+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445
Ditto. Living in BC and my spouse intends to stay WITH me!
 
Does anyone know what the factual policy is regarding a return ticket when visiting Canada?

Our application is in progress at stage 2, I will be leaving Canada for a holiday next month and want to know if i should have a return ticket when i get into Canada. Ideally we would like to purchase a return from Canada which means i would return to Canada after the holiday without a ticket to leave. I am from South Africa so non visa exempt.

Thoughts please.
 
I believe I read that Canada officially does not require a ticket out of the country, but it's a 'good to have' when they assess you - of course every situation is different and it may or may not come up when you're with the IO.
 
Gang,

My wife landed last night.

We went to Peace Arch about 8pm - thought it'd be quiet based on the reports, but it was almost 1 hour waiting. Turns out, we could have walked into the office, or done a U-turn, but we figured we'd do some shopping in Blaine also. The US guard gave us grief cause she didn't have an I94...which you don't need when you fly into the US. Anyway, we got the US royal treatment in the office...that said - the inside office guards were SUPER nice and awesome. It cost $6 to 'grant' the I94.

On the way back, I made a turn I wasn't sure about and after intending to go to Peace Arch cause they do Immigration 24-7, I ended up at a crossing. I knew it didn't look familiar...and it was way too close to the grocery store! Anyway, the Canadian officer was awesome and sent us inside where it was empty - the officers were just hanging about. Our guy was super awesome too - asked a few basic questions, did his thing - maybe 15-20 min total. Shook both of our hands and answered our q's about PR card, SIN, travel, etc. They don't give our swag any more due to budget cuts. We had a formal list of goods to follow which he stamped - just to be on the safe side - we figured it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

That was it! If you time it right, it's dirt easy.

Questions I asked:
- can we travel before now and the time the PR card arrives: He said yes of course, the signed CoPR in your passport + visa exempt passport = no problem
- can they change the name to my wife's married name on the PR card: No, but you can do it after if you want ($50), or leave it and carry a marriage certificate

We'll be visiting a Service Canada center this week to get the ball rolling on the SIN

Good luck all - and if any q's - feel free to ask
 
Netkid said:
I believe I read that Canada officially does not require a ticket out of the country, but it's a 'good to have' when they assess you - of course every situation is different and it may or may not come up when you're with the IO.

Thanks, there is just so much conflicting information.
 
Awesomeg said:
Congratulations for both of you,
Your processing was so fast....
Some Visa Offices seem to move the work faster,
maybe less work load... I will need to wait a few more months
to get any response.

They should transfer some Manila's workload into Sydney. ;) Australia is not so far from the Philippines after all. :D
 
they processed our medicals in manila !
 
Netkid said:
they processed our medicals in manila !

Oh really? No wonder why Manila's processing time is so long! They are taking other VOs workload lol.
 
Edgehead78 said:
Oh really? No wonder why Manila's processing time is so long! They are taking other VOs workload lol.

Yeah, Seoul and Tokyo stopped processing Family Class Sponsorships not long ago.
 
Edgehead78 said:
They should transfer some Manila's workload into Sydney. ;) Australia is not so far from the Philippines after all. :D

I don't know if its possible to do it now,
but my friend made his application, and was advised
by some immigration officer to chose a visa office with
low workload... he did,
and his papers were processed in that Visa office ...
which was not the one he should use,
but the file was sent there and processed with no problem,

I was thinking in doing the same,
chose another Visa office with low workload,
but Its difficult for me to do something that its not in the rules.....

He did request his file to be processed in another office, and he had not problems......

So, I guess, it can be done.
 
Netkid said:
Gang,

My wife landed last night.

We went to Peace Arch about 8pm - thought it'd be quiet based on the reports, but it was almost 1 hour waiting. Turns out, we could have walked into the office, or done a U-turn, but we figured we'd do some shopping in Blaine also. The US guard gave us grief cause she didn't have an I94...which you don't need when you fly into the US. Anyway, we got the US royal treatment in the office...that said - the inside office guards were SUPER nice and awesome. It cost $6 to 'grant' the I94.

On the way back, I made a turn I wasn't sure about and after intending to go to Peace Arch cause they do Immigration 24-7, I ended up at a crossing. I knew it didn't look familiar...and it was way too close to the grocery store! Anyway, the Canadian officer was awesome and sent us inside where it was empty - the officers were just hanging about. Our guy was super awesome too - asked a few basic questions, did his thing - maybe 15-20 min total. Shook both of our hands and answered our q's about PR card, SIN, travel, etc. They don't give our swag any more due to budget cuts. We had a formal list of goods to follow which he stamped - just to be on the safe side - we figured it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

That was it! If you time it right, it's dirt easy.

Questions I asked:
- can we travel before now and the time the PR card arrives: He said yes of course, the signed CoPR in your passport + visa exempt passport = no problem
- can they change the name to my wife's married name on the PR card: No, but you can do it after if you want ($50), or leave it and carry a marriage certificate

We'll be visiting a Service Canada center this week to get the ball rolling on the SIN

Good luck all - and if any q's - feel free to ask

Wow....
Awesome... Congratulations and glad that everything went smooth at the entry.....
The Canadian immigration officers can be nice,
especially with new immigrants entering the country,
they are the first impression of the country after all.

Congratulations to both of you,

8)
 
Awesomeg said:
I don't know if its possible to do it now,
but my friend made his application, and was advised
by some immigration officer to chose a visa office with
low workload... he did,
and his papers were processed in that Visa office ...
which was not the one he should use,
but the file was sent there and processed with no problem,

I was thinking in doing the same,
chose another Visa office with low workload,
but Its difficult for me to do something that its not in the rules.....

He did request his file to be processed in another office, and he had not problems......

So, I guess, it can be done.

I read Chile used to have a really good time so people would send it there...then they changed the rules so you have to apply to the office that serves the country of your citizenship?
 
Netkid said:
Gang,

My wife landed last night.

We went to Peace Arch about 8pm - thought it'd be quiet based on the reports, but it was almost 1 hour waiting. Turns out, we could have walked into the office, or done a U-turn, but we figured we'd do some shopping in Blaine also. The US guard gave us grief cause she didn't have an I94...which you don't need when you fly into the US. Anyway, we got the US royal treatment in the office...that said - the inside office guards were SUPER nice and awesome. It cost $6 to 'grant' the I94.

On the way back, I made a turn I wasn't sure about and after intending to go to Peace Arch cause they do Immigration 24-7, I ended up at a crossing. I knew it didn't look familiar...and it was way too close to the grocery store! Anyway, the Canadian officer was awesome and sent us inside where it was empty - the officers were just hanging about. Our guy was super awesome too - asked a few basic questions, did his thing - maybe 15-20 min total. Shook both of our hands and answered our q's about PR card, SIN, travel, etc. They don't give our swag any more due to budget cuts. We had a formal list of goods to follow which he stamped - just to be on the safe side - we figured it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

That was it! If you time it right, it's dirt easy.

Questions I asked:
- can we travel before now and the time the PR card arrives: He said yes of course, the signed CoPR in your passport + visa exempt passport = no problem
- can they change the name to my wife's married name on the PR card: No, but you can do it after if you want ($50), or leave it and carry a marriage certificate

We'll be visiting a Service Canada center this week to get the ball rolling on the SIN

Good luck all - and if any q's - feel free to ask

Congrats Netkid! Have a happy married life in Canada!