to be engaged and where you have been seen in public together, if you own any property together, if you have any children together. Start gathering letters of reference (it's better if they're prominent people) in support of your relationship's validity (e.g. we even supplied one from our landlady). It would be best if you can show that you have a job in Canada.

3. Wait. A lot. The current government is not supportive of this entire process, and wait times have been escalating. The whole thing took us from January to October, and we were relatively lucky (e.g. note that several people who applied in April of 2011 still haven't gotten anywhere: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?hl=en&hl=en&key=0AsXgiZGqzRb8dFhYVUxqYzRrU0hvemVGaDFoSEhKVFE&output=html

I don't think the government in any way questions the "legitimacy" of your living abroad, they just verify that the marriage is real. While I am not a qualified expert on any of these things, I believe that you should check the timing of your application carefully, as it is my understanding that you have to apply under circumstances that a) you can demonstrate the financial means to support your husband (e.g. you have a job waiting for you in Canada) and b) that you intend on relocating to Canada at a specific and upcoming date. In your case I imagine that it would be better to apply much closer to the date you intend to return (e.g. within 18 months of returning). But please don't take my word for these things, have a look at some of the online immigration forums where knowledgeable people hang out and answer questions.

Best of luck, Rita!

From the way this lunacy plays out you might almost get the impression that our benighted government WANTS people to work under the table, wouldn't you?

By sad comparison, in Japan (where they openly restrict immigration, and where they only "accept" 25 refugees a year, on average) a spousal visa takes six weeks. Six. Weeks. No interviews, no silently ignoring applicants for months at a time, no confusion about application routes, no arbitrary decisions based on the foreign spouse's country of origin.

It's maddening. I wish you and your wife all the best.

First of all, don't freak out. You'll get through this. Find other people going through what you're doing, and follow on the good advice and sense of support/community you'll get from them along the way. Having selected the outland route puts you on the right track.

Figuring out the job/visa chicken-egg scenario isn't easy. But people do it every day. It sounds like you already have some workable ideas. Also, I'd strongly recommend that you start networking like a lunatic: prepare job leads based on people who know you're coming back and who know your skill sets etc. It's what I did for several months before my return, and I had three very solid opportunities take shape in a matter of a couple of weeks. I am still working at the job I selected, nearly two years later, so it doesn't necessarily have to be a desperation thing. When it comes to finding work, things can turn in your favour in the blink of an eye.

Best of luck to you!

7th generation, yeah you'd think that would do it, wouldn't you. Similarly, I'm the 11th to have lived here and my ancestors settled land all over the eastern half of the country. Nowadays it's all about optics, short-term politics, and pretending the rest of the world doesn't exist. I mean; we had a son, isn't it clear what's going on? /end rant

To answer your question: use the "outland" process; get on some of the forums where people exchange tips and follow their advice; if anything gets jammed up, contact your MP - they have staff for dealing with these very things; gather references inside Canada that know you both (if possible); if at all possible, have someone from your family attend the civil ceremony or the reception (have a reception with her family in attendance.

Since she's Japanese (welcome to the club) she can stay in Canada as long as your application (even an outland application) is underway, but it might make more sense to have her leave every six months (the term for a Japanese citizen w/o standing in Canada, last I knew). But if she has to leave the country it'd be best if she had a complete copy of the application forms and proof with her while re-entering; some of the border people can apparently make a snap decision to send her back. Naturally, with no standing in the country she won't qualify for health care, for an SIN (so no work), and there are no programs for her.

Best of luck!

I don't think it matters where you get married, but my advice is to:

1. Get married somewhere that family members from both sides can attend, if at all possible.

2. Spend a lot of your time in public in the company of friends (and if possible, family) who will be in your photos, demonstrating that your relationship is public knowledge.

3. Visit with both families prior to the marriage.

4. Download the forms from the Canadian government's website and be familiar with all of the questions they'll ask. You'll want to do all of the things they ask about, like #1-3 above.

5. Pay strict attention to your visa requirements if you decide to come visit in Canada at any time. Do not overstay your visa.

You'll want to choose the "outland" application process, not the relatively new "inland" application process.

If you can wait until she has her medical degree, it might smooth the way if she can show that she has the financial wherewithal to support you for the duration of the sponsorship period plus the two-year visa "gelling" period (due to a brand new law, you must demonstrate that you're living together for two years once you have the visa). A doctor shouldn't have any problems there.

For general advice, check out online forums like the one I reference in the article.

Good luck with your quest!

Check with the Canadian embassy or consulate that's managing your application. At the time of our application, the embassy in Tokyo had posted some information, and my wife was able to find the right application form and police department. We then took the police report to the Japanese consulate here in Canada for notarized translation.

It probably varies quite a bit country to country. For instance, here in Canada there are private firms you can go to for a background check. Again, I'd start with the Canadian embassy or consulate handling your case.

Best of luck to you!

Join some of the forums that I point to in my website and you'll soon see that there are indeed cases where inland applications are rejected. And once an inland application is rejected, you cannot apply again.

Given the extra time involved with an inland application, and the added risk of not being able to apply a second time, I recommend that you look at the outland application process.

Best of luck, and congratulations on your engagement!

It all depends on who is processing the claim. If you used the "inland" process, it can take more than a year, from the stories I've read. If you're using the "outland" process it is up to the individual embassy that's processing your claim. Some are so busy that you won't hear anything for a very long time. With others it can be relatively quick. In our case we used the outland process and heard from Mississauga within six weeks or so. Then it was off to the embassy (Tokyo visa office, now closed) and we heard little until it was all over (ten months in total).

Best of luck. Join one of the forums where you can discuss current events with other people going through the process. You'll find plenty from India, for instance.

Hi, Ash.

I saw your comment on my website last week. I've been considering a response since that time but the best thing I think you can do is join a forum like the one below and ask your questions there:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/index.php

Dan, you didn't leave an email address; good luck with your wife's landing.

To answer your questions:

1) Yes, my wife stayed as a visitor (no visa per se). She left the country once just after the six month mark (it should have been before that period, we screwed up) but she was able to re-enter without problem. I frequently encourage people to join one+ of the forums where people discuss these things - you can find out the current rules there.

2) We bought insurance through Blue Cross (and one or two others). It covers only a limited set of things such as emergency response, and not many other things such as hospital care during pregnancy or any kind of medications (to my recollection) though it does cover ambulance transportation, which isn't covered by provincial health care.

Hello, we have a lot in common. 8^)

In addition to the comments that I posted to the web page you found, I would stress:

a) use the 'outland' process, which I suppose for you means applying through Manila (I think you still have to mail the application to the site in Mississauga).

b) make sure you have lots of photo evidence of your relationship being a public one, e.g. you're with friends and both families

c) consider whether you want to arrive in Canada, find work, then apply (still using the outland process); come back to Canada on your own, find work and of course leaving her in Japan while your application is in the works (bear in mind that even after our application was received it took six months, and that was when the Tokyo visa office was still functioning); or somehow find work while still outside of Canada and then apply from there and only move to Canada together. We chose the first option, many people do the latter and are apart for a long time.

Good luck, fellow Michael-in-Japan. I'm actually in Miyazaki prefecture at the moment and am reminded of all that I've left behind in coming back to Canada.

Hello, Imran, I noticed your inquiry on my website. I'm afraid I don't have much advice other than to keep trying to reach Immigration, either here in Canada at their help line or through the embassy/consulate in your area.

I don't know what a "demand draft" is, but if you've already paid them certainly you should have a receipt of some sort to forward them?

Hi, Lucien, I saw your comments to my website. My notes were intended for Canadians who have married abroad and are bringing a spouse to Canada. If you're looking for sponsorship under an employment, I suggest you start here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/work.asp

or here:

http://www.canadavisa.com/work-in-canada-job-seekers.html

or even at unoffical sources like this:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canadian-arranged-employment.html

Best of luck!!

I strongly suggest that you arm yourself with all of the official information you can, and then find a support group such as the forums I link to on my website. There are many people from the Philippines doing what you're doing, you're not alone.

The one thing you were missing is a return email address, Jenna! 8^)

But seriously, 14 months is a very, very fast turnaround compared to what people actually experience using the inland route. On the message forums you see stories where inland applications easily range to 2 or even 3 years. It's your choice but I strongly recommend the outland route.

Good to hear from you again. 8^)

I think that the posted times on the CIC website, if they make inland seem quicker than outland, must be pretty optimistic. I have never heard of a country where inland was even close to outland in processing speed. Post a query with your express concerns, you'll get a response, I'm quite sure.

And good luck!

Those "inland" processing times seem very unrealistic. From what I've read in people's personal experience, I think 18-24 months is more typical regardless of country of origin.

Dana;

I'm sorry to hear of your struggles, and hope that this hasn't soured you too much on Canada.

First of all, I'm not qualified to answer your tax question in any way.

Secondly, when it comes to the CIC "service" line, I wouldn't push it. That line is specifically geared to answer very basic questions, they are not meant to be looking at anyone's file and answering specific questions. I'm sorry to hear that your MP isn't more help, the office of my MP helped me considerably when my documents went astray and the visa office in Tokyo couldn't/wouldn't respond.

But to the main point - I have been told that the inland process was specifically created (long after the outland process had been established) to process spouses who are "out of status" in Canada. For people from exempt countries like the UK (and in my wife's case, Japan) it's considered to be much more efficient to use the outland process. And cases like yours are the ones that seem to prove the point. I don't know what else to tell you other than to suggest that you find a forum like the ones I reference on the page on my website and find others who are in the same situation as you and disprove the axiom that misery loves company. 8(

All the best with your application. Good luck, and be patient. Maybe it helps that spring should be arriving soon.

P.S. Even though we applied 'outland' (two long years ago this month!), my wife didn't have her PR stamp until 9-10 months had elapsed. Almost everyone in the group who had spouse coming from an exempt European country or the US went through before anyone else. Believe it or not, you would seem to be in the fastest lane for 'inland' applications, all other things being equal.

Hello, Diane, thanks for taking the time to write.

Your story isn't really that unique, I would think you'd find arguments for both courses of action among people who've tried one or the other. We did the latter of your two choices because a) we were already married and had only one apartment and b) wanted to stay together - Japan and Canada are many Skype hours apart, and travel cost between them is nuts.

I can't comment authoritatively on whether "the CIC looks unfavorably on the fact that I wouldn't be living with him" but it didn't seem to impact our application at all. Then again, we were already married and had a child (plus, I had been a volunteer with the Canadian consular services with the embassy's emergency warden program - I was more-or-less familiar to the staff at the embassy).

I would suggest that you look at the practicalities: e.g.:

1. If you marry now, would your family and his be able to attend a wedding together - this is the sort of thing that the CIC folk seem to like as proof of a valid marriage.

2. Frankly speaking, consider what six (more) months being apart will be like - remember that you'd possibly have a good deal of difficulty crossing the border with an application in the works. This "seems" (wherever you see me use this word, beware that I'm writing based on the urging of other people I've spoken/corresponded with about these topics) to be entirely in the hands of the individual border guard you talk to upon arrival - your husband would be the one doing all of the travel. Also consider that the strains of the process (and your not being able to work or study in Canada if you're living in Canada) can cause friction between you and spouse. In which of your situations are you more likely to face greater stress and strain, and more likely to overcome the stresses and strains? P.S. I don't know if six months is the real scope of it: these things can drag on in for a good deal longer. Ours was ten months all in.

3. Conversely, the opposite also holds true. We were warned repeatedly that my wife should not attempt to leave the country while our application was in progress. Due, again, to the difficulties some people "seem" to face re-entering Canada if they have a PR application in the works. I was told by several correspondents about horror stories like PR applications needing to be re-started, being forbidden, etc etc. So, if you go with moving to Canada and then go home to see your family, things could go badly for you if you attempt re-entry. We wound up doing this due to a family emergency in Japan (these, you can't plan for) and everyone on the forums told me, "Are you crazy?"

4. If you took the second route, you wouldn't be able to work in Canada, nor have health insurance for the duration plus an additional three month application phase even after you are granted PR status. If you become pregnant, there is no form of health coverage that will cover things adequately. My wife became pregnant during our ten months PR wait, and the only insurance I could buy was strictly for emergencies, not for conditions such as pregnancy.

5. How are you going to find work in Canada if you're in the US? Or can you work remotely for an American employer or work out some other solution.

Whatever you do, I strongly recommend that you use the outland application.

Those are my thoughts. Beware the "seem"s, they may all amount to needless worry. All the best with your undertaking and your new life in Canada. We started all of this just over two years ago, and it's already fading from memory. We're happily together with two children (one born in Japan, one here) and all is going well. I don't know if you've ever lived outside of the US before, but I can tell you from having lived not only in Japan but in Australia as well that living abroad is still living abroad: even a country that's very similar to your own is quite an adventure. Mari likes several things about Canada that have surprised her, it's her first foreign residency.

P.S. Maybe a third solution could be, "Come to Canada, get married, live together, go to the US after your six months are up, and stay in the US for the (hopefully brief) duration?"

From what I have read, this sort of thing does not seem to cause any problems. It seems to be an issue when the sponsored spouse makes trips into the country. But that's just my recollection when I was reading about these things two years ago, I'm really not qualified to say.

Perhaps your wife should call the CIC help line and ask them?

I wish I could say that your story surprises me. Can I ask which method you're using to apply? Sure the "outland" method? I'm just flabbergasted that you've applied repeatedly and have never heard anything?

Can you have your parents contact their MP, perhaps? Surely *someone* can help!

Congratulations on your decision to marry, I hope this visa stuff doesn't diminish your happiness in any way. It didn't ours!

And for that reason, I advocate that you try the working vacation visa route and tough it out while you're together. We couldn't imagine having spent a year apart, I don't think it would have worked out.

I can't comment on involving a parent in the application, I've never heard of anyone attempting a third party entering an application. But I can offer you some advice on the inland/outland thing: even if your fiancé is with you in Canada, use the "outland" process. From what I've read, it was always considered the normal route, and the "inland" route was designed for people with no standing in the country. I don't think this is what you want.

But please drop into some of the forums as I recommend on my website. There are some extremely knowledgeable and helpful people there. You've done well to start researching this stuff, keep it up.

Sim;

The lastest I heard last week was that the people who do this work at the visa offices were actually on strike. I don't know if that's over, but yes, generally the durations that are posted to the websites are about right! If I were you, I would marry in Canada, have the celebration in Cambodia, then file the application. You want your application to be as strong as possible when you file it. This means lots of evidence that the marriage is real, including photos of her with your family in Canada, photos of you with her family in Cambodia, and if possible, photos of your family and hers together. This also goes for friends. You want to have proof that the two of you are known to be together by her friends and your friends, and that you appear together in public.

I'm very sorry that our government has arranged things like this. In my case it took us a year from when we started gathering the proof and writing the application to when my wife had her PR, was landed, and had her health insurance (just in time, as she was pregnant). 26 months would normally sound insane but I believe it completely.

Sorry to hear it, Noureddine. I don't really know the answer to your questions, I believe that if you used the Outland process you can apply again. See the CIC website for this sort of thing

Also, you didn't leave me your contact details, I cannot respond.

No one outside the system really seems to know how ECAS is updated. But if the embassy in Manila has asked for your passport that's a very good sign. In fact, the turnaround from November has been excellent!

I'd guess you only have a few weeks left to wait.

Good luck, and welcome to Canada!

To speed things along, it would be best to get your background check in your country (and in the US, once you've moved there) initiated as close as possible to the wedding date. They can take a couple of months. Also, schedule your medical tests for around the wedding date. If you're having anyone write letters confirming your relationship, make sure you get those in quickly. Get through all of the application forms and make sure you've got the correct information - don't leave any doubts unanswered. The best bet in that case is a forum (such as the ones I reference on my web page).

In the mean time, collect "proof" (e.g. photos) of the two of you spending time together: in public; with friends; with family.

Good luck with your application!

I suggest that you look for a forum where others from Pakistan are going through the same process. You'll doubtless find the information you need there. Have a look at this, for instance:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/index.php

Check under "family class".

Hello!

No, I don't know what your status is but the re-entry visa should be valid no matter your application process. My wife was living with me and our son in Canada as a visitor and had her PR application in progress when she went back to her country (Japan). She managed to get back into the country without issue. That said, since Colombia is not an exempt country, you may find that some border services personnel will react differently. Some of our border services people are great, some not so much. My advice: carry your daughter's Canadian passport (do not attempt to leave Canada without your daughter having a passport), whatever proof you have that you're the child's mother, and a copy of your PR application including copies of all of the proofs that you collected, etc. It's a bit of a pain to drag such a folder around, but I've been told that it can save you a lot of grief.

P.S. Congrats on the little one, we have a baby girl as well.

To put the quickest answers first: I don't know how long the wait between two stages of the process might be; but it's not a sure thing that either of you will be called for an interview. My wife wasn't.

As a visitor she will have no rights to work here and will have no access to public health coverage. In fact, she'll have to buy travel insurance. Curiously, while you can do this from Canadian carriers, it's nowhere near as comprehensive as the provincial plan (e.g. my wife had no coverage at all for her pregnancy until the health coverage through the province kicked in near the end). The way it works for adults is there is a waiting period after you've landed in the province: in Ontario this is three months; I understand it's different in other provinces. Once she's got her PR visa in her passport, you'll do the flag-poling thing at the US border and then she can go directly to the various offices to apply for a SIN, provincial health coverage, etc. The SIN takes a few weeks.

Given that she can stay here for six months at a time, it might work out for you to live here together and have her return to the US every six months so that she's not overstaying her visit. I've read a variety of anecdotes about problems with re-entry, but there seem to be many more who have no problem. I get the sense that people who give the appearance of treating the whole thing with due respect seem to have fewer problems. As I advised another visitor to the site recently, ensure that she takes a copy of the application paperwork with her when she leaves, so that she can show all of the forms and gathered proofs etc. My wife did this on an emergency trip to Japan and was fine.

We seem to have a fair bit in common, I was in Japan for five years as well. Yes, you want to do the outland route; I've been told that the inland route was originally designed as something like a perpetual amnesty plan for sponsoring spouses who've been living in Canada without status; it's a one-shot deal, it's slower, etc.

Getting married certainly wouldn't hurt your claim. Other than that, some wrinkles we uncovered (in no particular order):

1. Should she become pregnant, she won't have health coverage in Ontario that will cover pregnancy or child birth expenses until she has standing in. The private coverage you can buy in Canada simply doesn't cover those things.

2. She won't have an SIN until after she obtains her PR visa, so she won't be legally able to work, and I believe that staying here as a visitor she'd also by unable to enroll in school.

3. Flying back and forth during the process can be tricky; if you file the application then come here I'm not sure you can predict the outcome with the border services people; they sometimes seem to bar re-entry. Same thing if you move here, file, then she leaves and re-enters.

4. Living apart seems like a pointlessly difficult burden, but the inability to work/study or otherwise be productive has its strains as well.

Oh; the Tokyo visa office is now shuttered, so you'll be going through Manila. And all of the visa offices are currently undergoing a strike by the staff, so you'll have to watch for news on that front as well.

Hello, Gabriela;

You don't need a lawyer, the actual filing is fairly straightforward, and you've found the forums where you can get a lot of support which is a good start. I've heard of way too many problems with lawyers: despite what they say, they can't speed up the process, for instance; also, there seem to be many lawyers who charge outrageous fees and leave you to do all the work.

Since you already have a working holiday visa, I would have a look at what it would take to get another one or a working visa if possible. I really have no experience in that area, but whatever you do, I recommend that you not try to live in Canada without a visa. If you're here without a visa and you're not from a visa-exempt country (as you know, the Czech Republic requires a TRV), you're both breaking the law and potentially jeopardizing your PR visa application. Speaking as someone who was once ejected from Japan over a visa issue, I strongly urge you to stay legit. ;)

Many people marry, start their application, then live apart for the duration. If you have to spend some time apart because of your visa issue, bear in mind that some sponsored spouses stay in a third country such as the US. Whatever you do, keep the CIC advised of your updates (e.g. where you've moved, if you've become pregnant, etc.).

All the best, and keep learning about the situation and asking questions. 8)

Your plan sounds good to me. She can do her medical test here or there, but be sure to use one of the approved clinics/hospitals on the CIC's published list. Her background check will go MUCH faster if she does it in Japan (where it's ten days, as opposed to six-ten weeks done here in Canada!).

Yes, she can come join you at any time as long as she keeps to the terms of her visitor status. That is, staying in Canada for no longer than six months on any one visit—that was the duration three years ago anyway. There is a danger that she will be denied entry to Canada should she leave while your visa application is in the works, but I can't quantify that or even explain it. It seems that it's up to the whim of the border services guard you're dealing with. My wife accidentally overstayed her six month period by two weeks, left Japan for a family emergency, and re-entered without problem. But she had with her a) a copy of her entire PR application including all of the evidence (photos, everything), b) our son, who has dual citizenship, and c) a letter from me saying that she had my permission to be traveling with our son.

One other comment: you may find, unless you have a solid network in Canada and your overseas visit was brief, that finding a job after returning from overseas can be a bit of a challenge. For some reason, the "recent Canadian experience" thing may be applied to you in spades. I can't explain it. I was thirty years old, an experienced IT hand, and had never seen a job search take more than two weeks when I first came back to Canada (after fifteen months in Australia). It took me three years (in the midst of the post 9/11 mess, mind you) of dealing with "What, you went overseas?" If I were you, I'd start working on rekindling your network here and perhaps be ready to make more than one trip to Canada for the purposes of finding work.

All the best, and congratulations on your engagement.

Yes, the changes in processing time apply to everyone who is currently in the process. If you find your case going beyond the 31 months, your husband might do well to contact his member of Parliament just to inquire as to where the application sits. Also, be sure to send the government any updates along the way (such as: changes in residence; pregnancy; etc.). It's obscenely long, isn't it? We really should be able to do better than this as a country.

All the best to you and your husband!

That's terrible. Sadly, it's not the first such case I've heard.

Where's your wife from?

Brandon;

First, there's nothing you can do to speed up the process once it's begun. As I've advised other readers, be ready to provide any changes in your situation as soon as they occur (e.g. change in residence, a pregnancy, etc.).

Secondly, I seriously doubt that you'll find that the processing time will be shorter than the posted times on the CIC website. With the strike by CIC staff ongoing, the waits can't go down!

If I were you, I'd take a look at some of the online forums where people discuss these matters. You'll pick up a lot of useful insights, and you'll get a better sense of what the real wait times are like right now for Jamaica. If nothing else some tips on how to stay sane during the time apart etc. I have a link or two on the article you found on my website.

Good luck to you and your family. I know it's tough, but this is the system we have. And congratulations on your marriage and on the birth of your child!

> I am planning to travel to Canada to visit him for holidays so I am hoping there will

> be no issue with this. Do you know if you have to declare that you have a PR

> application in progress?

I really don't know, to be honest, but since you're from a visa exempt country I don't expect that there will be a problem. My wife didn't have any problems, and she was living with me in Canada for the duration of our application (and not working). If I were you, I'd plan to declare the application's in progress for sure, and I'd bring a copy of the application and a all of your evidence etc just in case. Also, you didn't mention any kids but if you're travelling with your Canadian-citizen child(ren) that should help (just be sure to have a signed letter from your husband permitting you to travel with the kid(s)).

Thank you for sharing as well, and all the best to you and your husband. I hope you enjoy Calgary, I lived there myself for nine years.

Hi, Saad. Do not use the "inland" process, I've been told it is primarily intended for families in which the foreign half of the couple has been living in Canada without status. The major drawbacks include that it's one time - if you fail you can't re-apply; this is unlike the standard "outland" process. The other major difference is that the the inland process takes 2x to 5x the time.

You'll need a work visa if you want to live here and work here, obviously. Canada and the US have reciprocal agreements, you'll have to figure out a strategy with the CIC website or perhaps by asking around on the forums.

If she applies while you're both in the US, you'll be able to stay together and you'll both be able to work. That's a pretty big advantage - my wife was unable to work for the first 10-11 months we lived here because we applied when we were already here. It makes no difference to the application process where you live - what will make more difference is the completeness of your application and how convincing you are as a married couple. I thought that given we had a child that things would be very quick, but it took quite a while.

Good luck whatever you do!

Having a look at the CIC website in Manila, I see that it says to mail everything to Mississauga. This is what I did for my wife's PR, and she's from Japan (one of the countries now managed by Manila, by the way). Your application will still be considered outland. I believe the inland applications are sent to somewhere in Alberta.

Here's the site, you should have a good look at specific instructions that they might have (the old Japanese CIC site, when it existed, had some country-specific notes).

P.S. You're very welcome, I do what I to help other people navigate this mine-field.

When I was going through the process with my wife, it seemed that Manila was one of the offices that asked for the passport very early in the process but then held it a long time. Hopefully that's now changed, and it's more the way that Tokyo was, where the asked for the passport as the very last step and the PR stamp comes back in the passport in a matter of weeks.

If I were you, I'd go to one of the forums that I mention on my website, and ask around for fellow Filipinos/as and see how it's been going recently.

All the best with your application, and I hope the rest of your transition to Canada goes smoothly. Who knows, maybe you'll be here just in time for the crippling cold. 8^D

The quick answers to your questions are "I don't know".

For question 1, I would turn to the forums I mention on my website. You'll find others where an American spouse is being brought to Canada, and can compare notes and learn from that experience.

For question 2, I believe that that would not be a problem at all. My wife, being Japanese, was able to stay for up to six months at a time, so she lived in-country with me (and our son) while the application drifted through officialdom. She didn't have to transfer any medical records, but she certainly was fully inducted into the medical field here, as she became pregnant during the PR process. No one batted an eye at someone without any status living in Canada, nor did they care about her lack of health coverage, as we simply paid cash. You and your husband would likely experience the same thing, as the only insurance he'd be able to attend would be something like Blue Cross travel insurance (which covers ambulances and hospitalization).

(Again, bear in mind that I'm just some guy on the 'net.)

It's not clear to me whether you now want to sponsor him to come to Canada, or whether you're still trying to find a way for him to sponsor you, but I'll relay something from our experience:

1. The medical exam is straight-forward, there's a chest x-ray and a thorough exam - bloodwork, everything. You have to go to an approved site to do this.

2. Applying with him already living in Canada is not technically illegal. You can file through the outland process with him in Canada as a visitor as long as he doesn't overstay the terms as a visitor. For my Japanese wife, this meant she could not stay longer than six months. The danger comes in the form of being barred re-entry should a Border Services agent decide to refuse your husband re-entry on his nth time while your application is in progress. The good news is that since he's British, he'll be among the very fastest applicants to receive approval. You can look up the wait times on the CIC website (the CIC website for the British embassy may be helpful in this regard, if it exists). Your husband will not be able to work in Canada, nor have provincial medical insurance. You will have to buy travel insurance for him while he's here, and its coverage is limited.

I strongly suggest that you go to the official sources and the forums I reference on my website and learn everything you can. You'll find plenty of Canadians with a British spouse on the forums. Appropriately armed, you'll be able to make a strategy accordingly.

Yes, the spousal sponsorship program (and in particular those forms!) are a mess all right. Canada has a very strange relationship with its expat community (demanding that expats sever all economic, material, and professional ties to be deemed non-resident for tax purposes, for instance) and a very inconsistent approach to immigration. Immigrants and expats don't/can't vote, I suppose.

I hope this has helped in some way.

Applying via outland application, and then being back in your country until the visa arrives makes sense - just be sure that you know where the passport will be routed once the stamp's been inserted. ;^)

I can't comment on the second question about the student via, I'm just someone who sponsored his wife, not a visa expert. That said, I've never heard of an outland application taking nearly two years, I imagine you'll have your PR stamp well before then (very processing time for the visa office that handles your country).

Congratulations on your wedding and the baby!

Well, a child will certainly fill your time! 8^)

You can buy the sort of travelers insurance meant for people vacationing in Canada through companies like Blue Cross:

http://www.bluecross.ca/en/products/travel-coverage.html

It does *not* cover pregnancy-related costs, so you will pay for all of your clinic visits and other things out of pocket. It will, however, cover the costs of any emergency hospitalization (and unlike provincial coverage, covers the cost of ambulance trips). I don't know why Canada's health insurance system works like this, but your choices are very limited.

Your child, born to a Canadian parent in a Canadian hospital, will have coverage from birth.

Congratulations, and all the best on your new life in Canada.

I'll try to answer your questions but bear in mind that I'm not an expert, merely someone who's been through it recently.

> We are planning to get married in Canada this coming summer in 2014

Congratulations!

> We went to church together there and took a pre-marriage counseling course together.

> He has met my family and friends too in China.

That's great. Include photos of all of it in your application.

> If we cannot book everything for the wedding within the 6 months of my next visit, should

> I apply for extension of my stay

I don't know. Have a look at the forums I recommend on my web page, where you can find other people in similar circumstances (and from your country). Also, check the website of the Canadian embassy to China. Those sources will be much more accurate than I could be.

> After our wedding, when I am still in Canada, should we apply "inland" or "outland"?

Outland! I've been told that the inland process was designed as an avenue for amnesty for people who are already living in Canada. Do not use it.

> Do we need to mail everything to CIC in Ontario or the Canadian Visa Office in China?

When I went through it, all of the spousal applications for outland applications went through Mississauga. All of the inland applications went to Vegreville (IIRC) in Alberta. I don't think you'd ever mail your application package to a location outside Canada. The application is first processed in Canada, including reviewing your husband for suitability as a sponsor, then forwarded to the embassy/consulate in your country.

> can I obtain my police check and medical exam in Canada?

The police check is done by the police in your country, not the Canadian police. With my wife's case, we waited until we were here in Canada to order the background/police check, and it took two months. If we'd done it in Japan, it would have taken two weeks. BTW, when you receive the police report, I believe it cannot be opened.

You can do the medical exam in China or Canada or anywhere else, but the exam must be done by someone on the CIC's list. Here in Toronto believe it or not there were only limited options. I don't know what it might be like where you live in China. It's not a lot of money here in Canada (and my wife did not have medical insurance).

> If I have to fly back to China to apply "outland", can I go back to Canada to visit him

> on my tourist visa? I am concerned that they might reject my entry because of our

> application is in process.

Things like that do happen. Here in Canada, a lot of power is given to individual agents - if one decides to refuse you entry, you'll be sent back. That can even happen if you leave Canada because you were called to your country for an interview at the embassy, which is real madness. That said, my wife was here for six months, went back to Japan for a month with our son, and returned without incident. BUT: a) she had our son, a Canadian citizen and child of a Canadian citizen and b) she also had a full copy of her visa application with her to show the officials (if asked).

> My job allows me to work from home and my clients are not located in Canada. So if we

> apply in Canada, can I keep my job and work from home or will I not be allowed to work at all?

I believe that you would not be able to file an income tax report until you have an SIN, so by all means continue to work. Your arrangement sounds ideal, but bear in mind that I'm neither a tax accountant, nor a lawyer.

> If we are to apply from within Canada after the wedding, what documents do I need to

> obtain now before going to Canada? I read that the police check is only valid for 3-6 months,

> so it might have expired by the time we apply for PR.

My information is a bit out of date, but have a look at the forms and the website of the embassy in your country - the website of the embassy in Tokyo was a life-saver for us. By no means let your medical exam or background check expire, get the application in as quickly as you can once you have them.

> Your wisdom would be so much appreciated as this is really heavy on us. Thank you, Michael!

It's not wisdom, it's just experience. But you're very welcome Dand, and congratulations and best wishes to you and your fiance.

Five months? No, I've never heard of anyone outside of the UK, US, or maybe Germany/the Netherlands having a PR application go through in such a short time even if you had your application assembled and ready to go tomorrow. Given the ongoing cuts to the service, I would expect 8-15 months to be more realistic if you're still wondering about which process to use. Ours took three months to assemble (just the police check back in Japan will take two months), and six months for the government to approve. Given the nationality of your wife, you'll submit your outland application to the processing center in Canada (I believe it's in Mississauga) and it will be forwarded to the responsible visa office after you're approved as a sponsor. That office is in Manila, but again you do not submit your documents there directly.

After you've applied, your wife can come with you to Canada and take up residence here but she will not have any standing; as a Japanese citizen she is entitled to stay here without a visa (when we did this three years ago, the term was six months) but she will have to leave the country and re-enter after the six months are up. My wife did this, traveling with our son (also dual nationality) and she got in again without problem. Note that not everyone is so lucky, but again our son was with her, she was carrying a letter of consent to travel with our son from me, and she was carrying a copy of our application for her PR.

Given your situation, this might work out well; your application will be well under way and possibly complete (I doubt it) before the first six month period is up. The government will readily return her passport with the PR stamp to an address inside Canada even if you use the "outland" process. Then you do the flag-poling trick at the border with the US (or fly internationally and return) and you're done.

Remember, I'm not an expert, just someone who's been through it (my wife, like yours, is Japanese). But feel free to send any follow-on questions.

Everything on the CIC website seems to change periodically, it now looks like they may have amalgamated the forms for the two processes (inland/outland). Have a look at these forms to start with:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp

You'll also want to familiarize yourself with the guidance on the website of the Manila visa office:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/manila.asp

Your wife will send the passport off to the visa office in Manila as the second-last process. The request comes either a) when she has been approved as a spouse or b) when they are now reviewing her as a spouse. The old visa office in the Tokyo embassy did it through route a) but at the time I went through all of this (in 2011) the Manila office seemed to follow route b) which means the request comes earlier but they retain the passport for a much longer time (a few months instead of 1-2 weeks).

I'm not sure I follow your question about the timing of the passport submission, but from whichever point you submit the passport your wife would of course not be able to travel internationally. You'll have to find out (perhaps from one of the forums) if the CIC still wants all dependents listed or only those without a Canadian passport. At the time I went through it, our son did not have to be listed because he was a Canadian citizen.

It certainly is overwhelming, I was very disappointed in my country when I went through all of this. In your case I would a) ascertain the duration of your visit privileges to Canada (e.g. six months at one stay), b) whether you can come and go to/from Canada as an American if your visa application is already underway, and c) what the time frames are for your country at present (e.g. here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp and http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp). Our benighted government is withdrawing resources from the CIC program for spousal applications

My wife and I decided that with her six month visitor's eligibility in Canada (as a Japanese citizen) to move to Canada and then start the application. We did this so that we could stay together whatever happened. In the end, it took us ten solid months to get her PR stamp, so she had to exit the country and return, a chancy thing because some border services guards could potentially block her re-entry for some imagined pretext (I think this was more of a risk in the past than it is today). But she had with her a) our Canadian son and b) a copy of our application, and she had no trouble re-entering. Again, this was just our experience, your experience may vary.

Whatever you do, be sure you file an "outland" application.

And no, you cannot legally work for a Canadian employer in Canada while your PR is pending because you won't have a SIN and you won't have standing. But, you can apply for a working visa after your spousal application is in the works. It's "explained" here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?q=679&t=17

This also limits your options for health care in this country, so keep the potential expenses in mind should you be considering a pregnancy. As it happened, my wife went through the first two semesters without real health coverage (you can only buy travel insurance, it covers emergency hospitalization but no "pre-existing" conditions) and it cost a fair bit.

Yes, start the application from Malaysia. I think you can submit electronically now, so that will save you time.

Definitely use the "outland" process wherever you're living. Ask around on the forums if you like, but the best answer I ever heard was that the "inland" process was effectively started as an amnesty program for people already living in the country illegally. When you're on "inland" you can't travel in or out of the country, and you can never re-apply should you be turned down (well, unless you remarry).

The sponsorship application is a collection of forms that you submit at one time.

I have no clue where the interview might be, it might be in Buffalo if you catch a break. Or Manila, if not. I just don't know.

No, she won't qualify for medical coverage. She'll have no standing. It's blue cross insurance for her. Your <18 year old children WILL have coverage though, if BC's the same as ON. Take 'em in to the ministry immediately when you arrive.

All the best, Brian.

It sounds like you're on record pace! I wouldn't worry, you've got, on average, a twelve month process to look forward to, in total. At least, that's according to the CIC website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp

I'm not qualified to give legal advice, Ramesh. I suggest that you hunt around for an immigration lawyer. Be sure to get references, though, one hears terrible stories of the crooks in the business. For instance, there's nothing that a lawyer can do to speed up a PR application process, no matter what they may charge.

Hello, Cho. I'm not entirely sure if I follow your story, but I've never heard of anyone submitting an application to the visa office in another country: they're meant to go to Vegreville if you're applying for the outland route, and to Mississauga for the inland route. Since the Vegreville office is involved, it sounds like you've chosen the slower inland route. So be it.

I would do what they ask you: send the requested form(s) and have the medical exam at an approved clinic who can send the results on to the Vegreville office as soon as possible. (Did you mean to say that you not responded to the original request since March of 2013?)

I realize that it's a confusing process, Cho, I hope that I have helped in some way. Please note that I am not an immigration specialist or accredited in any way. I'm just a Canadian who's been through the process.

Good luck!!

Yes, I see that the time is 32 months. Truly incredible!

There will be complications if you have the child but do not tell the CIC. In fact, it would be best if you advised the CIC as soon as you are pregnant. Please be careful to familiarize yourself with the rules, there are frequently stories of madness associated with this system. e.g.: (http://on.thestar.com/1dLZAaD or http://bit.ly/1hWPTSz). I usually suggest that people go to sites such as http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/index.php to find others from their own country.

Good luck to you! Thirty-two months, it defies belief. Thank you for your dedication in coming to Canada. I apologize that our system is such a mess.

Definitely use the outland procedure. It has two major advantages: it's usual MUCH quicker, and if something goes wrong or you have to cancel it, you can always try again. With the inland route, that's not possible. Incidentally, there are two separate set of forms, be careful which one you're using. Also, it looks like the forms were updated a few weeks back (in January). If you've had yours for a while, verify that they're the current ones.

Good luck with your quest!

That's great! All the best in your undertaking. 8)

You can try the links to the CIC websites or the forums I've got above. All the best to you, Jani.

Yes, it should be possible. Many applicants and their Canadian spouses spend their entire application approval time together outside of Canada. I have a friend who's living in Kyoto with his wife and kids right now waiting on her approval.

(Remember that I'm not an official source of information or any kind of expert. I'm just someone who's been through it. Your wife can always call the CIC help line for firm answers.)

As you can see here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

There's a period where they evaluate your husband as a suitable sponsor, then they'll evaluate you as a spouse. The link above has a link to this page, which shows the average wait times by country.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp

On the first page, it looks like sponsors are seeing approvals at 35 days at present. Then for your country it's a 14 month wait. Good luck, don't let it drive you crazy.

By "an appeal", do you mean you two once tried a PR application but failed?

I have no idea how long it takes to produce the medical and police background documents, but I don't think they'll be sent to you in any case; they go right to the CIC. My wife's police check took something like two months, if I recall correctly, but that was in Japan. Bear in mind that anything I write might be out of date, because it's been three years since we went through it.

Have a look at the CIC website for the wait times. Once you've submitted your application, it will take over a month for your partner to be approved as a sponsor:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

Then, since you're in HK, it will take only seven months for you to be approved as a sponsor, assuming all goes well.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp#asia

That's about the fastest anywhere!

All the best with your application.

-Michael

I don't know enough about it to comment, frankly. Why don't you call the CIC?

Or, you could check the website of the visa office in the country that's handling your case, and see if they list any contacts you can call/email at that office. The whole thing is so complicated and arbitrary that it's very hard to know without official advise. You can also check the forums (such as this one: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/index.php). You should be able to find more knowledgeable advice there, and possibly some other people coming from either the Turkey or Iran who can give you first hand advice as you jointly share the same "adventure".

Congratulations on your marriage, and all the best with your application.

It can take as long as two months to hear that you've been approved as a sponsor. The CIC doesn't update their records very consistently, so it's possible that they won't know that your application is in the mix until you've been approved as a sponsor. So; don't panic, yet.

That said, at this point it can't hurt to contact your MP. I've read of many cases where the Mississauga office mysteriously "lost" an application.

All the best in your application, Siegfred.

Hello, Julie. Welcome to the Great Confusion. I have no idea how work permits operate, you'll have to look elsewhere for that. I strongly recommend that you go with an outland procedure; I've been told that the inland route was designed for people already living in Canada without status. The way the program is designed, I believe it: for instance, you only get one shot - you cannot re-apply if you fail. We did the outland process even though my wife was already living in Canada.

Best of luck!

Hi, Jade. I don't know how CIC would handle this situation, but I wouldn't be surprised if your application were put on hold while you have your passport. In your case, I would contact the visa office and ask them how to direct your passport back to them. You should probably include a letter explaining why you're submitting it; reference your application number in that letter.

Good luck to you!

Hello, Sajjad, thank you for writing.

I am not an expert in the area you're addressing, but I believe that you can make this work if you can show that you have the financial resources to support yourself and your wife (I'm assuming she's a Canadian citizen or has PR standing). For instance, will you be able to continue your current method of income if you move to Canada? Do you have substantial savings that could support you for 2-3 years in case you can't find income in Canada?

I think if you look at some of the Internet forums (I list some on my website) you'll find other people (even some from Pakistan) that can help you with questions like this.

P.S. It's spelled "spousal", not "suposal". ;)

First, I'd strongly suggest that you find some people who know more about your specifics. I've heard enough horror stories about "immigration lawyers" to not recommend those, but instead that you perhaps go to one of the forums on my web page.

I can tell you that Americans have just about the easiest time with obtaining PR in Canada. I would expect that if he's done his background check and medical exam in the US and you've completed your application forms with care (including lots of supporting evidence of your marriage) that the whole process would take six months or so once they've received the form. You can find up to date information on the CIC website here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp (Be sure to check the "view by visa office" page and find the US).

Also, I would instinctively advise against filing a claim based on supporting him while you're on OSAP. If he has any savings, an in-demand skill-set, or source of income in the US that he can rely on while living here, that would look a lot stronger.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, and all the best in your efforts to bring your fiance here. It can be stressful and confusing but you can get through it. I think the most important thing is to decide whether you have to be together during the pregnancy and/or birth - in the context of your financial situation. Sounds easy for me to say I know, but everything else will depend on that reality.

You will not be able to work without a working visa. I suggest that you work on finding something another TFW, but I am not qualified to advise you on how to do this, or if you can even do that if you're already in the country. I suggest that you turn to some of the online forums and see what other people - who are living in the same circumstances as you - are doing today. All the best, Myles, I know it's not easy!

Can I ask why you chose the inland route?

Well, Sen, you didn't leave your email address but:

a) If you applied through the "inland" process, your attempt is at its end. There's no re-applying once you've failed on the inland process.

b) If, however, you applied through the "outland" process, you may once again submit an application. It's important to provide proof that your relationship is real. This is where the photos and other records of your life with your spouse are critical.

Hello, Sanseep.

Your situation is a bit puzzling: neither of you holds standing in Canada, yet you're simultaneously applying for PR status?

Anyway, you can review the wait times on the CIC website here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

The number in the row labeled "Spouse, common‑law partner or dependent child" is for your spouse to be approved as a sponsor. Check the "View by visa office" link in the last column to see the processing time for the next stage. I understand that the office in New Delhi asks for your passport early in the process and then hangs on to it until the PR stamp is inserted.

Best of luck with your move to Canada.

Hello! I understand your predicament. Yes, talking to your MP might possibly help. But please note that there is no expedition due to having a child.

As I just told someone else bringing a spouse from India, you can review the wait times on the CIC website here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

The number in the row labeled "Spouse, common‑law partner or dependent child" is for your spouse to be approved as a sponsor. Check the "View by visa office" link in the last column to see the processing time for the next stage. The office in New Delhi asks for your passport early in the process and then hangs on to it until the entire approval is done and the PR stamp is inserted.

I hope this helps. Sorry for not getting back to you sooner, Arika. All the best in your application. 8)

Hello, Avion;

Assume your wife filed under the outland process, you can review the wait times on the CIC website here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

The number in the row labeled "Spouse, common‑law partner or dependent child" is for your spouse to be approved as a sponsor. Check the "View by visa office" link in the last column to see the processing time for the next stage. At present, it looks like the process takes 27 months once the application is in Jamaica.

Good luck!

Perhaps if your spouse in Canada were to write to their MP?

Yup.

Of course you want to use the outland process. There's no chance of being permanently blocked from obtaining your PR, as there is with the inland process. It's also faster - in fact it's your only option now because there is simply no way you can use the inland process and obtain your visa before your legal standing expires in November.

The only thing that may be confusing you is that can use the outland process while you are living in Canada. That's what my wife and I did, that's what people do every day.

When you are preparing your application, be sure to gather lots of proof like photos of the two of you with each-others' friends and families. We provided timelines describing our path to marriage, and even letters written by friends to indicate that they knew our relationship to be real.

Good luck!

You should be able to stay in Canada. In fact, the visa office in Manila will ask for your passport early in the process (after about six weeks, once your husband has been approved as a sponsor). You won't, at that point, be able to leave the country. I believe that you should look into "dual intent".

http://www.canadavisa.com/immigration-canada-dual-intent.html

And by all means, get all the information you can from CIC.

Frankly, I have no idea. Are you a citizen, or PR?

I don't expect there will be a problem if she's living in India.

Hi, Jyotsana;

I'm assuming that you applied through the "outland" procedure?

You can review the wait times on the CIC website here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

The number in the row labeled "Spouse, common‑law partner or dependent child" is for your spouse to be approved as a sponsor - this wait time starts when they begin to process your file. Check the "View by visa office" link in the last column to see the processing time for the next stage - it's typically much, much longer. You'll have to go through both processes.

I understand that there's nothing a lawyer can do about these wait times.

Best of luck with your move to Canada.

Congratulations on the birth!!

Yes, tell CIC about this, without question, as soon as possible.

I *believe* you can travel outside Canada, you are the sponsor not the sponsored person. If I were you, I'd call up the CIC and ask. If you can't get through, try some of the forums I reference on my web site.

Yes, your husband can apply for a working visa. The requirements are a bit of a mess, from what I've read. You can find out more here, it seems to vary by the type of work he does.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/apply-who-nopermit.asp

P.S. Please bear in mind that I'm not legally qualified in this field, I wrote what I did on the basis of my experience with the system.

No, you can not fight a failed inland application. Depending on your visa situation, I imagine that yes, you would have to leave the country.

I don't know if you can with withdraw and application once submitted. I strongly suggest that you try one of the visa-related forums and get the advice from some of the more-seasoned people there who have seen these things before.

Also bear in mind, that if your application is strong you shouldn't have a problem. But you will face a lengthy processing time, as you can see on the CIC website.

All the best, Javed!

Billy, I'm sorry to tell you that I really don't know. Are you in possession of your passport? If not, or if there's a chance that you'll have to submit it at some point during your renewal, I would wait. It might be a good idea to talk to the CIC about this, though.

Hi, Sam, I really don't know what to tell you, as I have never had any experience with working visas. But I strongly advise your friend to use the "outland" process. a) There's no way the inland process is as quick, it's usually a multiple of the processing time of the outland process and b) if something goes wrong, you can't re-apply if you use "inland". It's just common sense to use outland.

Whatever route your friend takes, it's important to start gathering the application and evidence sooner rather than later. The whole thing takes a terrific amount of time, and errors only compound the problem.

Hi Thu,

You can look at the processing times for different types of visas here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/

Since you've chosen the inland route (I'm assuming your spouse was in the country without standing?) you're currently looking at 26 months. The good news is that your spouse can obtain a work permit after 18 months.

I am not an immigration lawyer, I'm just someone who brought their spouse in, so you'll have to verify the following information yourself (e.g. through a lawyer or on one of the forums I mention on my website).

I don't know what country your spouse is from, but that can add quite a bit of time to the mix as well, as there is substantial work to be done in the foreign country. E.g. Germany and the UK have very short processing times. My wife's processing happened when Japanese citizens were managed through Tokyo, which was about 6-7 months. But it's now done in Manila, which adds another lengthy period for some reason. It gets worse in countries with greater obstacles for this sort of thing, such as Nigeria and Afghanistan.

The government has never prioritized inland applications. From what I've been told, that route was originally created as an "amnesty" channel for those who were already living here without a valid visa. The official story is a bit different. But the outland process is uniformly faster, less restrictive, and less risky. I have never recommended the inland process to anyone due to the restrictions.

http://www.cicnews.com/2014/08/problem-083622.html

We applied through the outland process even though my wife was here in Toronto with me (and our son).

Yes, it's amazing when Japan, a country that admits 20-25 refugees a year, and which has no word in common use for "immigrant", has a better process than we do.

We went with whatever people would provide us. I don't recall that any were hand-written, but they were certainly all signed and mailed to us. When you submit your application, be sure to submit originals of everything. I kept only scans. It's risky (they *lose* applications, somehow), but it's what they want to see.

I suppose on the point of lost applications, it's best to send your package in a sturdy envelope, by registered mail.

Good luck, Christopher!

I'm not sure which form you sent off, do you mean to advise them of a new address? It sounds like your wife might have to return to Japan, submit her passport to the office in Manila, and wait for its return. This was a very quick turnaround when we did Toronto -> Tokyo -> Toronto, by that I mean only three weeks or so.

I hope that's workable. You might also do well to drop by one of the forums I mentioned on my website. There are people there who have been through every imaginable variation on the path to PR sponsorship.

Best of luck!

Angie, you didn't include your email address along with your query, I hope you find an answer, somehow.

If you've been asked for the forms and other evidence, though, I would do as they ask. You can include a letter stating that any missing originals were already submitted with your application.

Good luck with the process – you're nearly done!

Are you considering bringing her to Canada for the birth without the PR standing? I'm not an expert but it sounds like you have little choice but to send the passport along. Depending on your country it could be returned fairly quickly (this is not universal, of course). It was close for us, as well; we were already in-country but paid for my wife's various medical fees all the way along until finally receiving her PR stamp about mid-way in the pregnancy.

I don't know how to gauge the likelihood of your success, but if you submit a strong application, and if the health and background checks work out, it should work out. The new government is putting more resources towards immigration, so it's possible that your processing times will even be a bit faster than the published rates of the past few years.

To complete a good application, be sure to include all of the required evidence. For instance, I submitted letters from acquaintances who knew our relationship to be legitimate, and lots of photos of us with each-other's families (in public places). We did all of the needed tests. It took months, but it worked!

Keep copies of everything in case the application goes missing. Send it by some delivery mechanism that will give you a receipt.

You can find that information on the CIC website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/

All the best with your application!

Hi, Randa! It looks like the CIC may not be sending spousal PR applications to specific VO's any more. Have a look at this page:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/

It says the total turnaround would be 12 months. Which I believe is a big improvement over the times achieved by the previous government, as long as it sounds. In fact, Syria's now comparable with Germany, the UK, or Japan.

All the best with your application!

Good luck!

Hello, Mary Grace;

It wasn't clear from your message on my website what the nature of the request is, regarding medical records for your family. If you've had a request for such records, you'll have to provide them. Any inability to provide such records can only hurt your application. Please note, however, that I am not an immigration lawyer, nor an expert - just someone who brought his spouse into Canada, and that was five years ago already. I think you should get in touch with the visa office that is processing your claim, as well as the CIC help line. If that fails consider reaching out to your husband's member of parliament.

Good luck!

My information, having done this five years ago, is increasingly out of date. But it all depends on whether you're following an inland or outland application. For the latter, you'll receive word that the case has been passed on to one of the visa offices outside Canada, when you've been approved as a sponsor. Then there will be a longer wait, after which you'll hear that your husband's been approved. They will ask that his passport be sent along to that office at that time. The inland process has changed a fair bit over the years, but I think you'd hear nothing for several months before any requests for further steps (health check, etc) come back. It's a very lengthy process.

I don't think they're in the habit of ever sending a note like, "we've received your update." The common advice I saw on the forums was to send everything to them in some fashion that you'll get a receipt back when they've received what you sent.

All the best on your quest!

Of course! It's a big step.

Good luck with your application.

They will not refuse the application on that basis. As lunatic as the system seems, CIC isn't actually *trying* to be obstructionist. 8)

My wife became pregnant after we were well underway. Just be sure to tell them exactly what's happening as things develop. At the speed with which US applications blast through the system I expect it'll all be over before there are three of you.

All the best with your application, and congratulations!!

P.S. Make sure you understand the rules of citizenship with regard to where the child is born. In Canada a number of years ago we had a "reverse anchor baby" situation, if you will. People who obtained Canadian citizenship returned to their country of origin and were passing on Canadian citizenship to their children and grandchildren. This was dealt with by the previous (Conservative) government, which passed a retroactive law so that anyone born to a Canadian outside of Canada could not in turn pass on their Canadian citizenship to a third generation. Unlike a similar rule in Australia, there was no mechanism by which the ability by citizens born abroad to pass on citizenship could be restored (in Australia this could be done by having the born-abroad child live in Australia for a certain term). I don't know if the US has similar rules, but it's an annoyance that we're living with since my son was born in Tokyo while I was working there. He can't pass on his Canadian citizenship, while our Toronto-born daughter can.

Got it.

Marissa, you didn't leave your email address, so I hoe you do check back to see my response.

It sounds to me like a) you used the "inland" route to apply? and b) that things are progressing normally there. If they're already looking at your spouse's medical records than I believe you've been approved quite some time ago as the sponsor and are in the final month(s) of the process.

Hi. The CIC website is worse than ever from the looks of things, but it seems that the table on this chart would tell you where you application will be processed.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

It all seems to come down to geography, but in the case you've described I think it's the country of origin and/or passport for the sponsored immigrant that you'd use as your guide.

Bear in mind that I am not an expert, and am not keeping current on policy. I'm merely someone who's been through this (and even that was now six years ago). If you have questions of this nature, I suggest you call the CIC to verify things before making a mistake that could add months to your application time.

All the best with your application, Gaurav.

Hello, Alcris;

You're in good shape. The system's changed a fair bit over the years, but you should receive notification, once the background check on your wife is complete, and yes a request for your passport. Assuming everything is in order, this should wrap up within a year of your application date.

Remember that you can check the status of your application here:

https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/security.do?lang=en

You didn't leave an email address, so I hope you check in again!

The ETA depends on the country which is handling your application. However, the variance is now very low, and usually all applications for any country of processing and either the inland/outland route is about a year. You can find out here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/

No, the PR recipient is not approved, just the sponsor. You might want to read up on the process on the CIC website. For instance, you may be asked for medical proof, and you'll certainly be asked to send away your spouse's passport either shortly or at the end of the process - it seems there's some variability as to when in the process the passport request comes.

Good luck, John!

I don't see a minimum wait time on this page on the CIC website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse-apply-who.asp

Why don't you call the CIC and find out? 8)

Hello, Louisa. The short answer is that I don't know but I suspect it should be possible. I memory serves, you have to deal with the office in Manila now for questions around visas, so I would try their website and perhaps to call them. They may redirect you to the main CIC "help" line, but it's the route I would take.

Beware third party websites (like mine!) the information there gets old (like mine!).

14 years in Japan is a great run. I showed up in '05 but only made it five years myself.

Hello, Lena.

You can find wait times on the CIC website, but they seem to average around 12 months these days.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/EnGLIsh/information/times/index.asp

We did not submit original copies of things like birth certificates.

The point at which you'll hear back depends on whether it was an inland or outland process, and which visa office is doing the processing. Roughly speaking, though, it should take less than six weeks for you to be approved as a sponsor if all's well. You'll get that notice and then the paperwork is forwarded to the visa office in India. I've read that in India they will ask for your husband's passport fairly early in the next phase of the process (rather than at the end as was the case with my Japanese wife). It's in the second phase that the bulk of the waiting comes in.

The broad steps are all on the CIC website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse.asp

There was no linking an application to an account back in 2011 when we did this, but it's spelled out here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/my_application/link.asp

(which was linked in the second URL)

It's something you'll have to do. Keep an eye on that account and on your inbox.

Best of luck with your application!

Hi, Zeeshab;

If the letter and the CIC website are unclear, I would send it to the local visa office. You can always try the CIC phone support people.

Good luck with your application!

Well, shanda, you didn't leave an email address so I don't know that you'll ever see this response. But yes, it's good news, and yes, you'll likely be approved once the medical report is in their hands.

Good luck, and welcome to Canada!

Hello, Sarah;

You're not exactly near the end, but you have been approved as a sponsor. The next step will likely round out the time to the one year mark from when you submitted the application; so if you applied two months ago, this step will take up to ten months. If the UK visa office works as the (now defunct) one in Japan did, you'll know the end is soon when you receive a request for his passport to be sent for the temporary stamp. Some visa offices in other countries (like India) seem to ask for the passport up front before continuing their work.

So in summary: if the request for the passport comes soon, they'll keep it for the duration. If it comes later, you're nearly done.

Good luck!

For us, it happened fairly quickly, maybe six weeks or so. When we went through this in 2011 they did not send that first acknowledgement, believe it or not. Did your notification come from the visa office overseas or here in Canada?

Hi, Charlie. The sponsor approval is the first step, and usually only takes a matter of weeks. If you were asked to do a medical exam at some point after you filed it could be that a) they deemed your application incomplete without it, and have not yet approved your spouse as a sponsor or b) that your partner would have been approved, and that your approval is well along the process. You can find more information on the website of the visa office processing your case, and you might be able to talk to someone there.

Bear in mind that I am not an expert, I've just shared what we went through. Also, that was in 2011, so things may have changed to some extent.

Hello, Measa;

I wouldn't worry about that. If they had encountered a problem, they would actively tell you about it. I've heard of all manner of random changes to online status, and it's not uncommon for people to panic, but then it turns out to be some automated system making updates with no substance.

You can call the CIC support line and ask them what's going on. They might not be helpful with that weird status message, but they'll certainly be able to tell you if the application's been rejected.

Thanks for that, Samantha. The outland process never took 3-4 months. The lowest processing times I ever saw were in the 6-8 month range for the UK and Germany.

One other thing of which I'd like to remind you: with the in-land process you get all of one chance in a lifetime. With the outland process you can submit multiple applications.

Pity you didn't leave your email address for this conversation. 8/

That's too early to have heard anything for the inland process. From what I've seen, the first step (in which they evaluate the Canadian spouse as a sponsor) takes longer with inland than outland because of it having originated as an amnesty program for spouses living in the country without standing.

You'll likely hear something within the next six to ten weeks. Stick with it, you're two months into a year-long process. All the best to you and your husband!

Hello, Maya.

I don't know of a Facebook page, as I can't find things too well on that platform, but there are certainly forums on the 'net where you can get more information.

As for the status that appears on the CIC website: I get questions from time to time but have never heard anything that tells me it's related to the status of the actual application. I wouldn't worry about it.

You didn't leave an email, I hope you see this message!

Good day, sir, and thank you for your comment on my website. I can't honestly tell you how long your PR processing time will take, but the average across all regions seems to be about a year or only a little less. You're doing well, I'm afraid I can only counsel you to be patient.

As we were! My wife's PR was issued in 2011, and we've been living happily in Canada ever since.

Good luck to you and your wife.

Hi, Sam;

Your case has been passed on to the New Delhi office because your spouse has been approved and the next step is for the local office to review your case. From what I've read, I believe the Indian office asks for the passport fairly early in the process and then hangs onto it for the duration. All in, spousal PR applications seem to be taking about 11-12 months, so you'd see you passport again next August.

If you don't have your passport, you'd obviously be unable to travel. We went through it, you'll get there too.

All the best!

Hello, Amrita;

From what I've read, recently, it seems that the CIC is aiming to have all spousal PR applications approved within a year. So you're around halfway there. From what I've read, you should see a request from the visa office in New Delhi for your passport fairly soon. They'll then hang onto it for the remainder of your year.

Mind you, this is all second hand. Please bear in mind that I'm not an official or an expert, I'm just someone who went through the process himself in 2011.

All the best with your application!

I wish I know what to tell you, Cindy. The situation sounds fairly complex, and bureaucracies tend to be unimaginative in their dealings with complexity. Perhaps it's time to find an immigration lawyer? Perhaps you could start with some of the immigration forums online to gather some advice.

Good luck!

I wish I know what to tell you, Cindy. The situation sounds fairly complex, and bureaucracies tend to be unimaginative in their dealings with complexity. Perhaps it's time to find an immigration lawyer? Perhaps you could start with some of the immigration forums online to gather some advice.

Good luck!

Hello, Measa. It's been ~6-7 years since my wife and I went through the process, but things sound very promising. The timing of the request for the passport (which I believe is the next step for you) varies by country, but will either be quite soon (and then they hang onto it for months), or after a few more months, in which case they'll likely keep it for only a couple of weeks. The government seems to be trying to process all files in around 12-13 months.

Good luck!

Hello, Sajid;

According to the CIC website, most regions around the world experience the same total turnaround, roughly 11-12 months. You likely have another six to eight months left.

I wish you well with your application and immigration. 8)

Hi, Jennifer. I can't comment on the possibility of obtaining a work visa while there's a spousal PR application in the works.

Do not use the inland application route, it takes much longer, subjects you to more scrutiny, and would restrict your husband's ability to travel. Also, if he's denied for some reason, there's no possibility of a second application. I have read that was originally created as an amnesty program for people living in Canada illegally.

What we did in 2011 was this:

1. Move to Canada (Toronto) together. My name was the only one on any account or legal agreement, because my wife had no standing, as you point out.

2. File the outland application.

3. Receive the request for her passport (sent to the visa office which then existed in the Tokyo embassy).

4. Receive the passport with the temporary PR stamp.

5. Head to the US border in Niagara Falls, turn around and come back in to have her "land" in Canada by popping into the Canadian customs and immigration office at the border.

6. Immediately apply for a SIN and Ontario health coverage (she was pregnant by this point).

7. Wait for her PR card in the mail.

At no time during all of this could she work, study, have health insurance, etc.

If that doesn't sound workable, I would do what you're suggesting, and do the outland route while you're both still living and working in Japan.

Congratulations on your wedding!

Returning after 11 years; wow.

What my wife and I did was move to Canada and apply using the outland stream although living in Canada. I actually moved back first to find work, then returned to Japan to wrap up the place in Tokyo then bring them to find an apartment in Toronto.

This was possible because of the visa requirements for Japanese citizens in Canada which allow Japanese citizens to visit Canada for six months time on a visitor's visa. I don't know if this applies to Chinese nationals.

An alternative might be to come here yourself, ascertain your employment with your old employer, find a place to live, and then work out the visa application. The process takes a year, so ideally they'd be with you.

I've also got a friend who did it the other way: no current employer in Canada, and no home in the country. They applied, went through the process, and then moved to Canada.

Hi, Hassan.

From what I was reading (on a regular basis) when we went through this in 2011-2012, the timing of the steps varies quite a bit from region to region. In India for instance, the request for the passport would come early in the process and then the local visa office would hang onto the passport for months and months. Way back in those days, applications from wealthy countries were moving through conspicuously quicker than in other parts of the world, with the UK and Germany etc taking a total of 6-7 months. In all cases I saw reported at the time, the request for the passport would come quite late in the process, but the passport would be back in two weeks.

There's been a substantial reorganization since then, as well as a re-balancing that apparently is attempting to keep applications at a worldwide uniform total elapsed time of about a year. So I don't know where things stand today - the forums where people discuss these things might be a good source: I suppose that means Facebook these days.

Good luck with your application!