Just background: Husband is US citizen (by birth.) Has only lived in two states, and has no criminal record. Has been in Canada with Visitor or Implied status since December 26th 2006. We have a now seven month old daughter, born in Canada.
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December 12th 2006: Husband enters Canada in Vancouver. Is returned back to the US due to insufficient funds.
December 24th 2006: Husband reenters Canada in Vancouver. Customs are iffy about him and give him a 3-week visitors visa.
December 26th 2006: Husband finally arrives in Newfoundland (final destination) after three days of flying because of customs.
January 8th 2007: Visitor Record extension mailed to CPC-Vegreville.
February 14th 2007: Medical is started.
March 2nd 2007: Medical is completed. We had our daughter on the 18th of February and were therefore sidetracked before my husband completed his medical.
February 23rd 2007: Visitor Record extension confirmed to May 20th 2007.
May 10th 2007: Visitor Record extension mailed to CPC-Vegreville.
June 12th 2007: Fingerprints are done.
August 15th 2007: Visitor Record extension confirmed to September 30th 2007.
September 19th 2007: Inland spousal/OWP application mailed to CPC-Vegreville. FBI, California, Oregon clearances mailed.
October 2nd 2007: Fingerprints have been returned from Department of Justice in California, asking them to be redone on the supplied fingerprint card.
And here we/I sit annoyed.
It's not much of a timeline yet really. But I wanted to get it all down somewhere.
I have a question about the first spot on the timeline, how exactly did they get to the point where he needed to prove a certain amount of funds? Did he say he was coming to stay with you, or did he say he was visiting?
When he was initially coming, he was only coming to visit. Being from the west coast, he was unsure that he could tolerate living here. It was always said that he'd visit before deciding. Then he had all that trouble getting here and was afraid that if he returned, he'd never get back, and therefore never get to see his daughter. Granted, he does genuinely love it here now. In fact while everyone else was complaining about 500-700cm of snow last winter, he was eating it up. Head over heels in love with the stuff.
His permanently staying here turned out to be more rushed, in terms of actually doing it. It was hoped and planned long before that he would come here to live. We just hadn't started any paperwork and would look into it on his visit. Instead it happened like it did.
I suppose it's when he went through customs and they asked him how he was going to support himself while he was here. He told them he was visiting friends. Which he more or less was. From there out though I don't really know the details too much. At least about that particular time. I just remember waiting all day for him to call and say "I'm on my way!" instead I got a "I'm back in the states" call.
We'd always been advised that when crossing the border to see one another that we should say we were visiting friends. Unless further questioned. Never lie but never offer details that are not asked for. Why dig a trench when you only need a small pothole?
I don't know that I've answered your question and I'm sorry if I haven't. I've done a lot of typing. I always feel the need to try and justify myself and our situation. There was no hidden agenda or attempts to do this any way but the right way. And my need to justify that might be because I'm a little fearful that CIC might see that we were married not long after he sent in his first visitor visa extension as a bad thing. Even if we could prove our relationship.
heh if I come out of all this without an ulcer or some other condition, it'll be a wonder! :)
December 12th 2006: Husband enters Canada in Vancouver. Is returned back to the US due to insufficient funds.
December 24th 2006: Husband reenters Canada in Vancouver. Customs are iffy about him and give him a 3-week visitors visa.
December 26th 2006: Husband finally arrives in Newfoundland (final destination) after three days of flying because of customs.
January 8th 2007: Visitor Record extension mailed to CPC-Vegreville.
February 14th 2007: Medical is started.
March 2nd 2007: Medical is completed. We had our daughter on the 18th of February and were therefore sidetracked before my husband completed his medical.
February 23rd 2007: Visitor Record extension confirmed to May 20th 2007.
May 10th 2007: Visitor Record extension mailed to CPC-Vegreville.
June 12th 2007: Fingerprints are done.
August 15th 2007: Visitor Record extension confirmed to September 30th 2007.
September 19th 2007: Inland spousal/OWP application mailed to CPC-Vegreville. FBI, California, Oregon clearances mailed.
October 2nd 2007: Fingerprints have been returned from Department of Justice in California, asking them to be redone on the supplied fingerprint card.
October 11th 2007: FBI Clearance returned to us, with a clear check. Original request also sent on September 24th 2007. Just a little over two weeks. Great turnaround. Also makes me hopeful that Oregon will accept my husbands prints.
December 12th 2006: Husband enters Canada in Vancouver. Is returned back to the US due to insufficient funds.
December 24th 2006: Husband reenters Canada in Vancouver. Customs are iffy about him and give him a 3-week visitors visa.
December 26th 2006: Husband finally arrives in Newfoundland (final destination) after three days of flying because of customs.
January 8th 2007: Visitor Record extension mailed to CPC-Vegreville.
February 14th 2007: Medical is started.
March 2nd 2007: Medical is completed. We had our daughter on the 18th of February and were therefore sidetracked before my husband completed his medical.
February 23rd 2007: Visitor Record extension confirmed to May 20th 2007.
May 10th 2007: Visitor Record extension mailed to CPC-Vegreville.
June 12th 2007: Fingerprints are done.
August 15th 2007: Visitor Record extension confirmed to September 30th 2007.
September 19th 2007: Inland spousal/OWP application mailed to CPC-Vegreville. FBI, California, Oregon clearances mailed.
October 2nd 2007: Fingerprints have been returned from Department of Justice in California, asking them to be redone on the supplied fingerprint card.
October 11th 2007: FBI Clearance returned to us, with a clear check. Original request also sent on September 24th 2007. Just a little over two weeks. Great turnaround. Also makes me hopeful that Oregon will accept my husbands prints.
October 17th 2007: Checked e-cas for the hell of it just now. I think I may have been entering my husbands client id incorrectly before hand, or I just got lucky today. E-case now tells me:
We received your application for permanent residence on September 24, 2007.
We started processing your application on October 11, 2007.
So at least we're in there now.
Whether or not the application is a hit will be another thing not known til I suppose about March. But still talk about butterflies in my stomach. Just from the In process notice alone.
Congrats!
I just was wondering about the funds because I am leaving on the 28th of this month for Canada. At customs I am telling them I'm visiting family, I have a round trip ticket, and I'm completely freaking out about the whole thing because I don't plan on going back to the States.
One of many steps down for us! It's a matter of trying to take things in stride.
I was terrified of all border crossings when I was going to visit my husband in the states. I always thought those border agents to be more strict than their Canadian counterparts. But I always got more or less waved through no problem. Only one time had any said something more than state your name and business to me. And that was only a strict warning from a rather grumpy yet non nonchalant lady who warned me to not work while visiting. She didn't care though either way what I did while I was there.
My husband constantly had problems. But then he's only tried crossing the border twice. First time being rejected and second time them questioning everything and then calling me to prove his story. They hadn't spoken to him before calling me and we figure that maybe some of the things we said individually didn't match up completely as a whole.
It's difficult really to tell you how it will go. It all depends on your current agent when you get to the border. Depends on their mood and whether they believe you. Try to contain your nerves as best as possible. Dress respectfully (I've found this to be most important in my husbands case as he's not one who likes to dress up for anything. I warned him and this happened. C'est la vie. Or at least now.) And be honest. Tell them what they ask without going into detail. You're visiting family. State an arbitrary amount that you have that will show you can support yourself for the duration of your stay. Hopefully this isn't lying on your part. I do not want to encourage lying but a few dollar signs over your actual bank account won't kill you. If it comes down to it, you can let them know you'll receive support from your family and the family you're visiting.
Be sure to have the address and telephone of where you're staying on hand with you. This is now mandatory I believe. It was when my husband and I both traveled back and forth.
As a complete back up, you could have your SO write you a letter of invitation. Stating that they will support you during your stay, provide you with food/shelter and you will not be any kind of demand on the Canadian Government/systems. DO NOT show them this unless it comes right down to it. It's a nice back up plan but not something you want to wave around willy nilly.
Other than that, I'm not sure that I could do anything to calm your fears. They're understandable ones. I remember being there myself many times.
Before you know it though, you'll be through the border and with your SO.
I wish you the best of luck. I've been in your shoes. Or almost in your shoes. I know what it's like. Once you're here though, you're here!
I cannot remember for sure, but you're doing an outland application, right? See. Even better. You're here and with a much quicker expected timeline for your application to be processed.
Before you know it!
Just going back and forth to visit you dont need addresses or numbers, at least i didnt and i was there last weekend.but of course i drove in not fly.
As far as comming and showing a two way ticket and saying you are visitiing and you plan to not leave and you lie or mislead the IO i would suggest against that. if you ever get caught lieing or misleading then you risk being sent back and you have to wait two years i believe before u can file again. its not worth getting caught in a lie. Just my opinion.
My husband and I both flew. When I first visited him in 05 you didn't need to have an address. Then I needed one in 06. He needed one when he came December 06.
I cannot speak for coming and not leaving. While my husband did something very similar, this was not his initial intention. It was close to my due date (closer than we thought since our daughter as born prematurely) and he was afraid that since he had trouble once, he would have trouble again. We moved up all our plans and kept extending his visitors records so that he would remain in valid status in Canada.
We've had no trouble so far and I'm hoping they won't look negatively on our decision to move things up. We can genuinely prove our relationship but maybe that won't be enough.
It's time to wait and see.
My comment was regarding the post made by KTN048 i hope she reads and takes head to it, i cant stress enough about the negative impact lieing or misleading the immigration dept has.
I don't plan on lying or misleading them, I'm just trying to give them as little info as possible to avoid any issues. I do have a round trip ticket, but no ones plans are always concrete.
My fiance has come to the states two times, both times stating he is visiting his girlfriend and all they seemed to care about was how he paid for the trip. From what I've read, Canadian customs officers are much more strict than American ones. If I say I am visiting family, that isn't a lie, because I consider him family. If they ask what family, I guess I don't have a choice but to tell them it's my fiance...then that'll probably be a huge deal...and I just worry about what they'll do. I can go back to my parents in the States if they turn me away, but I just spent $500 on these plane tickets, and hate to add another $500 to my growing credit card balance...and I don't know if they'll even let me attempt to enter Canada again. UGH!
just be careful, all im saying is if u have roundtrip tickets and tell them u are returning a certain date and its found out later you mislead, it could cost ur PR, just be careful and good luck.
Thank you Tamee :) I will definitely be careful, I appreciate the concern...I wish it didn't have to be this way, but unfortunately I really don't have any options at this point.
There are a couple of different scenarios that someone from another country, who is in a significant relationship with a Canadian, can find themselves in when entering Canada.
First scenario: You are already in a qualifying relationship with your sponsor (you can prove you've lived together for at least one year and you qualify as common law partners, or you're married) and your intention is to stay in Canada with your sponsor while your application is processed. In this situation you should always enter Canada accompanied by your sponsor and s/he should represent you to the Immigration Officer. S/he should be prepared to prove your qualifying relationship, and request official, extended visitor status for you. This eliminates the issue of having to show proof of funds or intent to leave Canada. The IO will basically take your sponsor at their word that they will support you and make sure that you maintain legal visitor status until your PR application is approved. This is still temporary resident status, but in some Provinces you are eligible for health benefits and your children are eligible to attend school with the documentation you have proving you have legal visitor status and proof of your PR application in process. To do this you HAVE to have all your "ducks in a row" - there must not be unresolved custody issues involving the children (if applicable), you should have a valid passport, and you need proof of your legal, qualifying relationship in the form of a certified copy of your marriage licence or proof of your common-law status. It's also helpful if you can prove that you are filing a PR application (copy of your fees receipt is a good indication).
Second scenario: Someone in a qualifying relationship with a Canadian who is sponsoring you for PR, but you are remaining outside Canada during processing and only want to visit once in awhile. You don't have to be afraid that you'll be refused entry to Canada for a visit. You need to be able to show intent to leave at the end of your authorized stay - you can have return airfare (if you're flying) or, in the absence of that (if you're driving, for example) some indication that you have responsiblities at home (mortgage, job, children you have custody of who are visiting with the non-custodial parent, etc.) that compel you to return within a reasonable amount of time. Every IO knows that citizens of visa-exempt countries are allowed to stay in Canada for up to six months, but if you state your intention to stay that long it is reasonable enough for them to ask you to prove that you have funds available to support yourself for that long without having to work in Canada - which is illegal. But, keep in mind that indicating your desire to stay for at least six months could undermine your proof of intent to return - most people who have a life in another country need to get back to it before too long. Be careful in that situation - if you really want to stay for up to six months, have your sponsor accompany you to Canada and get you extended status as above. Both of the above scenarios are "legitimate" and you should not have to worry about being refused entry. Most people in these situations who are refused entry either approach unaccompanied and tell the IO that they're coming to stay with their partner and file for PR or, coming up for just a visit, they feel nervous or guilty about being in a relationship with a Canadian (there is no crime in that!) and they get themselves manipulated into saying something (even if it's deliberately misinterpreted by the IO) that gets them into trouble.
The third scenario is the one where you really do have to tread lightly. In this situation you are in a relationship with a Canadian, but it's not (yet) a qualifying relationship for sponsorship - in other words, you can't prove yourselves to be common-law partners and you're not yet married. Remember, fiances don't count as qualifying partners and so this situation applies to people who are coming to Canada to marry - and then will file for PR. They walk a very thin line when it comes to be allowed to enter Canada because they are in a significant relationship with a Canadian that still does not qualify them for permanent status. Entering Canada in this situation means you have to maintain a different mindset. You cannot tell the IO you want to enter Canada to marry and file for PR. The IOs don't know you, and they have no way of knowing that you actually have a relationship with someone who's willing and eligible to sponsor you. They can't make a positive judgement in that regard when you're the only one standing in front of them, so if you come claiming you are entering Canada to marry and file for PR they WILL be compelled to refuse you entry because you've just told them your intention is NOT to stay temporarily. So, instead, what you need to focus on is the fact that you know you will soon be in a qualifying relationship, and that you'll then do what's required of you to make a life in Canada (file for PR). You have to enter KNOWING that you understand what your responsibilities are and that your intention is to do what CIC requires of you. What CIC requires of you is this: that you will not stay in Canada longer than you are authorized to (for citizens of visa-exempt countries, six months) without filing for permission to extend your stay; that you will apply for permanent status as soon as you qualify; and that you will submit an application to extend your temporary status before it expires if you have not been approved for permanent status by then. As long as you know, entering Canada, that you understand those requirements and that you intend to follow through on them, there is no reason to worry that you're "lying" to the IO when you say you are coming to Canada to visit. Saying you are coming to visit is the same thing as saying that you understand that, right now, you only qualify to stay temporarily and that you are willing and able to go back home when your authorized stay is over. Your authorized stay is over as soon as you cannot extend your temporary status by application, or when you are finally approved as a PR.
One final note: IOs requiring that you prove you have a job or a lease/mortgage or something of the sort at home is their attempt to ascertain that you are not a risk for overstay - but the fact that someone doesn't have a job or a lease/mortgage does not, in fact, prove that they will not return home if their temporary status expires. I didn't have a job in the States, or a home - but I had family there and I had a vehicle still registered and insured there and when I ran into trouble at the border, I went home. In other words, when push came to shove I DID have a home to go to - although I couldn't have "proved" it. The important thing is what you know about you and your situation - be honest with yourself, know what you're allowed and not allowed to do, and be prepared to honour that. If you do, you won't have to be nervous or feel guilty about wanting to be with the someone you love.
tamee Wrote:My comment was regarding the post made by KTN048 i hope she reads and takes head to it, i cant stress enough about the negative impact lying or misleading the immigration dept has.
Oh no I had thought that. But I just wanted to make sure that in case I might have implied that we explicitly set out to deceive people, wasn't what actually happened.
We tried to work everything out the right way. But things started snowballing, like things have a tendency to do. We panicked. We took our route. Otherwise, I surely would have done an outland application.
I value these forums for the opinions everyone shares on such topics. Helpful advice for someone new to all of this. I wish I had started out with a forum like this before last Christmas when all of our mess started.
But I agree with you about lying/misrepresentation to CIC or border agents. It's not worth the possible additional trouble should you get caught. Especially if you have the chance to do things properly in the beginning.
heh my late morning replies probably make the least sense. Sorry.
