Jw

This is about sponsoring a conjugal partner - I'm Canadian, we currently
live in the States, and I just got a job offer in Montreal.

After a couple of responses here and elsewhere it looks like people think
my girlfriend Amanda and I might not qualify as conjugal partners: we've
been living together since October 2003, and before then we couldn't live
together because of previously-existing leases. It's been suggested we get
married (which would have happened eventually, but which we didn't want to
throw together quickly just for the sake of the immigration authorities).

I wanted to ask about the relative processing times of these options:

[1] Apply as common-law partners from within Canada once we've been living
together for a year. This means waiting until October 2004 to apply, and
it means Amanda would have to enter Canada with temporary status, and
unable to work while she waited, assuming she moved with me in July.

[2] Apply from outside Canada as soon as possible, either after a
hastily-arranged marriage or straight away, hoping that our conjugal
status will be accepted.

Is there a good estimate that anyone might be able to share with me on the
total processing time for each of those options? We are moving to the
province of Quebec in case that makes a difference.

Assuming option [2] above, will Amanda be allowed to enter Canada as a
temporary visitor if she has an application for PR pending?

Many thanks. --J