Crossing the Border

[AmericanMovingToCanada]

Hello!

I just had a random question.

Is it possible for a person to cross the Canadian border and deal with Immigration at crossing, but have a return ticket home or just book a new ticket home for a week or two later? Or will the immigration officers frown upon that?

For example - were I to cross the border and stay in Canada for a week or two (visiting family or just job hunting), could I then return home? I know Immigration sends everything to your Canadian address, but if my Canadian address is with family, can I not still go home and then have my family send it to me later on? And then i can come back up at my leisure within a few months? (Ie. WhenI find a job)

Just curious as to whether or not anyone has done this/if this is allowed.

Any light that you could shed on this would be amazing.

Thanks for your help!

 

[AmericanMovingToCanada]

You can leave Canada even one hour after completing the landing procedure at the border. There is absolutely no requirement to stay in Canada for a certain time after landing.

You need to be aware of the minimum residency requirement though. In order to retain your PR, you need to be present in Canada for at least two years out of every five year period. How you do that though is up to you. You can leave immediately after landing and return after three years, live there for the next two and still retain your PR.

And I would just say honestly to the border control agent that I have a return ticket and that's that? They won't find that weird?

I just want to double check. I was aware of the requirements of maintaining the PR, but I would feel much better moving up once I found a job. So my plan was to book a ticket for Christmas, cross the border and give them my family's address up there, then after the holidays leave and return to the states. And continue to apply for jobs down here for a bit in the hopes that I find one before HAVING to move. And then once my family received whatever paperwork Immigration sent to their address for me, they could just forward it all to me down here.

All of that is perfectly okay?

 

[AmericanMovingToCanada]

You don't even have to tell them, and they usually won't ask. Maybe they find it weird, but that's their personal opinion and it's irrelevant to whether or not you will be permitted as a permanent resident.

Yes.

Thank you SO MUCH for all of your help. This makes me feel a LOT better! You're the best!