Experiences traveling outside of Canada during Inland App Process? (Sick family)

[dominokitty]

We just got AIP and they requested new medicals a few days ago - those will be done on Wednesday next week, and if all goes well he will have his PR within the next few months.

We got word recently that my husband's grandmother is really not doing well at all. She's 90 years old and has been in the hospital for a couple of weeks now - so obviously the situation is not good, but somewhat expected at her age. My husband hasn't seen his family in a year while we wait for the visa process and we're really hoping to go visit before she passes. They are quite close, so the idea that he might not be able to see her before things get worse is very upsetting. It's very touch and go right now. We're also worried about needing to travel out of the country for her funeral in the near future. I'm just hoping it doesn't come to that.

He comes from a visa exempt country and has a valid open work permit already, but that is a very recent development so he doesn't have a job yet. I can't think of a reason why they would refuse him entry at the border, except he was out of status briefly due to a mixup in our paperwork (since resolved). We are working very hard to go through the correct legal channels to get this done and we've never had an issue with CBSA before, but I'm aware that if they do decide to refuse him, it will cancel our inland application, which is so close to being finished already.

If it comes to the worst and we do need to leave the country to go see her before the PR goes through, what should we keep in mind when speaking with border agents? Would it be better for me to travel with him? Is there some way for him to get authorization to leave the country without jeopardizing his PR application?

Basically, have any of you left Canada for family reasons during the inland process and returned successfully? Did CBSA bother you about it? How did you handle the issue of dual intent?

 

[formalboygirl]

unless you tell them they won't know about it,,

 

[canuck_in_uk]

If it comes to the worst and we do need to leave the country to go see her before the PR goes through, what should we keep in mind when speaking with border agents? Would it be better for me to travel with him? Is there some way for him to get authorization to leave the country without jeopardizing his PR application?

Basically, have any of you left Canada for family reasons during the inland process and returned successfully? Did CBSA bother you about it? How did you handle the issue of dual intent?

People have left and returned without issue; it isn't often that CBSA will refuse inland applicants entry. However, refusal can and has happened, hence why everyone advises inland applicants to stay; there is always a small risk. There is no way to get authorization beforehand.

He needs to keep the visit short, no more than a few weeks. When he returns, he can show his work permit. If CBSA asks further questions, he can state that he has a PR app in process and he had to return home to see his seriously ill grandmother. He should carry proof of the PR app and if possible, proof of his grandmother's condition. He really shouldn't mention dual intent and he shouldn't volunteer any extra information; he needs to just answer the officer's questions succinctly.

unless you tell them they won't know about it,,

They will be able to see his history in the system when they swipe his passport.