Entering Canada with a pending application using eTA

[Mnt]

Hello everyone.
Me and my wife applied for a SP + SOWP, I got my SP approval in January but it's over a month now and my wife's SOWP hasn't changed the status since we applied in December.
We are planning to travel in mid March and we are already figuring what to do if the response don't come until then.
We have US visitor visas so our plan is to travel together and use an eTA for my wife to enter Canada, and wait for her SOWP there.
The only problem I can think of, is the proof of funds for her, but we do have available funds to stay there for a year.

Is it possible to do that?
How do we explain this situation to the Officer at the airport?
Is it possible for the Officer to provide the SOWP upon arrival?

 

[scylla]

Hello everyone.
Me and my wife applied for a SP + SOWP, I got my SP approval in January but it's over a month now and my wife's SOWP hasn't changed the status since we applied in December.
We are planning to travel in mid March and we are already figuring what to do if the response don't come until then.
We have US visitor visas so our plan is to travel together and use an eTA for my wife to enter Canada, and wait for her SOWP there.
The only problem I can think of, is the proof of funds for her, but we do have available funds to stay there for a year.

Is it possible to do that?
How do we explain this situation to the Officer at the airport?
Is it possible for the Officer to provide the SOWP upon arrival?

Sure, you can do that provided your spouse qualifies for an eTA. You should be honest about your intentions at the border. Your spouse should indicate she will leave Canada and not overstay in the event the SOWP is refused for some reason (having a SP doesn't guarantee SOWP approval).

No, the SOWP cannot be approved at the POE.

 

[Mnt]

Sure, you can do that provided your spouse qualifies for an eTA. You should be honest about your intentions at the border. Your spouse should indicate she will leave Canada and not overstay in the event the SOWP is refused for some reason (having a SP doesn't guarantee SOWP approval).

No, the SOWP cannot be approved at the POE.

Thank you for your response. We are also thinking in registering her for a ~3 month language course, to say that she wouldn't stay in Canada doing nothing while waiting for their response, but would that go against her OWP application? In this scenario, can her OWP application be jeopardized by whatever info the Officer puts on her "profile" while entering Canada, since she's now studying? Is she able to study with a work permit if her application gets approved in the meantime?

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your response. We are also thinking in registering her for a ~3 month language course, to say that she wouldn't stay in Canada doing nothing while waiting for their response, but would that go against her OWP application? In this scenario, can her OWP application be jeopardized by whatever info the Officer puts on her "profile" while entering Canada, since she's now studying? Is she able to study with a work permit if her application gets approved in the meantime?

My honest feedback is that the 3 month language course thing is really weak. I personally wouldn't do this. It's like you're trying to create an excuse / reason. CBSA sees this all of the time and the language course reason is one of the weak excuses lots of people try to use. She should just be honest about her intentions and the fact a SOWP is in progress. Don't invent stuff.

 

[Mnt]

My honest feedback is that the 3 month language course thing is really weak. I personally wouldn't do this. It's like you're trying to create an excuse / reason. CBSA sees this all of the time and the language course reason is one of the weak excuses lots of people try to use. She should just be honest about her intentions and the fact a SOWP is in progress. Don't invent stuff.

Thank you, I agree with you. Our concern was not being able to enter to wait, so we'd have to find a purpose to go, but indeed it looks like an excuse. I still have hopes that they approve her application in time, let's see...