While the process described above includes all the key elements, it's not much like what someone sees when completing an outland application for bringing in a spouse from some countries. In our case, it looks more like what I've described below. This is for an outland application of a spouse and one dependent from a country requiring a visa to visit Canada, with the spouse/dependent residing outland during the application period.
If anyone can suggest any corrections, please do so and I'll re-post it in its entirety as a record in a separate thread so it's searchable by topic title.
1. Learn What is Required
Comb the CIC website, this forum, and other internet resources to find out what information you'll need to provide, what forms you'll have to fill out, and what documentation you will need to submit a successful application. You'll have to pay particular attention to whether or not you qualify as a sponsor (assuming you're the sponsor) and whether your spouse/dependents qualify as immigrants to Canada.
2. Gather Data and Documents
You'll apply for various documents needed to support your application, including birth certificates, identity cards, police clearance certificates, marriage licences, divorce certificates, etc.
You'll gather documentation to support your case -- photos, proof of visits, proof that your marriage (assuming you're married) is a genuine marriage and not a marriage of convenience. If you're a common-law couple, you'll need a lot more documentation to prove you've been living together as a committed couple for at least one full year. (This is not intended as a complete list of what you'll need. Rely on the Immigrant's guides at the CIC website for that.)
You'll also have your spouse/dependents complete a medical in his/her country at a Designated Medical Practitioner, and you'll pay for it. Your spouse will need to bring a form and photos to the appointment. The doctor's office will give your spouse a part of the CIC form, which you must include with your application.
Note: CIC offices in some countries take a long time to process applications, so they do not ask that you submit your spouse's proof of medical exam or your police clearance certificates with your application since they would "expire" before your application is processed. In these cases, you'll be asked part-way through the screening process to submit these documents.
3. Complete the Immigration Forms and Assemble your Application
You'll complete all the required forms, and assemble all the required documents which you'll submit with your forms. You'll put the entire package together, with all documents, photos, etc organized into a comprehensive package. You'll check it and check it again for completeness and accuracy. You'll run across many questions as you do this, and you'll post them here or read some of the topics to get answers.
4. Submit your Application
You'll pay the required fees (see CIC website), get a receipt, and enclose it with your application package. Finally, you'll bundle it up and send it to CIC Mississauga. I suggest you use Express Post of courier service so you'll have a tracking number and a record of when your package was received in Mississauga.
5. CIC Assessment of Sponsor
CIC Mississauga will assess whether you qualify as a sponsor. If yes, your application will be sent to the appropriate country where your spouse's/dependent's application for permanent residence will be assessed.
6. Outland Assessment of Application for Permanent Residence Visa
Your spouse's/dependent's application for permanent residence will be assessed. This will take many months. See the CIC website for average application processing times in various visa offices around the world.
In some cases, as noted above, your spouse will be asked to submit police clearance certificates and proof that you've completed a medical exam at a Designated Medical Practitioner. In other cases, these will already have been included in your application.
If your application looks as though it is complete and qualifying, you will be asked to pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee.
If there is no doubt that your application qualifies, your spouse/dependent will not be called for an interview.
Once your application has been fully assessed, interviews completed, all medicals/police clearance certificates received and reviewed, a decision will be made on your spouse's/dependent's application. You will be notified, probably first by a change in the CAIPS on-line status of your application, then by letter, that your spouse/dependent has been granted a visa for permanent residence.
7. Issuance of Visa
The visa will be sent to your spouse/dependent.
8. Entry to Canada
Your spouse/dependent will arrive in Canada and will go through an interview, usually brief, to check the facts of the application and to file declarations of goods being brought into Canada and any goods to follow.
9. Issuance of Permanent Residence Card
Within 30 to 60 days, the new resident will receive a permanent resident card, which can be used to re-enter Canada after they have been out of the country.
Comments? Let's not make it much longer, but if anything is inaccurate, please let me know.