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PR application with daily cross-border commuting

amarantine

Full Member
Mar 9, 2017
24
5
Hi all!

I have read through several threads and gathered a lot of information. So thank you for everyone who helps in the information sharing!

I am a PR card holder residing in the Niagara region. I just got married to an American citizen who lives in Buffalo. We were dating for 2 years, going across the border multiple times every week. I am going to be applying to sponsor my husband as I have kids here (from my previous marriage) and it makes it easier for him to move. He obviously stays with me when he's in Canada (which now is almost every day) but continues to work in the US. So I'm really confused about which way to apply - spouse or family (inland or outland). We were hoping to do inland so that he can get an OWP in 4 months and move all his stuff over to Canada. However, we are concerned that crossing the border daily might get a bit tricky! He needs to keep his job in the US till such a time that he finds a suitable job in Canada. What are our options?

1. If we apply inland, can he keep going to work or will it be too risky? Financially we can't afford to have him just stay put in Canada without a job for several months. Maybe can manage a month or 2 at most.

2. Can a person with OWP commute freely back and forth across the border? Just assuming that he still hasn't got a job in Canada and has to keep going to Buffalo.

3. If we apply outland, he won't be able to move here till it's processed. I guess we are looking at one year or longer! Problem with this is again is whether commuting back and forth for a year is going to definitely open up more questioning and difficulties at the border.

PS: So far he's had no issues at the border but we've only been doing it under "dating".
He has an apartment in Buffalo but that's going to change very soon. Basically moving to a room in a friend's house to keep our costs down.

Thank you again.
 

CDNPR2014

VIP Member
Mar 1, 2016
3,180
187
Category........
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us outland applicants are approved in 6 months or less, so it makes ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE for a us citizen to apply inland just so they can get an OWP in 4 months and still have to wait ANOTHER 8-16 months to get PR approval. APPLY OUTLAND.

How often he can cross the border daily for work while "visiting" canada is up to CBSA when he crosses.

I'd suggest moving this over to the family sponsorship board where there are many threads dedicated to US applicants.
 

CDNPR2014

VIP Member
Mar 1, 2016
3,180
187
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
LANDED..........
2014
amarantine said:
Thank you for responding. How do I move this post? Just delete and post in the other thread?
i'm not sure youll be able to delete the thread. if you have new questions to ask, feel free to create a thread on the other board. i would recommend reading through threads on the first 2 pages of that board before posting questions (there are a good amount dedicated to us/canadian couples and crossing the border as a pr applicant). it is highly likely some answers you are looking for are there. if you do ask more questions, i would recommend rephrasing your questioning to eliminate the idea of applying inland. like i said, it is a very poor option for us citizens and it really shouldn't be a consideration.

it may also be a good idea to look through the application guide on the immigration website so you can get a better idea of the requirements:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/5289ETOC.asp