Its also recommended to have a return ticket booked (this helps proving that you are only "visiting")
What to do?
- Thread starter thwphipps
- Start date
Here’s a thread of people who have done the same. Put some thought into how you want to go about it. It is possible to be refused but obviously thousands have done this before. https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/dual-intent-entry-my-experience.535656/
My husband had to do the same. We made sure we had all of our PR documents (In our case the lawyer contract showing we were in the process of applying for an inland sponsorship...as you have to wait till you are actually physically in Canada to apply. Receipts for the PR app, if you paid already, is highly recommended); bank statement information to show that he was able to support himself financially, as well as a letter of employment showing that I had a job here in Canada and would therefore support him in an emergency; travel insurance to show he would not be a burden on the health system if he were to get sick; and an open ticket if he had to go back if the app were to be rejected (you can also purchase a fully refundable ticket).
Remember to not say that you are moving to Canada. Your purpose for travelling is visiting and that if you are required to leave that you will. Make that VERY clear to the Boarder Officer. Also, answer only what is asked of you and have all of your papers in an accessible location. Once you get to Canada you will have to fill out a customs paper and feed it into a machine when you land at the airport. It is going to ask you how long you are staying for in Canada. In this case, my husband asked for assistance as he wasn't sure what to put and they just directed him to the counter where he answered the questions of the Boarder Officer. Make sure your wife is there to pick you up as the Officer may have some questions (they called me on my phone to verify all of the information and to ask if I would be able to support him if he were to run out of money). You should be fine but also remember that a Boarder Officer has every right to refuse entry, so be honest (if they catch you in a lie they can ban you for misrepresentation), make sure you tell them that you are just visiting and will leave if required, and only answer what you are asked.
Remember to not say that you are moving to Canada. Your purpose for travelling is visiting and that if you are required to leave that you will. Make that VERY clear to the Boarder Officer. Also, answer only what is asked of you and have all of your papers in an accessible location. Once you get to Canada you will have to fill out a customs paper and feed it into a machine when you land at the airport. It is going to ask you how long you are staying for in Canada. In this case, my husband asked for assistance as he wasn't sure what to put and they just directed him to the counter where he answered the questions of the Boarder Officer. Make sure your wife is there to pick you up as the Officer may have some questions (they called me on my phone to verify all of the information and to ask if I would be able to support him if he were to run out of money). You should be fine but also remember that a Boarder Officer has every right to refuse entry, so be honest (if they catch you in a lie they can ban you for misrepresentation), make sure you tell them that you are just visiting and will leave if required, and only answer what you are asked.
Hi everybody again
Just a reminder for yall: I am a British citizen who has been married to a Canadian for nearly four years. We have no kids. After living in the UK for six years, we moved to Canada in July. I was given a six month visitor's entry (not a visa? I'm not sure what it it; I have a stamp in my passport).
We are starting to go about applying for the INLAND visa under the family class and will also want to apply for an open work permit.
I am... not good at admin, forms or tackling bureaucracy. We did go through the visa treadmill for my wife in the UK and it was a massive hassle. I am HOPING Canada is less hellish - that's what I've been told - but still, I'm terrified of messing something up.
I have downloaded what I THINK all the forms I need are but would like to run a few things through the smart people here.
The forms I have are:
Document Checklist – Spouse (including dependent children of spouse) [IMM 5533]
FOR MY WIFE TO FILL IN:
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
- Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (IMM 5532)
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
FOR ME TO FILL IN
- Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008]
- Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP]
- Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]
- Schedule A – Background Declaration [IMM 5669]
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
So I've read through all of these and I have some questions.
ONE - does the above all look correct? I haven't messed anything up or downloaded the wrong thing altogether?
TWO: several of these forms say 'Read instructions'. There are no instructions anywhere, as far as I can see. Are they talking about the BASIC GUIDE (IMM 5525)? That's helpful but it doesn't address the more granular questions I have. Is there another one? If so, several of these questions might be moot (!)
THREE: the above list of forms features Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] three times. We aren't using a representative at all - do we need to fill this in three times? or at all?!
FOUR: in the Sponsor's form Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344), there is talk of a co-signer, who must be a 'spouse or common-law sponsor of the sponsor'. Well, I'm the spouse of the sponsor. I can't co-sign myself, can I? What even is a co-signer?
FIVE: For the applicant's form Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008] , it asks for 'Country of Residence' - I'll put Canada for this, yeah?
SIX: Same form - it asks for a UCI number. I don't have one. What is? How get?
SEVEN: Same form - there's a big section about dependants, which states that 'You must provide the following details about each of your family members, whether they will be accompanying you to Canada or not. You must include your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, and all of your dependent children, and those of your spouse or common-law partner, who are not already permanent residents or citizens of Canada'.
I'm a bit confused by this - do I fill in my family? Even though none of them will be coming to Canada with me? Or is this just for if I had a kid who I wanted to bring with me? It's just me, being sponsored. Do I just delete the section?
EIGHT: along the same lines - the Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP] . I don't have any dependants. Do I fill this one in?
NINE: the form Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]. I am v confused by this form, which asks that 'The Principal applicant, their spouse or common-law partner and all dependent children must complete their own version of this form'.
- First off - the principal applicant is me, yes? Does my wife (who is sponsoring me) have to fill this in too?
- And then what do I fill in? My own family? Even though none of them are coming to Canada with me? Why is this information needed?
TEN: The form Schedule A – Background Declaration [IMM 5669] asks that 'the principal applicant, his or her spouse or common-law partner, if applicable and {all children etc} listed in the application for permanent residence must complete their own copy of this form'.
- again - does my wife - the sponsor - have to fill her own version of this in?
ELEVEN - the Canadian immigration website itself - which is a well-intentioned but labyrinthine mess - seems to imply there's some kind of online version of all this. I can't figure it out at all. Has anybody else done it? Can I do all this online or am I going to be packing a big envelope with forms?
I have a couple more general questions about the OPEN WORK PERMIT, which apparently I can include with this application, which is good.
The forms I have downloaded for this are:
- Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710]
- Document Checklist [IMM 5556]
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
Are these correct? There does seem to be a load of overlap between the various spouse visa/work permit forms (and that representative one has popped up again! - do I need to fill in?).
- The form Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710] seems to require me to have an offer of employment from a company.
This will be tricky as I am a freelance writer / script guy who works on and off in and around the film industry. This isn't the sort of job that HAS letters of employment. There doesn't seem to be any sort of option for 'freelancer' anywhere. I'm sure somebody in my wife's family could produce an 'offer of employment' to fulfil the needs of the form but this kind of thing makes me uneasy. I'm sure this situation is not unheard of but I don't know what to do. Anybody?
Okay I think that is it for now.
Thank you for reading my long and slightly panicked message. I am sure I will have more questions when I dig deeper into this - but for the moment, any and all help would be gratefully accepted!
Thom
Just a reminder for yall: I am a British citizen who has been married to a Canadian for nearly four years. We have no kids. After living in the UK for six years, we moved to Canada in July. I was given a six month visitor's entry (not a visa? I'm not sure what it it; I have a stamp in my passport).
We are starting to go about applying for the INLAND visa under the family class and will also want to apply for an open work permit.
I am... not good at admin, forms or tackling bureaucracy. We did go through the visa treadmill for my wife in the UK and it was a massive hassle. I am HOPING Canada is less hellish - that's what I've been told - but still, I'm terrified of messing something up.
I have downloaded what I THINK all the forms I need are but would like to run a few things through the smart people here.
The forms I have are:
Document Checklist – Spouse (including dependent children of spouse) [IMM 5533]
FOR MY WIFE TO FILL IN:
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344)
- Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (IMM 5532)
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
FOR ME TO FILL IN
- Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008]
- Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP]
- Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]
- Schedule A – Background Declaration [IMM 5669]
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
So I've read through all of these and I have some questions.
ONE - does the above all look correct? I haven't messed anything up or downloaded the wrong thing altogether?
TWO: several of these forms say 'Read instructions'. There are no instructions anywhere, as far as I can see. Are they talking about the BASIC GUIDE (IMM 5525)? That's helpful but it doesn't address the more granular questions I have. Is there another one? If so, several of these questions might be moot (!)
THREE: the above list of forms features Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] three times. We aren't using a representative at all - do we need to fill this in three times? or at all?!
FOUR: in the Sponsor's form Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344), there is talk of a co-signer, who must be a 'spouse or common-law sponsor of the sponsor'. Well, I'm the spouse of the sponsor. I can't co-sign myself, can I? What even is a co-signer?
FIVE: For the applicant's form Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008] , it asks for 'Country of Residence' - I'll put Canada for this, yeah?
SIX: Same form - it asks for a UCI number. I don't have one. What is? How get?
SEVEN: Same form - there's a big section about dependants, which states that 'You must provide the following details about each of your family members, whether they will be accompanying you to Canada or not. You must include your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, and all of your dependent children, and those of your spouse or common-law partner, who are not already permanent residents or citizens of Canada'.
I'm a bit confused by this - do I fill in my family? Even though none of them will be coming to Canada with me? Or is this just for if I had a kid who I wanted to bring with me? It's just me, being sponsored. Do I just delete the section?
EIGHT: along the same lines - the Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP] . I don't have any dependants. Do I fill this one in?
NINE: the form Additional Family Information [IMM 5406]. I am v confused by this form, which asks that 'The Principal applicant, their spouse or common-law partner and all dependent children must complete their own version of this form'.
- First off - the principal applicant is me, yes? Does my wife (who is sponsoring me) have to fill this in too?
- And then what do I fill in? My own family? Even though none of them are coming to Canada with me? Why is this information needed?
TEN: The form Schedule A – Background Declaration [IMM 5669] asks that 'the principal applicant, his or her spouse or common-law partner, if applicable and {all children etc} listed in the application for permanent residence must complete their own copy of this form'.
- again - does my wife - the sponsor - have to fill her own version of this in?
ELEVEN - the Canadian immigration website itself - which is a well-intentioned but labyrinthine mess - seems to imply there's some kind of online version of all this. I can't figure it out at all. Has anybody else done it? Can I do all this online or am I going to be packing a big envelope with forms?
I have a couple more general questions about the OPEN WORK PERMIT, which apparently I can include with this application, which is good.
The forms I have downloaded for this are:
- Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710]
- Document Checklist [IMM 5556]
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union [IMM 5409]
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476]
Are these correct? There does seem to be a load of overlap between the various spouse visa/work permit forms (and that representative one has popped up again! - do I need to fill in?).
- The form Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710] seems to require me to have an offer of employment from a company.
This will be tricky as I am a freelance writer / script guy who works on and off in and around the film industry. This isn't the sort of job that HAS letters of employment. There doesn't seem to be any sort of option for 'freelancer' anywhere. I'm sure somebody in my wife's family could produce an 'offer of employment' to fulfil the needs of the form but this kind of thing makes me uneasy. I'm sure this situation is not unheard of but I don't know what to do. Anybody?
Okay I think that is it for now.
Thank you for reading my long and slightly panicked message. I am sure I will have more questions when I dig deeper into this - but for the moment, any and all help would be gratefully accepted!
Thom
So I would highly recommend you to do the following:
- Visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/spouse.asp. Fill in your particulars, download the complete application pack and then refer to the Detailed guide IMM5289- this gives you instructions on how to fill each form and tells you which form is relevant for the Principal Applicant (PA) or/and Sponsor. This really is your bible!
- Read the document checklist IMM5533; You will know exactly what is required for each PA & Sponsor.
Both the above will answer all most of your questions.
Also, unfortunately this is a paper based application, so you would have stuff everything into a big fat envelope and dispatch it to CPC Mississauga.
Good Luck!
My wife was 100% honest with the boarder officer. She told her that she recently married a Canadian, has returned with him (me), and will be filing her Permanent Residency Application within the next few weeks. The boarder officer literally looked at her computer for a bit, then just replied "Congratulations. Welcome to Canada and good luck with the application." She was also only on a one-way plane ticket
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This is the exact way to enter under dual intent. Honest, direct, and to he point.
Anyone reading this thread who’s about to move to Canada under dual intent, take this example, and others on here too, as to how it should be done. Do not lie to a CBSA officer, they’re not stupid and you’ll struggle to pull the world over their eyes. Canada allows for dual intent, the CBSA has the final say on admissions and they want assurance that you’ll leave if you’re found inadmissible. Really, the only way that will happen is either medical/criminal admissibility for the applicant, or the sponsor is found ineligible for some reason.
The CBSA wants to keep families together, they’re not looking for reasons to turn you away at the border and make your life difficult. I had a similar experience as outlined above too. A very friendly exchange with the CBSA officer, asking how married life was, congratulations, etc. As we had our young child with us at the time too, the officer also made a comment of how cute they looked. They’re human, regular people like us. They happen to have a lot of power in their role, and I think people get scared of that and assume the worst. The only thing that’ll happen if you lie to them, is you’ll be hauled into secondary inspection and they’ll pick apart your story, find out the truth and then you could end up being denied entry for lying about something that you simply didn’t need to.
Tell the truth, answer their questions, and like most dual intent arrivals, you’ll leave the primary CBSA inspection point after a minute or two and be collecting your bags.
My wife was quite worried about it. Beforehand, she kept stressing out over what she should say and what they were going to do. I just told her to be straightforward and honest.
When we landed, we each had to go through separate check in points. I got through quickly and was waiting for her. When she finally got called forward, she came through after maybe 2 minutes with a shocked look on her face after how quickly it took. We seemed to have gotten an easy going officer because the one beside her was grilling this Chinese gentleman who was in the country visiting his daughter who was here for school. Poor guy
Is your wife visa exempt? If so, that likely helped. Sometimes, as you say, you get an easy going officer. I’ve found my numerous interactions with the CBSA to be incredibly pleasant and easy. Then again, I’ve never lied to them either.
I’ve seen a few people being grilled, particularly those whose English/French was poor. It was almost like the CBSA officers on each occasion were frustrated at the how difficult it was communicating. It could be to do with ambiguous answers to questions, them getting the feeling they’re being lied to, etc. I always feel bad when I see people obviously crumbing as a result of the questions they’re being asked. Some people just fall apart when dealing with people like border officers and police.
Thank you so much! I hadn't seen IM5289, which did answer the bulk of my questions. Wahoo!
RE: Entry to the country / border guards etc.
I've actually been in the country as a visitor for a few months now - the border guard was pretty easy going about entering - thankfully! He asked us if we were going to apply for a visa and we said we were considering it, depending on how my visit went, which seemed to mollify him!
Is this the right place to ask about applying for an Open Work Permit as a freelancer?
TP
Glad you’re making progress! It’s complicated all this paperwork, but it’s not that difficult when you take your time. You start to understand it fully and it’s almost second nature.Thank you so much! I hadn't seen IM5289, which did answer the bulk of my questions. Wahoo!
RE: Entry to the country / border guards etc.
I've actually been in the country as a visitor for a few months now - the border guard was pretty easy going about entering - thankfully! He asked us if we were going to apply for a visa and we said we were considering it, depending on how my visit went, which seemed to mollify him!
Is this the right place to ask about applying for an Open Work Permit as a freelancer?
TP
You can submit an OWP application with the PR application, there’s a separate guide to help with completing that. There’s a separate fee too of $255 to be paid. OWP applications take 3-4 months for approval. With it being an open work permit, you’ll able to work any job you like, except for healthcare and around children. The OWP will list the actual restrictions on it.
Thanks for this. I'm not sure I'm looking at the right thing. The form 'Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker [IMM 5710] ' seems to want me to have an already accepted job offer?
To be honest, I'm not sure what my status in the country is! I'm a visitor and I have a stamp in my passport, but I didn't get given a TRV or anything.