Can non-Canadian spouse return with Canadian family on visitor visa?

[tinderpyre]

I am a Canadian-born Canadian citizen who will be returning with his wife (UK citizen) and children to live permanently in Canada in 11 weeks. As my job was just recently confirmed, we will not have time to get a sponsor visa. My question is as follows:

Will my wife be able to enter Canada on a visitor visa (UK) with the stated intention of obtaining spousal sponsorship?

If not, we won't have enough time to get her sponsor visa processed as the police clearance certificates alone will take about the time that we have left overseas (Dubai).

I have been unable to get any advice online on via Canadian embassy, as they require a visa application to be made prior to any queries.

With thanks.

 

[canuck78]

Your wife needs to apply for an ETA but because she is from a visa exempt country she can enter as a visitor. When she comes into the country they could either be tough or nice tp her. She is still a visitor so should not have all her belongings. She should bring what a visitor would bring. She also may be questionnes about whether she has a return ticket. Other CBSA agents will understand that you intend to apply for PR sponsorship as soon as possible. I assume you want to appy inland so you can get an OWP for your wife. If you plan on applying outland while still being in Canada you should sumbit the app and pay the PR fees and bring proof that you have submitted and you have paid to the airport with you.

 

[tinderpyre]

Thank you for your reply.

Your recommendation of the OWP option looks ideal, as the application can be done fully online and takes 32 weeks, compared to 12 months for the sponsor visa. Proof of application and arriving with her Canadian family should satisfy any entry requirements, I would think.

However it is unfortunate that there could be some degree of subjectivity among CBSA agents. One would like to think that it is simply an issue of entering with the right paperwork, instead of being subject to the mood of the officer.

Thanks again.

 

[canuck78]

Inland sponsorship still takes a year but you can get an owp in around 4 months. You aren't supposed to travel in and out of Canada while applying for an inland sponsorship. The UK citizenship gives you a bit more freedom but there are never any guarantees that you will be admitted back into the country. You won't be able to apply inland until you arrive in Canada so your wife will still be arriving as a visitor.

You did have the option of starting the sponsorship outland when you planned to return to Canada so there were other options.

 

[tinderpyre]

Thanks for your reply.

Regarding the option of applying for sponsorship, I had confirmation of a job in Canada only 2 weeks ago. Prior to that, it looked like we were moving to the UK.

 

[canuck78]

Just pointing out that there are options so your wife so it is fair that your wife is still treated like a visitor. Luckily she is from a visa-exempt country because getting visa would have been difficult.