Multiple Entry VISA OR SPOUSAL Sponsorship? ONLY IN CANADA PART OF THE YEAR !

[Bunintheoven]

I will keep this short and sweet lol I am a Canadian, my girlfriend is Polish, We had a baby in Canada who is obviously a Canadian.

We only spend 4 or 5 months of the year or so in Canada, but border guard hassling us like crazy and treating her like a criminal upon last re-entry. Says we are flagged in computer now and demanding she apply to be a resident. (yet didn't do anything wrong, nor as I explained had we fully decided that she wants to be a permanent resident yet.) I told him that we spend part of the year here, part in Europe. And explained that she has always been respectful about leaving the country before her 6 months time is up.

What is best option?

Thinking 10 year Multiple Entry Visa would work well for stays up to 6 months.. but how long do you have to leave the country before re-entering?

or…

The dreaded costly and super-complicated Spousal Sponsorship option for residency - but does that even apply if we are not truly residents of Canada for the whole year? Would only be here 4-5 months each year max.

or option C - do nothing and hope next Border guard has common sense when she tries do Re-enter the country for a short period.

I want to be able to bring my girlfriend back to Canada every year without hassle or fear of deportation when crossing the border.

What's the best choice in this scenario?

 

[MissRepresentation]

We were in a similar situation and in fact, avoiding further hassles with CBSA was the only reason why we decided to apply for permanent residence.

I'm from a Western European country and the first time I visited my husband in Canada I was given the third degree at the border. The second time (a year later) I was told I had visited the country "too many times" (TWICE???) and that my passport was flagged. I told my husband I would not tolerate that kind of treatment again, not in Canada, not anywhere else, especially when we're only here for a few months during the summer, so we went for the spousal sponsorship option. In my opinion it's a waste of time and money in a case like ours as we're obviously not going to be residing here all year round, but hey, whatever it takes not to get into another argument with CBSA. Bear in mind that if your girlfriend is granted PR she will not need to be in Canada to maintain residence as long as she is with you. So you can both be abroad for let's say 10 years and she'd still keep her PR status -unless the rules change.

This is my personal opinion, but I wouldn't count on CBSA officers having common sense. You're risking too much if she gets denied entry.

 

[Bunintheoven]

you pretty much stated what I am thinking haha

yah if only common sense prevailed at CBSA….

my girlfriend has a theory that it is one big cash-grab for CIC - they sure charge a lot to process those applications .. (oh well i'm sure its good for the Canadian economy - gives a bunch of braindead civil servants something to do

 

[Sheps]

The good news is that you are a Canadian Citizen, and any time after she receives PR will count towards her PR residency obligation, whether inside or outside of Canada. It will not count towards citizenship, but that is a whole other set of possibilities after you have established residency in Canada (if you even want to).

I honestly think PR is your best option here, and it isn't that expensive, as your child is a Canadian Citizen you don't have to worry about sponsoring the child. My wife's PR application is $1040 I think, which in the grand scheme isn't that much.

 

[SchnookoLoly]

+1, just do the PR application. It's simple enough, then at least you have it done and dusted, and if you ever do decide to move to Canada then you don't have to wait ages for the paperwork to get processed - best to do it while you're not on a particular timeline. It will cost you probably $1600ish once all is said and done... $1040 for the application, then other costs like medical, printing, photos, etc. It's in your best interests to just get it done, and it will cause way fewer hassles with CBSA in the future as you come and go. But of faff now for a lifetime of ease down the road.