which is the best plan?

[francisco bucchi]

Hi all,

There is less than two weeks for our flight to Canada, and I still haven't decided which is the best plan in case we are asked by the CBSA abour our intentions for coming to Canada. So far I have two plans, which should I use? Help please!!!

We are four: me and our daughter (Canadians) and my wife and step-son (Chileans, my step-son is 5 years old). My wife and step-son have an eTA (tourist visa).

PLAN #1 - Telling the truth.

"I will start a 1-year master in the U. of Toronto. My family is coming in to be with me while I complete the PR application, which is almost complete, you can see it. We have paid the fees for PR. However, if anything goes wrong (e.g. tourist visa is denied an extension), here are our tickets to flight back home. We already have arranged our accomodation in the university residence (I can show the rent contract)"

Worst case, CBSA officer says: "oh, so your wife and step-son are not visiting the country, but planning to stay here. Denied entry!"

PLAN #2 - We are just visiting

"Hi dear CBSA officers, we are coming to visit the country where I was born 28 years ago (by the way, this is true). We have tickets back home. We will stay in the house of a friend of my dad (I could get a letter from him saying this is true), so we won't pay for accomodation. We have $10,000 CAD in cash, you can see. We don't have a rigid schedule, just planning to visit Toronto and the Ontario province, you know, the Niagara falls, the parks... and Francisco is coming to make contacts in the UofT, because he is planning to do a PhD here".

Worst case, CBSA officer says: "I don't believe you, your are rather moving here with all that baggage and with two kids! The older is in school-age!"

Maybe I am paranoic, sorry. But I need to have this plan very clear in my head in case we are asked.
Thanks for your help.

 

[starnaenae]

Dont lie. Worst thing you can do. How much longer on your app do you have?

 

[francisco bucchi]

I will only be able to complete my app on July 26 (next wednesday), and our flight is on July 31. I don't think there is enough time...

 

[starnaenae]

I will only be able to complete my app on July 26 (next wednesday), and our flight is on July 31. I don't think there is enough time...

so you havent even applied as of yet is what youre saying? i dont know how an eTA works, my husband has a TRV and we had to extend his stay recently, but i would make sure you know the ins and outs of this and ensure that htey can stay the WHOLE time... i would say you are coming for school and they will be visiting and returning and thats what i would do... you can apply while they are here. i dont know if ppl who have an eTA can stay for more than 6 months and if they do what the needs are to extend.. you may want to look into this a bit more

 

[majesty]

I think you can apply for an extension as with an eTA. It's like a visitor's Visa only you pay minimal charge. They got rid of the Visa requirement for Chileans because now Canadians are not required to pay the reciprocity tax when they enter Chile. You may want to check with the embassy in Santiago. I think they still have an office in Las Condes.

But I agree, do not lie! That is misrepresentation and can jeopardize your PR application from being approved.

 

[francisco bucchi]

Ok, thank you both. I haven't applied for PR yet. An eTA is like a visitors visa, and its valid for 6 months, and I was thinking to apply for an extension.

So, the best plan seems to say the truth, and it would be that my family is comming with me because I am doing a 1 year master. They are coming with a visitors visa for 6 months and we plan to ask an extension for another 6 months. This is basically what we are doing, but instead of saying anything about the PR we can say that we will come back to Chile after 1 year.

So, it is better not to mention that we are thinking to apply to PR, isn't it?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi all,

There is less than two weeks for our flight to Canada, and I still haven't decided which is the best plan in case we are asked by the CBSA abour our intentions for coming to Canada. So far I have two plans, which should I use? Help please!!!

We are four: me and our daughter (Canadians) and my wife and step-son (Chileans, my step-son is 5 years old). My wife and step-son have an eTA (tourist visa).

PLAN #1 - Telling the truth.

"I will start a 1-year master in the U. of Toronto. My family is coming in to be with me while I complete the PR application, which is almost complete, you can see it. We have paid the fees for PR. However, if anything goes wrong (e.g. tourist visa is denied an extension), here are our tickets to flight back home. We already have arranged our accomodation in the university residence (I can show the rent contract)"

Worst case, CBSA officer says: "oh, so your wife and step-son are not visiting the country, but planning to stay here. Denied entry!"

PLAN #2 - We are just visiting

"Hi dear CBSA officers, we are coming to visit the country where I was born 28 years ago (by the way, this is true). We have tickets back home. We will stay in the house of a friend of my dad (I could get a letter from him saying this is true), so we won't pay for accomodation. We have $10,000 CAD in cash, you can see. We don't have a rigid schedule, just planning to visit Toronto and the Ontario province, you know, the Niagara falls, the parks... and Francisco is coming to make contacts in the UofT, because he is planning to do a PhD here".

Worst case, CBSA officer says: "I don't believe you, your are rather moving here with all that baggage and with two kids! The older is in school-age!"

Maybe I am paranoic, sorry. But I need to have this plan very clear in my head in case we are asked.
Thanks for your help.

Hi

Tell the truth: you are returning to Canada and your family is visiting while their PR app is processed. Carry the PR fee receipt to show you have applied and proof of finances to show you can support yourselves. This is a common situation and you should be fine.

 

[francisco bucchi]

Thanks canuck_in_uk.

Maybe I wasn't clear in my first post, but I haven't applied to PR yet, and I won't be able to do it before our flight. The only thing I can do is pay the fee, but I won't be in the system if they want to check. Are you sure that my family can visit Canada with me even though we haven't applied to PR yet?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thanks canuck_in_uk.

Maybe I wasn't clear in my first post, but I haven't applied to PR yet, and I won't be able to do it before our flight. The only thing I can do is pay the fee, but I won't be in the system if they want to check. Are you sure that my family can visit Canada with me even though we haven't applied to PR yet?

Yes, they can visit. If CBSA asks, show the fee receipt and the app.

 

[majesty]

Ok, thank you both. I haven't applied for PR yet. An eTA is like a visitors visa, and its valid for 6 months, and I was thinking to apply for an extension.

So, the best plan seems to say the truth, and it would be that my family is comming with me because I am doing a 1 year master. They are coming with a visitors visa for 6 months and we plan to ask an extension for another 6 months. This is basically what we are doing, but instead of saying anything about the PR we can say that we will come back to Chile after 1 year.

So, it is better not to mention that we are thinking to apply to PR, isn't it?

So you paid the fee for the application but you haven't submitted the application? Is that what you are saying?? Usually you make the application and pay the fee at the same time. If you paid the fee, then you should have submitted the application.

Then you would have the proof that canuck is talking about. You should still book a return ticket since you can't presume that they will 100% approve your PR application. They may hassle you a little when you arrive in Canada, but better that you come clean now than for them to find out when they process your app that you didn't declare your true intentions and give them cause to reject your application.

 

[francisco bucchi]

I have not paid the fee yet, but I have read many times in this forum that paying the fee in advance is useful to prove the CBSA that you don't want to stay illegally, but you want to do the right process. That is why I thought to pay the fee in advance.

Could you please explain what you mean with "come clean now"? It was to argue that I need to book return tickets?

 

[bafonso]

I would do everything possible to submit the application by 26th and when you land you should be honest. Just say they'll be visiting while you are doing your thing. I would honestly bring AS LITTLE as possible of baggage, eventually buy some stuff in Canada if you need. Proof of having a good chunk of money to support everyone will likely go a long way. Getting return tickets is an expensive proposition, can't offer advice on whether they will ask.

This is based on my last chat with a CBSA officer regarding a similar situation where I will be living with my spouse while waiting for PR.

 

[francisco bucchi]

Thanks bafonso. I can buy refundable return tickets, so I can get my money back if I don't use them.

Regarding baggage, we are four and we'll say that our plan is to be in Canada at least for 1 year (6 months of eTA plus a 6 months extension). So I don't think that our baggage can be little, and it shouldn't call their attention.

Bafonso, I see a contradiction in your post. You recommend applying before departure (so we are planning to stay in Canada), then you say that we should bring little baggage (so we give the impression that we are not moving in), and then you say that is not sure they will ask for return tickets (again, something that would do a family that is staying)...

 

[canuck_in_uk]

So you paid the fee for the application but you haven't submitted the application? Is that what you are saying?? Usually you make the application and pay the fee at the same time. If you paid the fee, then you should have submitted the application.

Then you would have the proof that canuck is talking about. You should still book a return ticket since you can't presume that they will 100% approve your PR application. They may hassle you a little when you arrive in Canada, but better that you come clean now than for them to find out when they process your app that you didn't declare your true intentions and give them cause to reject your application.

Many people pay the fee well ahead of time. There is absolutely no issue with this and no requirement to pay the fee at the same time as applying.

Whatever they say at the border will have no impact on the PR app and will not in any way lead to their app being refused.

Bafonso, I see a contradiction in your post. You recommend applying before departure (so we are planning to stay in Canada), then you say that we should bring little baggage (so we give the impression that we are not moving in), and then you say that is not sure they will ask for return tickets (again, something that would do a family that is staying)...

You and your daughter have the right to move to Canada. Your wife and step-child don't have that right. Regardless of your future plans and how long you actually intend to stay, they will still be entering as visitors.

 

[francisco bucchi]

Ok, thanks again canuck.

I can see there are divergent opinions in the replies. You all agreed that I have to say the truth, and that is what I'll do.

I will post again the first days of august to tell you my experience... hoping it will help others.