Hello!
I have recently became Canadian Legal Permanent Resident.
I have 2 kids (US born US Citizens) , wife ( Naturalized US Citizen ) and myself (US Legal Permanent resident since 2012).
When we applied for Canadian Permanent Residency , back in 2010, my wife was Not a US Citizen, she was a US Permanent Resident.
I was out of status and didn't have any way to adjust status in US. We made a difficult decision to move to Canada , in order to preserve the integrity of our family, to live there together and be able to support each other.
It just so happened that the Canadian permanent residence application took longer than we thought and, in the meantime my wife became eligible for US Citizenship and applied for it. She was approved after several months and became a sworn US Citizen.
Approximately three months after she became a US Citizen she sponsored my adjustment of status in US , because at this point we didn't know how much longer the Canadian application would take and there was no word of advise or any certainty about order in which applications were processed.
Soon after I went to an interview with my spouse at US immigration office the Canadian Consulate issued us the Confirmation of the Permanent Residence in Canada and requested the pictures and other documents/copies. How ironic is that?
In any event, with my Green card still in process my wife and two kids went to Canada and landed there. I didn't go with them , because at this point I was days short of receiving a decision about my application for adjustment of status in US.
My wife and kids , after successful landing and temporary stay in Canada came back to US to stay with me.
Shortly thereafter my Green Card came in the mail.
A month or so later our entire family went to Canada once again , and I have also landed and became Canadian Permanent Resident.
As you can see there was no preconceived intention on our behalf to obtain Canadian residence in vain.
In fact, at the time we applied for Canadian residence it seemed the ONLY way for our family to stay together and continue to live a normal life (with Canadian CIC stating back then that the new FSW applications would be processed in less than a year).
But things happened that we didn't control nor could predict (Canadian FSW application took two years to process, as opposed to declared and expected "under 12 months").
At the same time, not knowing anymore When pending Canadian applications would be finalized (if ever) , it would be counter logical not to proceed with applying for US Citizenship and residency when it became possible (processing times were getting delayed for all FSW applicants, with Buffalo office not being the fastest in the world. All the while Canadian Parliament was beginning to discuss the way to cut a back log by retroactively dropping applications filed before certain date and who knew at that point what would have happened to processing of all other pending applications?).
In any event, here is what happened to me:
1. Very BAD-BAD-BAD experience and treatment at Canadian border.
Unlike my wife and kids I am not US Citizen. When we applied for Canadian residency I was not US LPR. So, when Confirmation of Permanent Residence documents were received I was required to submit my Passport for a Visa.
I don't know if our Citizenship played a role or not or whether I just was unlucky , but my wife told me that she was treated very nicely by the Customs in Canada and was warmly welcomed , without much questioning (other than verifying travel documents, POF and so on).
On the contrary, when it was my turn to land (as mentioned above I landed after my family) I was questioned sternly and rather in rude manner by the border officer of Canada.
Now, keep in mind that I have two kids and they soon to become Teens(!) and I am the biological father of both and I have lived with my wife since I met her. Despite that the officer at Canadian border seemed rather angry at me and kept asking what was my relationship "with that woman", referring to my wife and mother of my two kids.
I kept calm and answered her questions in a matter of fact way, stating that she is my wife.
Next, I was asked why didn't I arrive and land the same time with my wife. I told officer that there were personal things that prevented me from arriving with my wife and kids (which is true!).
She then asked if I was moving to Canada and I said "not at this time". I could have lied to her, but WHAT FOR?
In USA I am used to look straight in the eyes of Government Officials and telling the truth, they are in Public service and I am used to
treating them not like adversaries, but rather as equals and with respect.
So I told her that I have an address in Canada where I would like my LPR card sent and where I will stay temporarily but that I will return to the States before moving to Canada permanently.
She was furious when I told her that.
It was clear to me that I was being intimidated and treated with bullying attitude for no legitimate reason. With my US GC in my pocket and able to make a U turn and go back to States for a second it felt like I will just tear in parts my landing papers in front of that border officer, jump in my car , make a U Turn and go to what now became my home, the USA.
But then I remembered my wife, how she really tried hard for us, for family to pass all the language tests, how she really did all she could to submit her paperwork on time, how she worked hard, struggled hard, how my wife at the end had tears rolling down her cheeks when she saw that all our family got the confirmation of residence in Canada , knowing for sure for the first time that we were guaranteed to be together , than no one could separate the father and mother and children from each other.
Remembering all this I have forced myself to endure that bullying treatment without just turning my back and shutting the Customs door and going back to car to drive my family to States.
Finally, the border agent threw my paperwork in front of me and said "You are landed starting today, if you are not here 730 days out of 5 years the enforcement action will taken against you".
She told me that in a tone as if I already was a suspected criminal , already in breach of my contract and agreement.
But that wasn't the end of it. I was sent to Customs to register the import of the goods. When I told the Customs that I was not moving at this time the humiliation started all over.
At this point I refused to take it any longer. I excused myself and asked officer to let me walk out and see my wife. She allowed me to.
I walked out , came to the door of the car and told my wife that I was ready to go back to States. My wife got shocked "But why? What happened? What for?"
We all ended up going together to the Customs building (me, my wife and two kids). I kept silent but my face clearly was showing that they just screwed it.
When my wife walked up to the Customs officer, showing her US Passport with our landing papers and asking what was needed to complete the landing processing the female officer looked at the male officer (who seemed to be older and in charge) , and there was this look on her face as if she now knew that they were wrong in mistreating me, so she tried to make some excuse as to reason why...
The male officer looked at her, looked at me and said "You are free to go!".
Forget about "Welcome to Canada!"....
Anyway, the next day we were going for sightseeing in Toronto and packing our documents. While reviewing our landing papers I noticed that the Customs actually wrote on my landing paper "NOT MOVING TO CANADA AT THIS TIME".
Now, here is my situation today:
Exactly two months after landing my wife and kids received their LPR Cards at our Canadian address (address of our friend which, according to Canadian CIC regulations you are allowed to provide ).
But more than two months later , when I called CIC to ask about the status of my LPR card I was told "your card processing is being delayed due to some verification we have to do with the border where you landed and it misses some information".
I asked how long it may be delayed and was told there is no time limit.
Now here is my concern.
Clearly I do not need Canadian Green Card to travel back and forth to and from Canada.
As the US Green Card holder I can even board a commercial transport to return to Canada at any time.
But still, I wonder if what happened to me is RIGHT? And if there are people in similar circumstances?
I mean, by all accounts I haven't done anything wrong!
I understand there are people who do bad things, may be stay out of Canada for 5 years and try to return as to Canada as LPRs or people
who fraudulently marry Canadians while being married to their spouses overseas , just to hastily et Canadian residence.
But obviously I haven't done any of this and it is so clear from facts of my case that I don't have to prove anyone that I am not a fraudster who stayed out of Canada more than 3 years (I just landed, for God's sake!) , nor do I have to prove that I raised to kids with my wife for over 10 years knowing there would be a day when she could apply and sponsor me for Canadian residence!
And I am already a US LPR (something many Canadian LPR's would prefer to have and would give up their Canadian LPR for).
So, first I wonder if this violation I experienced at Canadian border was something deserved on my part?
Next, if not, then is there some good that can be achieved by subjecting undeserving people to such treatment at the border?
What is it? Punishing innocent for the sins of guilty? Or plain lack of professionalism and overdose of bigotry with no rational explanation for it?
Next, I wonder, why did my LPR card processing was delayed (as it is known now that something was processing wrong at the border, although CIC wouldn't tell me what exactly)?
Is there any accountability for such behavior on part of border officers?
Or I am being too spoiled by my high expectations that we, Human beings, are Human beings who are treated as Equals by Federal Officials in US?
Mind you, US is not a country with lax border officers: there are instances where people are sent to secondary inspection or even refused entry.
And you better never try to joke with US border officers as they , many are former military officers, won't spend much time appeasing you and may make you regret for the rest of your life any foul play.
But NEVER in my entire experience of living in US did any US Government Official treat me with such a condescending, bullying and disrespectful attitude as I experienced landing in Canada.
It was enough for me to stay out of trouble and not commit a crime to get the respect and equal treatment.
So, I keep wondering, what on earth makes Canadian border officers assume they can treat some border crosser , even if third country nationals, with such a disrespect and outright humiliating behavior , without any just reason or breach of any law on behalf of the foreigner?
My second question is: how long can they now delay the processing of my card? Can they deny it? Can they even strip me of my Canadian residency just because I told the truth to the officer and did what I had every right to do (not move to Canada immediately after landing)?
I am shocked and disappointed!
All the while I loved Canada (not border officers, but Canada!).
Given a chance , I would love to settle there with my family, start a bilateral trading business with the US, use my experience, knowledge
and contacts in US to create a beneficial for both countries enterprises, bring jobs to Canada and US by helping the growth of services and goods exchange between these great countries.
Is it Criminal to have such dreams and aspirations? I didn't ever intent to become a legal permanent resident of both countries at the same time, but this is an outcome that happened without me even knowing such course of event would take place. Now that I have an option to decide, to move, to live in either country, to start an enterprise, to make my family happy, to give my children the youth and opportunities I didn't have, to give jobs and to pay taxes and to contribute to economies of two beautiful countries... now is it anything wrong or unlawful or fraudulent with my sincerity and striving to make the best for my family and myself? Why all this unnecessary stress and added anxiety and. most of all, a bullying treatment at the border as if a common criminal was attempting to sneak into Canada?
What is this all about? Had anyone had a similar experience? Is there anything wrong with being a Human being like me, with family, two kids, aspirations and dreams? What shoudl I expect next from CIC?
My best wishes to all, and especially to all the good willing Canadians, including those who work at CIC!
I believe there are many good people everywhere.
Thank you all for reading and hope to hear the advise from those who went through similar experience before or who
has an advise what to do and what to expect next.
Best Regards,
NewLpr
I have recently became Canadian Legal Permanent Resident.
I have 2 kids (US born US Citizens) , wife ( Naturalized US Citizen ) and myself (US Legal Permanent resident since 2012).
When we applied for Canadian Permanent Residency , back in 2010, my wife was Not a US Citizen, she was a US Permanent Resident.
I was out of status and didn't have any way to adjust status in US. We made a difficult decision to move to Canada , in order to preserve the integrity of our family, to live there together and be able to support each other.
It just so happened that the Canadian permanent residence application took longer than we thought and, in the meantime my wife became eligible for US Citizenship and applied for it. She was approved after several months and became a sworn US Citizen.
Approximately three months after she became a US Citizen she sponsored my adjustment of status in US , because at this point we didn't know how much longer the Canadian application would take and there was no word of advise or any certainty about order in which applications were processed.
Soon after I went to an interview with my spouse at US immigration office the Canadian Consulate issued us the Confirmation of the Permanent Residence in Canada and requested the pictures and other documents/copies. How ironic is that?
In any event, with my Green card still in process my wife and two kids went to Canada and landed there. I didn't go with them , because at this point I was days short of receiving a decision about my application for adjustment of status in US.
My wife and kids , after successful landing and temporary stay in Canada came back to US to stay with me.
Shortly thereafter my Green Card came in the mail.
A month or so later our entire family went to Canada once again , and I have also landed and became Canadian Permanent Resident.
As you can see there was no preconceived intention on our behalf to obtain Canadian residence in vain.
In fact, at the time we applied for Canadian residence it seemed the ONLY way for our family to stay together and continue to live a normal life (with Canadian CIC stating back then that the new FSW applications would be processed in less than a year).
But things happened that we didn't control nor could predict (Canadian FSW application took two years to process, as opposed to declared and expected "under 12 months").
At the same time, not knowing anymore When pending Canadian applications would be finalized (if ever) , it would be counter logical not to proceed with applying for US Citizenship and residency when it became possible (processing times were getting delayed for all FSW applicants, with Buffalo office not being the fastest in the world. All the while Canadian Parliament was beginning to discuss the way to cut a back log by retroactively dropping applications filed before certain date and who knew at that point what would have happened to processing of all other pending applications?).
In any event, here is what happened to me:
1. Very BAD-BAD-BAD experience and treatment at Canadian border.
Unlike my wife and kids I am not US Citizen. When we applied for Canadian residency I was not US LPR. So, when Confirmation of Permanent Residence documents were received I was required to submit my Passport for a Visa.
I don't know if our Citizenship played a role or not or whether I just was unlucky , but my wife told me that she was treated very nicely by the Customs in Canada and was warmly welcomed , without much questioning (other than verifying travel documents, POF and so on).
On the contrary, when it was my turn to land (as mentioned above I landed after my family) I was questioned sternly and rather in rude manner by the border officer of Canada.
Now, keep in mind that I have two kids and they soon to become Teens(!) and I am the biological father of both and I have lived with my wife since I met her. Despite that the officer at Canadian border seemed rather angry at me and kept asking what was my relationship "with that woman", referring to my wife and mother of my two kids.
I kept calm and answered her questions in a matter of fact way, stating that she is my wife.
Next, I was asked why didn't I arrive and land the same time with my wife. I told officer that there were personal things that prevented me from arriving with my wife and kids (which is true!).
She then asked if I was moving to Canada and I said "not at this time". I could have lied to her, but WHAT FOR?
In USA I am used to look straight in the eyes of Government Officials and telling the truth, they are in Public service and I am used to
treating them not like adversaries, but rather as equals and with respect.
So I told her that I have an address in Canada where I would like my LPR card sent and where I will stay temporarily but that I will return to the States before moving to Canada permanently.
She was furious when I told her that.
It was clear to me that I was being intimidated and treated with bullying attitude for no legitimate reason. With my US GC in my pocket and able to make a U turn and go back to States for a second it felt like I will just tear in parts my landing papers in front of that border officer, jump in my car , make a U Turn and go to what now became my home, the USA.
But then I remembered my wife, how she really tried hard for us, for family to pass all the language tests, how she really did all she could to submit her paperwork on time, how she worked hard, struggled hard, how my wife at the end had tears rolling down her cheeks when she saw that all our family got the confirmation of residence in Canada , knowing for sure for the first time that we were guaranteed to be together , than no one could separate the father and mother and children from each other.
Remembering all this I have forced myself to endure that bullying treatment without just turning my back and shutting the Customs door and going back to car to drive my family to States.
Finally, the border agent threw my paperwork in front of me and said "You are landed starting today, if you are not here 730 days out of 5 years the enforcement action will taken against you".
She told me that in a tone as if I already was a suspected criminal , already in breach of my contract and agreement.
But that wasn't the end of it. I was sent to Customs to register the import of the goods. When I told the Customs that I was not moving at this time the humiliation started all over.
At this point I refused to take it any longer. I excused myself and asked officer to let me walk out and see my wife. She allowed me to.
I walked out , came to the door of the car and told my wife that I was ready to go back to States. My wife got shocked "But why? What happened? What for?"
We all ended up going together to the Customs building (me, my wife and two kids). I kept silent but my face clearly was showing that they just screwed it.
When my wife walked up to the Customs officer, showing her US Passport with our landing papers and asking what was needed to complete the landing processing the female officer looked at the male officer (who seemed to be older and in charge) , and there was this look on her face as if she now knew that they were wrong in mistreating me, so she tried to make some excuse as to reason why...
The male officer looked at her, looked at me and said "You are free to go!".
Forget about "Welcome to Canada!"....
Anyway, the next day we were going for sightseeing in Toronto and packing our documents. While reviewing our landing papers I noticed that the Customs actually wrote on my landing paper "NOT MOVING TO CANADA AT THIS TIME".
Now, here is my situation today:
Exactly two months after landing my wife and kids received their LPR Cards at our Canadian address (address of our friend which, according to Canadian CIC regulations you are allowed to provide ).
But more than two months later , when I called CIC to ask about the status of my LPR card I was told "your card processing is being delayed due to some verification we have to do with the border where you landed and it misses some information".
I asked how long it may be delayed and was told there is no time limit.
Now here is my concern.
Clearly I do not need Canadian Green Card to travel back and forth to and from Canada.
As the US Green Card holder I can even board a commercial transport to return to Canada at any time.
But still, I wonder if what happened to me is RIGHT? And if there are people in similar circumstances?
I mean, by all accounts I haven't done anything wrong!
I understand there are people who do bad things, may be stay out of Canada for 5 years and try to return as to Canada as LPRs or people
who fraudulently marry Canadians while being married to their spouses overseas , just to hastily et Canadian residence.
But obviously I haven't done any of this and it is so clear from facts of my case that I don't have to prove anyone that I am not a fraudster who stayed out of Canada more than 3 years (I just landed, for God's sake!) , nor do I have to prove that I raised to kids with my wife for over 10 years knowing there would be a day when she could apply and sponsor me for Canadian residence!
And I am already a US LPR (something many Canadian LPR's would prefer to have and would give up their Canadian LPR for).
So, first I wonder if this violation I experienced at Canadian border was something deserved on my part?
Next, if not, then is there some good that can be achieved by subjecting undeserving people to such treatment at the border?
What is it? Punishing innocent for the sins of guilty? Or plain lack of professionalism and overdose of bigotry with no rational explanation for it?
Next, I wonder, why did my LPR card processing was delayed (as it is known now that something was processing wrong at the border, although CIC wouldn't tell me what exactly)?
Is there any accountability for such behavior on part of border officers?
Or I am being too spoiled by my high expectations that we, Human beings, are Human beings who are treated as Equals by Federal Officials in US?
Mind you, US is not a country with lax border officers: there are instances where people are sent to secondary inspection or even refused entry.
And you better never try to joke with US border officers as they , many are former military officers, won't spend much time appeasing you and may make you regret for the rest of your life any foul play.
But NEVER in my entire experience of living in US did any US Government Official treat me with such a condescending, bullying and disrespectful attitude as I experienced landing in Canada.
It was enough for me to stay out of trouble and not commit a crime to get the respect and equal treatment.
So, I keep wondering, what on earth makes Canadian border officers assume they can treat some border crosser , even if third country nationals, with such a disrespect and outright humiliating behavior , without any just reason or breach of any law on behalf of the foreigner?
My second question is: how long can they now delay the processing of my card? Can they deny it? Can they even strip me of my Canadian residency just because I told the truth to the officer and did what I had every right to do (not move to Canada immediately after landing)?
I am shocked and disappointed!
All the while I loved Canada (not border officers, but Canada!).
Given a chance , I would love to settle there with my family, start a bilateral trading business with the US, use my experience, knowledge
and contacts in US to create a beneficial for both countries enterprises, bring jobs to Canada and US by helping the growth of services and goods exchange between these great countries.
Is it Criminal to have such dreams and aspirations? I didn't ever intent to become a legal permanent resident of both countries at the same time, but this is an outcome that happened without me even knowing such course of event would take place. Now that I have an option to decide, to move, to live in either country, to start an enterprise, to make my family happy, to give my children the youth and opportunities I didn't have, to give jobs and to pay taxes and to contribute to economies of two beautiful countries... now is it anything wrong or unlawful or fraudulent with my sincerity and striving to make the best for my family and myself? Why all this unnecessary stress and added anxiety and. most of all, a bullying treatment at the border as if a common criminal was attempting to sneak into Canada?
What is this all about? Had anyone had a similar experience? Is there anything wrong with being a Human being like me, with family, two kids, aspirations and dreams? What shoudl I expect next from CIC?
My best wishes to all, and especially to all the good willing Canadians, including those who work at CIC!
I believe there are many good people everywhere.
Thank you all for reading and hope to hear the advise from those who went through similar experience before or who
has an advise what to do and what to expect next.
Best Regards,
NewLpr
