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Visitor Record for US citizens

taydees

Full Member
Apr 21, 2010
26
0
Quick breakdown, I live in Detroit and wife lives in Windsor. PR app was sent in Aug. I have been crossing the border practically everyday for the past five years, even though it isn't permitted. Recently an officer suggested I go to immigration and ask for a visitor record. I go to immigration and the immigration officer told me that I didn't need one unless I planned on moving there while the PR app was in process. I told him that I would like to move there, but I still needed to go to work in the states everyday. He told me that that was indeed permitted, took down my information as well as my Canadian address and I was issued the visitor record. I now cross over to work everyday and return home to Canada while driving a Canadian plated vehicle. If anyone is in the same position I highly suggest asking for a visitor record.
 

parker24

VIP Member
Nov 26, 2011
3,324
72
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY --> Los Angeles, CA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
File Transfer...
05-06-2012
Med's Done....
16-11-2011
Passport Req..
16-11-2012
LANDED..........
04-01-2013
taydees said:
Quick breakdown, I live in Detroit and wife lives in Windsor. PR app was sent in Aug. I have been crossing the border practically everyday for the past five years, even though it isn't permitted. Recently an officer suggested I go to immigration and ask for a visitor record. I go to immigration and the immigration officer told me that I didn't need one unless I planned on moving there while the PR app was in process. I told him that I would like to move there, but I still needed to go to work in the states everyday. He told me that that was indeed permitted, took down my information as well as my Canadian address and I was issued the visitor record. I now cross over to work everyday and return home to Canada while driving a Canadian plated vehicle. If anyone is in the same position I highly suggest asking for a visitor record.
Why didn't you get a Nexus card? That would have made it entirely easier since when you leave Canada, you end your visitor's record....
 

taydees

Full Member
Apr 21, 2010
26
0
I have a nexus card as well. It's not entirely true that the visitor record expires once you leave Canada. Information is put in their system as well as on the visitor record which states your current situation i.e Married to a canadian citizen, children in canada etc. When I cross the border in the nexus line, they ask to see my visitor record and allow me to pass. This happens everyday.
 

parker24

VIP Member
Nov 26, 2011
3,324
72
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY --> Los Angeles, CA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
File Transfer...
05-06-2012
Med's Done....
16-11-2011
Passport Req..
16-11-2012
LANDED..........
04-01-2013
taydees said:
I have a nexus card as well. It's not entirely true that the visitor record expires once you leave Canada. Information is put in their system as well as on the visitor record which states your current situation i.e Married to a canadian citizen, children in canada etc. When I cross the border in the nexus line, they ask to see my visitor record and allow me to pass. This happens everyday.
You must have gotten on their good side then. Because every visitors record I've come across on here and with my husband says NOT FOR TRAVEL on it in huge letters.
 

rjessome

VIP Member
Feb 24, 2009
4,354
214
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
taydees said:
I have a nexus card as well. It's not entirely true that the visitor record expires once you leave Canada. Information is put in their system as well as on the visitor record which states your current situation i.e Married to a canadian citizen, children in canada etc. When I cross the border in the nexus line, they ask to see my visitor record and allow me to pass. This happens everyday.
Actually, it is true that it ends when you leave Canada. The fact that they have information in the system does not mean that it is still valid. They use that information to decide whether or not to let you in again.

bladap04 said:
How long is the visitor record valid for?
Expiry date is written on the record. If all you have is a stamp in your passport, it either expires in 6 months from the date of the stamp or an expiry date may be written underneath the stamp.
 

taydees

Full Member
Apr 21, 2010
26
0
I believe there is a lot of misinformation regarding this. I am asked to present my visitor record everyday even though it states that it doesn't authorize reentry. I also had to update my status and Canadian address with the nexus office and submit the visitor record as proof I now live in Canada. I'm am also aware of friends of my wife who have also had this happen to them. I suppose your experience may be different. This was recommended by three different officers before I finally requested the visitor record. The visitor record is for one year.
 

parker24

VIP Member
Nov 26, 2011
3,324
72
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY --> Los Angeles, CA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
File Transfer...
05-06-2012
Med's Done....
16-11-2011
Passport Req..
16-11-2012
LANDED..........
04-01-2013
taydees said:
I believe there is a lot of misinformation regarding this. I am asked to present my visitor record everyday even though it states that it doesn't authorize reentry. I also had to update my status and Canadian address with the nexus office and submit the visitor record as proof I now live in Canada. I'm am also aware of friends of my wife who have also had this happen to them. I suppose your experience may be different. This was recommended by three different officers before I finally requested the visitor record. The visitor record is for one year.
No mistake. When you leave Canada, your 6 months ends. When you come back into Canada, 6 months starts again. rjessome works in this area, so she is is full of invaluable information. So yes, while you have a visitor's record, why they ask for it, I have no idea considering it is null.
 

taydees

Full Member
Apr 21, 2010
26
0
I'm sure either, but it works in my case. I suppose to just got lucky. Good luck to everyone else!
 

rjessome

VIP Member
Feb 24, 2009
4,354
214
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
parker24 said:
No mistake. When you leave Canada, your 6 months ends. When you come back into Canada, 6 months starts again. rjessome works in this area, so she is is full of invaluable information. So yes, while you have a visitor's record, why they ask for it, I have no idea considering it is null.
It's called "officer's discretion". They have choice. :)
 

blueangel371115

Champion Member
May 24, 2012
1,030
44
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
CPP-Ottawa
App. Filed.......
13-01-2014
Doc's Request.
10-02-2014
AOR Received.
17-07-2014
File Transfer...
17-07-2014
Med's Done....
02-12-2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
waived
VISA ISSUED...
08-01-2015 (returned 1/19 due to errors), 26-01-2015
LANDED..........
05-02-2015 Finally
I come and go often for family reasons and I was issued a visitors record by a nice officer once he knew I was filing soon. So now I have a 'file'and a uci for paperwork