Had a terrifying experience. I need to know if this was handled correctly or if I should complain.

[nayr69sg]

Okay you're clearly just a troll so people just need to stop fuelling whatever fire you're trying to start.

I have sent paperlantern a private message. I am not a troll. She needs help. In any case I will not comment on this in the public forum anymore.

 

[CountryGurl_GMC]

Sorry should have been more clear! It's not that I need to wait it's that I want to wait. I just moved to Canada a few months ago. It was a very last-minute thing. Within a span of a couple of weeks I put a downpayment on a house, moved all my stuff, etc. As such, I was worried about having to spend more money on a Canadian passport and the agent told me that if I want I can just wait and I don't need to get a Canadian passport right away if I wanted to save a bit of money. Most of my family and friends live in Canada and none of them have a US passport, they cross to the US daily for shopping, to get gas, to see family, etc. I think this would be an issue at a bigger port of entry (like the one we tried to cross through on Friday) but our usual US/Canada port is very small and everybody knows everybody else by name.

Thank you for the words of encouragement!

I 100% get where you are coming from. My husband is American - he came to Canada to live with me in August 2016 with the plan being to apply for permanent residency as soon as his divorce was final and we could legally marry. In August we found out we were expecting, in September I lost my job, his divorce wasn't final till November. When his VISA expired we applied for an extension - it was denied. We tried flagpolling to reinstate his status as a visitor - FAILED. He ended up stuck in the USA for 3 months before he was allowed to cross. He had to find work and have a lease on an apartment. Finally about 5 weeks ago they started letting him back in on the weekends. From Monday - Friday I am at home with my 2 kids and our 2 dogs while working full time. We submitted his PR but unfortunately had to do it as outland instead of inland. It could still potentially be another year before he gets to actually come home.

CBSA is only doing their job. Even when my husband was spending more time in the USA than Canada he was still hassled about how often he was crossing. Also keep in mind that there will be notes on you both now from that crossing attempt where she was given an 'allowed to leave'. Don't expect it to be smooth sailing going forward.

 

[PaperLantern]

The reason, I guess, why I was so upset is the fact that we did have a ton of documentation in order and we offered to show it to the CBSA officer and he refused to even look. We had the following:

- Proof that my wife pays rent on her room in the USA.
- Proof that she pays internet/cable at the same address.
- Proof that she is in school in the USA.
- Pay stubs that show her USA place of work and her current USA address.
- US medical bill showing current address and credit card bill showing current address.

I'm sad to hear that this "allowed to leave" thing will be on her record now. Do you think it will impact her chances at PR once she is rehabilitated and apples? Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. It's nice to know I'm not alone in this.

 

[Buletruck]

It won't have any impact on her PR application. Just be honest about it on the application. Despite the hassles you've been through, IRCC is pretty lenient when it comes to spousal sponsorship. Just be prepared to face an increase in scrutiny for a while. Best way to avoid panic attacks is to prepare for possible eventualities. You've seen the authoritative side of CBSA and you seem to have a good relationship at your regular crossing. Just keep it all in mind and be prepared. Just my 2 cents.

 

[PaperLantern]

Thank you Buletruck. So, that same night we crossed our usual border with no problem. Was it illegal of us to do so? I ask because she was forced to sign an "Allowed to Leave" form at the border but we were not told she couldn't return within a prescribed amount of time. The official's exact words were: "You're not going to satisfy me but you can take your chances with another border official."

 

[Buletruck]

You're over-analysing it. Calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean.....She was granted entry at the second border crossing. Nothing illegal about that. As the CBSA officer at the first POE stated, "you can take your chances with another border official", and you did. You were granted entry to Canada. Once CBSA grants entry, you're good to go.

 

[PaperLantern]

Calm blue ocean will be my new mantra. Thank you again.