Can my American husband stay with me in Canada while application is pending?

[missjmeezy]

Hi, I plan on sending my application to sponsor my husband this week. I'm currently 6 months pregnant and my husband plans on driving to Canada from US in April. I know that he is entitled to stay in Canada for 6 months as a tourist but I was wondering if they will give him problems at the border if he has a truck full of personal belongings... Is it just wiser to leave his car in the states and fly? Please let me know... he has an apt full of stuff and we don't know what to do with everything.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rhcohen2014]

yes, he will certainly have a huge problem if he attempts to cross canada before being approved with all of his belongings. That is a HUGE no-no! he can not "move" or "live" in canada until his pr application is approved. he CAN "visit" you for sure, and he will want to carry proof of his ties to the us (employment and/or housing). He can drive or fly, and if he flies, he will want a return ticket. there is no issue at all if he wants to drive, just make sure he brings only enough stuff to look like legitimate visitor, because that is what his status will be. Once he's in, he can extend his stay as a visitor and request an extension for 12+ months. PR applicants are rarely denied, and it's doubtful he'll need that long. it's just better to ask for more time than needed in order to avoid having to reapply for another extension.

 

[missjmeezy]

hello! Thanks for your quick reply. just was wondering, if he gets an extension as a visitor visa while his sponsorship is pending, will he be able to travel back and forth from Canada to US?

 

[missjmeezy]

Im hearing that most of the sponsorships go through within 6 months... hoping thats true. How can he get an extension for 12 months once hes in? is it a long process? Thanks

 

[rhcohen2014]

hello! Thanks for your quick reply. just was wondering, if he gets an extension as a visitor visa while his sponsorship is pending, will he be able to travel back and forth from Canada to US?

yes, of course he can travel back and forth, though if he plans to do that, there is no point in applying for an extension. technically it's void when he leaves, even though CBSA tends to honor them upon reentry.

Im hearing that most of the sponsorships go through within 6 months... hoping thats true. How can he get an extension for 12 months once hes in? is it a long process? Thanks

yes it's true. take a look at the ottawa spreadhseet (blue link in my signature) and you will confirm the processing time for straight-forward US applications. an extension can be done online, and it costs $100. it shouldn't take too long to process.

 

[missjmeezy]

Just out of curiosity since I'm currently visiting my husband in the us, if we were to drive to canada with some of his personal belongings and claim them as mine, would that look suspicious? I'm a canadian citizen.... Would it look bad to rent a uhaul or another truck to bring personal belongings?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Just out of curiosity since I'm currently visiting my husband in the us, if we were to drive to canada with some of his personal belongings and claim them as mine, would that look suspicious? I'm a canadian citizen.... Would it look bad to rent a uhaul or another truck to bring personal belongings?

it's far safer for the 2 of you to travel separately if you are bringing belongings back. the last thing you want to happen is for CBSA to think he is lying and is trying to move there before approved. if you do travel together, it HAS to look like it's your stuff moving, and he needs to be prepared to show his pr application and ties to the us. i'd imagine this is a trigger for secondary inspection, where they will ask many questions. they will want him to understand he can't "live" there, that his is only visiting and he must have something to go back to in the us. does that make sense?

 

[screech339]

You cannot bring any of his belongings as it would indicate that he is intending to "move" to Canada when he cannot legally move and settle just yet.

You are setting yourself up for major trouble with immigration if you get caught moving his belongings as yours.

Screech339

 

[keesio]

Just out of curiosity since I'm currently visiting my husband in the us, if we were to drive to canada with some of his personal belongings and claim them as mine, would that look suspicious? I'm a canadian citizen.... Would it look bad to rent a uhaul or another truck to bring personal belongings?

This will only work if both of you are living together in the US and you are moving all your stuff (and his) to Canada.

If you are already living in Canada and then go down and try to move his stuff up by claiming it as yours then you greatly risk the ire of CBSA

 

[missjmeezy]

Thank you for your replies... i'm only visiting him temporarily and will be leaving soon we were just trying to figure things out.

Thank u again for all your help

 

[canadianwoman]

Just out of curiosity since I'm currently visiting my husband in the us, if we were to drive to canada with some of his personal belongings and claim them as mine, would that look suspicious? I'm a canadian citizen.... Would it look bad to rent a uhaul or another truck to bring personal belongings?

If you were just in the USA for a short time visiting, they would then charge you duty on these things you apparently bought down there.