Question about traveling to Canada?

[tomedwards]

Hello,

I would be grateful if someone could help me with a few questions about first traveling to and the possibility of living in canada long term.

I'm a British Citizen and resident, I'm a business owner and entrepreneur and I want to first travel to canada to see if I like it and to see if
setting up an office here would indeed be a good idea. So first off on traveling into Canada I was arrested a short time ago for interview with
British police concerning a business of mine. I haven't been charged or prosecuted etc just arrested. Will this present a problem on being allowed into
canada to visit. I couldn't find anywhere on the canadian immigration website to suggest being arrested would.

In addition I would long term like to move to canada to open an office and hire a small number of employee's there, how long would the process take to
get PR and would my arrest go against this in a big way?

And finally I've heard from a few sources that you can just enter you country, stay for the 6 months then leave for a short period and come back in. Getting
a fresh 6 months when you re-enter. Is this risky? I'm assuming this would work but only a few times before they stop giving you 6 months?

Thanks,
Tom

[Leon]

If you are planning on staying in Canada as a visitor for longer than 6 months, they expect you to apply for a visit visa extension but a lot of people do try it with hopping across the border and coming back and get away with it.

If you are considering business immigration, you might want to look at the different provincial programs, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/provincial/apply-who.asp  You can also look at the federal program here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/business/index.asp

The federal business class through London takes average 29 months, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/03a-business-fed.asp#europe but provincial nominees are faster, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/04-provincial.asp#europe that it's 5 months in London but first you would have to get approved by that province so that would take some time too.

I don't think an arrest will affect anything because you were not charged or convicted.

[tomedwards]

Hey,

Thanks alot, but is the re-entry game a long term solution? Or will they eventually notice that you do that.

Thanks,
Tom

[Leon]

It's hardly a long term solution.  With only a visit status in Canada, there are a lot of things you can't do and you have no health care if something comes up.

[tomedwards]

Hello,

Ok thanks but would it be feasible to maintain that visit status for an extended period.
Is it acceptable to leave for like 2 weeks every 6 months and come back in and do that for 3 years
say. Or will they eventually notice you do that and stop giving it to you.

Thanks alot,
Tom

[Leon]

It's a question if they actually figure it out that you are doing this but they have the right to deny you entry any time they want if they believe you are up to something.  A lot of people do it and get away with it but it's not the proper procedure.  The proper procedure is to apply to extend your visitor status and some people have also done that multiple times successfully.

In any case, if you go through a PNP business program, you would have your PR long before 3 years are up.