Spouse Sponsorship & Tourist Visa

[Iceskater]

Hi,

Need advice on this scenario:

Spouse Sponsorship application outside Canada is progress for residency.
Spouse granted tourist visa and arrives in Canada.
While spouse is in Canada, the sponsorship application gets approved.

Do you have to leave Canada and enter again on your residency visa?
or your tourist visa gets cancelled and you can change your status in Canada?

Thank you for your replies / suggestions.

 

[MilesAway]

You have two choices. You can flagpole, by going to the US border, and returning to Canada.
Or you can get an appointment to land at a CIC office (this can sometimes takes a long time, appointment wait times can be a few weeks to a few months).

So yes, you do have to leave Canada, or land at a CIC office.

 

[Iceskater]

Hi MilesAway,

Thanks for your reply,

But do you need to return back to your home country?

However, to go to US, Spouse will need another US tourist visa right?

Thanks again,

IceSkater

 

[bartjones]

Hi MilesAway,

Thanks for your reply,

But do you need to return back to your home country?

However, to go to US, Spouse will need another US tourist visa right?

Thanks again,

IceSkater

No. You just tell the US border guys that you are not attempting to enter the US but rather just want to flagpole and return to Canada to do your PR landing.

 

[Iceskater]

Hi bartjones,

Can this be done at the Toronto airport?

Thanks,

IceSkater

 

[bartjones]

Hi bartjones,

Can this be done at the Toronto airport?

Thanks,

IceSkater

I don't believe so. You'll need to go to a Canada/US land crossing. If you're in the Toronto area, Niagara Falls is probably your best bet.

You can also do it by making an appointment with the CIC office in your area, however I understand wait times for that are very long.

 

[Iceskater]

Hi bartjones,

Thanks for the reply.