OK, so what haven't you done? Applied for PR at all? That officer was right - your daughter is a Canadian citizen and she can stay. You were at risk of being separated from your family and you're actually quite lucky you were allowed back in. Don't know how long you've been married but there's really no excuse for not already having submitted your paperwork to be in Canada legally, permanently.
You need to get moving on this now! There is nothing hubby has to do that you can't do yourself. I was the applicant, too. Filled out all the paperwork myself, got my criminal clearances from the FBI and my State clearances also, called and made an appt with
a Canadian DMP to get my medical exam, made sure I had an updated passport, etc. Hubby signed when I pointed out the line to sign on. But after all, I was the one in Canada without the ability to work or go to school - I had the time. It's just paperwork. He was working 60+ hours per week to support us!
The other thing that's
imperative for you to do is keep your temporary status current. You do that by submitting
an application to extend your VR and you need to make sure that the application is received by CIC BEFORE your VR expires. You could apply inland and include that application WITH your PR ap, but I strongly suggest that you don't file an inland PR ap. You don't need to in order to stay, and it takes much longer to get an inland application finalized than it does to finalize an
outland ap through Buffalo. As long as you maintain your temporary status by applying to extend so that the application is received before your status expires, you can stay in Canada - regardless of where your PR ap is processing. So, pay your PR fees first (at least the $75 sponsorship fee and the $475 applicant fee) - that gives you proof that you're being sponsored. Then submit a copy of that proof, along with a copy of your marriage licence and a copy of your husband's employment letter (he needs to get one to submit with the PR ap anyway) and a couple of paystubs, and your VR extension application so that it's received by CIC BEFORE your VR expires. That will protect your temporary status.
In the meantime, schedule your medical and
get your FBI clearances ordered (and clearances for any State you resided in for more than 6 months since turning 18), so they're back by the time you've completed the application and pulled together your evidences in support of your "genuine relationship". (And, no, being married and having a daughter together is not the only proof you need that your relationship is genuine.) Look over the checklists included for both the sponsor and the applicant (in the
US Regional forms) before you start working on things so that you know what you're going to need to submit (like your husband's Option C print out for his most recent tax year) - it will save you time in the long run. Then get that application submitted to CPC-Mississauga. It will take them about a month to approve your husband as your sponsor, then the ap will go to Buffalo. Buffalo is currently finalizing spousal PR aps in 4-10 months . . . you can expedite processing by making sure everything goes with the initial submission and you provide strong proof of your genuine relationship so that you avoid having to attend an interview.
While the ap is in process - repeat the extension of your temporary status any time you need to, being sure your extension application is received by CIC prior to expiration of your last authorized status. That gives you implied status to
remain in Canada - but does not protect you if you leave the country, and your VR does not guarantee that you can come back to Canada if you leave.
Check out the
US2Canada website for more information and you're always welcome to come here with any questions.