Before making an application to sponsor your spouse or common-law partner, you may be wondering whether it would benefit your cause if you sponsored your partner from outside or inside of Canada.

To understand your situation better, it is important to comprehend what it means to sponsor a partner from "inland" or "outland".

Inland or Outside Canada Sponsorshp?

  • Inland spousal sponsorship means that your spouse, for whatever reason, they may be visiting or on a work permit, is in Canada and you wish to make an application while they remain in Canada
  • Outland spousal sponsorship is the opposite. While going through the application process, your partner will remain outside of Canada while the application is being processed

There are many pros and cons that should be deliberated before you decide which option you should choose.

There is the obvious benefit for sponsoring inland, which is that you get to stay with your partner while the two of you wait for the decision on your application. This being said, the application process does take longer and, if you do not have sufficient income, you may wish to take into consideration whether it would be more beneficial for your partner to remain in their home country, where they would be able to work. Although it is not impossible for your partner to make an application for an Open Work Permit, it is dependent upon whether or not you receive an approval in principle, and there are no guarantees that you will.

As opposed to sponsoring inland, outland spousal sponsorships have a quicker processing time. In addition to this, outland sponsorships have appeal rights, whereas inland sponsorships do not. You may wish to consider whether your application is strong and if you want to be able to have the option of appealing.

If you have the option of sponsoring inland or outland, or if you do not entirely understand what situation you are in, the experienced legal staff at Akrami & Associates will be able to provide you with legal advice and ease your way through the application processes and procedures. Call us today for a consultation.