OUTland App. Coming to Canada Early Before Visa is Granted

[agraham1]

Hello,

I read the sticky and I think I got my question answered.

I am Canadian and my wife is Japanese and currently living in Japan. The visa process is very long (over a year on average). Can she come early as a visitor (6 months) and wait until her immigration visa is granted?

She will have completed all documents, and interviews and would likely be coming a month or two before the expected result of the visa.

I am concerned about Canada customs not letting her in because she would seem to be moving into Canada early.

Thanks for your time reading this! I truly appreciate your answers,

Alex~

 

[scosan]

Hi
Of course she can come! There are so many spouses from visa exempt countries already waiting out the process and it's not unusual at all. My wife has been here since July, 2012 and just renewed her visitors visa for the third time - this time for a year. She even has her Alberta drivers license and health care even though her only status is that of a visitor (and my spouse).

 

[bartjones]

Hello,

I read the sticky and I think I got my question answered.

I am Canadian and my wife is Japanese and currently living in Japan. The visa process is very long (over a year on average). Can she come early as a visitor (6 months) and wait until her immigration visa is granted?

She will have completed all documents, and interviews and would likely be coming a month or two before the expected result of the visa.

I am concerned about Canada customs not letting her in because she would seem to be moving into Canada early.

Thanks for your time reading this! I truly appreciate your answers,

Alex~

As scosan said, she can come however there are some things to remember. You need to emphasize that she is only visiting to wait out the PR process and not intending to live here permanently. You should also get her a refundable return ticket so she can show that she will in fact return if her PR is not granted before her stay expires. Once she is here, apply to extend her visitor's visa. Assuming she has a place to stay and the means to support herself (i.e. you can support her), that extension will probably be granted.

 

[agraham1]

Hi guys,

I can't tell you how happy this news has made me. It's hard to find this info on the immigration site- but this certainly makes us both feel a lot better.

Thanks and have a great new year

Alex

 

[jrjp]

Hi
Of course she can come! There are so many spouses from visa exempt countries already waiting out the process and it's not unusual at all. My wife has been here since July, 2012 and just renewed her visitors visa for the third time - this time for a year. She even has her Alberta drivers license and health care even though her only status is that of a visitor (and my spouse).

hi scosan i too am going to sponser my japanese wife i would like to know how the time frame is for getting a DL and medical. I am going to BC so i know about the 3 month wait but she still will not have her PR while we wait in canada. How can she get medical. thanks Ralph

 

[scosan]

Hi jrjp,

Each province is different and I'm not really sure how it works in BC. In Alberta we were put through the hoops mainly because the privately run Registry offices are lacking in knowledge and training. 3 times I went to the offices to inquire about Alberta Health Insurance and each time we were denied by someone stating that she didn't qualify until after she received her PR status! It wasn't until I read on here that other people were getting health care that I decided to call the Ministry of Health Directly. They signed us up immediately and back dated her care for 3 months. I would recommend getting a visitors plan which you should purchase before you arrive - make it valid for the 3 month waiting period and it can always be renewed if there are hiccups.

As far as the drivers license I know that Alberta has reciprocal agreements with Japan. We moved from the US so it was different. Again we were denied because of my wife's visitor status. Finally, as my wife's California Drivers license was about to expire she took all our documents to the Registry office and someone took pity on her and gave her a 1 year temporary Alberta Drivers license. It was supposed to be a graduated license but when it arrived the letters GL where not on the license!

Good luck with your journey and please don't hesitate to mail me with any other questions,

Scosan

 

[jrjp]

Hi jrjp,

Each province is different and I'm not really sure how it works in BC. In Alberta we were put through the hoops mainly because the privately run Registry offices are lacking in knowledge and training. 3 times I went to the offices to inquire about Alberta Health Insurance and each time we were denied by someone stating that she didn't qualify until after she received her PR status! It wasn't until I read on here that other people were getting health care that I decided to call the Ministry of Health Directly. They signed us up immediately and back dated her care for 3 months. I would recommend getting a visitors plan which you should purchase before you arrive - make it valid for the 3 month waiting period and it can always be renewed if there are hiccups.

As far as the drivers license I know that Alberta has reciprocal agreements with Japan. We moved from the US so it was different. Again we were denied because of my wife's visitor status. Finally, as my wife's California Drivers license was about to expire she took all our documents to the Registry office and someone took pity on her and gave her a 1 year temporary Alberta Drivers license. It was supposed to be a graduated license but when it arrived the letters GL where not on the license!

Good luck with your journey and please don't hesitate to mail me with any other questions,

Scosan

thanks for the quick reply getting travelers ins. seems like the best way and i will look into my wife getting a one year international license. if she cant have her japanese license accepted in bc without PR status . I am glad i found this site lots of info i think i will be useing in the coming months. thanks again for your help DOMO

 

[scosan]

jrjp,

I forgot to mention about getting an international drivers license, good idea. My wife used hers when we first moved to California. Eventually she got her California Drivers license. She has to get it in Japan before she leaves.

Scosan

 

[jrjp]

jrjp,

I forgot to mention about getting an international drivers license, good idea. My wife used hers when we first moved to California. Eventually she got her California Drivers license. She has to get it in Japan before she leaves.

Scosan

cheers