Visiting Canada post-COPR without "landing"

[Spielo]

Hi all,
I got my PPR last week and I should have my COPR soon (unless I've misunderstood something). Next month, I want to visit Toronto to see what it might be like as a place to live (I was originally planning to settle in Vancouver, but I'm now considering both).

My question is, if I have my COPR by the time I visit, will arriving in Toronto then mean that I have "landed", and will this signify to CIC that I have now settled in Canada? I only want to visit for a week before returning to the UK, I'll then return in the new year to stay for good.

Once I have my COPR, can I easily go to Canada for a week as a visitor, return to the UK, and then come back later to settle properly? How would this work? Is there anything special I have to do when I arrive at the airport etc?

Thanks in advance!

 

[tonykaram123]

if you're from a visa exempt country ( like the UK) , it should be fine. However, it's not recommended you leave canada before getting the PR card.

 

[istari]

Hi all,
I got my PPR last week and I should have my COPR soon (unless I've misunderstood something). Next month, I want to visit Toronto to see what it might be like as a place to live (I was originally planning to settle in Vancouver, but I'm now considering both).

My question is, if I have my COPR by the time I visit, will arriving in Toronto then mean that I have "landed", and will this signify to CIC that I have now settled in Canada? I only want to visit for a week before returning to the UK, I'll then return in the new year to stay for good.

Once I have my COPR, can I easily go to Canada for a week as a visitor, return to the UK, and then come back later to settle properly? How would this work? Is there anything special I have to do when I arrive at the airport etc?

Thanks in advance!

In this situation, most people do what's called a "soft landing". This means that you go through the arrival process, but don't settle permanently in Canada at that time.

Many people on this forum have done this because they are not yet ready to leave their home country, but their CoPR is nearing its expiration date.

Have a quick look at this thread: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/is-soft-landing-legal-how-safe-it-is-t420106.0.html

 

[Spielo]

Thanks, that thread is super helpful!

 

[Spielo]

So, I think I have a couple of options:

Option 1 (best option): Land in Canada in November, give CIC a friend's address for them to send the PR card to, and have the friend post the card to me in the UK so that I have it for my return. This option should be fine as long as the PR card is sent before I want to come back to Canada in January/February?

Option 2: Land in Canada in November, do nothing immigration-related while I'm there. Come home, apply for a Travel Document ($50), and use that to come back to Canada, then supply my permanent address when I come back to Canada for good in the new year (within 180 days of the original landing date)

Is that right? Any other options? Both options seem like they're not ideal and both feel a bit... shady :-/

 

[istari]

So, I think I have a couple of options:

Option 1 (best option): Land in Canada in November, give CIC a friend's address for them to send the PR card to, and have the friend post the card to me in the UK so that I have it for my return. This option should be fine as long as the PR card is sent before I want to come back to Canada in January/February?

Option 2: Land in Canada in November, do nothing immigration-related while I'm there. Come home, apply for a Travel Document ($50), and use that to come back to Canada, then supply my permanent address when I come back to Canada for good in the new year (within 180 days of the original landing date)

Is that right? Any other options? Both options seem like they're not ideal and both feel a bit... shady :-/

Option 1 is a tried and true method. Many people on this forum have done soft landings, and had their PR cards sent to a friend/relative to forward on.

I've never read about anyone trying Option 2, so I've no idea how shady that may or may not be.

 

[Spielo]

Thanks for the replies! I guess one other thing to consider is all of the paperwork, particularly with regards to providing a "list of items to follow". I guess I need to decide and make a list of what stuff I intend to ship when I land properly next year even though I won't be shipping it for a while...?

 

[Spielo]

In that case, if there's things that I haven't decided whether I'm taking them or not, should I list them anyway? For example, I have an iMac that I think I will sell before going, but if I hang onto it then it's better to have it listed...

is there an issue with listing things that then don't make it over?

 

[istari]

In that case, if there's things that I haven't decided whether I'm taking them or not, should I list them anyway? For example, I have an iMac that I think I will sell before going, but if I hang onto it then it's better to have it listed...

is there an issue with listing things that then don't make it over?

That's not an issue at all. It's totally fine to play it safe and just list everything.

 

[Tocanadawego]

Just my two cents: since you don't need a visa for Canada, you can still go as a visitor and not activate your PR just yet. I don't see anything wrong with that. Just make sure you land before your COPR expires.

 

[Spielo]

Just my two cents: since you don't need a visa for Canada, you can still go as a visitor and not activate your PR just yet. I don't see anything wrong with that. Just make sure you land before your COPR expires.

Is that allowed? I need an eTA to enter... If I'm already considered to be a permanent resident, then I'm no longer eligible for an eTA

I find the whole thing rather confusing, and I haven't had any clear information from CIC about the whole thing :-(

 

[Tocanadawego]

Is that allowed? I need an eTA to enter... If I'm already considered to be a permanent resident, then I'm no longer eligible for an eTA

I find the whole thing rather confusing, and I haven't had any clear information from CIC about the whole thing :-(

Well I don't think you're considered a permanent resident until you activate your PR while landing with a COPR. Getting an eTA is the least of your worries - it's an automated process and no officer looks at your case. I don't think you're doing anything bad by travelling there and not landing. I just don't see why that would be a problem.

 

[bellaluna]

Is that allowed? I need an eTA to enter... If I'm already considered to be a permanent resident, then I'm no longer eligible for an eTA

I find the whole thing rather confusing, and I haven't had any clear information from CIC about the whole thing :-(

Tocanadawego just explained it all clearly in the above post, and if you have any doubt, you can also ask the CBSA officer when you get to the border. They are there to help you, not to find fault in any of your actions. From my own experiences since I got here, the whole process has been pretty flexible. You shouldn't worry, that's all.

The eTA requirement is also lenient until November 9, but I assume you'll be visiting after that date anyway.

Don't get confused by the term "soft landing". It's a bit of a silly term used in this forum.

Just like "ghost email", which is a pet peeve of mine.

 

[Spielo]

Is that allowed? I need an eTA to enter... If I'm already considered to be a permanent resident, then I'm no longer eligible for an eTA

I find the whole thing rather confusing, and I haven't had any clear information from CIC about the whole thing :-(

Just to follow up on this: Tocanadawego was completely right. I talked to the passport control guy at the airport (very friendly), he said it was totally fine to come in as a visitor without handing in my COPR and doing my formal landing as a Permanent Resident. I'm in Toronto now (for a week!), and I'll return in January with my COPR to land properly

Thanks to all for the advice!