Entry into Canada after Marriage

[stenneeto]

Hello. I am a Canadian citizen and I'm getting married in 1 month to my fiance who lives in Belgium. After 1 week of being married, we both are planning to travel back to Canada and start our life together. I'm assuming that my spouse can travel back with me and enter Canada on a visitors visa (lasting 6 months). She is planning to apply for a work visa and then we will apply for spousal sponsorship once we are back in Canada. We haven't started this process yet as I was told it is better to start this process when she is actually with me in Canada. Is there any additional documents that we need for her to enter Canada with me. We do not want to be stuck at the border into Canada with her not being able to enter. I would appreciate some advice. Thanks

 

[Buletruck]

If she looks like she's moving to canada ( bring her worldly possessions, resumes, all her important personal documents) on an eTA, don't be surprised if she receives a grilling (and possible refused entry) from CBSA. There are no gaurantees that she will receive a 6 month entry and if it's suspected she isn't a visitor, CBSA won't hesitate to deny her entry.
There is absolutely no reason not to start the process outside of Canada, other than personal choices. Processing times are similar, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

 

[stenneeto]

If she looks like she's moving to canada ( bring her worldly possessions, resumes, all her important personal documents) on an eTA, don't be surprised if she receives a grilling (and possible refused entry) from CBSA. There are no gaurantees that she will receive a 6 month entry and if it's suspected she isn't a visitor, CBSA won't hesitate to deny her entry.
There is absolutely no reason not to start the process outside of Canada, other than personal choices. Processing times are similar, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

Hello. Thanks for your reply. Is it common that CBSA will deny visitors into Canada? What do you mean by, "...if its suspected she isn't a visitor, CBSA won't hesitate to deny her entry..." What do you suggest in regards to the process that we should start before she enters Canada? Do you have any advice as what to say if a CBSA grills her about her coming into Canada? Should we disclose the information that we were just recently married and she is coming as a visitor and we are planning to start the process when she's here?

 

[Nadaa]

If she looks like she's moving to canada ( bring her worldly possessions, resumes, all her important personal documents) on an eTA, don't be surprised if she receives a grilling (and possible refused entry) from CBSA. There are no gaurantees that she will receive a 6 month entry and if it's suspected she isn't a visitor, CBSA won't hesitate to deny her entry.
There is absolutely no reason not to start the process outside of Canada, other than personal choices. Processing times are similar, and each has its advantages and disadvantages.

In beginning we had the same worried as @stenneeto
But here i am in Canada and i have my PR last Thursday.

My husband is Canadian citizen and im from South Asian. I arrived March last year with tourist visa (i applied tourist visa in my country and mentioned only for 2weeks in Canada), somehow i could convinced Canadian custom so they gave me 6months (my husband doesnt accompany me in this trip).

With suggestion. Your wife have to give solid proof that she has strong ties to her country and will return after her visit and you may tell the officer that she will stay for 2-3weeks only to meet husband's family) or pleasure trip.

Best luck for both of you

 

[gellyvezina]

In beginning we had the same worried as @stenneeto
But here i am in Canada and i have my PR last Thursday.

My husband is Canadian citizen and im from South Asian. I arrived March last year with tourist visa (i applied tourist visa in my country and mentioned only for 2weeks in Canada), somehow i could convinced Canadian custom so they gave me 6months (my husband doesnt accompany me in this trip).

With suggestion. Your wife have to give solid proof that she has strong ties to her country and will return after her visit and you may tell the officer that she will stay for 2-3weeks only to meet husband's family) or pleasure trip.

Best luck for both of you

Hey i would like to ask if you dont mind?
I have a multiple 5year Visit visa I am currently here in Canada. I am married 3years now to a canadian and we have a baby. So I am planning to do Inland Spousal Sponsoship.. how long before you get your PR? did you also applied for OWP while the PR is being processed?

 

[Nadaa]

Hey i would like to ask if you dont mind?
I have a multiple 5year Visit visa I am currently here in Canada. I am married 3years now to a canadian and we have a baby. So I am planning to do Inland Spousal Sponsoship.. how long before you get your PR? did you also applied for OWP while the PR is being processed?

Hi @gellyvegina
I also got multiple visa till the expiry date in my passport but every visit to Canada only allowed to stay for 6months maximum.

For PR- it tooks almost 13months. Yes i applied for open work permit also (i applied PR along with OWP). The time processing 5months bcs they returned my application due to shortage of fee so the time took longer

 

[gellyvezina]

Hi @gellyvegina
I also got multiple visa till the expiry date in my passport but every visit to Canada only allowed to stay for 6months maximum.

For PR- it tooks almost 13months. Yes i applied for open work permit also (i applied PR along with OWP). The time processing 5months bcs they returned my application due to shortage of fee so the time took longer

thank you so much for reply Nadaa so you just extended your stay here right to be able to stay more than 6mos? when should i do that? one month before my 6 mos finished?

 

[Nadaa]

thank you so much for reply Nadaa so you just extended your stay here right to be able to stay more than 6mos? when should i do that? one month before my 6 mos finished?

I extended my visitor visa 2weeks (some ppl said better to extend it a month) before the 6th month and planned to extend it again but my OWP is granted which valid till the expiry date in mypassport

 

[gellyvezina]

I extended my visitor visa 2weeks (some ppl said better to extend it a month) before the 6th month and planned to extend it again but my OWP is granted which valid till the expiry date in mypassport

nadaa last question ..sorry when you got the OWP and for example it last for 2years you dont have to keep reapplying for extension of the TRV right? since its the OWP now that your using as a legal status in canada? thank you so much for answer nada helps a lot!

 

[Nadaa]

nadaa last question ..sorry when you got the OWP and for example it last for 2years you dont have to keep reapplying for extension of the TRV right? since its the OWP now that your using as a legal status in canada? thank you so much for answer nada helps a lot!

This is my timeline
I came here March 2016
Applied to PR&OWP on beginning of Aug 2016 but got returned bcs of a mistake on schedule A (PR) and shortage of fee (OWP)
Applied for extension (1)visitor visa at mid Aug 2016
Applied for extension (2) visitor visa March 2017 (i forgot what mentioned on my IRCC account but seemed automatically cancelled when my OWP granted- i should ask for refund )
OWP March 2017
PR mid Oct 2017

When are you going to apply for PR&OWP

 

[gellyvezina]

This is my timeline
I came here March 2016
Applied to PR&OWP on beginning of Aug 2016 but got returned bcs of a mistake on schedule A (PR) and shortage of fee (OWP)
Applied for extension (1)visitor visa at mid Aug 2016
Applied for extension (2) visitor visa March 2017 (i forgot what mentioned on my IRCC account but seemed automatically cancelled when my OWP granted- i should ask for refund )
OWP March 2017
PR mid Oct 2017

When are you going to apply for PR&OWP

thank you for sharing your timeline nadaa..
I am planning to apply soon but i want to make sure everything is okay before we apply.. like for example about the Police clearance requirement for PR i dont have police clearance with me and i read online i can get form from my Embassy and all those process to get Police clearance from my country so i have to make sure about my Time management.. will be sucks to fail because its lots of money time and efforts lol

 

[stenneeto]

@Nadaa. So what your advising, is that my wife should say to the CBSA that she is just visiting family or coming for leisure, instead of saying she's coming to live with her Canadian husband? Would saying that be more likely for her being let into the country?

 

[canuck78]

She can say that she is visiting you but she can't stay she is planning on staying. They may ask whether she has a return ticket, ha a house/flat, has a job, etc. Also if they search her luggage it must look like she is visiting not moving.

 

[Bryanna]

Hello. I am a Canadian citizen and I'm getting married in 1 month to my fiance who lives in Belgium. After 1 week of being married, we both are planning to travel back to Canada and start our life together. I'm assuming that my spouse can travel back with me and enter Canada on a visitors visa (lasting 6 months).

If your fiancée has a Belgium passport then she needs to apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before she boards the flight. If she is from a non-visa exempt country then she must apply for a TRV.

How long she is allowed to stay would depend on the CBSA officer she meets at the POE. Normally, it is for 6 months

 

[Onceagain2step]

If your fiancée has a Belgium passport then she needs to apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) before she boards the flight. If she is from a non-visa exempt country then she must apply for a TRV.

How long she is allowed to stay would depend on the CBSA officer she meets at the POE. Normally, it is for 6 months

hi Bryanna,
I had visa of visistor before I marriage. Now I can use this visa come to Canada while my application for sponsorship is processing outside?
thanks.