Misrepresentation at airport

[madhatter345]

I landed in Canada as a visa-exempt foreigner intending to visit my partner who is a Canadian citizen. I was called in for a secondary interview during which I told the officer I was visiting friends. The name of my partner was briefly mentioned, and I was asked if I was in a romantic relationship with that person, which I denied (not by any means an ideal choice, but the one that made most sense at the time). The interview went fine and I was granted entry.

We are in the process of working on our PR-application now. I am interested to know if anyone here has any experience of misrepresenting a relationship to a border officer with that information surfacing later on during the PR-process. In other words, do we have cause for concern with our application?

I would be greatly thankful for any replies based on anyone's experience in this matter!

 

[Ponga]

Hmmm...interesting question.

While I can't offer you a reply, based on a similar experience, I'm happy to offer my `opinion', FWIW.

Did the officer write down (or otherwise document) the fact that you were not in a romantic relationship with your partner? If not, then you should have nothing to worry about.

If s/he DID document your answer...you could have a problem, albeit still unlikely to actually materialize.

If that information was recorded (including the date that you provided that answer), it would obviously NOT coincide with whatever dates you provide on your application for the length of your relationship. IF CIC were to somehow discover this information, via the documentation from the CBSA officer that you encountered, it would certainly be an issue.

Good luck!

 

[draxz1289]

Hmmm...interesting question.

While I can't offer you a reply, based on a similar experience, I'm happy to offer my `opinion', FWIW.

Did the officer write down (or otherwise document) the fact that you were not in a romantic relationship with your partner? If not, then you should have nothing to worry about.

If s/he DID document your answer...you could have a problem, albeit still unlikely to actually materialize.

If that information was recorded (including the date that you provided that answer), it would obviously NOT coincide with whatever dates you provide on your application for the length of your relationship. IF CIC were to somehow discover this information, via the documentation from the CBSA officer that you encountered, it would certainly be an issue.

Good luck!

I feel the same say as well, through there is no way to know if the CBSA officers notes the conversations down at the airport. I would presume it should be OK since you coming on a visit visa doesn't necessarily can be connected to your PR application

 

[rhcohen2014]

I agree with ponga. it depends on whether it was documented or not. I know of a us applicant that was called in for an interview, which is not very common for us applicants. while they thought it could be related to a dependant issue, it really was about a recorded comment by a cbsa officer when cbsa called a family member of the sponsor to inquire about the relationship one of the times the applicant was seeking entry to Canada. of course, they passed the interview, and the applicant landed successfully. so all it takes is 1 small comment to be recorded to trigger an interview and cause a delay in processing.

 

[sam_1985]

Kind of unlikely... However, please just ALWAYS tell the truth; it's not a crime to be in a relationship and coming to visit that person.... So much better to say straight up; I was pulled for secondary as well but I clearly gave my husbanb's name, DOB, and I said that we WILL apply for PR once we have all the documents... And she let me in no problem... Why bother lying... Even if u r denied entry telling the truth, it is much better than lying to the officer!!

 

[keesio]

Kind of unlikely... However, please just ALWAYS tell the truth; it's not a crime to be in a relationship and coming to visit that person.... So much better to say straight up; I was pulled for secondary as well but I clearly gave my husbanb's name, DOB, and I said that we WILL apply for PR once we have all the documents... And she let me in no problem... Why bother lying... Even if u r denied entry telling the truth, it is much better than lying to the officer!!

Yes, I agree completely!

You never know what gets logged. People have found in their GCMS notes that CIC actually logged every call made by an applicant and attached it to their file. It is always best to be honest in all your dealings

 

[madhatter345]

Thanks for all the replies, I truly appreciate it.

I can't remember if information was written down at any point during the interview, however only the first name of my partner (or as I presented it, friend) was mentioned. The officer did not elaborate on any relationship aspect after the initial question and my subsequent denial.

If, however unlikely it may be, details of my interview were to surface during the PR-application and an interview is requested, do you think I would be able to explain the circumstances of my denial to that officer and still come out fine the other end?

I know that these are difficult and largely hypothetical questions so again, I appreciate the time taken to answer them.

Thank you!

 

[Kayaker]

Thanks for all the replies, I truly appreciate it.

I can't remember if information was written down at any point during the interview, however only the first name of my partner (or as I presented it, friend) was mentioned. The officer did not elaborate on any relationship aspect after the initial question and my subsequent denial.

If, however unlikely it may be, details of my interview were to surface during the PR-application and an interview is requested, do you think I would be able to explain the circumstances of my denial to that officer and still come out fine the other end?

I know that these are difficult and largely hypothetical questions so again, I appreciate the time taken to answer them.

Thank you!

Of course, none of us know for sure, but I would find it hard to believe that they would actually reject your application for not having disclosed your relationship when you entered Canada once.

I'm not totally sure why, but I was nervous about saying at the border that I was visiting my (then) boyfriend, too. I said I was visiting some friends I knew from grad school. The officer did not ask for names, though she asked where I will be staying and what I was planning to do in Canada. (I said we're staying at my friends' cottage and going hiking and kayaking.) I wasn't pulled into secondary but I did sweat a little. Not sure why I thought it wasn't a good idea to say I have a boyfriend in Canada... I think it's a mistake some of us make. I've seen similar things in what's it called, there's a show about CBSA (border control?) and people say "visiting a friend" and they're pulled into secondary and it turns out they're visiting their significant other. On TV those people got a lecture for not having disclosed the truth initially, but they were allowed in.

I was slightly worried about the matter when I entered Canada the next time, but I had no issues then. (Maybe because I had a new passport with a new name (my married name) and I already had a PR application in progress.) I was also slightly worried about the PR application, because in my application we were already in a relationship when I entered Canada "to visit some friends". But I got my PR in a relatively quick time for my VO.

I agree it's best to be completely aboveboard, but what's past is what's past, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. I'd concentrate on making my application as strong as possible, with no paperwork missing, very solid relationship proofs, and hope they have no cause to ask for an interview. Good luck!

 

[canadianwoman]

Probably not a problem. The visa officer will have access to whatever notes the border official made but may not bother reading them. Your partner can order your file and it will show up there.

 

[Ponga]

Thanks for all the replies, I truly appreciate it.

I can't remember if information was written down at any point during the interview, however only the first name of my partner (or as I presented it, friend) was mentioned. The officer did not elaborate on any relationship aspect after the initial question and my subsequent denial.

If, however unlikely it may be, details of my interview were to surface during the PR-application and an interview is requested, do you think I would be able to explain the circumstances of my denial to that officer and still come out fine the other end?

I know that these are difficult and largely hypothetical questions so again, I appreciate the time taken to answer them.

Thank you!

Unless your partner has an uncommon name, I [still] wouldn't worry about it at all. Who's to say that your `friend' doesn't have the same first name?

 

[sam_1985]

As everyone said; it is unlikely they cross check that... Lesson planted for the future: just be honest! U won't need to worry or overthink stuff!