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Inland Spousal Applicant with OWP- Can I get back into Canada?

T

TheGreatGregor

Newbie
Dec 12, 2015
3
0
My wife is Canadian and I am a US citizen. We have a daughter that was born in and is Canadian citizen. I have been waiting so long (all year) to get this PR processed. I sent in my app in August and just got my Open Work Permit but I do not have a job yet and my PR is still processing. Can I travel to the US for Christmas to see my extended family with my wife and daughter and expect to get back in at customs holding only a OWP? We will be flying into YVR.

Thanks for any feedback, through my research I may need to get a Temp Resident Visa but that takes 2 months and was hoping the OWP would suffice but there is no way I am risking getting denied entry, cancelled inland PR app, and separated from my family.
 
Chances are very high you'll have no issues entering Canada - but there's never a guarantee you'll be allowed back in if you leave. Occasionally even Americans are refused.

Since you have a US passport, you don't need a TRV to enter Canada as a tourist. And even if you had one, it still wouldn't guarantee entry.

If you want zero risk of being denied entry, then you need to remain in Canada and forget about visiting the US until you have PR.
 
TheGreatGregor said:
My wife is Canadian and I am a US citizen. We have a daughter that was born in and is Canadian citizen. I have been waiting so long (all year) to get this PR processed. I sent in my app in August and just got my Open Work Permit but I do not have a job yet and my PR is still processing. Can I travel to the US for Christmas to see my extended family with my wife and daughter and expect to get back in at customs holding only a OWP? We will be flying into YVR.

Thanks for any feedback, through my research I may need to get a Temp Resident Visa but that takes 2 months and was hoping the OWP would suffice but there is no way I am risking getting denied entry, cancelled inland PR app, and separated from my family.
Click to expand...

US citizens are visa-exempt to Canada, so it's impossible to apply for a Temp Resident "Visa". There is nothing you can get that will 100% guarantee you are allowed entry back into Canada (even those from non-visa exempt countries that have a TRV, are sill not guaranteed entry). That being said, being visa-exempt, and with an OWP in hand there should be no problem with re-entering Canada. Just know that there is some risk, albeit a very very small risk, you must take of being denied re-entry and having your inland app cancelled.

It's too bad you didn't submit an OUTLAND app and just stayed in Canada as a visitor. Processing in CPC-Ottawa office usually takes well under 1 year for a US citizen outland app, compared to the 2+ years you will be waiting inland.
 
:-\

Still hoping someone would say, "Don't worry you'll be fine!" But I get it. I have just heard so many bad stories of denial, it all depends on the Border Agents mood. How do they have so much power?

I went to visit a friend in Colorado in March 2015 and when I came back into Canada they pulled me in and grilled me for 2 hours. I wound up getting a 6 month visitor visa and told to make sure I get legal status in Canada. I used that 6 months to do so. ..... Decisions Decisions.....
 
TheGreatGregor said:
:-\

Still hoping someone would say, "Don't worry you'll be fine!" But I get it. I have just heard so many bad stories of denial, it all depends on the Border Agents mood. How do they have so much power?

I went to visit a friend in Colorado in March 2015 and when I came back into Canada they pulled me in and grilled me for 2 hours. I wound up getting a 6 month visitor visa and told to make sure I get legal status in Canada. I used that 6 months to do so. ..... Decisions Decisions.....
Click to expand...

You got a visitor record, not a visa as US is visa-exempt. So now that they did that, you probably have a "flag" on your record and will get pulled into the office every time you cross. You know, it's not too late to withdraw your application and apply outland. Even with the wasted 4 months you'll get your PR much sooner than even the first stage of inland. And then you don't have to worry about your application getting cancelled every time you cross. We made the same mistake when we first applied and we don't regret withdrawing that inland app for a second. But, everyone's situation is different.
 
What would be the case if my girl friend who comes to see me on visit Visa and we marry in canada ( I am PR).

Would it be advisable to marry in canada and apply inland V/s Outland ( India Visa office ) ?

As i found there is special pilot project untill dec-2015 under which if application done inland for OWP + PR .

I am little confused. Please advise.
 
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