Wpuld this be the correct way for a UK national to enter Canada

[DannyW92]

I'm a British national. My plan is to go to Canada with my essential things and stay there living with my girlfriend (Canadian national) for 6months then during that time, apply for a working holiday visa and then start working once that comes though (I know they're taken very fast).

Then after a year of living together, my girlfriend can be my sponsor and we can be classes as a common law partnership.

My question: Do I need to apply for anything before I travel to Canada? B) Would Canadian boarder control deny me entry if they knew I want to stay and apply for the work visa after a few months?

Also, I would need to make a domestic connection flight in Canada to get to my intended destination so would this be a problem for boarder control considering I've gone through the entry to Canada process at a different airport (Toronto Pearson)?

I want to get this right so that I comply with Canadian law because I don't want to get a bad record from Canada and them stop me and my girlfriend from been together.

 

[scylla]

No - you don't need a visa to enter Canada as a tourist. You can enter on your passport alone since you are a Brit.

Yes - you can certainly make a domestic connection.

How long you are allowed into Canada is up to the officer you encounter when you arrived. It's quite likely you will be given a six month visit - but it's also possible you may only be allowed in for a short period of time. Make sure you have a return ticket when you arrive (not a one way). Also make sure that you can show you have sufficient funds to pay for your visit - it would also be a good idea to bring some printed proof of ties to the UK in case you are asked (e.g. employment, property ownership or rental, etc). Finally, pack like a tourist. If you bring too much with you or have things with you that make it look like you're trying to move to Canada, it's possible you could be refused entry.

 

[DannyW92]

Thats great thanks.

Say for instance that I'm only allowed into Canada for a short period of time (I have no record or anything so it should be fine) then do I just apply to extend that within Canada and wait for the Canadian holiday work visa (which I can apply for while in Canada)?

Also, when I get to customs should I say that I'm staying with my grilfriend for a while or would they become suspicious that I'd stay?

I will make sure to get a return ticket too for maybe 2 weeks after I enter Canada but if I don't use that ticket then would that put me in trouble with the Canadian authorities?
I'll be taking about $600CAD cash but also, would ties to the UK such as mobile phone payments, credit card.. and the return ticket, be enough to persuade Canadian boarder control that I'd be going back to the UK? I'll also give my parents all the flight itinaries and my intl. travel insurance runs out a few months after I enter Canada (I know this will need to be renewed too).
Other than that, I was made redundant just last week, thats why I and my girlfriend consider this a perfect time to move in together. I just don't want to mess it up by not doing everything properly with boarder control.

 

[km9203]

Thats great thanks.

Say for instance that I'm only allowed into Canada for a short period of time (I have no record or anything so it should be fine) then do I just apply to extend that within Canada and wait for the Canadian holiday work visa (which I can apply for while in Canada)?

Also, when I get to customs should I say that I'm staying with my grilfriend for a while or would they become suspicious that I'd stay?

I will make sure to get a return ticket too for maybe 2 weeks after I enter Canada but if I don't use that ticket then would that put me in trouble with the Canadian authorities?
I'll be taking about $600CAD cash but also, would ties to the UK such as mobile phone payments, credit card.. and the return ticket, be enough to persuade Canadian boarder control that I'd be going back to the UK? I'll also give my parents all the flight itinaries and my intl. travel insurance runs out a few months after I enter Canada (I know this will need to be renewed too).
Other than that, I was made redundant just last week, thats why I and my girlfriend consider this a perfect time to move in together. I just don't want to mess it up by not doing everything properly with boarder control.

You are visiting your girlfriend so say that. It's not illegal to do that. However if you lied and said you were visiting someone else and they looked at your phone (which they can do) and saw you were actually visiting your gf then they could get suspicious. Never lie to the officers. But also don't give more information than what they ask for.

Will your gf be supporting you? $600 for 6 months is not enough and the officer may get concerned about you working illegally. I had $3,000 in my bank and $1,000 in traveller's cheques for 6 months and the officer was satisfied.

 

[DannyW92]

Yes my girlfriend will be supporting the both of us while I have to wait for the working holiday visas to become available.

I have roughly $2500 saved up and I should get more money too so it should be fine. I don't lke carrying cash 'cause I have a tendency of loosinf cash and more than $600CAD is alot to loose

 

[km9203]

Yes my girlfriend will be supporting the both of us while I have to wait for the working holiday visas to become available.

I have roughly $2500 saved up and I should get more money too so it should be fine. I don't lke carrying cash 'cause I have a tendency of loosinf cash and more than $600CAD is alot to loose

Make sure you take your latest bank statement with you in case they want to know how much you have in your account

 

[DannyW92]

Hahaa thanks I will do And because my girlfriend will be the only one of us working till I get the working holiday visa, will I need to show her bank statement too to show she has enough funds to support us?

I've been to Canada before just as a holiday for the Formula 1 and I didn't need anything special like bank statements and such for Canadian boarder control. So is it a different kind of process I'll be going through?

 

[km9203]

Hahaa thanks I will do And because my girlfriend will be the only one of us working till I get the working holiday visa, will I need to show her bank statement too to show she has enough funds to support us?

I've been to Canada before just as a holiday for the Formula 1 and I didn't need anything special like bank statements and such for Canadian boarder control. So is it a different kind of process I'll be going through?

Are you planning staying longer than before? If so they may ask for proof of funds . I wasn't asked for proof but it's recommended to take statements just in case.

 

[DannyW92]

I can't remember whats on the the sheet that you get on the plane/airport to fill in and give to Canadian customs haha.

I'm going to buy a return ticket to the UK for 2 weeks after my arrival to Canada. I won't be using the return ticket, it's just there so that I hopefully won't get rejected entry. Thats why I was just going to get $600 cash. The British cash exchanges don't stock Canadian dollar so theres a surcharge fee too.

Would declaring 2 weeks but then staying longer (as long as I can so that I can get the working holiday visa) put me in trouble with Canadian customs or should I buy a return ticket for say a months time instead?

It's our 1yr anniversary today and I want to be able to tell her what we'll have to do and then bu Jan/Feb time we can be together.

 

[km9203]

I can't remember whats on the the sheet that you get on the plane/airport to fill in and give to Canadian customs haha.

I'm going to buy a return ticket to the UK for 2 weeks after my arrival to Canada. I won't be using the return ticket, it's just there so that I hopefully won't get rejected entry. Thats why I was just going to get $600 cash. The British cash exchanges don't stock Canadian dollar so theres a surcharge fee too.

Would declaring 2 weeks but then staying longer (as long as I can so that I can get the working holiday visa) put me in trouble with Canadian customs or should I buy a return ticket for say a months time instead?

It's our 1yr anniversary today and I want to be able to tell her what we'll have to do and then bu Jan/Feb time we can be together.

It just asks your address, name etc https://www.google.ca/search?q=canada+declaration+card&rlz=1CAACAG_enGB604GB604&es_sm=122&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAWoVChMIn_ugv7DCyAIVyJ2ICh0c1Axs&biw=1366&bih=633

$600 should be enough for 2 weeks I guess.
No it isn't a crime to stay longer than 2 weeks. Chances are you will be given a stamp without a date, so that would automatically be 6 months. 30 days before the 6 months is up you should apply for an extension. Currently extensions are taking around 5 months to process...ridiculous, I know, haha.

 

[DannyW92]

Ohhh I see so there isn't actually anywhere on the declaration form where you have to declare how long you'll be staying in the country...

I'll have $600 but also about another $2000 on my bank card, it's just that i don't want to be carrying all the cash but i'll also brink a statement with my bank details or I should be able to show the Customs officer my bank details on my phone via a online banking app.

LOL so I could apply for the extension to the visa (or apply for the working holiday visa when they become available) and the visitor extension visa could take up to 5 months hahahaa damnn they must have a lot to sort out But while the visa is been sorted they can't kick me out of the country because I've already started the visa application process?

 

[scylla]

Applying for the working holiday visa won't allow you to legally stay in the country past the end of your allowed visit. You need to apply to extend your visitor status.

 

[DannyW92]

Ohhh I see. So I'd go to Canada and most likely get the 6 months when I land in the airport. Then when the working holiday visa becomes available I'd apply for that. Then after I've been in the country 5 months I should apply for the visitor status again for another 6 months.

 

[scylla]

Ohhh I see. So I'd go to Canada and most likely get the 6 months when I land in the airport. Then when the working holiday visa becomes available I'd apply for that. Then after I've been in the country 5 months I should apply for the visitor status again for another 6 months.

Yes.

 

[km9203]

Ohhh I see so there isn't actually anywhere on the declaration form where you have to declare how long you'll be staying in the country...

I'll have $600 but also about another $2000 on my bank card, it's just that i don't want to be carrying all the cash but i'll also brink a statement with my bank details or I should be able to show the Customs officer my bank details on my phone via a online banking app.

LOL so I could apply for the extension to the visa (or apply for the working holiday visa when they become available) and the visitor extension visa could take up to 5 months hahahaa damnn they must have a lot to sort out But while the visa is been sorted they can't kick me out of the country because I've already started the visa application process?

The declaration/landing card asks you how many days you will be in Canada for. And whether it is personal, business etc.