So many issues and all we have is time.

[Ravcat]

Hi guys, we are in the waiting limbo for our Spousal Sponsorship and my Permanent Residency to go through. We are looking at another 6 months if everything goes smoothly, we did everything and sent it in all at the same time.

My question is when my husband is approved to be my sponsor and goes on to the next steps, how soon can I visit more long term than short (2 weeks or so)

Long story short, we tried to visit long term and got turned around at the border 2+ years ago (I had just quit my job, traveling with too much stuff, and looked like I was going to "move" to Canada). Since then we have been married coming up 1 year anniversary in April, and we have spent a total of 1 month together in that 1 year of marriage because I live in Texas and he is in Ontario.

I cannot commit to a job here on the whim that I would be leaving it in the next few months but honestly it is very costly for visits and it is very stressful.

Any advice? Stuck here with nothing to do but wait...

 

[bigredmoose]

Hi guys, we are in the waiting limbo for our Spousal Sponsorship and my Permanent Residency to go through. We are looking at another 6 months if everything goes smoothly, we did everything and sent it in all at the same time.

My question is when my husband is approved to be my sponsor and goes on to the next steps, how soon can I visit more long term than short (2 weeks or so)

Long story short, we tried to visit long term and got turned around at the border 2+ years ago (I had just quit my job, traveling with too much stuff, and looked like I was going to "move" to Canada). Since then we have been married coming up 1 year anniversary in April, and we have spent a total of 1 month together in that 1 year of marriage because I live in Texas and he is in Ontario.

I cannot commit to a job here on the whim that I would be leaving it in the next few months but honestly it is very costly for visits and it is very stressful.

Any advice? Stuck here with nothing to do but wait...

There's no connection between your application and longer visits. In theory, you should be allowed to visit for 6 months at a time, provided the CBSA agent at the border is satisfied of a whole bunch of things, but specifically:
-You can afford to be here that long
-You aren't coming here to work
-You really will leave within 6 months

The fact that you've been turned away once is going to count against you. If you aren't working now, that will definitely not help either.

You could try again, but this time be sure that you present yourself in such a way that you appear to meet those criteria. I would explain (before being asked) that you have applied for Permanent Residency, but you understand that this trip is just a visit, that you aren't permitted to work and that you will leave before the 6 months are up. Don't bring anything that suggests otherwise.

The CBSA could do the following:
-Turn you away
-Let you in
-Let you in with a visitor record which will state when you must leave. It can be any amount of time up to 6 months. For example, if the guard feels that you only have the resources for a 3 week trip, then that would be your limit

Unfortunately I don't know of a way to check in advance if you'll be let in.

I feel your pain BTW. My 1 year anniversary is in May, and in our entire relationship we've only spent a grand total of 6 weeks together!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

My question is when my husband is approved to be my sponsor and goes on to the next steps, how soon can I visit more long term than short (2 weeks or so)

Long story short, we tried to visit long term and got turned around at the border 2+ years ago (I had just quit my job, traveling with too much stuff, and looked like I was going to "move" to Canada). Since then we have been married coming up 1 year anniversary in April, and we have spent a total of 1 month together in that 1 year of marriage because I live in Texas and he is in Ontario.

Given that you have a PR app submitted now, you should be OK. There have been many Americans refused at the border as you were, some even issued with 1 year Exclusion Orders, who were able to enter Canada without issue once the app was submitted. CBSA is lenient when they know that you are doing things the proper way. Same rules still apply: you are only visiting, bring proof of finances and any ties to the US and don't bring more than a bag or 2.

Also, even if the CBSA officer gives you a visitor record limiting your stay, you can immediately apply for an extension of visitor status. This would be processed by CIC and they are VERY lenient about granting extensions when an applicant has a PR app in process.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Given that you have a PR app submitted now, you should be OK. There have been many Americans refused at the border as you were, some even issued with 1 year Exclusion Orders, who were able to enter Canada without issue once the app was submitted. CBSA is lenient when they know that you are doing things the proper way. Same rules still apply: you are only visiting, bring proof of finances and any ties to the US and don't bring more than a bag or 2.

Also, even if the CBSA officer gives you a visitor record limiting your stay, you can immediately apply for an extension of visitor status. This would be processed by CIC and they are VERY lenient about granting extensions when an applicant has a PR app in process.

yeah i agree. i had an exclusion order when we were dating, and was able to enter for 2-3 months at at time (per my decision) when my app was processing. the fact that you NOW have a pr application submitted shows you know the rules. you will want to bring proof of ties to the us (housing/paystubs) and recipts from your application. it is now 2 years later, and the circumstances are different, so your experience is going to be different. before, you weren't married and you hadn't submitted a pr application.

i say plan a trip to visit longer than just couple of weeks. be prepared to answer questions truthfully, and know the right language to use ("visiting" instead of "living".) cbsa officers are way mor lenient when you are married and have a pr app submitted. i think you are assuming it will be worse than it actually will be. like i said, you situation is different now.

have you not entered canada since being refused? if you have, was your length of stay scrutinized or something?

 

[Ravcat]

Yes I was allowed to visit for 3 weeks back 2 years ago in April by flying from Bermuda to Toronto. Even then we were questioned heavily and almost rejected. I was allowed to visit with the threat that if I was not out of the country by the plane ticket date I would never set foot in Canada again (ya treated like a criminal when I worked for the PD) LOL. I would really like to spend Summer in Canada fishing hiking camping with the hubby...if I can get my PR rolling and get some proof that it is, I hope in a few months we will be able to do that while waiting on this to finish!

He is coming down soon we are thinking of taking a cruise or maybe Las Vegas or something because we are both sad and stuff

 

[rhcohen2014]

Yes I was allowed to visit for 3 weeks back 2 years ago in April by flying from Bermuda to Toronto. Even then we were questioned heavily and almost rejected. I was allowed to visit with the threat that if I was not out of the country by the plane ticket date I would never set foot in Canada again (ya treated like a criminal when I worked for the PD) LOL. I would really like to spend Summer in Canada fishing hiking camping with the hubby...if I can get my PR rolling and get some proof that it is, I hope in a few months we will be able to do that while waiting on this to finish!

He is coming down soon we are thinking of taking a cruise or maybe Las Vegas or something because we are both sad and stuff

again, that was 2 years ago, you weren't married and you hadn't applied for pr. that's how they treat cross-border couples in that situation. when you are married and have a pr app submitted, it's a very different experience. you are still going to want to bring proof of ties and recipts from your application, though after SA they only need your passport to verify your application.