Entering Canada while waiting for PR

[Farncombe]

Hi, I'm a British citizen living in London and married to a Canadian. She wants to return home this summer and I put my PR application into Missasauga at the start of this year. She's been accepted as a sponsor so that should all go through in a year or so.

But she needs to go back now - After trekking through the CIC website I applied for temporary residency visa and paid the $100, but the visa office in London rejected the application saying that British citizens do not need it. They were spectacularly unhelpful but said that I needed an eTA.

So, forum mavens, can I enter Canada on an eTA and be granted temporary residency when I arrive?

Thanks in advance

Confused of Guildford.

 

[ImABule]

Hi, I'm a British citizen living in London and married to a Canadian. She wants to return home this summer and I put my PR application into Missasauga at the start of this year. She's been accepted as a sponsor so that should all go through in a year or so.

But she needs to go back now - After trekking through the CIC website I applied for temporary residency visa and paid the $100, but the visa office in London rejected the application saying that British citizens do not need it. They were spectacularly unhelpful but said that I needed an eTA.

So, forum mavens, can I enter Canada on an eTA and be granted temporary residency when I arrive?

Thanks in advance

Confused of Guildford.

Yes, British citizens are visa exempt. You do not need a TRV.

You will need the eTA for sure if you board your flight after Sept 29,2016.

There is a leniency period until that date where you may still board provided you have proper travel docs (passport) etc.

On arrival you will need to demonstrate that you are just visiting your wife while the PR is in process.

Don't bring all your stuff and make it look like you're moving here before you have your COPR. You may also be asked to provide ties to Britain such as employment or assets like property to show that you haven't left all your obligations at home.

 

[yvr1234]

So, forum mavens, can I enter Canada on an eTA and be granted temporary residency when I arrive?

As previous reply, you can come as a visitor with eTA but you won't be granted temporary residency.

 

[Mightytonewheel]

When arriving in Canada, I would avoid any suggestion that you intend to "reside" here. Before becoming a permanent resident, you are allowed in only as a visitor. This means that the immigration officer will need to be convinced that for the time being you intend to return to your home country. They may ask you when you're going back, and for that reason it's best to have a return ticket (along with ties to your home country that a visitor would normally be expected to have). If they suspect that you're actually trying to move here before becoming a permanent resident, they may step up their scrutiny.

Most likely, you'll be fine. My Brazilian wife arrived in Canada before becoming a PR, using her Italian passport. He just said she was coming to visit me and that there was a pending application for PR. She showed them her return ticket and they just said "Have a nice trip". And, believe me, she did.