disaster please help!

[valkyrie79]

my bf from the uk arrived today and was grilled at canadian customs for 4 hours.he had a 3 week return ticket,2 luggage bags,guitar.they went through his phone and computer. they told him he has too many of his worldly possessions?>one of the officers came out to speak with me and i told them that he was just visiting and will be staying with me and my family the entire time and had no intention of working or illegally immigrating to canada they took his picture gave him a document stating that if he does not leave canada in 3 weeks .they will hunt him down and deport him and he will never be allowed entry in canada ever again. i'm gutted.we wanted to do some sight seeing and enjoy the summer.even though his ticket was for 3 weeks.i was told he could legally stay in canada for 6 months so we were going to extend his ticket.i don't know what to do or who to turn to.is there a way of appealing this or at least getting an extension of stay? please help! i am beyond beside myself

 

[scylla]

He is not legally allowed to visit for six months (visiting is a privilege, not a right). Since he is visa exempt, he MAY be admitted into Canada for up to six months as a visitor. How long he is actually allowed into the country or if he is allowed in at all is up to the immigration officer encountered at the border (as your bf has now discovered).

You can't appeal this.

What exactly does the document say that they issued to him? Can you retype it here? Does the document have a number?

He can likely try to extend his visit. However given the warning he was given, it would probably be best to leave at the end of his three week visit. If he tries to extend his visit, I think there's probably a good chance he'll be refused. Complying with what the immigration officer told him and leaving after three weeks will make it easier to visit in the future.

 

[steaky]

What happened to your bf was similar to what I encountered a month ago. Customs asked me why bringing so many items - I am bringing 2 luggage bags and 2 small carry-ons. He opened one of the bags, unsealed one of the containers inside, but did not go through my ipad. Fortunately I wasn't bringing lots of things and my luggage were pretty empty, and I was only grilled for about 10 mins.

Is it that customs think traveling alone guys bringing two or more luggages are more suspicious than other travelers?

 

[valkyrie79]

the document stated that he is strictly prohibited from working or schooling in this country and that he has to leave in 3 weeks time or he will be tracked down and deported.they took his picture and they have the address where he is staying with me. again he had 2 luggage bags,carry on and guitar case.they went through all his personal belongings and noticed he had some sentimental,family relics that a *visitor would not usually carry.he just had a dear family member pass away recently i don't know i'm so confused and heartbroken with all of this. is there anything we/he could of done differently? and steaky so it seems you are very lucky they didn;t violate you the way they did with my bf...

 

[valkyrie79]

i believe the document he recieved was a limited stay visitor record can this be extended? and would it be wise? if worse comes to worse he will go back the date given as i want him to be able to enter canada again.also how long until he can visit again?

 

[scylla]

He shouldn't have brought the family relics with him. I agree this definitely not the sort of thing that you bring with you on holidays. It's the sort of thing you bring with you when you plan on staying a long time. Also, if he brought two large suitcases, I think that looks suspicious for someone who is only here for three weeks - especially in summer. Anyway, too late now.

If he's honestly just here as a visitor, wants to stay a bit longer than three weeks and doesn't have plans to return again to Canada as visitor anytime soon, then I would probably apply for the extension.

However it sounds like he has plans to be visiting Canada again in the near future. If so, then I would comply with the order. If he does comply with the order, I would give it a few months at least (4+?) before trying to return and he should be able to show ties to the UK when he comes again (e.g. proof of employment, proof he is attending school, etc.).

Just my two cents...