Reentering Canada with Wife

[TexasinToronto]

Hi guys, have a bit of a situation here, and need your help.

I'm from the US and last December moved to Toronto to be with my then girlfriend. I took my last trip back to the states and reentered in March, which means my tourist visa is about to be up. In July we got married and I'm pursuing Canadian PR, just waiting on my FBI check to come back and then I can apply. My wife and I are planning on going across the border at Niagara, and then coming back over. Is there any chance I'll be turned away and not able to come back in? I have no criminal record and we'll be carrying our passports, marriage certificate and a statement that shows that she is making enough to support both of us (I'm not working). Appreciate any responses, I've searched the forum but there are so many threads and I couldnt come up with one in a search that necessarily addressed my situation. Thanks!!

 

[CharlieD10]

As an American citizen, you don't need a visa to enter Canada. Each time you enter, you are allowed to remain for up to 6 months as a visitor. One does not "move" to Canada without some kind of permanent status, so you have been visiting.

If she has not yet paid the fees, it would be good to do so and carry a copy of the receipt with you as well. This demonstrates that you are going about things the proper way.

 

[TexasinToronto]

As an American citizen, you don't need a visa to enter Canada. Each time you enter, you are allowed to remain for up to 6 months as a visitor. One does not "move" to Canada without some kind of permanent status, so you have been visiting.

If she has not yet paid the fees, it would be good to do so and carry a copy of the receipt with you as well. This demonstrates that you are going about things the proper way.

Unfortunately we arent far enough along to pay the fees (need the FBI check back). As I'm still visiting, do you think it will be an issue at the border to reenter?

 

[awor]

You can pay now, online. Print the receipt from the account you make and keep it in a folder with your other proofs. You can pay WELL in advance, they will match the receipt number up and it'll show you paid, even if it was a long time before submitting. You really, really need that to cross.

 

[TexasinToronto]

i see you submitted your application through Buffalo- Were you still able to pay online to one of the Canadian offices and put your application through an external branch as the US ones dont take credit cards? Sorry for the barrage of questions, I'm just trying to make the process as smooth as possible.

 

[CharlieD10]

The payment goes to CPC-Mississauga, you would not select Buffalo when making the payment online. CPC-M receives all payments and sends the confirmation of receipt to the visa office concerned.

 

[awor]

Yep, when you go through the payment process, there is a short list of offices to choose from, for outland PR applicants, you'll choose Mississauga. Take a test drive of the payment process - it's really easy. Make an account, and go through the process - until you enter your card information, nothing is set in stone (they won't bill you or anything). I did it a few times (I have 4 kids (an extra $600) so wanted to make really really sure we paid the right stuff). Then I walked my hubby through the process on the phone since he was paying and isn't so computer savvy

When you mail in your application, the receipt goes basically on top of the whole thing so they can find the payment in their system, apply it to your application, and inform the VO what was paid.

 

[TexasinToronto]

OK awesome. We'll go ahead and pay the fee today. We're driving across to Buffalo tomorrow, and I'll bring the receipt and her statement of income as well as our marriage cert, and we'll just tell the guards at the border crossing that we're waiting on my FBI check to come back and then we'll be applying. Hopefully we'll be let in and we wont get sent to secondary (I'm not optimistic). At least I'll get to go to Target while I'm across.

 

[awor]

Let your wife do the talking and make *NO* mention of moving. You're just visiting while your application is in process. Just. Visiting. They'll let you through as a favor to her (the Canadian citizen), that's the reason to have her do the talking.

 

[TexasinToronto]

I have a return flight to the US, but its a round trip sending me back to Canada. Should I bring that with me, or just tell them I'm going back to Texas in a month and I dont have my flight info?

 

[TexasinToronto]

ok guys, just made it back across the border into toronto. it was probably the easiest trip into canada ive ever made. they asked us a couple of superficial questions like how long i had been here, and when i was headed back to texas, but didnt even ask what my relationship was with my wife. all we said was that she lived in canada and i resided in fort worth. it probably helped that the rainbow bridge was packed and i think they wanted to herd us through as fast as they could.

thanks again for the help. once the FBI profile comes back I'm going to apply for PR, I'll give you an update on how that goes.