US citizen traveling while inland app is processing

[cananner]

I'm wondering about the border risks involved if a US passport-holder leaves Canada for a couple of weeks while an inland application is in progress.
I'm Canadian, my husband is American. We live in the US right now but are looking to move to Canada within the next few months. If we apply inland, I know it's ill-advised for him to leave Canada. But if an American is allowed to visit Canada for 6 months without a special visa, does that lower the risk of trouble at the border if we went on vacation within that time? Does the pending application become tied to his passport once it's been received, or when border officials scan it, do they just see the date of the last time he entered Canada?

 

[scylla]

I'm wondering about the border risks involved if a US passport-holder leaves Canada for a couple of weeks while an inland application is in progress.
I'm Canadian, my husband is American. We live in the US right now but are looking to move to Canada within the next few months. If we apply inland, I know it's ill-advised for him to leave Canada. But if an American is allowed to visit Canada for 6 months without a special visa, does that lower the risk of trouble at the border if we went on vacation within that time? Does the pending application become tied to his passport once it's been received, or when border officials scan it, do they just see the date of the last time he entered Canada?

Short answer is that there's an extremely high chance that he will have no issues re-entering. But it's never guaranteed - always some small chance there will be issues.

 

[cananner]

Short answer is that there's an extremely high chance that he will have no issues re-entering. But it's never guaranteed - always some small chance there will be issues.

Thanks scylla! Any chance you know about the passport thing - whether a passport would show a pending application, or just entry dates?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I'm wondering about the border risks involved if a US passport-holder leaves Canada for a couple of weeks while an inland application is in progress.
I'm Canadian, my husband is American. We live in the US right now but are looking to move to Canada within the next few months. If we apply inland, I know it's ill-advised for him to leave Canada. But if an American is allowed to visit Canada for 6 months without a special visa, does that lower the risk of trouble at the border if we went on vacation within that time? Does the pending application become tied to his passport once it's been received, or when border officials scan it, do they just see the date of the last time he entered Canada?

Outland American apps are processed very quickly, generally within about 6 months. If you aren't moving to Canada for a few months, it is a far better option for you to apply outland now.