Entry prior to approval

[micbc]

Can primary applicant enter Canada as a tourist/visitor while spousal sponsorship application is pending?
If it is approved while a tourist/visiting does the primary applicant need to leave Canada and re-enter?

 

[kitty_T]

Yes u can apply for tourist visa. U just need to show a lot of reason to go back to ur country. Job ,family etc. Also if u get approved u can just go to the nearest border and re enter canada. Also ithink u can also land from ur nearest office in canada. Please vetify this information . Good luck

 

[yamgia]

Can primary applicant enter Canada as a tourist/visitor while spousal sponsorship application is pending?
If it is approved while a tourist/visiting does the primary applicant need to leave Canada and re-enter?

You application doesn't influence this, you can enter as long you can prove you won't overstay and return home at the end of your visa (like you normally have to when you visit Canada).
Being married to a Canadian citizen might make it a little harder though (since you have more reasons to not leave), this might be especially tricky for people that are from a not visa exempt country and have to request a visa to enter. But other than that your application doesn't stop you from entering Canada as a tourist.

If you get PR while being in canada, you either have to make a appointment at the right office to officially land as PR or cross the boarder by air or car (at the right boarder) and re-enter Canada as PR.

 

[micbc]

If spouses country of origin (USA) does not require a visa for a 3 month period, do we still need to apply for a tourist visa? How do I find out which is the correct location to be entering the border at? We will be moving to British Columbia ...

 

[yamgia]

If spouses country of origin (USA) does not require a visa for a 3 month period, do we still need to apply for a tourist visa? How do I find out which is the correct location to be entering the border at? We will be moving to British Columbia ...

If you never needed a visa to enter Canada (because you a from the US and have a US passport), then no you don't need to apply for a tourist visa. You only need to apply for a visa, if you always needed a visa to enter Canada, your application does not influence this, it's still the same as you when you want to visit Canada for a vacation.

And well look what USA boarder is the closest to you and then google if they do immigrant landing at that boarder (or search in this forum). Two of them is Peace Arch Provincial Park, Whiterock, BC (i.e. near Vancouver) and Twassassen/Point Roberts.

 

[sawadee-eh]

I don't think Point Roberts crossing offers immigration services as it is a very small port of entry. One should confirm by calling or checking the CBSA website though.

 

[yamgia]

I don't think Point Roberts crossing offers immigration services as it is a very small port of entry. One should confirm by calling or checking the CBSA website though.

A couple of people on this forum did though. So it should be possible.

But yea indeed always call to be sure, rules can change.

 

[Decoy24601]

A couple of people on this forum did though. So it should be possible.

But yea indeed always call to be sure, rules can change.

I haven't seen anyone land there in the last few years. Yes, smaller crossings can technically do landings, but you might end up with more trouble than it's worth because sometimes CBSA officers are very unhappy when they have to do this at small crossings. I personally am just going to flagpole at the Peace Arch. If you look on the website, there isn't a single land crossing in BC that offers full immigration services, but the the Canadian crossing at the Peace Arch is still often used.

 

[yamgia]

I haven't seen anyone land there in the last few years. Yes, smaller crossings can technically do landings, but you might end up with more trouble than it's worth because sometimes CBSA officers are very unhappy when they have to do this at small crossings. I personally am just going to flagpole at the Peace Arch. If you look on the website, there isn't a single land crossing in BC that offers full immigration services, but the the Canadian crossing at the Peace Arch is still often used.

People still were able to flagpole there in january 2016 (latest posts I found about it) and a handful in 2015. But yea you can't go wrong with Peace arch!

 

[nmclean]

I actually got this email response a few weeks ago:

"Please be advised that immigration services are now provided at all Canadian ports of entry. The CBSA is currently in the process of updating its Web site."

I was asking them about the list of offices providing immigration services (http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/services/imm-eng.html) which used to show almost 60 offices but is now down to 16. Apparently this list doesn't mean anything anymore, I guess?

 

[micbc]

HUGE THANK YOU!

 

[Ponga]

I don't think Point Roberts crossing offers immigration services as it is a very small port of entry. One should confirm by calling or checking the CBSA website though.

It's actually called Boundary Bay (Pt. Bob is the U.S. side).

I love that little place.

 

[Mightytonewheel]

It's actually called Boundary Bay (Pt. Bob is the U.S. side).

I love that little place.

Oh, we are totally planning on flagpoling there. It's a very cute little crossing.