Arrival in Canada during app process

[polixenes]

Our family is arriving at Toronto airport and we have a connection 3 hours later, to BC where we plan to reside. We will have evidence of our spousal application with us, and this will be my Canadian wife's return to Canada after 13 years and with our 2 (Canadian/British) kids.

Can anyone with experience advise if 3 hours is likely to be enough time? I'm hoping we just get our passports stamped and waved on, but is it possible we will get pulled out and then join a multi-hour queue for 'processing'?

Thanks

 

[deweysmith]

There's really no way to tell. Personal experiences can vary widely. It all depends on the CBSA officer processing you. It really could come down to the fact that the officer is in a bad mood and decides he wants to make you wait, and there's really nothing you can do about it.

If all is in order, I would think 3 hours is a perfectly reasonable window. I've never had to wait more than an hour entering Canada, back when I had to wait in lines (yay NEXUS!) and in all likelihood you won't either. Even if you do get pulled into secondary, it's rare to wait more than 20-25 minutes before an officer starts working with you.

 

[polixenes]

Thank you deweysmith.

 

[figtoria]

I can tell you that yesterday my 12 year old step-son arrived at the airport in Toronto. He is American. We have an outland application underway and my husband has been approved as the sponsor.

We wrote a letter to accompany him through customs (as we weren't allowed into that area of the airport) explaining that he was entering as a visitor for 6 months, and elaborating that we have a PR application in process. We went on to say that we expect the process to be finished before the end of the visitor period. We also included that if the application is rejected for some reason he would be returning home to his mother at the end of the 6 months.

The customs officer read our letter, let our son know that he was giving him a 6 month visitors stamp in his passport and that he could apply for an extension if necessary.

So it went perfectly.

I think the trick is to just assure them that you will abide by the rules and go back when you're supposed to go back unless circumstances change.

Good luck!!

 

[sam_1985]

Our family is arriving at Toronto airport and we have a connection 3 hours later, to BC where we plan to reside. We will have evidence of our spousal application with us, and this will be my Canadian wife's return to Canada after 13 years and with our 2 (Canadian/British) kids.

Can anyone with experience advise if 3 hours is likely to be enough time? I'm hoping we just get our passports stamped and waved on, but is it possible we will get pulled out and then join a multi-hour queue for 'processing'?

Thanks

As many others have advised, just make sure you clearly state that you are "visiting" and not moving or coming to live. On the same logic, refrain from bringing too much with you that clearly indicates to the border agents that you are moving rather than "visiting". If you stick to these basic rules and are truthful about everything, you should be fine. Make sure you have a return ticket booked (you don;t have to use it - it shows intent to return should things not work out and satisfies the CBSA folks).

I came last year to join my husband before even filing the PR application, and I was sent to Secondary (probably because I hadn't applied yet) but was granted the full six months... they simply wanted to make sure that I am serious about applying. Once I was allowed in, I applied for PR three weeks later (got SA a month and a half later) and then asked for an extension at the conclusion of the six months and was granted 10 months as asked (they could see my PR app in progress). Last month I returned to the U.K to visit family for a month and just returned yesterday through Toronto Pearson; it didn't even take 2 mins. I simply told the CBSA officer that I was visiting my husband, she didn't ask any questions and let me in.

In summary, as long as you make it clear you are visiting and satisfy them that you will leave if the PR is refused or if an extension is not granted (unlikely but just in case). Bottom Line is, you should be fine

 

[polixenes]

Thanks figtoria and Sam_1985.

I plan to do exactly as you say and assure them I understand I am purely here as a visitor at Canada Immigration's discretion.

Since we actually are bringing our life with us in suitcases there is no getting around the fact that it will be clear that we are leaving our current country of residence for good, but I will make sure I have an open-ended ticket to the UK with me.