Getting through the border

[SarahL]

Hi guys,

I am sponsoring my husband from the UK to come and live with me in Canada (obviously ), and we are about to send off the forms as we have been waiting for the marriage certificate to come through. He has paid all of the relevant fees but we haven't physically sent anything off. The plan is for him to come here (and hes flying on October 16th) to come and live with me (he does have a return flight booked for just before his 6 months are up!). Now obviously there isn't a problem him coming to stay here whilst the application is underway, and if we got declined, he would travel back. As I live on the border, he'd land in the USA and pass over, and when we got accepted we'd both pass over and back to confirm it all as our 'landing'.

He is concerned about getting through the border and what to say to them. He obviously isn't going to lie, but he is scared of being turned away if they think hes just going to stay in the country regardless? Any ideas on what to bring as proof other than the obvious receipt if we can or what to say etc? He has resigned from his job for me and is in a position where he would be royally screwed if he did get turned back.

Thanks in advance.

 

[shandymoo]

Book his return flight for 2 weeks after (instead of close to 6 months) and then just never go on the return flight. If you dont get his visa in the 6 months of being there then book a flight back to the UK just before his 6 months are up. He will get questioned less this way if it looks like he is only staying 2 weeks. I wouldn't land in the USA and pass over, just land in canada (you'll get extra hassle from immigration this way cos he will get it in the US and then again when going through the canadian border and then when you get the visa go across the border and back again.

 

[britincanada]

Last time I came into Canada I had a return flight booked for 7 weeks after I arrived..and just didnt get on my flight..people do it all the time..and as your husband is Visa Exempt he will not be doing anything wrong! People change their plans all the time and your Husband is entitled to remain in Canada for 6 months..The CBSA officer will ask more questions and will be more suspicious if his return flight is in 5 months rather than a few weeks time.. Your Husband is more likely to be admitted to Canada this way too..

Every time I have entered Canada from the UK I have been asked;

• How long are you staying in Canada? I usually quote how many days up to my return flight
• Who are you staying with? I usually say my partner and they have never asked for me to state whether he is my boyfriend or Husband
• Where are you employed? To which I usually make up an employer or in my case last time I entered I was on Benefits in the UK
• Do you have any thing to declare?

If your husband does not mention the PR application it would not be a lie as you have not submitted it yet! London is moving fast..I got my PR Issued in less than 2 months..and Landed within 3 months..I landed via the boarder..

I don't think your husband has anything to worry about..especially if his return flight is only a few weeks after he arrives..the CBSA wants to make sure your husband intends on leaving again..

 

[AllisonVSC]

If he is flying in and out of the US and travelling by car to enter Canada he can say he is driving up to just visit for a short period of time, like a few weeks, or even that he wants to see Niagara Falls from the other side! If they ask about his return ticket he can say that he is planning to spend most of his time travelling in the US but wants to visit Canada while he's in North America. In this scenario though it may complicate matters if his wife is with him when he crosses over. Is there a mutual male friend that could drive him across?

 

[AngelB]

I also want to know how to do this. I want my husband to come stay with my in December, and I'm trying to figure out what to say to the border. Is it safe to say he's only staying for 2 weeks when he's actually staying for longer? Isn't that lying, and can't it come back to bite you in the butt?

 

[matthewc]

You don't need to get into lies or deception - that's a really bad idea. He does need to be aware of a few things. This page is very applicable to your situation, although it's written for US applicants, the info applies to others from visa-exempt countries visiting with a PR app in process, and is more applicable to you in some ways, since he's entering across the US/Canada land border:

http://us2canada.com/visiting.php
http://us2canada.com/visitorrecord.php

What's important to remember when entering:

1. He needs to be able to show he can support himself for the duration of his stay (or be supported by you, if that's the plan), without working or social assistance. Bank statements of his own, or yours, are good proof.
2. He needs to satisfy them he'd leave at the end of his authorised stay. It's OK to want to visit while his PR application is being processed, but if it took longer than expected or was refused for any reason he has to tell them he would - of course - return home.

My recommendation, actually, since he's flying into the USA, would be for you to go down and meet him, and cross back over the border into Canada together. If you carry proof you're about to submit (or have already submitted) the sponsorship application, as well as proof you'll support him, and tell them you want him to visit while the application is in progress, there's a good chance they'll give him a visitor record for long enough to complete the PR application - possibly a year. It's not an uncommon situation. Anecdotally at least, it seems to help if the Canadian (sponsor) does most of the talking. Just remember that if they ask what you'd do if refused, the only acceptable answer is "return to the UK".

 

[mmhughes]

This post has startled me a bit...

My husband will be coming over to visit me for a couple of months over his birthday and Christmas. He only bought a one way ticket purely for the reason if the permanent residence application comes through while he is visiting. If this is the case he’d buy a return from Canada in order to go back to the UK to send off his passport to London (we are applying as a separated couple). If our application is still being processed, then he’d have to go back to work in the UK in January. After reading this post I am wondering if it would be safer if he buys (possibly wasting a lot of money) a ticket back to the UK in January now! He was going to tell customs that he is staying in Canada for about two months (which is the truth unless the application goes though but then he'd go back sooner). I’ll be waiting at the airport for him so I can vouch that I will support him while he is visiting. However, he would have saved up enough money to travel for a few months anyways. I never thought that they would ask to see his return flight! I mean, I flew into Canada using my British Passport (I have dual citizenship) for years and I was never been questioned about it.

 

[worriedbrit]

Hey, I have booked return flights for about 2 weeks later and just not taken them aswell. Its kinda lying, but it makes life much much easier, trust me!

 

[AngelB]

You don't need to get into lies or deception - that's a really bad idea. He does need to be aware of a few things. This page is very applicable to your situation, although it's written for US applicants, the info applies to others from visa-exempt countries visiting with a PR app in process, and is more applicable to you in some ways, since he's entering across the US/Canada land border:

http://us2canada.com/visiting.php
http://us2canada.com/visitorrecord.php

What's important to remember when entering:

1. He needs to be able to show he can support himself for the duration of his stay (or be supported by you, if that's the plan), without working or social assistance. Bank statements of his own, or yours, are good proof.
2. He needs to satisfy them he'd leave at the end of his authorised stay. It's OK to want to visit while his PR application is being processed, but if it took longer than expected or was refused for any reason he has to tell them he would - of course - return home.

My recommendation, actually, since he's flying into the USA, would be for you to go down and meet him, and cross back over the border into Canada together. If you carry proof you're about to submit (or have already submitted) the sponsorship application, as well as proof you'll support him, and tell them you want him to visit while the application is in progress, there's a good chance they'll give him a visitor record for long enough to complete the PR application - possibly a year. It's not an uncommon situation. Anecdotally at least, it seems to help if the Canadian (sponsor) does most of the talking. Just remember that if they ask what you'd do if refused, the only acceptable answer is "return to the UK".

Thank you very much for this, I will be following your advice. I appreciate you taking the time to post and supplying those links. You've been a major help!

 

[SarahL]

Okay just to clarify a couple of things. He has already booked the flights! Hes unable to change them without having ludicrous charges, the quickest and cheapest way to get into where I live is through the USA border as I'm literally right next to it. Last time he came he had no problem getting through but that was only for two weeks. The reason we booked it for so many months after was then if he got refused, or was unable to get an extension, he'd already have a flight home.

The plan is for him to stay with me and my parents, and he'll pay for everyday things while I pay rent to them on behalf of both of us from my job.

He has already resigned, he can't turn back (he wouldn't be able to get a week or two off, let alone a six month leave of absence or whatever its officially called). And thats what scares him the most, the prospect of them asking him what he does (him saying hes either left his recent job to live with me for a while, or nothing, neither sounds particularly good when previously it really reassured them) and him being turned back around wasting the money on flights and everything else.

As I originally mentioned, hes paid the fees for us both and has the receipt as well as me. I will be going to the American airport to pick him up, so I can help him get through the US/Canada airport, but even I am worried about him getting through the first part.

We really don't want to lie in case he gets caught out, that obviously won't help us and will only put a giant sign above our heads.

Basically what I'm asking is, is the return ticket and him saying he will leave if he gets refused, a bank statement showing our money, as well as saying he'd be supported solely me and my family, and our receipt that he has in fact applied for permanent residence enough to get through?

I know its down to them and they have the authority, I just want to make our chances as good as possible. He would be staying for 172 days, leaving on April 11th.

 

[worriedbrit]

This post has startled me a bit...

My husband will be coming over to visit me for a couple of months over his birthday and Christmas. He only bought a one way ticket purely for the reason if the permanent residence application comes through while he is visiting. If this is the case he'd buy a return from Canada in order to go back to the UK to send off his passport to London (we are applying as a separated couple). If our application is still being processed, then he'd have to go back to work in the UK in January. After reading this post I am wondering if it would be safer if he buys (possibly wasting a lot of money) a ticket back to the UK in January now! He was going to tell customs that he is staying in Canada for about two months (which is the truth unless the application goes though but then he'd go back sooner). I'll be waiting at the airport for him so I can vouch that I will support him while he is visiting. However, he would have saved up enough money to travel for a few months anyways. I never thought that they would ask to see his return flight! I mean, I flew into Canada using my British Passport (I have dual citizenship) for years and I was never been questioned about it.

Hey, I am not sure they will even let your husband get on the plane in the UK if he doesnt have a return ticket booked. That happened to me once. I had periodically been coming over to canada to visit my boyfriend and while i was here once time, zoom airlines went bust so I lost a flight, and so booked another return ticket (toronto - manchester, manchester - toronto, as I knew i would be coming back to visit canada again) But when I got to the airport check in in manchester, they asked to see my return flight ticket, I said I was gonna book it when i was over in canada, but they wouldnt allow it. I had to go to the kiosk and but my return flight right there at the airport and it cost way more than booking online in advance!
I hope this jumbled mess makes sense, just be warned!!!!! Unless he has some sort of visa or work permit, he must have a return flight.

 

[worriedbrit]

I should also add that everytime I have flown from england to canada I have been asked to show my return flight. BUT... I have never been asked by canadian immigration to show my return ticket. Only check in in england. I guess its a security thing?

 

[matthewc]

Hey, I am not sure they will even let your husband get on the plane in the UK if he doesnt have a return ticket booked. That happened to me once. I had periodically been coming over to canada to visit my boyfriend and while i was here once time, zoom airlines went bust so I lost a flight, and so booked another return ticket (toronto - manchester, manchester - toronto, as I knew i would be coming back to visit canada again) But when I got to the airport check in in manchester, they asked to see my return flight ticket, I said I was gonna book it when i was over in canada, but they wouldnt allow it. I had to go to the kiosk and but my return flight right there at the airport and it cost way more than booking online in advance!
I hope this jumbled mess makes sense, just be warned!!!!! Unless he has some sort of visa or work permit, he must have a return flight.

Yeah, they can do this. They don't always ask to see the return ticket, but they can. One way to deal with this, if you have to, is to buy a 100% fully refundable 1-way ticket for the journey back. Those tickets are usually insanely expensive, but then you just get it refunded and buy the ticket you actually want for the return journey later.

 

[mmhughes]

Thanks for the advice! I think all in all, it'll be worth it to buy a return ticket. I guess I've been lucky. However, if they ever did ask me I would have just produced my Canadian Citizenship card, which is a trick that my husband won't be able to do!

 

[SarahL]

Hey, don't mean to sound rude but been as other people came in and had similar problems, could someone answer the last post? Thanks.