PR status

[Rob_TO]

Also, can you work? I have a SIN number. I am prepared to stay in Canada for two years. What about healthcare? I think I have a healthcare number. Also, I am thinking of bringing my family over. My kids can study there, but what about my wife?

.

You can't apply to sponsor your family for PR, until after your 2 years inside Canada has passed. If you are reported upon entry and decide to appeal the decision, you can't sponsor them until your appeal is heard and is successful.

Healthcare depends on province. In some (like Alberta) they are a bit more flexible on giving healthcare to dependents/spouses even if here on visitor status. In most though (like Ontario) expect no coverage while visitors, so need to get 2 years worth of travel emergency insurance for all.

You can work as long as you have a valid SIN.

Your wife can't work, and can't study without a study permit. Also wife and kids will need to keep applying to renew their visitor status, and you'll need to hope extensions keep getting approved.

Your kids may not need a study permit depending on their ages: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...nada/study-permit/prepare/minor-children.html
In some cases, minor children don’t need a study permit to study in Canada. This includes minors
who are already in Canada and

• their parents are allowed to work or study in Canada and
• will attend pre-school, primary or secondary school.

Not sure how this is enforced though, I imagine this as well as international student fee requirements will involve you discussing all this with the school they intend to go to.

 

[evdm]

An ETA is valid for 6 months, I am British, so I don't need a visa. Can't my wife just take breaks?

An eTA is valid for 2 years, or your passport expiry; whichever comes first.
A visa-exempt visitor coming to Canada on an eTA may only stay for up to 6 months at a time unless otherwise determined by an officer at the port of entry.
A PR cannot have an eTA for Canada.

 

[vensak]

An ETA is valid for 6 months, I am British, so I don't need a visa. Can't my wife just take breaks?

Once you are PR you cannot ask for ETA anymore. Any such request will be denied (with a possibility to be spotted by immigration that you are in violation with RO).
As for your wife she will need her visitor visa after first 6 months. So with that said and as she has do declare you are a husband, there is some chance (also not big) for them to find you.

 

[Rob_TO]

An ETA is valid for 6 months, I am British, so I don't need a visa. Can't my wife just take breaks?

If a CBSA officer upon any entry suspects she is trying to live permanently in Canada as a visitor, there is a chance she could be denied entry. Odds of this happening on any given entry increase the more time she spends in Canada.

She doesn't need a visa, but does need legal visitor status to stay in Canada. Status can be granted by CBSA upon any entry, or by IRCC with an extension application while you are already in Canada.

 

[scylla]

An ETA is valid for 6 months, I am British, so I don't need a visa. Can't my wife just take breaks?

Sorry - I don't understand the ETA part. You cannot apply for an ETA since you are a PR (you don't qualify for an ETA). You need to fly to the US and enter via a land border. If you want to apply for an ETA, then you first need to renounce your PR status. Once you renounce PR, it's permanently gone and you can no longer return here to live / work as a resident.

I'm not sure what you mean by your wife taking breaks. She would need to apply for an ETA and then come her as a tourist. If she wants to stay longer (i.e. longer than 6 months - assuming that's what she's given when she enters Canada), then she would need to apply for an extension to her stay in Canada as a visitor. Up to IRCC if her visitor status is extended.

 

[CricketMan1]

No, my spouse is not a Permanent Resident.

Sorry - I don't understand the ETA part. You cannot apply for an ETA since you are a PR (you don't qualify for an ETA). You need to fly to the US and enter via a land border. If you want to apply for an ETA, then you first need to renounce your PR status. Once you renounce PR, it's permanently gone and you can no longer return here to live / work as a resident.

I'm not sure what you mean by your wife taking breaks. She would need to apply for an ETA and then come her as a tourist. If she wants to stay longer (i.e. longer than 6 months - assuming that's what she's given when she enters Canada), then she would need to apply for an extension to her stay in Canada as a visitor. Up to IRCC if her visitor status is extended.

 

[CricketMan1]

Returning to the UK every 6 months.

Sorry - I don't understand the ETA part. You cannot apply for an ETA since you are a PR (you don't qualify for an ETA). You need to fly to the US and enter via a land border. If you want to apply for an ETA, then you first need to renounce your PR status. Once you renounce PR, it's permanently gone and you can no longer return here to live / work as a resident.

I'm not sure what you mean by your wife taking breaks. She would need to apply for an ETA and then come her as a tourist. If she wants to stay longer (i.e. longer than 6 months - assuming that's what she's given when she enters Canada), then she would need to apply for an extension to her stay in Canada as a visitor. Up to IRCC if her visitor status is extended.