Applying for a Visitor's Record

[rhcohen2014]

rhcohen2014, you had already received an Exclusion Order prior to applying for PR. You are red-flagged in CBSA's system and would of course face a much higher burden of proof than those who have not been excluded. from that experience i learned it's better to be extra prepared.

yes, and a part of the reason i got that exclusion order was because i had just finished grad school, lived at my sister's condo with no lease, had no job, couldn't "prove" my ties to the us.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

yes, and a part of the reason i got that exclusion order was because i had just finished grad school, lived at my sister's condo with no lease, had no job, couldn't "prove" my ties to the us.

You were issued the Exclusion Order because you were crossing the border frequently and didn't yet have a PR app submitted. Had you had an app in process and entered Canada and stayed, you would have had no issue.

 

[rhcohen2014]

You were issued the Exclusion Order because you were crossing the border frequently and didn't yet have a PR app submitted. Had you had an app in process and entered Canada and stayed, you would have had no issue.

actually no, that's not what happened. it's actually because i said i planned to stay for a period of time they thought was too long, I did not have any proof of ties to the us with me, and they thought i had intentions to stay longer to be with my then boyfriend. i'm pretty sure i'm the one who was there and has a copy of the exclusion order. I have said numerous times it is much easier to enter since getting married and having an application in process.

as i was not married to my boyfriend when i got my exclusion order, PR was not even on my radar. that is the significant difference, i was not prepared. the moral of the story is, it's important for US citizens to know they can NOT just up and "move" or "live" in canada. While that wasn't my intention, THEY thought it was, and that's really all that matters when you cross the border.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

actually no, that's not what happened. it's actually because i said i planned to stay for a period of time they thought was too long, I did not have any proof of ties to the us with me, and they thought i had intentions to stay longer to be with my then boyfriend. i'm pretty sure i'm the one who was there and has a copy of the exclusion order.

i received an exclusion order in 2012 for visiting too much when we were just dating, so i hope that doesn't put me in the red flag category.

Well, this is what you said a few months ago, so this is the information I was using.


What I am saying is that the situation is MUCH different for a person who has frequently crossed the border, has already come to CBSA's attention and doesn't have a PR app in process. For a person from a developed country who hasn't come to Canada much (or at all), isn't on CBSA's radar and has a PR app processing, the chances of refusal at the border, even without home country ties, are very low.

 

[JessNess]

While that wasn't my intention, THEY thought it was, and that's really all that matters when you cross the border.

I second this comment. I was not lying to CBSA but they THOUGHT I was. I ended up playing along and they were well and happy to let me through once I agreed with what they thought even though that's not what was going on at all.

 

[JessNess]

JessNess, you had crossed the border about a dozen times already and the Border Officer caught you in a lie about your intention to stay in Canada for good at that point.

Ok take it easy on being an expert on other people's experiences. If you read that thread of my experience, I clearly stated that I intended to leave Canada and actually did leave Canada a month later. CBSA was convinced I was lying to them and it was painfully apparent that I was not being let anywhere unless I admitting to doing what they thought was happening. It was the most asinine, ass-backwards day of my life.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Well, this is what you said a few months ago, so this is the information I was using.


What I am saying is that the situation is MUCH different for a person who has frequently crossed the border, has already come to CBSA's attention and doesn't have a PR app in process. For a person from a developed country who hasn't come to Canada much (or at all), isn't on CBSA's radar and has a PR app processing, the chances of refusal at the border, even without home country ties, are very low.

exactly, and technically, the OP is the first type of visitor. He is currently in canada, intends to leave canada for a short time, then return either before or right after sending in an application. his options of a) asking for a "visitor record" or b)leaving and returning with an approved extention would be asking to be put on CBSA's radar. Neither one of these options are advised. A common question at the border is "When was the last time you were in canada", and US/Canada share data now, so it's best to be prepared these days when crossing.

there are also many people who travel back and forth frequently who experience no issues crossing because they can prove they work for an american employer. whether a visitor is going to "take a job away from a canadian" is the biggest concern at the border. IF an agent asks about employment, not having a job *may* cause a concern for that particular agent.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Ok take it easy on being an expert on other people's experiences. If you read that thread of my experience, I clearly stated that I intended to leave Canada and actually did leave Canada a month later. CBSA was convinced I was lying to them and it was painfully apparent that I was not being let anywhere unless I admitting to doing what they thought was happening. It was the most asinine, ass-backwards day of my life.

I'm not being an "expert on other people's experiences". I didn't read the rest of your posts, only the one about your border experience, where you did state that you eventually told the border officer that you were moving to Canada at that point. I'm sorry if I misinterpreted that and I was not trying to belittle how horrible it must have been.

What I was trying to point out is that your experience was definitely not the norm. The majority of visa-exempt people with a PR app in process are allowed to enter Canada without issue, regardless of home country ties. CBSA knows that there is virtually no chance of such a PR app being refused and therefore no chance of the person overstaying, so they are very lenient. My partner and I pretty much told the Border Officer my partner had no intention of leaving Canada except to flagpole when the PR app was approved. The BO didn't care and didn't ask for proof of ties, funds, return ticket etc.

exactly, and technically, the OP is the first type of visitor. He is currently in canada, intends to leave canada for a short time, then return either before or right after sending in an application. his options of a) asking for a "visitor record" or b)leaving and returning with an approved extention would be asking to be put on CBSA's radar. Neither one of these options are advised.

OP hasn't frequently crossed the border and is not on CBSA's radar right now. Leaving to visit his family and entering again with the PR fee receipt or even better, the PR app already submitted, should be no problem. I agree that he should not ask for a visitor record or apply for an extension before leaving.

 

[rhcohen2014]

OP hasn't frequently crossed the border and is not on CBSA's radar right now. Leaving to visit his family and entering again with the PR fee receipt or even better, the PR app already submitted, should be no problem. I agree that he should not ask for a visitor record or apply for an extension before leaving.

exactly. the point being, NOT bringing attention to yourself upon reentry. THOSE actions would get him on radar.
As I said above, it's important to be able to show intent to apply or proof of application. Doing either or helps make it *easier* to enter. No matter who you are, if you mention PR application, they are going to inquire more about your status. All i'm sayin is it's best to be prepared and do what you can to stay under the radar!

 

[Junebug]

This is just my experience.

I'm American and my husband is Canadian. I have been visiting him since August and crossing every couple months to go back home (quit my job and got rid of my apartment by then). In November they pulled us over and held us for about an hour. at this point we had sent our application in but it was sent back because one of the forms had been updated. but we had a receipt that we paid our fees, our marriage certificate, and I did have proof then that I saved up some money to afford taking time off while the paperwork was being processed. However, I had no ties to the states other than living with my mother and grandmother when I was home. The border officer, after originally being a bit harsh, ended up giving me a 4 month visitor record and said that should give me enough time to get our paperwork back in so the border could see it when they looked it up. The visitor record did say "Not valid for re-entry" but the officer said because he put so much into our "file" we should have no problem crossing. We didn't get pulled over once and we crossed back and forth about 4 times in that four month period. The day it ran out (mind you, I hadn't found this board yet and was kind of clueless), we were on our way back from the states and told the officer we would like to apply for a new visitor record. He gave us a slip, they held us for an hour again, and finally gave me my passport back with no slip. Every time now that I cross we get pulled over. But we still always have those documents (and now have had our paperwork actually in since february) and I have never been denied.

So, what i would say is, you really can't ask for a visitor record. If you ask (like i did), depending on the border agent, they probably won't give it to you, but if you are just honest and give them all of your documents maybe they will. Pay your fees before you cross so you have proof that the process has been started, but i wouldn't go through all of the trouble of getting put on a lease or getting a job in the states unless you have some sort of record. That being said, I believe because I don't have a job or a lease it has made them pull me over more. Start the paperwork now, it's a very long road. The stress of the border is a shame when you really aren't doing anything wrong and just want to be in the same place as your spouse. We have recently stopped crossing so much (home is only 8 hours away from Ottawa so we'd go every couple months like i said) and applied for NEXUS thanks to computergeek.

Sorry this isn't much help, but thought I'd share my experience. I wish you the best <3

 

[marisgopal]

hi
I came to canada with work permit before 6 months.My family member arrived before 3 months on dependent visa but they forget to get VISITOR record .Now it is required to get for my family member to apply for health card.How can i get online ?Shall i know steps to do that bcoz i asked in immigration office they said to apply in online and get.But in online cic website i am not getting any proper procedure .Can i get this information asap.
Regards
Mari