Returning To Canada After Spending Holidays in US

[LittleDermo]

I had a few questions about this as I have been in Canada since October 1st. I crossed over the border from Michigan into Ontario and was issued a month's long vistor visa. I wanted 3 months as I knew we would be coming back to the states around Christmas but we spaced it and didn't bring our marriage certificate with us to show proof of our marriage so the border agent was a little hesitant to give me the 3 months. However the agent did tell me that since we were going to be so close to Buffalo, NY crossing we could cross over there and come back and get another vistor visa which is what we did around October 18th. I was able to get the rest of the time I wanted on that visa and it expires on the December 27th. We were told I would need to surrender the visa to the border patrol when crossing back so they would have proof that I did, in fact, return to the US which is what we plan on doing, however, I'm going to have a copy made of the visa beforehand to keep on me as proof and record of it.

Now, I'm not worried too much about crossing back into the states it's the coming back into Canada once our visit with my family is done. We will be in the States for 4-5 days. We just sent in our sponsorship application package on December 15th. I have the original receipt of the payment of fees and the print out of the signature of it being received by CIC. I also plan on bringing our marriage certificate and copies of both of the vistor visas I have been issued since being in Canada. My question is will I have an issue getting another vistor visa issued to me? I understand that we can extend the visas but due to it being around the holidays and seeing we'd need to pay $100 for the extension we wanted to wait until after Christmas to do an extension so if they do issue me another visa that one will be the one to get extended. I also plan on telling them that we have sent in our application and show them the proof that I have (obviously we won't have an AOR yet). Any advice or help on this will be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[brucem]

Nobody can really tell you for sure what will happen but judging by the fact you were issued with relatively short visas due to the first officers concerns they will probably do something similar when you cross back over. The best advice is really to demonstrate to the officer that you understand the rules and you will abide by them. The fact you already have with the last two visas will also be a plus. As you said bring a copy of your receipt for PR application with you along with your marriage certificate. If you also still have ties to the US like a job, mortgage etc etc then they can be useful as well. Basically you are showing that you are a visitor and not a risk of working or remaining in Canada out of status. Also moving your worldly goods prior to PR is also a no no so dont turn up in a U-Haul. However, I'm sure you will be fine!

 

[LittleDermo]

So we didn't have any issues getting back into Canada on our way back from the States, however, it was almost a little too easy and simple and now I'm worried that maybe I answered the questions wrong. We crossed over from the Detroit border crossing and while at the booth the officer asked things like what my intentions were and how long I intended to stay. All the normal questions they ask. I told him that we had sent in our application for PR and we were just waiting on getting the AOR but I had the receipt for the fees and everything. The officer never asked to see any documents in this whole process. Not even the marriage certificate. The only thing that was an issue was he asked me if I had a "visitor record" which I replied "yes" because I have held 2 visitor records in the past few months and thought he meant that. He looked in my passport and saw the stamp from the officer that I received back in October but I surrendered my visitor visa upon returning to the states on this trip. He didn't ask to see anything and just sent us on our way. We didn't have to go into secondary or anything like that. I'm worried because now I'm thinking he meant a current visitor record which I do not have. All I have is the stamp in my passport. Should I be worried about this? Should we go back to the border and get another visitor visa? I just feel like it was too easy the way it all went down.

 

[zardoz]

So we didn't have any issues getting back into Canada on our way back from the States, however, it was almost a little too easy and simple and now I'm worried that maybe I answered the questions wrong. We crossed over from the Detroit border crossing and while at the booth the officer asked things like what my intentions were and how long I intended to stay. All the normal questions they ask. I told him that we had sent in our application for PR and we were just waiting on getting the AOR but I had the receipt for the fees and everything. The officer never asked to see any documents in this whole process. Not even the marriage certificate. The only thing that was an issue was he asked me if I had a "visitor record" which I replied "yes" because I have held 2 visitor records in the past few months and thought he meant that. He looked in my passport and saw the stamp from the officer that I received back in October but I surrendered my visitor visa upon returning to the states on this trip. He didn't ask to see anything and just sent us on our way. We didn't have to go into secondary or anything like that. I'm worried because now I'm thinking he meant a current visitor record which I do not have. All I have is the stamp in my passport. Should I be worried about this? Should we go back to the border and get another visitor visa? I just feel like it was too easy the way it all went down.

If all you received was a passport stamp, you are on a 6 months visitors visa. The clock reset when you entered.

 

[rhcohen2014]

So we didn't have any issues getting back into Canada on our way back from the States, however, it was almost a little too easy and simple and now I'm worried that maybe I answered the questions wrong. We crossed over from the Detroit border crossing and while at the booth the officer asked things like what my intentions were and how long I intended to stay. All the normal questions they ask. I told him that we had sent in our application for PR and we were just waiting on getting the AOR but I had the receipt for the fees and everything. The officer never asked to see any documents in this whole process. Not even the marriage certificate. The only thing that was an issue was he asked me if I had a "visitor record" which I replied "yes" because I have held 2 visitor records in the past few months and thought he meant that. He looked in my passport and saw the stamp from the officer that I received back in October but I surrendered my visitor visa upon returning to the states on this trip. He didn't ask to see anything and just sent us on our way. We didn't have to go into secondary or anything like that. I'm worried because now I'm thinking he meant a current visitor record which I do not have. All I have is the stamp in my passport. Should I be worried about this? Should we go back to the border and get another visitor visa? I just feel like it was too easy the way it all went down.

you don't need to have a visitor's record. it's actually preferred to NOT have one. a visitor's record allows CBSA to track your stay. us citizens can simply come across and depending on their intentions, can visit canada for 6 month stays. once in you are in, and it's your responsiblity to maintain visitor status until you leave or land as a pr. it's not uncommon for CBSA to be easy on PR applicants. there is nothing wrong with this scenario and your stay doesn't need to cause concern. you are in, and are free to visit for 6 months. enjoy your time!

 

[LittleDermo]

Thank you for the responses! I just needed to ease my mind a little bit. Crossing the border always causes a lot of anxiety for us so just wanted to make sure everything was on the up and up! Thanks!