Raj

Experts,
Would appreciate a reply. I am a Canadian PR and planning to sponsor
my spouse who is in the US. Which is the best & preferably quicker
process to sponsor. Should I sponsor her as an inland applicant or
probably through Buffalo, NY.
Replies would be appreciated.

Thanks & Regards,

Raj

Andrew Miller

It all depends what you really want. If it is being with your wife ASAP,
regardless her status and assuming that she can get to Canada as visitor
then the inland process is for you. But if you want her to get her PR status
faster then sponsoring her from abroad will be way faster.

Renee

Mr. Miller,

What is your opinion as to why the inland process gotten so much slower in
the last six months? Is it simply a matter of a huge caseload or are there
other factors?

I remember reading your posts on this group back around July, when a U.S.
citizen who had only lived in the U.S. could expect a four to five month
processing time as an inland applicant. I was tracking the official
estimates back then, and they were quoting around 150 days. Now the
official estimate is as long as a refugee case, and is at 202 days for the
first round of approval only. I very much respect your experience, and I
know you are knowledgeable on the current processing trends based on your
position as a consultant. I've been watching your replies change over the
past few months now, presumably as your own client base has shown you
increasing trends.

Of course, I'm eager for my own case to reach work permit eligibility since
I was already in Canada for nearly five months prior to my marriage to a
Canadian citizen. I know that CIC has reviewed my file, because they asked
for additional information about my work history (though I'm not sure why,
because I included everything the first time). I'm wondering why a
spouse/common law partner is unable to receive work permit eligibility upon
the initial review of the application. After all, the criminal fingerprint
clearances are there, along with the marriage certificate and all the other
proof of eligibility for sponsorship under the spousal class. I did my
medicals up-front two months prior to the application since I had a Client
ID on my temporary resident visa. By reading the CIC operations manual, it
is their determination of eligibility for sponsorship that triggers the AIP,
and all of that information was right there. I suppose there's something
else I don't know about.

Back when I first arrived in Canada in February as a fiance, the majority of
the advice seemed to be that inland processing was much faster. Has the
caseload at Vegreville changed THAT much?

Thanks,

Renee

Jim Humphries

Yes, my daughter-in-law's case was processed in just over 4 months between
10/02 and 03/03. Her application was a simple one with plenty of evidence
of longstanding relationship.

Renee

Thank you for your reply, Mr. Humphries. That's an impressive timeline,
especially considering her being required to submit a RCMP clearance (you
mentioned that on a different thread). I guess they've gotten considerably
slower too.

I think I probably gave CIC more evidence of the relationship than
necessary, but I can definitely say that I prepared my package very well -
one might also say I became quite obsessed with all the little details in
the CIC guide, but that was all in good faith to do my best job.

I try to be upbeat despite the transition period, but I'm just as human as
anyone else with regard to waiting. I sometimes have to remind myself to
separate the actual PR processing time (I'm at 146 days today). It seems
like I've been waiting forever - between the long distance romance
count-downs to our next time together, to the waiting for my Canadian move
date, then the wedding, my first temporary visa extension, now the permanent
residency. I've been counting down days in some capacity since March 2002,
and I'm just eager to be finished!

Renee

Andrew Miller

Workload increase is the main factor for longer inland processing times in
all cases. Then there are many other factors that affect processing time of
each individual case - there are no 2 identical cases and there are no 2
identical processing times. For example last week we received AIP for 2
cases - one filed in the first week of April 2003 and the other one
submitted in the last week of May. Both came in the same day.

Vagrawal0805

Hi Renee,

Thanks for bringing it up. I am facing similar situation with my wife. I am
very disturbed with the fact that in-land processing time-line is getting
delayed every week. (202 days now). I think it's ridiculous and wrong to
encourage and help citizens by claiming processing of application faster
with in-land canada spousal processing.

I am thinking of visiting my local MP. I think we should all do the same.
Bring this issue to media...

Let me know your comments...
Vince


"Renee" <reneeno.spam.@shaw.spamguard.ca> wrote in message
news:bCtBb.629603$9l5.343835@pd7tw2no...
    > Thank you for your reply, Mr. Humphries. That's an impressive timeline,
    > especially considering her being required to submit a RCMP clearance (you
    > mentioned that on a different thread). I guess they've gotten
considerably
    > slower too.
    > I think I probably gave CIC more evidence of the relationship than
    > necessary, but I can definitely say that I prepared my package very well -
    > one might also say I became quite obsessed with all the little details in
    > the CIC guide, but that was all in good faith to do my best job.
    > I try to be upbeat despite the transition period, but I'm just as human as
    > anyone else with regard to waiting. I sometimes have to remind myself to
    > separate the actual PR processing time (I'm at 146 days today). It seems
    > like I've been waiting forever - between the long distance romance
    > count-downs to our next time together, to the waiting for my Canadian move
    > date, then the wedding, my first temporary visa extension, now the
permanent
    > residency. I've been counting down days in some capacity since March
2002,
    > and I'm just eager to be finished!
    > Renee
    > --
    > Inland Spouse Timeline so far (U.S. Citizen):
    > 19 Feb 2003: Moved to Calgary from U.S. on 6 month TRV
    > 12 May 2003: Did medicals in Calgary
    > 20 June 2003: Applied for TRV extension
    > 5 July 2003: Wedding Date
    > 17 July 2003: CIC received inland spouse PR application
    > 15 Aug 2003: Received 6 month TRV extension
    > 20 Aug 2003: CIC request for work history dates (which were sent with
    > application)
    > 21 Aug 2003: CIC received work history reply by overnight post
    > 4 Sept 2003: CIC e-Client finally shows "in process"
    > "Jim Humphries" <jhumphri(stop spam)@shaw.ca> wrote in message
    > news:bGsBb.625051$pl3.4212@pd7tw3no...
    > > Yes, my daughter-in-law's case was processed in just over 4 months
between
    > > 10/02 and 03/03. Her application was a simple one with plenty of
evidence
    > > of longstanding relationship.
    > > --
    > > Jim Humphries, former visa officer
    > > "Renee" <reneeno.spam.@shaw.spamguard.ca> wrote in message
    > > newsesBb.624522$pl3.467968@pd7tw3no...
    > > > Mr. Miller,
    > > >
    > > > What is your opinion as to why the inland process gotten so much
slower
    > in
    > > > the last six months? Is it simply a matter of a huge caseload or are
    > > there
    > > > other factors?
    > > >
    > > > I remember reading your posts on this group back around July, when a
    > U.S.
    > > > citizen who had only lived in the U.S. could expect a four to five
month
    > > > processing time as an inland applicant. I was tracking the official
    > > > estimates back then, and they were quoting around 150 days. Now the
    > > > official estimate is as long as a refugee case, and is at 202 days for
    > the
    > > > first round of approval only. I very much respect your experience,
and
    > I
    > > > know you are knowledgeable on the current processing trends based on
    > your
    > > > position as a consultant. I've been watching your replies change over
    > the
    > > > past few months now, presumably as your own client base has shown you
    > > > increasing trends.
    > > >
    > > > Of course, I'm eager for my own case to reach work permit eligibility
    > > since
    > > > I was already in Canada for nearly five months prior to my marriage to
a
    > > > Canadian citizen. I know that CIC has reviewed my file, because they
    > > asked
    > > > for additional information about my work history (though I'm not sure

    > why,
    > > > because I included everything the first time). I'm wondering why a
    > > > spouse/common law partner is unable to receive work permit eligibility
    > > upon
    > > > the initial review of the application. After all, the criminal
    > > fingerprint
    > > > clearances are there, along with the marriage certificate and all the
    > > other
    > > > proof of eligibility for sponsorship under the spousal class. I did
my
    > > > medicals up-front two months prior to the application since I had a
    > Client
    > > > ID on my temporary resident visa. By reading the CIC operations
manual,
    > > it
    > > > is their determination of eligibility for sponsorship that triggers
the
    > > AIP,
    > > > and all of that information was right there. I suppose there's
    > something
    > > > else I don't know about.
    > > >
    > > > Back when I first arrived in Canada in February as a fiance, the
    > majority
    > > of
    > > > the advice seemed to be that inland processing was much faster. Has
the
    > > > caseload at Vegreville changed THAT much?
    > > >
    > > > Thanks,
    > > >
    > > > Renee
    > > >
    > > > --
    > > > Inland Spouse Timeline so far (U.S. Citizen):
    > > > 19 Feb 2003: Moved to Calgary from U.S. on 6 month TRV
    > > > 12 May 2003: Did medicals in Calgary
    > > > 20 June 2003: Applied for TRV extension
    > > > 5 July 2003: Wedding Date
    > > > 17 July 2003: CIC received inland spouse PR application
    > > > 15 Aug 2003: Received 6 month TRV extension
    > > > 20 Aug 2003: CIC request for work history dates (which were sent with
    > > > application)
    > > > 21 Aug 2003: CIC received work history reply by overnight post
    > > > 4 Sept 2003: CIC e-Client finally shows "in process"
    > > >
    > > >
    > > > "Andrew Miller" <> wrote in message
    > > > news:zUqBb.44826$bC.18609@clgrps13...
    > > > > It all depends what you really want. If it is being with your wife
    > ASAP,
    > > > > regardless her status and assuming that she can get to Canada as
    > visitor
    > > > > then the inland process is for you. But if you want her to get her
PR
    > > > status
    > > > > faster then sponsoring her from abroad will be way faster.
    > > > >
    > > > > --
    > > > >
    > > > > ../..
    > > > >
    > > > > Andrew Miller
    > > > > Immigration Consultant
    > > > > Vancouver, British Columbia
    > > > > email:
    > > > > (delete REMOVE from the above address before sending email)
    > > > > ________________________________
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > > > "Raj" <> wrote in message
    > > > > news:...
    > > > > > Experts,
    > > > > > Would appreciate a reply. I am a Canadian PR and planning to
sponsor
    > > > > > my spouse who is in the US. Which is the best & preferably quicker
    > > > > > process to sponsor. Should I sponsor her as an inland applicant or
    > > > > > probably through Buffalo, NY.
    > > > > > Replies would be appreciated.
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Thanks & Regards,
    > > > > >
    > > > > > Raj
    > > > >
    > > > >
    > > >
    > > >
    > >
    > >

Renee

Thank you very much for your reply.

I've seen people on this newsgroup get frustrated when someone posts an I
GOT IT message and the timeline is after their own. I can't say I blame
them, but as you say, each case is different.

I guess the days of getting the AIP and final decision letters on the same
day are over. I never took it for granted that my case would be that way
just because others posted that, but of course, we all have a little bit of
hope in the back of our minds.

At this point, I just want to start earning again, so the AIP would be a
huge step forward. I miss my mother and sister, but we're starting to plan
a spring visit for them to come to Calgary, with the hopes that I'll be able
to go to Virginia to see them and my grandfather by next November or so with
my PR card in hand. They're my only family, so it'll be nice to have a few
days together after my restrictions against leaving Canada during inland
processing.

Renee

Renee

Well, they haven't updated the Minister's message on the spouse/common law
link for several months now. As I mentioned in my post to Mr. Miller, when
I first started tracking the processing times, it was faster to take the
inland route. I definitely think they need to change messages on their site
like that, because someone just starting the process needs to know the
current trends, not a blanket mistruth about how they're "beginning to see
improvements" yet the processing times have increased every week since I
first saw that message.

As an inland applicant, I think it's quite ridiculous for CIC to expect that
people can afford to be out of work for at least 202 days. After all, if we
only receive the Approval in Principle and not the final decision in the
same day (as others on this group reported a few months ago), then we have
to wait another 55 days or so to get the work permit in hand so we can then
apply for the temporary SIN number and actually start working. Most
employers will not hold a position open for two months.

I am lucky. I had a good amount of money from the sale of a house in the
U.S. that I can use to supplement my husband's income. But, at the same
time as that is true, I also resent the fact that I'm watching our nest egg
dwindle. We are responsible people who don't spend frivolously. In fact,
we are moving to a new apartment that will cost us less money, and selling
our car to save those expenses. We fully intend to replace every penny we
are spending during my immigration limbo, but the longer it takes, the more
we're going to have to keep cutting back to make sure we take care of our
future. We are childless by choice - I don't know how a family with
children manages to get by without two incomes. We scrutinize little things
like breakfast at McDonalds and junior hockey tickets. If we had more than
just the two of us, our savings would probably be about gone.

Now, let me be clear that I knowingly made the choice to move to Canada five
months ahead of my wedding. I don't blame CIC for that. But I do get angry
when I'm sitting at home so as not to spend even $3.50 bus fare
unnecessarily, and the processing time gets worse every time they update.
It's hard when you know that you are criminal record-free, with good job
skills, and all you want to do is be able to totally start your new life,
but you just have to wait your turn at Vegreville for them to figure that
out too. It's sometimes easy to forget that while I know I'm a
goody-two-shoes, there's too many people who have tried to cheat the system
in the past or are otherwise ineligible, so now the rest of us have to go
through the hoops too.

I still say that for us, the inland route was the right decision. We are
very happy that we can be together while waiting for my permanent residency,
and when it comes down to it, that's the most important factor to us.

I don't know that going to the local MP will have much effect. To be
honest, I'm a pretty introverted person, so I probably couldn't do it. I'd
be interested to hear your experience if you decide to go that route. I
don't think it would speed anything up, but you never know.

Best wishes.

Renee

Http://Www.Iamnotamerican.Com

in a recent article, Raj () said:

    > Experts,
    > Would appreciate a reply. I am a Canadian PR and planning to sponsor
    > my spouse who is in the US. Which is the best & preferably quicker
    > process to sponsor. Should I sponsor her as an inland applicant or
    > probably through Buffalo, NY.

External applications are processed faster. If you can't live without
each other (awww) an inland application obviously will get the two of you
together faster, with the drawback being that you will have to wait longer
to get PR status.