While waiting -- can applicant visit Canada?

[JonDeaneStewart]

Hi All,

This is a great forum and I apologize if this question has been asked already:

I am a Canadian Citizen living in the United States with my American Wife. We have submitted our application for Family Sponsorship and I was approved as a Sponsor. Our application was then sent to the Los Angelos which unfortunately has shown processing times increasing and is now at 19 months.

I am graduating with my MBA at the end of this year (in San Diego) and am hoping to move to Canada in April of 2014 which is roughly 13 months from when my application was received.

My question is, can my wife come and stay with me in Canada for her 6 months of "visitor" time while waiting to hear from the CIC for her Permanent Residence? Obviously she can't work and that's okay but we'd rather not be apart for so long while waiting to hear back. Her parents live in the United States so she would probably travel around a bit during the waiting period between the US and Canada.

Thank you very much for your assistance!

Jon

 

[sammystorm19]

Yes she can

 

[amikety]

Most likely, yes. As long as she carries proof of a PR application in process and is admissible in general, she will probably be allowed to travel in and out of Canada and stay with you during processing.

If she has a professional degree, she may also be able to get a NAFTA job/work permit. It's one option she may want to look into (although that kills the traveling somewhat).

 

[Sweden]

Yes, she can come and stay with you in Canada. As a US citizen, she is visa-exempt, and she can come to Canada. At the border, she might be asked for proofs of ties to the US, but it's usually not an issue for a US citizen to come and go.
She can come for (usually) 6 months (that's what she will get at the border most likely), and if she wants to stay more, she can either flagpole (the clock is reset every time she leaves), or extend her visitor visa online.

LA is 19 months but quite a few applicants are done before that, so hopefully you will be done before April 2014 !
Good luck,
Sweden