Spouse Sponsorship, need your advice!!!

[cyprustocanada]

Ok, originally my Canadian husband had sponsored me via the Damascus office with the outside of Canada route, but because of the closing of the embassy, my papers were sent to Israel. I got a letter from Israel this morning saying that my visa is ready to be finalized and they have requested my passport!!! Right now I am living in Toronto, Canada with my husband... As I understand once I receive my passport back with the visa in it, I will need to leave Canada and reenter as a landed immigrant... do you think I will have any problems if I fly from Toronto Pearson to JFK in New York for two days and reenter Toronto? Would the immigration officers accept this? I don't want to visit Europe just yet...so the quickest, cheapest and easiest option would be best... but I don't want any problems... what do you think? Please advise!!!

 

[CharlieD10]

Yes, you can do that, or you could contact the closest CIC office and make a landing appointment. If you are near the border with NY, you could drive down there and "flagpole" (you wouldn't need to enter the US at all, their border officers will turn you around and re-direct you to Canadian border officers who will complete your landing).

 

[cyprustocanada]

Thank you for your reply! I guess we could drive to Buffalo, New York... but is that acceptable? We could go for the day... but would the border officers on the Canadian side be willing to do this for me?

 

[CharlieD10]

Absolutely, they do it all the time.

 

[cyprustocanada]

Absolutely, they do it all the time.

So it's legal and acceptable to do this if you applied via the outside of Canada route? Is this method only done via an appointment with the Canadian border control in Buffalo?

 

[CharlieD10]

Yep, perfectly acceptable. No, you don't need an appointment, you just drive down there, and when you get to the American side, let them know you don't wish to enter the US, but instead you are there to complete landing in Canada as a permanent resident. They will turn you around and re-direct you to Canadian border officials. This will not affect any future attempts to enter the US, by the way. Officers on both sides of the border are quite used to performing these services.

You would need to book an appointment if you want to land at a local CIC office location.

 

[OhCanadiana]

Flag-pole landing works like a charm on the Canadian side since you are entering and can process your paperwork.

On the US side, it was absolutely routine to do so and my answer usually would have mirrored CharlieD10s since folks reported just getting turned back to do the flag pole landing without any trouble. Recently, however, someone said they were actually denied entry (vs just sent back with no record) for some reason, which is best to avoid so you don't have to explain it in the future for other visa applications. One exception does not a rule make (and for all I know it was a misunderstanding), but to be safe, I'd call CBP at the port where you are thinking of doing the flag pole just before doing it to check on their policy to confirm that they will let you just turn around without any issues.

Or, if you have a US visa (or don't need one), just go in for a snack or some shopping - or the day as you said - and head on back to avoid any questions.

You don't need an appointment but do check on the times that the border crossing has immigration services available at http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/listing/indexpages/indextype38-e.html (if you do head to Buffalo you're fine since Fort Erie, Kingston-Lewiston and Rainbow are 24/7)