Leaving / re-entering Canada during PR process

[Torontoross]

Hi all

I'm a brand new member looking for some help. I have trawled the forum for answers to avoid pestering you guys and creating a new topic but haven't been able to find what I'm after.

I am currently in Toronto on a tourist visa with a view to moving here permanently. I am aware of the family sponsorship process but would like to visit the uk in the meantime (August) but am paranoid that I will not be allowed back in. My wife (Canadian) will be sponsoring me and I understand she needs to apply to be my sponsor first. So my questions are:

1/. Is our marriage certificate enough to get me back into Canada? Or will I need to get the sponsorship application process underway first? What will they want to see?

2/. Is applying online better / quicker? Can anyone send me a link? I find the government websites a little overwhelming!

Thanks for any advice.

Ross

 

[little_apple]

You are from a visa-exempt country so you shouldn't have any problems to re-enter Canada
BUT it's always up to the officer.

My suggestion:
- apply for PR first and wait until sponsorship is approved
- travel to the UK
- re-enter Canada with your marriage certificate, proof of enough funds, sponsorship approval.

You cannot apply for PR online. It has to be by mail with tons of relationship proof
Apply outland through London http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/fc.asp. It's possible even during your stay in Canada.

Don't apply inland. It takes too long compared to London.

 

[Torontoross]

Ok great, thanks for the advice. My only problem here is the flight to uk is on 15 aug. It was already booked so couldn't do much about it. So timewise taking his flight back to the uk could be risky I guess.

Any idea on the processing time? All I would need is some kind of acknowledgment that the sponsorship application has been received, do you know I they could provide this within 2 weeks?

Cheers again!

 

[rhcohen2014]

no, it will not be possible to receive any notification about sponsor approval in 2 weeks time. IT's currently taking upwards of 2 months for outland applications to be processed for sponsorship eligibility, then the file will be transfered to the visa office in your home country. To see what the current "trend" is for total approval in London, check out the london applicant thread.

if you have already submitted the application, or plan to submit and have started the paperwork, then bring a copy of it ALL with you, as well as your marriage certificate and any receipts for fees being paid. They will be happy to see your intentions to apply. Word of caution, never use the term "living" or "moving" when talking to a border agent. As far as thy are concernd, until you get PR status, your status is visitor. Visitors do NOT "live" in canada, thy only visit. Border agents know the deal with PR applications, so as long as you can show thm you know and are following the rules, crossing won't be too difficult.

 

[Torontoross]

Great thanks so much for the advice

 

[CMLR]

Hi, I am not sure if my thoughts are right and others who read them can correct me if they are wrong but.... I think you might be able to get an extension of a visitors status before you leave and that might cover you to come back into Canada. I know they have to have received your application for the extension before you leave. When I needed to leave Canada to get some paperwork in order to send in our PR applications I had to extend my visitor status. I took with me when I left Canada copies of the extension application and a letter from my husband saying he had been supporting me since I came into Canada and that he would continue to support me. the letter also stated that I was leaving in order to gather paperwork needed for the PR application and that we planned to send in the PR applications as soon as I returned. I had no problem getting the Visitor Extension and no problem getting back into Canada, in fact the border guard was the one who printed out my extension paperwork and stapled it into my passport. The border guard did ask me if we were already married and asked if I had out marriage certificate with me which I did and that was the only paperwork he asked to see that I had with me. I am not sure if my situation is helpful or if it will work for you but it might be another possibility for you to look into. Good Luck

 

[CMLR]

Another thought, if you are not near the end of a visitor status might be, to just have a letter from your wife stating that she is planning to sponsor you and that you guys are working on filling out the applications. Yes I would say you need to have your marriage license with you no matter what.

How long have you been in Canada? How long will you be out of Canada. From what an immigration consultant told us you can be in Canada for 6 months leave even for a short time and come back for another 6 months. I am sure you might be asked why you are returning so quickly and at that point you could tell them you and your wife are putting together your PR application and that you hope to be a visitor while going through the process. I think it is much easier for those of us who come from Visa Exempt countries to get to come back into Canada when we are getting ready to go through the PR process but I think you have to be able to show them that is what you are doing so anything you already have filled out on the PR application might be good to take along.

 

[Torontoross]

Hi

I just got my residency and wanted to thank everyone who offered help and advice.

Also wanted to share my experience with this forum in the hope that it will help someone else. I found this forum invaluable as it helped me immensely with my immigration process and saved me thousands in Lawyer fees. From the outset, as we all know, the whole process can seem like a mine field. It kind of is at first. But the key is understanding what you're doing so its well worth spending a bit of time familiarising yourself with the process before diving in. Read threads, ask questions, get involved! Its way better than wasting tonnes money on lawyers or spending countless hours googling stuff.

I applied for wife to sponsor me shortly after we married in July 2014, my residency was approved at the end of November 2014. Just 4 months from start to finish. I was initially told it would take at least a year! Of course this varies from case to case and there are many things that can affect your application. but for me, 4 months later I landed. Some helpful things specific to my case are listed below.

Every thing i state below can be found on this forum, probably in multiple threads so I apologise for any repeats, I just wanted to try to give something back after taking so much away. USE THIS FORUM - its awesome.

I decided (as i didnt have much time) to spend $300 on a decent immigration lawyer, who sat me down and explained everything, told me what would be best for my circumstances and even said to me at the end of it "from this point on, you could pay me $3k to do it or you could easily do it yourself, its just a few forms." And he was right. I'm glad I spent $300 and not $3000 but it was worth having a consultation in my opinion. The application is long and comprehensive but ultimately, its just a bunch of paperwork, don't be intimidated by it.

Beyond that, your circumstances will depend on the length of the application process but something I will mention - (and this came straight from the horses mouth, an immigration official who interviewed me upon landing) - The intricacy of the process is designed to catch people who are trying to fraudulently enter Canada and be a leech on the system. Very important and influencing factors include, but are not exclusive to, are:

* having a decent level of English (or french). Yes they have translators but this lengthens the process.

*Ensuring that your application is well presented, and has NOTHING missing. As soon as your application is missing, it goes onto a pending pile and waits for an automated letter to be generated. This can extend the process up to 4 weeks everytime they need something from you. Sounds obvious but she told me that its common for people to forget things or omit them because they 'cant find them' or just cant be bothered.

* Make sure its legible! They get thousands of applications and don't have time to waste trying to work out if its an '8' or a 'B'. Get it right first time.

Also use the immigration helpline, they are pretty good, as long as you can withstand the waiting times. +1 888 242 2100

Hope something here has helped someone. Thanks again to everyone who helped me along the way.

Cheers

Ross

 

[Leaf-fan]

Great comments, Ross. The entire process is daunting, so hearing from somebody who's been through it is very helpful. Thanks...

 

[Torontoross]

No worries.

Feel free to inbox me, I will help with anything I can!

Cheers

Ross

 

[Jamesdavid3]

With inland PR applications that are being processed (No matter the stage) You should be allowed to travel in and out as you please.

Its not fair to wait 2 FULL years now before leaving the country.

I think as long as you have AOR you are okay to travel.

 

[sophieee]

With inland PR applications that are being processed (No matter the stage) You should be allowed to travel in and out as you please.

Its not fair to wait 2 FULL years now before leaving the country.

I think as long as you have AOR you are okay to travel.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what you think and what you find fair, only thing is matter what the officer thinks and decides.