Getting Started on your application

Now that you have determined which category you should apply under, the next thing you need to do is decided whether you want apply from Within Canada or from Outside Canada, there are pros and cons for each method of application. It really depends on your personal situation as to which route you chose!

Applicants that have entered Canada with a Temporary Work Permit, Temporary Study Permit, TRP (Temporary Resident Permit) or Visitors Record for applicants that are Visa Exempt prior to applying for Permanent Residency have 2 choices - to apply inside Canada or Outside.

However their are some applicants that are not eligible for Work Permits or Study Permits in Canada and come from countries that require a Visa to enter Canada and on occasion these permits are denied. This creates the a barrier between the Sponsor and the applicant leaving with them no choice but to apply outside of Canada going through the Canadian Embassy responsible for their country of Citizenship. 

Basic facts on Applying In-Canada 

• All applications made inside Canada are sent to Case Processing Centre Vegreville in Alberta, Canada.
  
• It currently takes 7-8 months for CPC-Vegreville to approve or deny the Sponsor and a further 10+ months to either approve or deny the applicant, resulting in a minimum of 18 months to process. To Check Processing times inside Canada http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#sponsorship
• If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec immigration sponsorship requirements.
• The applicant and any accompanying dependants must complete a medical assessment carried out by a designated medical practitioner approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• The applicant must provide a police certificate for each country they have resided in for periods longer than 6 months from the age of 18 years old and a set of finger prints from the RCMP in order to obtain a police certificate
  
• Fees required for an application made inside Canada; 

• You are eligible for an openwork permit within Canada when your Sponsor has been approved.
• If you are from a country that requires you to have a TRP to enter Canada you will be able to remain in Canada with your sponsor providing that you maintain a Legal Status. Should an interview be require it would be conducted in Canada. However if the applicant was to apply outside Canada while residing in Canada on a TRP or Work Permit the interview would be conducted in the Applicants country of Citizenship and not guaranteed to re-enter Canada until they have been granted Permanent Residency unless the applicant holds a multiple entry Permit.
  

• You have to spend more money on medicals and this will cause delays with processing your application, a medical has a validity of 12 months.
• You have to remain in Canada during your application process otherwise the application becomes Void and you will have to start over again
• You have no right of appeal should you be denied Permanent Residency!
  

Basic facts on Applying Outside Canada 

• Applications made outside of Canada are sent to CPC-Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
• It currently takes approximately 42 days for CPC-Mississauga to approve or deny the Sponsor.
• Applications for Permanent Residency are processed at the Visa office responsible for the Applicants country of Citizenship, with the exception of applicants that have legally been admitted to Canada for a period of 1 year or more in which case you may be processed in Buffalo USA.
  
• Processing times for applicants vary depending on which visa office their application is going through. To Check Processing times outside Canada; http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp
  
• If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec immigration sponsorship requirements.
• The applicant and any accompanying dependants must complete a medical assessment carried out by a designated medical practitioner approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• The applicant must provide a police certificate for each country they have resided in for periods longer than 6 months from the age of 18 years old. 
• Fees required for an application made inside Canada; 

• Applications processed outside Canada are generally processed much faster than applications processed inside Canada

• It is possible to live in Canada on a Work permit, Study permit or Visitors Permit/ Visitors record whilst you application is in process in the visa office responsible for your country of citizenship.
• Should your application be denied you have the right to appeal the decision! 
  

• If an interview is required it will be conducted in your country of Citizenship or if your application is being processed in Buffalo you will be required to travel to Buffalo for your interview.
  

LEGAL DISCLAIMER 

The information on this website is a reproduction of an official work that is published by the Government of Canada and has not been reproduced in affiliation with, or with the endorsement of the Government of Canada.  

The above information has been reproduced from; Sponsoring your family:Spouses and dependent children—How to Apply produced by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.