Outbound application in process - Can I enter the country?

[Bunintheoven]

seeing now on website the Outbound processing time has jumped from 2 to 12 months!!

If I apply for Permanent residency from outside of Canada - can I enter the country (on a normal 6 month visiter 'visa') for example before than? By showing proof of payment / application in progress

my common law partner and new baby are both Canadian born

…or does CBSA like to separate familes?

 

[Aquakitty]

Yes you can, assuming you are from a visa-exempt country. Otherwise you have to apply for a visa like any other time. For just visiting from the US, it definitely helps when you show you are in the process of applying for permanent residence. They might stick you with a visitor record though if you say you are staying for 6 months. Technically you are only allowed to visit for 3 months without written permission, which is why if you say 6 months they sometimes process you with a visitor record.

Assuming you are from the US or other visa-exempt country, it might be better just to say you are visiting for a couple months. You are still allowed to stay for 6 though, it just helps with the border crossing.

 

[bartjones]

Yes, if you are from a visa exempt country you should have no problem. Tell them you have a PR application in process. Do not tell them you are coming to 'live' here while your PR app is in progress. Tell them you are just here to visit. Having a return ticket is very helpful as it shows your intention to go home at the end of your stay. Once here, you can apply to extend your stay if you wish. Those types of extension applications are usually granted.

If you are from a non-visa exempt country, it's a whole different story.

 

[Aquakitty]

seeing now on website the Outbound processing time has jumped from 2 to 12 months!!

If I apply for Permanent residency from outside of Canada - can I enter the country (on a normal 6 month visiter 'visa') for example before than? By showing proof of payment / application in progress

my common law partner and new baby are both Canadian born

...or does CBSA like to separate familes?

Spying on your post history, it seems your spouse is from Poland, so in that case she needs an e-passport (biometric) and then will be Visa exempt.