Will this be enough for border officers..please respond.

[Eric Parker]

I am travelling to see my Fiance this weekend planning to stay a week over Christmas day, I have an application pending in Buffalo for a PR.

Per advice previously mentioned in this and other forums, I have with me a letter from my supervisor stating that I am needed and will be at work in the States after the week vacation, my recently signed 13 month lease on my apartment in the States, and the itiniary of my flights back home to Oregon.

Will this documentaion be enough to convince the border officers that I will be going home after a week and I can be let into Canada and I can spend christmas with my Fiance in Alberta?

Also, would it be prudent to mention that I have a PR application pending to the officers, or should I wait for them to ask me if I have one pending (in other words, not mention it at all until they ask about it)?

Please let me know soon before I go to the airport in 24 hours. Thanks!

 

[edgy555]

I saw another question like yours and it kind of puzzled me. I assume you're an American citizen. As someone who was in your situation for about a year while my PR application was in process, I would say it really should be no big deal. I'm not saying to lie to Canadian Border Services, but I came and went across the border largely as I pleased -- every other weekend for a year and a half. Usually, I wasn't even asked the reason for my trip and if I was asked, I would say "I'm planning on visiting a friend for the weekend" or what have you. Like I said, don't lie, but a variation of "I'm spending Christmas week with a friend" should suffice. Be prepared for follow up questions like "where does your friend live?" "how do you know your friend?" etc. I personally would not offer that the person you're visiting is your fiancée nor would I offer that you have a PR application in process. Don't lie, but also don't show up at the border and say "I'm in Canada to visit my fiancée whom I dearly love and would like to marry and spend the rest of my life with -- the sooner the better."

I guess every person's different, but I really wouldn't give the officer any reason to doubt that your stay really is of a temporary nature. The fact that you have a letter from your work should assuage the officer's concern if you're questioned, but again I wouldn't offer it unless it came up. If you're saying you've gotten in a pickle with immigration officials in Canada before, that's another thing, but if not, relax, realize you're not breaking any laws (it's perfectly legal to visit Canada as a tourist while you are hoping to have an immigration application approved) and enjoy your stay.

Best of luck, safe travels and Merry Christmas (they're saying it's going to be a white Christmas across the whole country.)

 

[claxtonCT]

if you are american and lived in the states all your life, chill out you will have no problems. Be natural and dont start showing all docs to them, they will fear you have something going on. Most people in your situation dont even bring docs, only passport + hotel + plane tickets. One thing is for sure: The moment the officer types in your passport number he will see you have a applied for immigration. At that point he will know you have the intention to live in canada. If he question you on that you simply tell him that yes you have a desire to live and work in canada in the long run but at this time you want to spend christmas in Alberta and come back home. I just did what you want to do (traveled to canada after applying for immigration). The officer was nice to me until she punched my passp # in the terminal, then she became cold and suspicious of me. She made a few questions and off I went.. enjoy your trip and have fun.

 

[edgy555]

By the way, if you plan to cross the border often (either before or after you have your PR), you might consider applying for the Nexus card. It is a prescreened travel card that gets you out of customs/immigration lines in the US and Canada. Basically they'll investigate your background and if you have never commited a crime or customs violation, you'll qualify. Plus, it seems (I've had it for 3 years now) to give the immigration officers some assurance that you're on the up and up.