Can I enter Canada with a visitor visa if I already have COPR?

[guatemalansinkhole]

I was recently granted COPR and got the permanent resident visa stamped on my passport, but I have not landed in Canada. However I still have a Canada visitor visa stamped to my passport.

Is it possible to use my visitor visa to enter Canada even if I already have COPR and the permanent resident visa? I'm currently looking for jobs in Canada online from my home country, and I'm considering flying there for an in-person interview. This may be in the upcoming weeks but I'm not prepared to move there permanently yet.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

[PMM]

Hi

I was recently granted COPR and got the permanent resident visa stamped on my passport, but I have not landed in Canada. However I still have a Canada visitor visa stamped to my passport.

Is it possible to use my visitor visa to enter Canada even if I already have COPR and the permanent resident visa? I'm currently looking for jobs in Canada online from my home country, and I'm considering flying there for an in-person interview. This may be in the upcoming weeks but I'm not prepared to move there permanently yet.

Thanks in advance for your help

1. Yes, just explain to the CBSA officer the above reason.

 

[BC4life]

You are aware that the COPR has an expiration date right? How much time do you have between now and the time your COPR expires? My understanding is that you can't have two visas at the same time, so the PR visa issuance would effectively cancel the existing visitor visa. But I may be wrong on this so I would let other more experienced members reply on this. Regardless, in your situation it does not make much sense not to land asap and complete your PR activation.

 

[Bs65]

Personally never understand why people go this route once they get their COPR given you never can predict what might happen to impact any future travel within the validity of the COPR.

Whilst there is no issue coming as a visitor , just get on with it and land as a PR get your SIN sorted out which by the way would look positive to any future employer that you are actually authorised to work in Canada.

People do soft landings all the time staying sometimes for a few days, and fine you need to do a goods to follow list and a Canadian address for your PR card, but on the positive side employers know that with a finalised COPR and a SIN that you are at least a bit more sincere with your intentions than just being a visitor at any interview.

With a soft landing your only responsibility will be to meet the residency obligation from that date through first 5 years, you do not become a tax resident following a soft landing. Not having a Canadian address for your PR card is no big deal either, just apply for a PRTD when you are ready to move permanently

 

[guatemalansinkhole]

Thank you for your help. I'll consider my options. My COPR is still valid for about eight months but I'm currently employed in my home country. I'd just prefer to land in Canada with a job in hand really, but if this is unlikely I'll just go right away and activate my PR

 

[mad_hatter]

You will have better luck in obtaining a job offer if you are a PR.

 

[Bs65]

You will have better luck in obtaining a job offer if you are a PR.

Exactly my point , the only negative I guess in landing straight away is the residency obligation starts from day of initial landing . Given only talking months though for COPR validity seems a no brainier to me if it would improve my chances of a job offer attending interviews as a landed PR, even if a soft landed PR with a SIN in hand.

 

[mad_hatter]

Thank you for your help. I'll consider my options. My COPR is still valid for about eight months but I'm currently employed in my home country. I'd just prefer to land in Canada with a job in hand really, but if this is unlikely I'll just go right away and activate my PR

I really don't understand why people want to do a soft landing and then go back to home country. You spend all that money and energy applying for PR, I hope because you think Canada is a good place to live and it is where you want to be. The sooner you establish yourself in Canada the better is your future. Especially now the Canadian economy is good, easy to find a good job. A few years later, who knows.

 

[guatemalansinkhole]

I really don't understand why people want to do a soft landing and then go back to home country. You spend all that money and energy applying for PR, I hope because you think Canada is a good place to live and it is where you want to be. The sooner you establish yourself in Canada the better is your future. Especially now the Canadian economy is good, easy to find a good job. A few years later, who knows.

Because being unemployed in a new country is not fun, even if it's a cool one like Canada.

 

[foodie69]

Because being unemployed in a new country is not fun, even if it's a cool one like Canada.

That's why you bring a load of money to help you in the first 6 months..

 

[arunutd92]

OP, were you able to enter Canada with the visitor visa despite having a copr?

 

[YVR123]

OP, were you able to enter Canada with the visitor visa despite having a copr?

We know that back in 2018 or even 2019 (pre-COVID), ppl can enter with visitor visa and can have a choice of not activiating their COPRs. BUT we do know know the current situation.