I got denied entry at land border. What do I do now?

[youngseattlelad]

Hello CanadaVisa,

I was attempting to import a broken down motor vehicle to try and get it fixed in Canada. The CBSA Officer determined that I had been in the country for too long, about 80-90% of the last year. I also had made false statements to the Officer. I had made statements like my girlfriend when in reality it was my wife at the time. I also wasn't honest with the circumstances of my car needing repairs. Which I realize was stupid. He allowed me to withdraw my application, I know this will have negative repercussions for my Permanent Residence application. I am married to a Canadian Citizen. We have been scrambling to get all the affairs in order but the immigration aspect is still something that we are completely out of our depth about. We aren't sure if we should hire an immigration attorney. I plan on making the application at the latest in 3 weeks and at the soonest at the end of this week most likely. My hope is that I will be allowed to return to Canada in a couple of months as a visitor after I can gather more documentation regarding my work and also ask for a Visitor Record. Would an Immigration Attorney be able to pull information from the government databases that store the notes based on my denial among all the other databases that store my travel records.

I haven't received any mail or notification that I would lose my NEXUS privileges, I am curious if this can or does happen in the case of a denial.

Thanks in advance.

\\ysl

 

[scylla]

Hello CanadaVisa,

I was attempting to import a broken down motor vehicle to try and get it fixed in Canada. The CBSA Officer determined that I had been in the country for too long, about 80-90% of the last year. I also had made false statements to the Officer. I had made statements like my girlfriend when in reality it was my wife at the time. I also wasn't honest with the circumstances of my car needing repairs. Which I realize was stupid. He allowed me to withdraw my application, I know this will have negative repercussions for my Permanent Residence application. I am married to a Canadian Citizen. We have been scrambling to get all the affairs in order but the immigration aspect is still something that we are completely out of our depth about. We aren't sure if we should hire an immigration attorney. I plan on making the application at the latest in 3 weeks and at the soonest at the end of this week most likely. My hope is that I will be allowed to return to Canada in a couple of months as a visitor after I can gather more documentation regarding my work and also ask for a Visitor Record. Would an Immigration Attorney be able to pull information from the government databases that store the notes based on my denial among all the other databases that store my travel records.

I haven't received any mail or notification that I would lose my NEXUS privileges, I am curious if this can or does happen in the case of a denial.

Thanks in advance.

\\ysl

I think it's pretty much guaranteed your Nexus card is gone if you used your card during this crossing. My husband was threatened with having his revoked for forgetting about a single granola bar in his backpack.

There's really nothing an immigration lawyer can do to help. Your best course of action is to remain outside of Canada for a number of months and not attempt to return (as you've planned - although I would consider staying out for more than 3). And yes - get the sponsorship application submitted (I assume you're applying oultand - that's your only choice right now). When you do return, make sure it's just for a short visit (like a long weekend).

Also note that what's happened is now permanently recorded in the CBSA database. So expect to be pulled into secondary when you return and most likely each time after that (even once you are a PR). Not being honest about the car is typically viewed as a pretty big deal. I have a friend who is a Canadian citizen (born in Canada) who pulled something like this around a decade ago - he's still gets pulled into secondary regularly.

Your sponsorship application shouldn't be impacted since it's based on your relationship. But you really can't be taking any further risks like this at the border. Next time you could be slapped with a 1 year exclusion order and then you can forget about entering Canada for a year.