Hi All,

I'm new here so please be gentle with me.

I'm married to a Canadian. He's currently in Canada whilst I am in the UK. I fly over regularly, around every 6 - 8 weeks.

We have started our application for my permenant residency. Does anyone know how this will affect my entry into Canada? I've read that I am still allowed into Canada as a visitor, but I'm not worried I'm going to be stopped and questioned for lengthy periods of time on my next visit.

Does anyone have any experience of this?

Many thanks,

Mrs L

My experience is about 5 years old now but may help (or at least get the ball rolling ...)

I went to Canada on a visit (including meetings with potential employers in Edmonton and Winnipeg) while my PR application was pending.

I was sent for secondary screening but it did not take long and the officer was pleasant. I flew in to Calgary and the queue was short but queues elsewhere might be longer.

I was specifically asked for proof of a return ticket and given a 4 week time limit on my entry for that trip - but I was booked to return in a fortnight anyway.)

PS The fact that I flew in to Calgary might also explain why the most pointed question I got was why on earth I might want to live in Manitoba rather than Alberta!

Good luck!

A few years old experience, but I had no issues, they just reitterated that I couldn't work while I was in as a visitor (I had previously been in on a work permit) and I was given the full 6 months visitor entrance. I've generally found Canadian border agents friendly and reasonable - be honest, have the right documentation etc. If your PR comes through while you are in Canada, you do have to leave Canada, and come back in on the PR (rather than visitor), which you can do by plane, or if you are near a border (Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal etc) just pop to the US for a day trip [btw, to avoid future problems don't have the US border agent stamp and send you straight back over the bridge - depending on the agent, this can be classed as a 'refusal' and will show up when you enter the US in the future - far easier to say you want to visit a restaurant / walk around the park, see the pretty falls from that side etc. and enter properly (in my case on a visa waiver) and then leave as normal! Just a caution, as I know a couple of people who get the 'are you SURE you haven't been refused question still, years later!]

I've been in a similar situation less than 2 years ago, and have entered Canada multiple times during the 14 months which my PR application took to process. It was not a problem, although agents at times mentioned that they see my PR application as pending. Having documentation for your flight out of Canada and acknowledging that you won't be working will be helpful.