Canadian Citizen living in USA for 11 years married to American Citizen

[pookiecali]

I'm new to this forum and looking for answers about the quickest and most efficient way for me to return to Canada with my wife. I'm a Canadian citizen and married an American citizen in 2002 and have two children together. My children and I are dual citizens but my wife is not. We would like to move to Canada in October and don't think we have enough time to go through the sponsorship of my wife while we are living in the USA. Are we permitted to move to Canada in October without going through immigration and applying for PR when we arrive and get settled? If this is permitted what do we say at the border crossing when we show up with all our stuff in a UHAUL and our vehicle? Will they allow us all to pass without any problems? Thanks for any feedback!

 

[amikety]

Come join the Ottawa thread. IvanP, one of our spreadsheet mods, is in the same situation as you except he's the American. I'm also American and my husband is Canadian. I've lived with him as a visitor for almost 2 years now in Canada. So it's pretty easy for you. Start the application whenever you're ready. You can move while it's in process and that's fine. Send it to Ottawa VO. If you bring proof of a PR application and your marriage certificate, your wife should be fine to be a visitor in Canada while the PR application finishes. (I can't guarantee, of course.)

 

[amikety]

This is our other thread, US Outland applicants: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/updated-topics/-t106068.2205.html;topicseen

 

[pookiecali]

Come join the Ottawa thread. IvanP, one of our spreadsheet mods, is in the same situation as you except he's the American. I'm also American and my husband is Canadian. I've lived with him as a visitor for almost 2 years now in Canada. So it's pretty easy for you. Start the application whenever you're ready. You can move while it's in process and that's fine. Send it to Ottawa VO. If you bring proof of a PR application and your marriage certificate, your wife should be fine to be a visitor in Canada while the PR application finishes. (I can't guarantee, of course.)

So I should apply for PR now and just take a copy of the application when I move for the border agents?

 

[amikety]

So I should apply for PR now and just take a copy of the application when I move for the border agents?

That should work. The only real benefit is medical is cheaper in Canada, but without a PR application, your spouse will have a much harder time crossing the border with household items.