Can I enter into Canada with my Landing visa but not do landing formalities?

[optimist28]

Hi,
Our application for PR has been approved and the the visas have been stamped in our passport. My husband is the principal applicant and he cannot come to Canada until he completes his work after two months so I and my son decided to go earlier without him to prepare for the new life. I have heard that it is not possible to do landing process without the principal applicant but is it possible to enter into Canada with our landing visa and wait for two months inside Canada until my husband joins us and do the landing together? Would the border officers let us enter if we explain the situation to him/her?
Thanks

 

[Bobbieleigh]

Why don't you go to Canada with your husband and do the landing? He can than go back to your home country even the next day and you and your son can stay in Canada and do whatever you want to do. Wouldn't it be easier?

 

[scylla]

Hi,
Our application for PR has been approved and the the visas have been stamped in our passport. My husband is the principal applicant and he cannot come to Canada until he completes his work after two months so I and my son decided to go earlier without him to prepare for the new life. I have heard that it is not possible to do landing process without the principal applicant but is it possible to enter into Canada with our landing visa and wait for two months inside Canada until my husband joins us and do the landing together? Would the border officers let us enter if we explain the situation to him/her?
Thanks

Correct - it's not possible for you and your son to land without your husband. He either has to land at the same time as you - or before you.

You can come to Canada earlier - but only as visitors - and you can't do this using your COPRs. This means you'll need return tickets and won't be able to bring too many belongings with you (just a suitcase or so each). Also, you'll need either an eTA (if you are visa exempt) or a TRV (if you are non-visa exempt) to enter Canada as tourist. Additionally, make sure you purchase travel insurance since you won't be covered by Canada's health care system while in Canada as tourists.

 

[optimist28]

Thank you for the replies. We already had visitor visas but they cancelled and crossed the visitor visas when they issued the PR visas! Do we have to apply for new visitor visa in this case? My husband cannot leave the country even for one day for some reasons so he cannot come with us just for landing.

 

[21Goose]

Thank you for the replies. We already had visitor visas but they cancelled and crossed the visitor visas when they issued the PR visas! Do we have to apply for new visitor visa in this case? My husband cannot leave the country even for one day for some reasons so he cannot come with us just for landing.

Yes, you will need new visitor visas. In addition to that, the border officials may ask you lots of questions since you're effectively trying to circumvent their rules. If they ask you why you're coming, and you tell them that you're waiting for him to land as a PR - that's not a valid reason for a tourist and they can easily deny you entry. If you tell them that you're coming to vacation for two months - you're lying to CBSA, and that opens a whole new can of worms.

I'm not sure if they will even issue you a visitor visa since you already have an immigrant visa in your passport.

It probably makes sense to just wait two months and travel together and avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

 

[picklee]

Given what's at stake, it would make the most sense for your husband to land either before or with you. Even if he buys a plane ticket and returns the same day, it would be worth it.

 

[optimist28]

Thank you. As you all suggested, I think we'd better to wait and come together.