Wasn't allowed to enter Canada as a visitor

[ZsofiK]

Hello,
I'm a permanent resident of the U.S. Yesterday, I was turned around at a land point of entry by the immigration officer. Since I planned to visit friends and family, and didn't have a time frame for how long I would stay other than a couple weeks/months, they suspected that I will be seeking a job. They interrogated me for an hour, and eventually told me that at this time, they need to turn me around because I couldn't prove that I will not seek employment. I was not banned from Canada.
I don't know how I should support my stay. My only idea is breaking up my travel plans, and just travel by plane with a return ticket and stay in a hotel instead of staying with a friend or relative. I do not have a lot of money on a bank account, I planned to use my credit card to travel. I wasn't aware that that is not acceptable when I would stay with friends and relatives, and therefore, I wouldn't have a lot of expenses.
My question is, if I fly with a return ticket, stay in a hotel that I book prior to my trip instead of friends, and only go for a week then return when I can afford it again, would that change the situation? I do not wish to work in Canada, I live with my husband in the States...all I wanted is to travel for a while.
Thank you

 

[scylla]

Hello,
I'm a permanent resident of the U.S. Yesterday, I was turned around at a land point of entry by the immigration officer. Since I planned to visit friends and family, and didn't have a time frame for how long I would stay other than a couple weeks/months, they suspected that I will be seeking a job. They interrogated me for an hour, and eventually told me that at this time, they need to turn me around because I couldn't prove that I will not seek employment. I was not banned from Canada.
I don't know how I should support my stay. My only idea is breaking up my travel plans, and just travel by plane with a return ticket and stay in a hotel instead of staying with a friend or relative. I do not have a lot of money on a bank account, I planned to use my credit card to travel. I wasn't aware that that is not acceptable when I would stay with friends and relatives, and therefore, I wouldn't have a lot of expenses.
My question is, if I fly with a return ticket, stay in a hotel that I book prior to my trip instead of friends, and only go for a week then return when I can afford it again, would that change the situation? I do not wish to work in Canada, I live with my husband in the States...all I wanted is to travel for a while.
Thank you

What ties can you show to the US? Do you have a job there? Can you show your name on a lease or property ownership documents?

 

[ZsofiK]

I took a leave of absence at work...not that my work is so special. I don't think they will accept a retail job as a strong one. I do have a lease agreement with my husband. We are living together in the US. I provided that lease agreement yesterday. It didn't help. I also gave them a letter written by my employer about the leave of absence

 

[canuck78]

Hello,
I'm a permanent resident of the U.S. Yesterday, I was turned around at a land point of entry by the immigration officer. Since I planned to visit friends and family, and didn't have a time frame for how long I would stay other than a couple weeks/months, they suspected that I will be seeking a job. They interrogated me for an hour, and eventually told me that at this time, they need to turn me around because I couldn't prove that I will not seek employment. I was not banned from Canada.
I don't know how I should support my stay. My only idea is breaking up my travel plans, and just travel by plane with a return ticket and stay in a hotel instead of staying with a friend or relative. I do not have a lot of money on a bank account, I planned to use my credit card to travel. I wasn't aware that that is not acceptable when I would stay with friends and relatives, and therefore, I wouldn't have a lot of expenses.
My question is, if I fly with a return ticket, stay in a hotel that I book prior to my trip instead of friends, and only go for a week then return when I can afford it again, would that change the situation? I do not wish to work in Canada, I live with my husband in the States...all I wanted is to travel for a while.
Thank you

What are you wanting to do in Canada? You said you wanted to visit for a couple of weeks/months which is quite a long time especially since you do have a spouse in the US. How much savings can you show?

 

[ZsofiK]

Since they didn't accept my plans at the border, I realized that simply traveling without a specific timeframe and plans is not a good idea, and I now understand why. That is why I'm asking about the option of visiting only for a week by flying with a return ticket and stay in a hotel instead with friends, then come back to the U.S. and visiting Canada again when I will be afford to do it.
My original plan was visiting everyone I would like to see and stay for a longer period which they didn't accept.
To prove my ties to the U.S. , I took our lease agreement with me. I also have employment in the U.S. My supervisor allowed me to take a leave of absence. I understand if these documents don't provide enough support for traveling for a longer period of time. At this point, I just don't know what I should do to be able to visit Canada. I do not have savings. I thought (and yes, I may be wrong) that tourists can use their credit cards to travel especially if they already bought a return air ticket and booked a hotel room for the period of the stay. That is what I would like to do, knowing that my original plan wouldn't work

 

[ZsofiK]

During my first visit, I would like to hike the hiking trails in Kamloops with a friend who lives there. I've been hiking for years all around the States and since my friend lives there, I would take that opportunity. If for entering the country, a hotel room is better and shows proof of me being able to take care of myself, I, of course, would not have any problem with that

 

[canuck78]

Since they didn't accept my plans at the border, I realized that simply traveling without a specific timeframe and plans is not a good idea, and I now understand why. That is why I'm asking about the option of visiting only for a week by flying with a return ticket and stay in a hotel instead with friends, then come back to the U.S. and visiting Canada again when I will be afford to do it.
My original plan was visiting everyone I would like to see and stay for a longer period which they didn't accept.
To prove my ties to the U.S. , I took our lease agreement with me. I also have employment in the U.S. My supervisor allowed me to take a leave of absence. I understand if these documents don't provide enough support for traveling for a longer period of time. At this point, I just don't know what I should do to be able to visit Canada. I do not have savings. I thought (and yes, I may be wrong) that tourists can use their credit cards to travel especially if they already bought a return air ticket and booked a hotel room for the period of the stay. That is what I would like to do, knowing that my original plan wouldn't work

How long is your leave of absence? If more than a few weeks it is essentially the same as not being employed since it doesn’t create any ties to the US. Nobody can guarantee whether you’ll be able to enter Canada. The fact that you were denied entry once makes it much more likely that you will face extra scrutiny the next time you enter. The fact that you have no savings could be a big issue. Credit available on a credit card can be considered as available funds but that is usually in addition to available cash not as all your savings. I would suggest having some savings before attempting to travel but nobody can predict what will happen if you try to enter.

 

[ZsofiK]

Thank you for your answers, they definitely help.