Port of Entry - Road vs airport border

[canadian001]

My friend's parents have multi-entry long term Canadian TRV. They visited Canada multiple times and left Canada within allowed duration. However last time (~8 months back) the border officer denied them entry while trying to enter Canada by road border from U.S. The border officer wasn't convinced that they were genuine visitor (as they had spent lot of time in Canada on TRV, they did not had return flight ticket along with other factors). They were given "Allowed to leave Canada" form. They have been living in home country since then.

For the next visit would it make a difference whether they come via road or airport?

- Theoretically it shouldn't make any difference, but is there any difference practically?

- Is it more common to grant a shorter stay rather than refusing entry on the airport (as compared to road border)?

- Someone told my friend, that since it would be very rude for the border officer at airport to refuse entry and send back on next flight, they tend to first grant a shorter stay. On the land border, it's easier to simply refuse entry and let the person simply turn around and drive back. Is there any truth to that?

- If the entry is refused at the airport, would it lead to cancellation of existing TRV? or it is upto the discretion of the border officer? are the chances different at airport vs land border?

 

[canuck78]

How long have they stayed in Canada and when did they leave?

CBSA send people back from the airport as well. If they have spent enough time out of Canada they should be fine. They should apply for a supervisa if they want to stay longer like 2 years.

 

[Copingwithlife]

I used to work at Toronto Pearson as a airline agent , numerous times Immigration would bring inbound arriving passengers to me, for a quick departure back to wherever they came from . Immigration/CBSA does not care, they are not footing the bill . If the passenger was coming in from the USA, my only responsibility was to get them to the nearest POE in the USA

 

[scylla]

My friend's parents have multi-entry long term Canadian TRV. They visited Canada multiple times and left Canada within allowed duration. However last time (~8 months back) the border officer denied them entry while trying to enter Canada by road border from U.S. The border officer wasn't convinced that they were genuine visitor (as they had spent lot of time in Canada on TRV, they did not had return flight ticket along with other factors). They were given "Allowed to leave Canada" form. They have been living in home country since then.

For the next visit would it make a difference whether they come via road or airport?

- Theoretically it shouldn't make any difference, but is there any difference practically?

- Is it more common to grant a shorter stay rather than refusing entry on the airport (as compared to road border)?

- Someone told my friend, that since it would be very rude for the border officer at airport to refuse entry and send back on next flight, they tend to first grant a shorter stay. On the land border, it's easier to simply refuse entry and let the person simply turn around and drive back. Is there any truth to that?

- If the entry is refused at the airport, would it lead to cancellation of existing TRV? or it is upto the discretion of the border officer? are the chances different at airport vs land border?

Road or land doesn't make a difference. People are refused entry sent home from the airport all of the time. CBSA isn't there to be rude or polite. They are there to assess entries to Canada.

The fact your friend's parents ran into issues has nothing to do with how they entered Canada. They ran into issues because they have been spending too much time in Canada and CBSA felt they were abusing their visa privileges. When they return for another visit, they should keep their trip short (2-3 weeks) and make sure they have return flights to demonstrate their intention to leave.

 

[canadian001]

Thanks a lot @scylla @Copingwithlife and @canuck78

How long have they stayed in Canada and when did they leave?

They stayed for about 1.5 years (5.5 months at a time, and then leaving Canada for few weeks, never overstaying). They left ~7-8 months back for home country.

The primary concern the border officer had was that they had spend a lot of time in Canada. Officer also asked for various documents (like return flight ticket, insurance, financials, ties to home country etc.) which they weren't prepared for and couldn't provide adequately.

Few questions:

- Can they try to enter Canada again now (after ~7-8 months) or the risk is still too high and should spend more time in home country?

- What documents should they carry? (e.g.: return flight ticket, ties to home country, purpose of visit)

- For ties to home country, they have:
1) property (house) in their name,
2) one daughter living in home country (India) (can probably get an invitation letter or something from her if that helps)
is that good enough for ties?
One of the parent also holds a treasurer post in a small local organization. Would that also count as ties to home country? and should they carry those documents?

- For purpose of visit: Their grandson's (Canadian PR) and daughter-in-law (Canadian PR) birthday is coming up. Would that be a good/sufficient reason for visit? They do plan to visit various tourist places as well. Is it a good idea to also have an itinerary ready (alongwith appropriate hotel/flight bookings for the planned trips).

 

[scylla]

Thanks a lot @scylla @Copingwithlife and @canuck78


They stayed for about 1.5 years (5.5 months at a time, and then leaving Canada for few weeks, never overstaying). They left ~7-8 months back for home country.

The primary concern the border officer had was that they had spend a lot of time in Canada. Officer also asked for various documents (like return flight ticket, insurance, financials, ties to home country etc.) which they weren't prepared for and couldn't provide adequately.

Few questions:

- Can they try to enter Canada again now (after ~7-8 months) or the risk is still too high and should spend more time in home country?

- What documents should they carry? (e.g.: return flight ticket, ties to home country, purpose of visit)

- For ties to home country, they have:
1) property (house) in their name,
2) one daughter living in home country (India) (can probably get an invitation letter or something from her if that helps)
is that good enough for ties?
One of the parent also holds a treasurer post in a small local organization. Would that also count as ties to home country? and should they carry those documents?

- For purpose of visit: Their grandson's (Canadian PR) and daughter-in-law (Canadian PR) birthday is coming up. Would that be a good/sufficient reason for visit? They do plan to visit various tourist places as well. Is it a good idea to also have an itinerary ready (alongwith appropriate hotel/flight bookings for the planned trips).

Since they were denied entry, I recommend they stay out for a year before attempting to return. So another 4-5 months.

Birthdays are seen as a weak reason to visit.

 

[Bryanna]

Thanks a lot @scylla @Copingwithlife and @canuck78


They stayed for about 1.5 years (5.5 months at a time, and then leaving Canada for few weeks, never overstaying). They left ~7-8 months back for home country.

The primary concern the border officer had was that they had spend a lot of time in Canada. Officer also asked for various documents (like return flight ticket, insurance, financials, ties to home country etc.) which they weren't prepared for and couldn't provide adequately.

Few questions:

- Can they try to enter Canada again now (after ~7-8 months) or the risk is still too high and should spend more time in home country?

- What documents should they carry? (e.g.: return flight ticket, ties to home country, purpose of visit)

- For ties to home country, they have:
1) property (house) in their name,
2) one daughter living in home country (India) (can probably get an invitation letter or something from her if that helps)
is that good enough for ties?
One of the parent also holds a treasurer post in a small local organization. Would that also count as ties to home country? and should they carry those documents?

- For purpose of visit: Their grandson's (Canadian PR) and daughter-in-law (Canadian PR) birthday is coming up. Would that be a good/sufficient reason for visit? They do plan to visit various tourist places as well. Is it a good idea to also have an itinerary ready (alongwith appropriate hotel/flight bookings for the planned trips).

Just to add to scylla's reply....

1. Property is an inactive tie that did not necessitate their previous return to India.

2. As they are Indian citizens, how would an invitation letter from their India-resident daughter help? They are free to return to/stay in India.

3. Again, they proved that the treasurer post in their local organization was not a reason for them to return to India for 1.5 years.

4. If they haven't visited tourist places during their previous 1.5 year's stay then no idea how much more time they need for sightseeing

5. They have already been flagged in the system and they can expect more questions at the POE whenever they return

 

[canuck78]

Next time they apply they should just stick with visiting family.