Visitor's VISA

[Dayanara]

Okay, I want to make sure my hubby and I are understanding things correctly and do things "right" (right being either legally or the best to suit our advantage even).

He is American, and therefore does not need a VISA to enter Canada, however, if we wanted him to be able to stay for 6 months, would we need a visitor's VISA?

We are only waiting on his FBI check to submit our full application (as outland applicant). And we are hoping that it will arrive by the end of the month (we put a request date of June 30th on the envelope).

I just bought a condo and it will be closing in August. I will be slowly but surely moving our belongings into the condo and preparing it for us to live in after that.

Now my question is this, once we have the condo all set up does he need to apply for a visitor's VISA to come up until our application is approved? Or with him being American culd he just say he was coming up for a visit and then leave to re-enter to land once granted PR?

Thoughts? Opinions? What are the chances of getting in trouble and jeopardizing our chances of approval?

 

[kolibri]

Since your husband is from visa exempt country he doesn't need a visa. When he enters Canada, they usually stamp the date he can stay till (normally 6 months, however I've read on this forum even only 14 days... go figure..). My husband is from visa exempt country as well, but not US. He came in October 09 and the officer stamped till april 10. We applied for visa extension (the reason was -applied for spousal sponsorship) and he was allowed to stay till November 10. Then we had to go for interview to Poland. When we came back to Canada, they just stamp the date he was entering Canada. He didn't even went through the immigration. The officer asked for ours documents. Probably my PR card or his extension allowed us to pass that step. Anyway, when I asked for how long he can stay ( no stamp till what date to stay) - the officer told me 6 months.
So that your husband is staying with you, I believe, should prove that your relationships are genius, not jeopardize the process. Just my 5 cents...

 

[Dayanara]

When you drive across they don't stamp your passport, only ask how long you intend to stay. Hmmm...

 

[britincanada]

Your Husband Does not need a Visa..if he states he will be here for X amount of months the IO at the boarder usually issues a Visitors Record to US Citizens allowing 6 months, after the initial 6 months he will have to apply for an extension..these are usually issued to Citizens from Visa Exempt countries with no problems..

I visited the US Before I was Issued my Visitors record (Extension to stay in Canada) I noticed that my British passport was not stamped at the boarder either when we drove across..I thought that was strange and assumed it was because I am not from the US.

 

[journeyman]

I suggest you check out this website before planning your trip: http://www.us2canada.com/visiting.php

 

[Dayanara]

I suggest you check out this website before planning your trip: http://www.us2canada.com/visiting.php

Great, thank you so much!

 

[BeShoo]

Even if you're not quite ready to send the application in, be sure to have it with you and be sure you have paid the fees and have fee receipt with you too. This shows that you really are going to file and gives the immigration officer a file number to use on the Visitor Record too.

Additionally, he is only coming for a visit -- he can't move in permanently quite yet. That means that he can't bring furniture or other such things that wouldn't normally be brought on a trip and he has to have ties back in the States that will compell him to return. Property, a lease on an apartment, a job to go back to, family obligations, are all good ties, though all of these are hard to achieve for many people in this situation. It's best if you are with your husband when he crosses to verify that you will supposrt him and give him a place to stay during his visit. He won't be able to work (or to study) in Canada so he has to have either savings or support from you for however long it will take.

It generally takes about 6 months to a year with the application processed through Buffalo, so take that into account. They usually don't give more than 6 months duration for the stay, but if everything is in order at the end of the 6 months they usually will give an extension for a further 6 months (some people have gotten a year if they're already approved in principle).

 

[Dayanara]

I am not letting him bring any of his furniture, lol! It is all bachelor pad type stuff and cheap. So we have that in our corner at least.

The financial part might be an issue, he lives paycheque to paycheque sadly. But I luckily make enough that I could prove that I could support him until the PR goes through. I guess we could keep his apartment lease for an extra month so we still have it when he crosses, or we could cross early to mid month and technically would still have it, even if his place is empty. If he did have to return to the states he would not be going back to Buffalo but to Chicago where his parents live.

I am aware he cannot work, which sucks, but it is something we will get through. I will just have a 24/7 maid at home while I work, right? Haha! He reads this site too, wonder if that will finally spark him to post something.

We paid all the fees a while back, in two payments (one the 550 and one the 490 a few days later), that would not be an issue would it?

Thank you for all the advice, we are looking it all over and will have to decide if and when would be best to do this "visit".

 

[iarblue]

Watch the appartment lease contract though,if it says his lease is up at the end of the month your coming in then its not a very good tie that he would be returning to right.
But US citizens dont usually have a problem at the POE just make sure you have you paperwork as Beshoo suggested.

 

[Dayanara]

He is on month to month thankfully, we only need to give 30 days notice before leaving and his landlord is really nice and understanding of our situation.

Would it be recommended to even have a full copy of the application we have submitted? Or just the important documents like the payment receipts?

I really appreciate everyone's help on this.

 

[BeShoo]

We paid all the fees a while back, in two payments (one the 550 and one the 490 a few days later), that would not be an issue would it?

That's not a problem. In fact you can't be required to pay the $490 at this point.

When I came with my partner in the car, the IO complained that we had not filed the application yet and (due to confusion on my part) we didn't have a fee receipt either. He is "technically" living with his father since he had to move out of his apartment (he ran out of money and couldn't find a new job). The IO gave him a visitor record for 3 months, citing insufficient ties to the United States. She wanted to make sure that we actually sent in the application right away, even though we didn't have the FBI certificate.

We are now entering the 5th month, having received a 6 month extension, and we are almost at the point of sending everything off. It's not quite ready though, and the FBI check expires today (being 3 months old) so I'm not sure what we'll do.