PR traveling with spouse and child on TRV

[hkalltheway]

Dear All,

I am a PR card holder, and have been able to secure TRVs for my wife and child, whom I intend to sponsor in-land after we reach Canada. I have been living outside Canada for over a year now, but have satisfied my PR requirements. I was working overseas and wasn't living in Canada for the past year or so.

My question is, is it safe to travel to Canada with my wife and child, since they are TRV holders? Will they suspect that they are coming to live permanently and deny them entry? Or are they generally lenient and nice, as long as there is a valid visa? If we travel together, what kind of story should I cook in order to get us all in to Canada safely?

It was a hassle to get the TRV in the first place, and I hope it isn't a more difficult hassle to get them inside Canada.

[rjessome]

Dear All,

I am a PR card holder, and have been able to secure TRVs for my wife and child, whom I intend to sponsor in-land after we reach Canada. I have been living outside Canada for over a year now, but have satisfied my PR requirements. I was working overseas and wasn't living in Canada for the past year or so.

My question is, is it safe to travel to Canada with my wife and child, since they are TRV holders? Will they suspect that they are coming to live permanently and deny them entry? Or are they generally lenient and nice, as long as there is a valid visa? If we travel together, what kind of story should I cook in order to get us all in to Canada safely?

It was a hassle to get the TRV in the first place, and I hope it isn't a more difficult hassle to get them inside Canada.

You don't need to cook any kind of story.  If they ask you if you plan to sponsor them tell the truth.  CBSA's job does not include purposefully breaking up families.  At most, they may tell you to get the sponsorship application done ASAP and may limit the amount of time your spouse and child can stay as visitors.  That's not a problem either because you can apply to extend their visitor permits which WILL be approved when you provide proof that you have applied to sponsor them.  Just make sure you apply BEFORE the expiry of their visitor status.  If they are given a visitor records (you might want to ask for one of these) the expiry date will be written on it.  OR, if they just stamp the passport, the expiry date defaults to 6 months from the date of the stamp.  OR if they write something under the stamp, that will be the expiry date.  So the CBSA officer at the port of entry will likely tell you to sponsor them as soon as possible and make sure they remain in status.

[hkalltheway]

You don't need to cook any kind of story.  If they ask you if you plan to sponsor them tell the truth.  CBSA's job does not include purposefully breaking up families.  At most, they may tell you to get the sponsorship application done ASAP and may limit the amount of time your spouse and child can stay as visitors.  That's not a problem either because you can apply to extend their visitor permits which WILL be approved when you provide proof that you have applied to sponsor them.  Just make sure you apply BEFORE the expiry of their visitor status.  If they are given a visitor records (you might want to ask for one of these) the expiry date will be written on it.  OR, if they just stamp the passport, the expiry date defaults to 6 months from the date of the stamp.  OR if they write something under the stamp, that will be the expiry date.  So the CBSA officer at the port of entry will likely tell you to sponsor them as soon as possible and make sure they remain in status.

Thank you for your response ...What if they don't ask if I plan to sponsor, and they simply say how long do you plan to stay in Canada, what are you coming here for, etc.? Can I say that I plan on sponsoring them inland?

If what you are saying is correct, and their job is not to seperate families, then how come they are so hesitant on giving TRVs to spouses of residents / citizens? If I were to say in the TRV application that I wish to sponsor them, it would have immediately been rejected. Thanks

[rjessome]

Thank you for your response ...What if they don't ask if I plan to sponsor, and they simply say how long do you plan to stay in Canada, what are you coming here for, etc.? Can I say that I plan on sponsoring them inland?

If what you are saying is correct, and their job is not to seperate families, then how come they are so hesitant on giving TRVs to spouses of residents / citizens? If I were to say in the TRV application that I wish to sponsor them, it would have immediately been rejected. Thanks

CBSA and CIC do different jobs.  One administers (CIC) and the other enforces (CBSA).  CBSA officers do not make decisions on TRV applications.  Since that decision has already been made by CIC they are not likely to overrule it (unless there are issues with criminality) but may limit it as I said before.  Tell the truth when they ask these questions.

Look, I don't counsel people to lie.  The choice is yours.  But CIC didn't fall off the turnip truck.  They knew when they issued the TRVs that there was a possibility of sponsorship in Canada when they issued them.  They were just satisfied that your wife and child would abide by the laws and not overstay.  Applying for sponsorship and applying to extend status is not overstaying.  It's allowed.  Probably unbeknownst to you, the VO likely took a look at the genuiness of your relationship by information given, i.e. length of marriage, length of time living together, the child, etc.  For many couples who apply for a TRV for their spouse, the bona fides of the relationship have not yet been established nor whether or not the couple is self-supporting.  More goes on under the surface than you know.

I know it doesn't all make sense.  Immigration is a crazy world.  But you've gotten past one hurdle.  Don't screw it up by being dishonest with CBSA.  You risk misrepresentation and having an exclusion order issued for your spouse and then that's a world of hurt for you.

[hkalltheway]

CBSA and CIC do different jobs.  One administers (CIC) and the other enforces (CBSA).  CBSA officers do not make decisions on TRV applications.  Since that decision has already been made by CIC they are not likely to overrule it (unless there are issues with criminality) but may limit it as I said before.  Tell the truth when they ask these questions.

Look, I don't counsel people to lie.  The choice is yours.  But CIC didn't fall off the turnip truck.  They knew when they issued the TRVs that there was a possibility of sponsorship in Canada when they issued them.  They were just satisfied that your wife and child would abide by the laws and not overstay.  Applying for sponsorship and applying to extend status is not overstaying.  It's allowed.  Probably unbeknownst to you, the VO likely took a look at the genuiness of your relationship by information given, i.e. length of marriage, length of time living together, the child, etc.  For many couples who apply for a TRV for their spouse, the bona fides of the relationship have not yet been established nor whether or not the couple is self-supporting.  More goes on under the surface than you know.

I know it doesn't all make sense.  Immigration is a crazy world.  But you've gotten past one hurdle.  Don't screw it up by being dishonest with CBSA.  You risk misrepresentation and having an exclusion order issued for your spouse and then that's a world of hurt for you.

Obviously I would be most comfortable telling the truth...as in, I am returning to Canada once again after a 2 year residence overseas, and my wife and child are accompanying me to help me settle down, buy furniture, and all settlement issues, and during this process, I plan on sponsoring them. I am just afraid, that the "enforcement" role of CBSA would take "regulations" into consideration, and not consider this as an intention to visit "temporarily" as defined by a "TRV." I am afraid that they would put them on a plane and send them back, knowing the intention is to stay and become sponsored. Do you personally know any cases where things worked out by telling them straight forward that you want to sponsor the wife and child, and CBSA says ok and lets them in? I am so worried and afraid.