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Canadian Border - Parents don't speak english (or french)

Konata

Newbie
Sep 10, 2012
2
0
Hi,

Is there any kind of standard procedure for people who do not speak english or french at the border?

My wife's parents will be visiting from Beijing and they only speak Mandarin. They will be entering at Pearson International Airport in Toronto which does have an extremely large chinese population. Will they have border agents who speak Mandarin there or would they have translators available if they are pulled aside for further questioning? They got a supervisa this year, but this will be their first entry into Canada.

Also would the border agents accept a letter from me and my wife asking them to call us if they have any questions?

I've been trying to Google this issue but haven't found much specific to Canada.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
 

PMM

VIP Member
Jun 30, 2005
25,494
1,950
Hi

Konata said:
Hi,

Is there any kind of standard procedure for people who do not speak english or french at the border?

My wife's parents will be visiting from Beijing and they only speak Mandarin. They will be entering at Pearson International Airport in Toronto which does have an extremely large chinese population. Will they have border agents who speak Mandarin there or would they have translators available if they are pulled aside for further questioning? They got a supervisa this year, but this will be their first entry into Canada.

Also would the border agents accept a letter from me and my wife asking them to call us if they have any questions?

I've been trying to Google this issue but haven't found much specific to Canada.

Thanks for any help you can provide.
1. They have interpreters available.
2. They probably would phone you.
 

Konata

Newbie
Sep 10, 2012
2
0
PMM said:
Hi

1. They have interpreters available.
2. They probably would phone you.
Thank you.

I wasn't quite sure.

I'm also reading that Parents visiting under a super visa will also have additional documents to show at the border.

Are the additional documents only the Insurance forms? If me and my wife write another invitation letter for the border agents benefit, will we also need to provide income verification again?
 

steaky

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2008
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PMM is right.

My father-in-law is visiting us in Vancouver from China. He speaks only Chinese and he told the Border Officer (via other travelers) that he does not speak English and they direct him to see the interpreter.
 

leprechaun

Member
Sep 9, 2012
11
0
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My mother doesn't speak English. I prepared a following letter for her, which she presents every time to the border officials and they never have any problem with that for five years already. Never even used an interpreter, they just let her in, end of story.

"To: Immigration / Visa Officer.

Dear Officer!

My name is MOTHERS_NAME. Unfortunately, I don't speak English (I do speak LANGUAGE_NAME). I come to Canada as a guest of my sons' family and will be staying at their home. I don't carry any significant gifts or excess amount of cash on me. I'm scheduled to go back to HOME_COUNTRY in September.

The son's name is MY_NAME. He is a Canadian Citizen.

The phone numbers are as following:
MY_HOME_PHONE,
MY_MOBILE_PHONE,
MY_WORK_PHONE.

The address is:
MY_ADDRESS


Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact him.



Thank you,
MOTHERS_NAME."
 

Vish_AINP

Newbie
Feb 7, 2014
5
0
leprechaun said:
My mother doesn't speak English. I prepared a following letter for her, which she presents every time to the border officials and they never have any problem with that for five years already. Never even used an interpreter, they just let her in, end of story.

"To: Immigration / Visa Officer.

Dear Officer!

My name is MOTHERS_NAME. Unfortunately, I don't speak English (I do speak LANGUAGE_NAME). I come to Canada as a guest of my sons' family and will be staying at their home. I don't carry any significant gifts or excess amount of cash on me. I'm scheduled to go back to HOME_COUNTRY in September.

The son's name is MY_NAME. He is a Canadian Citizen.

The phone numbers are as following:
MY_HOME_PHONE,
MY_MOBILE_PHONE,
MY_WORK_PHONE.

The address is:
MY_ADDRESS


Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact him.



Thank you,
MOTHERS_NAME."
Thank you for that very simple letter format. What does your mother do about the customs declaration form that need to be filled out when entering Canada?
 

Urnaa

Newbie
May 17, 2017
1
0
Thank you for that very simple letter format. What does your mother do about the customs declaration form that need to be filled out when entering Canada?
Thanks so much. This letter worked very well for my dad to enter Canada.
 

may4ank

Hero Member
Nov 23, 2014
349
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How about filling up the declaration form