This post applies to people from visa exempt countries who are not in Canada at present,
who are married (or are in a similar relationship as defined by CIC) and who will, or have applied for PR.
So you want to stay in Canada with your spouse while your PR application is being processed?
What you need to do is apply for extended visitor status. You can do this at the time you enter Canada at your point of entry.
From the details I have found, I understand the following:
1. Arrive at the border with your spouse (Mandatory).
2. Carry your marriage certificate.
3. Carry at least one of the following:
a) the partially completed forms to apply for PR (lowest level of proof) or
b) the receipt of payment for the PR application (better proof) or
c) details of your sponsors approval (really good proof).
4. Let your Canadian partner do ALL the talking.
5. Your Canadian partner should tell the IO that you are his/her wife/husband and he/she has applied for your permanent status.
You will be sent to secondary screening at this point.
6. Your Canadian partner must prove to the secondary screening IO that you are married.
7. Your Canadian partner must be prepared to present proof that you actually intend to file, or have filed a PR application.
8. There will be questions about financial support and home address in Canada.
9. What you want is a visitors record (VR), the POE officer at secondary screening can issue this.
The length of time allowed on the VR can be six months or as long as the POE officer decides, either way you can apply to extend a VR once you are in Canada.
Given that you do all this it is likely the officer will grant you entry to wait in Canada for your PR to be approved.
But as usual, there are no guarantees.
I suspect, (but do not know) that you still need to meet all the usual requirements as "a visitor".
And I assume that will include things like intent to return to your non Canadian country.
Of course flying you and your partner between counties is expensive;
For those who do not live in the USA, and are visa exempt, it may be less expensive to fly into the USA and get your partner to drive over the land border to meet you, returning to Canada together.
There is a good link here: http://us2canada.com/visitorrecord.php
Additions, corrections, comments and experiences are welcome.
who are married (or are in a similar relationship as defined by CIC) and who will, or have applied for PR.
So you want to stay in Canada with your spouse while your PR application is being processed?
What you need to do is apply for extended visitor status. You can do this at the time you enter Canada at your point of entry.
From the details I have found, I understand the following:
1. Arrive at the border with your spouse (Mandatory).
2. Carry your marriage certificate.
3. Carry at least one of the following:
a) the partially completed forms to apply for PR (lowest level of proof) or
b) the receipt of payment for the PR application (better proof) or
c) details of your sponsors approval (really good proof).
4. Let your Canadian partner do ALL the talking.
5. Your Canadian partner should tell the IO that you are his/her wife/husband and he/she has applied for your permanent status.
You will be sent to secondary screening at this point.
6. Your Canadian partner must prove to the secondary screening IO that you are married.
7. Your Canadian partner must be prepared to present proof that you actually intend to file, or have filed a PR application.
8. There will be questions about financial support and home address in Canada.
9. What you want is a visitors record (VR), the POE officer at secondary screening can issue this.
The length of time allowed on the VR can be six months or as long as the POE officer decides, either way you can apply to extend a VR once you are in Canada.
Given that you do all this it is likely the officer will grant you entry to wait in Canada for your PR to be approved.
But as usual, there are no guarantees.
I suspect, (but do not know) that you still need to meet all the usual requirements as "a visitor".
And I assume that will include things like intent to return to your non Canadian country.
Of course flying you and your partner between counties is expensive;
For those who do not live in the USA, and are visa exempt, it may be less expensive to fly into the USA and get your partner to drive over the land border to meet you, returning to Canada together.
There is a good link here: http://us2canada.com/visitorrecord.php
Additions, corrections, comments and experiences are welcome.
