Question about entry into Canada - visitor permit while waiting for outland?

[dominokitty]

My husband and I are planning on sending in our PR application right away outland through the Vienna office. I have a few questions about entry into Canada and how our PR application will affect his visitor visa. He comes from a visa exempt country and every time he has come to Canada so far he's been granted the 6 months limit, but has never come for that long before.

We just want to make sure we are doing everything correctly so as not to jeopardize our PR application or his extended visit in Canada. We didn't have a formal wedding reception when we got married and instead had a small ceremony with only our immediate families present. We weren't willing to prolong the long distance part of our relationship just for a big party, so in lieu of a formal wedding reception, we are having a big anniversary party/vow renewal with all of our friends and extended family in July 2015 so it's obviously very important that he is able to be in Canada for that. We have friends and family flying in from all over the globe to attend.

Our current plan is this: In may or june 2015 we would like for him to come stay with me in Canada for 6 months. We will be about 6 months into our PR visa process at that time and will already have our sponsorship approval. I will be supporting both of us during this time, but he will also have about 7000 euros saved for the trip. It is our hope that by the time his 6 month visitor visa has expired (December 2015), our PR application will be completed and he will be able to formally move here and begin working. He's not planning on working or doing anything shady during this time, we just want to make sure that we can address any questions the CBSA may have when he comes to Canada for 6 months with a one-way ticket. We wanted to wait to buy the return ticket just in case his PR goes through in the meantime, which it probably will as our case is very straightforward with no red flags.

Should his PR approval not come through in time, we might apply to extend his visitor visa. Is this a problem? If that fails, we will purchase a ticket for him to return to Austria until the PR process is finished. He absolutely will not stay in Canada illegally.

We do understand that until such time as the PR application goes through, he will not be able to formally move to Canada. All of his belongings (except for enough clothing for 6 months plus his laptop) will stay in Austria and we are hoping to have them shipped over after he receives his PR.

Will the fact that we anticipate his PR going through before the visitor visa expires raise questions with CBSA? How can we address this? Is there some way that I can call CBSA to verify that we are doing this correctly and legally?

 

[Kayaker]

Hi!

There's absolutely nothing wrong with your plan, and there should be no issues extending his visitor status.

My husband and I did the exact same thing - I came to Canada (visa exempt) after sponsorship approval and we had our wedding reception a few months after I arrived. After that I extended my visitor status (online) and got a 1 year extension, but a month after that I got PR. Getting an extension is straightforward and easy. I've never heard of anyone here not getting one, other than by mistake (put wrong dates on the form.) And even if he decides not to stay, or even if he fails to extend his visitor status, it doesn't affect his PR application as long as he leaves when he's supposed to.

I came with 2 suitcases but had my mom ship over (by post) a few boxes more of my stuff. I didn't have to pay custom duties on them because they were used items such as clothes and shoes and not worth much anyway.

CBSA should be fine with your husband visiting, as long as he appears to understand that he must leave within 6 month or apply to extend his stay. He should also bring a copy of the sponsorship approval letter (or email) with him. CBSA likes people who know what the rules are and who try to abide by them. As a precaution some people buy a fully refundable return ticket. (I bought a business class ticket, refundable, and refunded it the day after I arrived.)

Good luck and Happy New Year!!!