Family Class Landing

[Nunuc]

Dear All,

As I wait for my passport to be stamped, I have a few questions I would appreciate some help with if possible. Our visa process has taken us a bit off guard as it happened much quicker than anticipated so our plans are now all over the place.

Landing:

My spouse and baby are Canadian citizens. Do they both need to accompany me on my landing in Canada or can I go by myself? The reason is that we don't really want to have long distance flights with a small child.

Upon landing, I understand that it is important to contact the CIC and give them an address on which to mail my PR card in Canada. Is there anything else I am required to do while in Canada during my landing visit?

PR:

My wife is a Canadian citizen so I understand that my residence obligation is met if I am together with her in a third country (i.e. outside Canada) - is this correct? As long as we are together abroad this counts as if I am meeting my residence requirements in Canada, right?

SIN Card/Bank Account:

If my spouse accompanies me during my landing, we were hoping to open a Canadian bank account in order to transfer our money there. Is it necessary to also obtain SIN cards? If my residence requirements are met by living with my wife abroad, we were hoping to visit Canada often during the next year until our child gets bigger so that I can make contacts/networks and secure a decent job before heading over full time - do we need SIN cards etc immediately or would you recommend that we deal with this at a later date? We are basically just taking the slow transfer route.

I appreciate all the help on any of these questions and I thank the forum once again for guding me through this entire process.

Best

 

[Nunuc]

Is there a different forum perhaps where landing in Canada is discussed? Please do let me know if I am on the wrong board.

Thanks in advance

 

[canuck_in_uk]

You can land on your own; your family does not need to be there.

The CBSA officer that processes your landing will ask where you want the PR card sent.

Yes, if you are with your wife outside of Canada AND can prove it, you will meet the residency obligation.

Yes, get your SIN.

 

[Nunuc]

Thanks a lot.

What would constitute proof? Same address in another country or are they looking for things like dated photo's? Or is it enough to have proof of spouse working in a different country? Is it something I can inform CBSO or CIC immediately upon landing?

Thanks again.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

What would constitute proof? Same address in another country or are they looking for things like dated photo's? Or is it enough to have proof of spouse working in a different country? Is it something I can inform CBSO or CIC immediately upon landing?

Proof that you live at the same address.

Do NOT inform CBSA when you land; they would quite possibly refuse your landing and cancel your COPR if you told them you had no intention of moving to Canada anytime soon. You do not need to tell CIC anything either.

 

[Nunuc]

Got it, thanks a lot. Hopefully things like bills etc. will suffice. I've just read that they are not allowed to inquire about who accompanied who and why but only that we were living together so hopefully that makes it much more straightforward.

 

[canadianwoman]

That's right, they no longer care who is accompanying whom. It is enough that you are living with your Canadian citizen spouse while abroad.
And do not tell the border agent about your plan - if you are not planning to live in Canada, there is a possibility you might be refused at landing. However, don't lie either - if the border agent asks directly, you can just say your wife and child will be coming later.

 

[Nunuc]

Thanks - we definitely plan on living in Canada and our daughter starting school there when she's bigger but given all the problems people on these boards have had in finding adequate work etc. we want to utilize the 'accompany Canadian citizen' provision to make a slow and thorough transition which involves frequent trips to Canada to establish contacts, networks etc in order to secure decent jobs and not end up in a position to have to take anything on offer in order for me to secure 'Canadian experience'. I guess I should keep this away from the border officials but I also think there is nothing wrong with taking a cautious and slow route to establish oneself in Canada.