'Detained' but no record

[HelpPlease]

Hello, I am struggling with how to address question 9 on Schedule 1.

I am sponsoring my husband. About a year ago, he was held after an altercation where the other party involved did not fare very well. No charges were laid and his record is clear - so i'm wondering whether we should just forget about it? I mean - it's not even on his record that he was even held. His claim too is that he wasn't in a detainment center of any sort, but rather just held at the home of some of the police. This is quite an undeveloped country, so a lot happens off the record. Should we even mention it? I mean - if there is no record of it anywhere, wouldn't it just bring about a lot of confusion and other problems if we do mention it?

On top of that - there's something about my husband that brings him a lot of undue attention... He came to canada this past year - and was given a very hard time at the border - he doesn't need a visa, but i don't think they get many visitors from his country. Essentially it was just a complete strip search and a couple hours of questioning. He was allowed in and given some sort of document that needed to be returned when he left (so they knew he left the country) Is this considered being detained? He was approached randomly in the airport on his way out of Canada and questioned again. I don't know what it is in him that arouses suspicion, but that's what makes me want to avoid any potential issues....

I know that being completely honest is the best way - but even if there is absolutely no record of this?

help please!

 

[Dikz]

It is wonderful to be honest with CIC. But in my opinion there is NO NEED to mention that in your application. Your husband was neither charged nor convicted and bringing such issues up will just bring unnecessary attention and possible delay in processing your application.

 

[HelpPlease]

Any more opinions?

I dug up my records (emails etc) on the circumstances:

He was held by the police, but allowed to go perform a traditional apology to the family of the other party involved. When there, the other family beat him up pretty badly, before they realized who it was that was involved in originally dispute... when they realized it was the 'family thief' they backed off.

The police then felt bad for him having been beat up and since the other family never pressed charges they dropped everything and he was let go.

So - no official record, do i just omit everything?

Also - he's been held on previous occasions for failure to pay hospital bills - until i was able to send the funds to him. I don't think this is on any record either - should it be included?

Finally - i mentioned the prolonged questions by CIC at the border - does that qualify as 'detainment'?

help please!

 

[Baloo]

Essentially it was just a complete strip search and a couple hours of questioning.

This is not normal at all, not in Canada - what reasons did they give for this action?

How long did they allow him into Canada for?

 

[HelpPlease]

I forgot - He came with no luggage :S probably an automatic reason for questioning. He had to leave his luggage at the departing airport because of some non-connecting flights through countries that he needed a visa to recollect and recheck baggage (but not to transfer through)... so completely legit, he just forgot he needed to have everything carry-on, but it probably looked bad. And he decided for some odd reason to wear a suit from the eighties - i guess there were a bunch of reasons he looked super suspicious... lol! : Next time, he will hopefully have TONS of luggage and will dress inconspicuously

And for the second question - the immigration ended up calling me 3 times while he was being questioned - just making sure i was expecting him and that i was supporting him during the visit. They let him stay for the 4 months as planned, he just needed to hand a form back on his way out of the country. Any idea what type of form this was? I seem to remember it saying something about a temporary visa or something, but we didn't think to make a copy of it before he gave it back... in fact, we thought it would remain in the passport... oops. But if it WAS a visa of somesort - does that mean he needs to check 'yes' for question 9 on the background that says "previously sought refugee status in Canada or applied for a Canadian immigrant or permanent resident visa or visitor or temporary resident visa?" (even though he never did in fact APPLY for such a visa - if it was one...)?

???

 

[Oil Sand Guy]

Hello, I am struggling with how to address question 9 on Schedule 1.

I am sponsoring my husband. About a year ago, he was held after an altercation where the other party involved did not fare very well. No charges were laid and his record is clear - so i'm wondering whether we should just forget about it? I mean - it's not even on his record that he was even held. His claim too is that he wasn't in a detainment center of any sort, but rather just held at the home of some of the police. This is quite an undeveloped country, so a lot happens off the record. Should we even mention it? I mean - if there is no record of it anywhere, wouldn't it just bring about a lot of confusion and other problems if we do mention it?

On top of that - there's something about my husband that brings him a lot of undue attention... He came to canada this past year - and was given a very hard time at the border - he doesn't need a visa, but i don't think they get many visitors from his country. Essentially it was just a complete strip search and a couple hours of questioning. He was allowed in and given some sort of document that needed to be returned when he left (so they knew he left the country) Is this considered being detained? He was approached randomly in the airport on his way out of Canada and questioned again. I don't know what it is in him that arouses suspicion, but that's what makes me want to avoid any potential issues....

I know that being completely honest is the best way - but even if there is absolutely no record of this?

help please!

...

 

[Oil Sand Guy]

Any more opinions?

I dug up my records (emails etc) on the circumstances:

He was held by the police, but allowed to go perform a traditional apology to the family of the other party involved. When there, the other family beat him up pretty badly, before they realized who it was that was involved in originally dispute... when they realized it was the 'family thief' they backed off.

The police then felt bad for him having been beat up and since the other family never pressed charges they dropped everything and he was let go.

So - no official record, do i just omit everything?

Also - he's been held on previous occasions for failure to pay hospital bills - until i was able to send the funds to him. I don't think this is on any record either - should it be included?

Finally - i mentioned the prolonged questions by CIC at the border - does that qualify as 'detainment'?

help please!

...

 

[Oil Sand Guy]

I forgot - He came with no luggage :S probably an automatic reason for questioning. He had to leave his luggage at the departing airport because of some non-connecting flights through countries that he needed a visa to recollect and recheck baggage (but not to transfer through)... so completely legit, he just forgot he needed to have everything carry-on, but it probably looked bad. And he decided for some odd reason to wear a suit from the eighties - i guess there were a bunch of reasons he looked super suspicious... lol! : Next time, he will hopefully have TONS of luggage and will dress inconspicuously

And for the second question - the immigration ended up calling me 3 times while he was being questioned - just making sure i was expecting him and that i was supporting him during the visit. They let him stay for the 4 months as planned, he just needed to hand a form back on his way out of the country. Any idea what type of form this was? I seem to remember it saying something about a temporary visa or something, but we didn't think to make a copy of it before he gave it back... in fact, we thought it would remain in the passport... oops. But if it WAS a visa of somesort - does that mean he needs to check 'yes' for question 9 on the background that says "previously sought refugee status in Canada or applied for a Canadian immigrant or permanent resident visa or visitor or temporary resident visa?" (even though he never did in fact APPLY for such a visa - if it was one...)?

???

Looks like fairy tale to me

Hmmmmm. is LindaB back to her old business?

 

[HelpPlease]

Looks like fairy tale to me

Hmmmmm. is LindaB back to her old business?

I had to do some research to see who LindaB is or how she could help me... but i see you are not offering help of any sort. I'm not aloud to ask for advice? Or was it when i answered the question posed to me that you didn't like? I thought i found a fantastic site here where i could gather some useful insight, but evidently not from you.

Thanks.

For Everyone else:
I still have hopes for this place though, so i would still love to hear of any similar experience or thoughts on when things that are 'off the record' should be disclosed voluntarily?

 

[robrod]

Hi!.

The prolongued questions asked by Immigration Canada at the border do not count as "detainment" at all. They are asked at secondary inspection and I got them just about everytime I came to visit my now wife (about 7 times and the last one with her on our return from our honeymoon in Europe). Obviously the file has been red flagged and the best thing to do under this situation is to remain calm, patient and answer their questions with all honesty.
The permit he was given to be returned to Immigration upon departure from Canada was a Visitor Record. I was given one of those after the secondary inspection interviews I had on all of those occasions. This type of record comes with different conditions described on the document itself. Normally they state that you can't work or study or take any vocational course, and in one of my Visitor Records, it was good for only 5 days and stated that I needed to report to Immigration at the airport for my flight to confirm departure at the end of those 5 days. They kept the document and was told I would be escorted by someone to the plane upstairs but that didn't happen. I did see an officer at the plane door pretending to look elsewhere but he was there to confirm I boarded the plane.

Therefore, the answer to question 9 on schedule 1 is No. That document is not a visa at all and I certainly didn't apply for it nor did your husband.

I'm not sure what to tell you about the other occasions your husband was detained by the police in his home country regarding the altercation he had with someone and for "he's been held on previous occasions for failure to pay hospital bills...". Honesty is paramount when dealing with CIC or life in general, in my opinion. What if there is a report of those incidents in his home country after all?.

I hope this helps. Best of luck!.