Holiday in Canada while PR being proccessed

[jetsflytogether]

I am currently waiting on my PR to be approved. The final step as it were, Everything has been sent off, and received, and I am living in Britain, where I was born, waiting. I am waiting on my "Ready for Visa / Prêt pour Visa" email.

Having not heard anything from immigration for the pat 60 days, I have decided to started to make plans to stay here for the summer. However, I would like to fly back to Alberta for a week holiday with my girlfriend, in the middle of June.

Would immigration have any problem with this, as my PR application is still be being processed? I assume I automatically get another 180 day tourist visa without having to apply as I have an eta visa. I would book a return ticket for a stay of no more than 10 days, but I wouldn't have a Confirmation Of Permanent Residency.

My concern is they will think it suspicious at the border, or I may even not be eligible for a visitor visa, as i have

Any help appreciated,

TLDR: Can I visit Canada as a tourist with an eta, with my PR application still being processed.

 

[ContactFront]

You can. You need to demonstrate to the border officer means of support while in Canada, ties to home country and that you'll return to Britain at the end of your planned trip.

 

[Bs65]

You are visa exempt with a valid ETA and a return ticket so no reason why you should have any problem.

CBSA would be unlikely anyway to be aware of the current status of your PR application until the the COPR has been issued and even then there is no obligation to activate your PR status immediately as long as completed within the validity.

As you have likely visited before just remember to only answer questions asked by CBSA do not volunteer any extra information such as having a PR application in process not that that should make much difference.

The people who generally have issues wanting to visit whilst a PR application is in process are those who need an actual visa and who are not visa exempt given they have to apply to IRCC for visa approval.

An ETA by the way is not a visa but just an authority to board a plane destined for Canada and you do not as a visa exempt get a visa to stay for a period of time just an authorised entry for a period of time. This could be a specific date/entry stamp in your passport or nothing at all meaning a default 6 month stay.

 

[jetsflytogether]

Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

I can't seem to find a processing time for my specific situation, I was wondering if you have come in to contact with people who have recently received their COPR, and when they applied.

I applied for Express entry though Canadian Experience Class and my application was received on March 9th. Is it foolish for me to think I should have been sent my "Ready for Visa / Prêt pour Visa" email already?

Thanks again.

 

[bellaluna]

Is it foolish for me to think I should have been sent my "Ready for Visa / Prêt pour Visa" email already?

Yes. Average processing time is 6 months.