Confused about the current visitor process: do I still need TRV for my spouse?

[Andre5]

Hi, my situation is a bit unique so I was not able to find an answer in other threads. Apologies if I'm duplicating anything.

I'm a Canadian in the US with my wife who is Brazilian but we are moving to Canada. She has a US visa but it expires at the end of July. I applied in March for permanent residency for her but nothing has been processed. Until the end of July, her US visa technically permits her to enter Canada with only an eTA. After that, she's just a Brazilian who in normal times would need a TRV to visit. Either way she has to leave the US before August. We are debating two options:

Option A: Enter Canada before her US visa expires, but there is a chance the border official decides not to let her enter or let her enter for only a very brief period of time. I believe the issue is they'd consider her a threat to stay? In any event, that would force us into Option B.

Option B: She goes to Brazil and then tries to come to Canada soon after. In normal times this would require she apply for a TRV. But all the processing locations are closed, there's nowhere to do biometrics, etc. We could get stuck apart for a long time. Do the recent guidelines regarding travel to see immediate family help at all?

To me, it's absurd that they can keep families apart and require them to obtain a TRV when it's not possible to do so. I am seeing other threads where the Canadian is about to give birth and the husband can't visit.

Is there any remote chance the recent guidelines (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...s-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html) supercede the need for a TRV? It seems to say NO, but I just can't believe they could do this to people.

Thanks

 

[scylla]

Hi, my situation is a bit unique so I was not able to find an answer in other threads. Apologies if I'm duplicating anything.

I'm a Canadian in the US with my wife who is Brazilian but we are moving to Canada. She has a US visa but it expires at the end of July. I applied in March for permanent residency for her but nothing has been processed. Until the end of July, her US visa technically permits her to enter Canada with only an eTA. After that, she's just a Brazilian who in normal times would need a TRV to visit. Either way she has to leave the US before August. We are debating two options:

Option A: Enter Canada before her US visa expires, but there is a chance the border official decides not to let her enter or let her enter for only a very brief period of time. I believe the issue is they'd consider her a threat to stay? In any event, that would force us into Option B.

Option B: She goes to Brazil and then tries to come to Canada soon after. In normal times this would require she apply for a TRV. But all the processing locations are closed, there's nowhere to do biometrics, etc. We could get stuck apart for a long time. Do the recent guidelines regarding travel to see immediate family help at all?

To me, it's absurd that they can keep families apart and require them to obtain a TRV when it's not possible to do so. I am seeing other threads where the Canadian is about to give birth and the husband can't visit.

Is there any remote chance the recent guidelines (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...s-covid19/travel-restrictions-exemptions.html) supercede the need for a TRV? It seems to say NO, but I just can't believe they could do this to people.

Thanks

Once her US visa expires, she will need a TRV to enter Canada. The recent guidelines haven't changed this fact.

Option A is probably worth trying if you live close enough to the border to drive.

 

[steaky]

I also saw another thread where the American wife was refused entry and had to drive alone to her home state Florida, while the husband remain in Canada. Perhaps Option C: Both of you go to Brazil?

 

[bellaluna]

Option A is your best choice, but as you foresee, there is very much the risk of your wife being refused entry. In the case she is permitted to enter, you can try to apply to extend her stay while her PR is being processed...it's very much a valid reason to remain in Canada.

I don't blame you if both of you going to Brazil is not an option given the current situation.

 

[canuck78]

Would add that your wife can’t appear to be moving to Canada. Not sure if you are arriving with a car full of stuff or a Uhaul.