Ex-landed immigrant being forced to go to Immigration EACH time I enter Canada

[RenataH]

I used to have landed immigrant status (Dutch citizenship) in Canada from 1980 - it's where I grew up and where I did all my studies. I moved back to Europe in 1995 and officially signed out as landed immigrant in 2011. I arrived with my family in Montreal, was taken to the immigration office, had to complete papers / have picture taken, etc. (which took 2+ hours) and then was told that when I would leave Canada after my holiday, I would have to contact immigration when I arrived at the airport. After a lovely visit with my parents, it was time to return to France and, once at the airport, I called the special number and was actually "escorted" by an armed immigration officer to my airplane who waited with my family and I to ensure that I boarded the plane.

After that visit, I have been requested to go to the immigration office EACH time I arrive in Canada....the last time was at Christmas, when it took 3 hrs. for my turn. I simply had to say ONCE AGAIN that I was visiting my parents and that's it....

Is this normal? I'm shocked at how incompetent the immigration office is at Montreal airport. We were actually making jokes (people around me who were also waiting) because it seemed that the immigration officers were more interested in chatting and drinking their Tim Hortons coffees than processing people through the system. Plus - these immigration officers are super mean, rude and not at all respectful of people's privacy. I felt really bad for some others who had difficulties with the language and were being yelled at.

I feel like a criminal because I "gave up" my permanent immigrant status....

 

[carolbb23]

I used to have landed immigrant status (Dutch citizenship) in Canada from 1980 - it's where I grew up and where I did all my studies. I moved back to Europe in 1995 and officially signed out as landed immigrant in 2011. I arrived with my family in Montreal, was taken to the immigration office, had to complete papers / have picture taken, etc. (which took 2+ hours) and then was told that when I would leave Canada after my holiday, I would have to contact immigration when I arrived at the airport. After a lovely visit with my parents, it was time to return to France and, once at the airport, I called the special number and was actually "escorted" by an armed immigration officer to my airplane who waited with my family and I to ensure that I boarded the plane.

After that visit, I have been requested to go to the immigration office EACH time I arrive in Canada....the last time was at Christmas, when it took 3 hrs. for my turn. I simply had to say ONCE AGAIN that I was visiting my parents and that's it....

Is this normal? I'm shocked at how incompetent the immigration office is at Montreal airport. We were actually making jokes (people around me who were also waiting) because it seemed that the immigration officers were more interested in chatting and drinking their Tim Hortons coffees than processing people through the system. Plus - these immigration officers are super mean, rude and not at all respectful of people's privacy. I felt really bad for some others who had difficulties with the language and were being yelled at.

I feel like a criminal because I "gave up" my permanent immigrant status....

I am afraid you have to go through this, every time you visit Canada because they are afraid you may overstay in Canada that is why all the red tape and what they are doing call a record of visitation since you gave up your rights as landed immigrant to Canada so you have to go through what visitors go through and yes it is normal

 

[RenataH]

I am afraid you have to go through this, every time you visit Canada because they are afraid you may overstay in Canada that is why all the red tape and what they are doing call a record of visitation since you gave up your rights as landed immigrant to Canada so you have to go through what visitors go through and yes it is normal

Hello! I don't agree with you. My husband and son never have to go through this process as "visitors" to Canada. They were never landed immigrants who gave up their status. They are simply visiting the country on their French passports, pass through customs and are on their way.

I, in the other hand, am told by the first immigration officer who check all visitors or Canadians returning home, to go into the customs office, take a number and wait...often for hours, only to tell the next immigration officer that I am visiting my parents. Only then is my passport stamped. This is completely different to what "normal visitors" experience and now that I am travelling on my Dutch passport, I don't understand what the Canadian immigration office has against ex-landed immigrants.

 

[Bs65]

Nothing to do with ex landed immigrants who have renounced their PR status. Everyone who followed the immigration rules and laws of Canada in the past would be treated same as anyone else.

It is not really that clear from your post what reason you were given for a specific visitor record originally and why you would have been escorted to the plane. Having that happen though my guess is you are flagged in the system for some reason even maybe incorrectly as a potential overstayer. Assume you have a visa exempt passport and an ETA approved ?

 

[LifeDreamer]

You have a flag under your name in the CBSA system that automatically directs you to secondary inspection every time you enter Canada even though there is no obvious reason. This is could be due to a previous immigration violation or something innocuous as having failed to declare something to customs in the past. It can be for all different reasons however it has nothing to do with you renouncing PR in the past and if it says anything about you as a potential over stayer it is quite the contrary actually. Good news is you can ask CBSA to turn off the flag from their system if you explain your situation and mention that you are a frequent visitor with family in Canada.

 

[canuck78]

There was a similar case recently. I believe there is a number at CBSA you can call if you feel like you are incorrectly being red flagged and they will look into your case. Would try to find the post or the number on the CBSA website.

 

[Bs65]

Send any comment or complaint as per link below

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/contact/com-eng.html