Thought I wanted to share this.
Landed in Canada in Jan 1999. Spent a day in Canada and returned. Never been to canada and have been working in US ever since. Needed info on what will happen at the border, will I be turned back or something. Everyone I talked to in Canada gave me different answers, noone is sure. Finally, I called the CIC center in Canada (get numbers from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/call.html).
People are very courteous.
- Best case scenario
Border post agent asks a few questions and is satisfied and I enter Canada, no problems. Get my case build for citizenship inside canada.
- Worst case scenario
Border post agent is not satisfied and sends me to the immigration officer at the border post. I tell them that I have not been to Canda for three+ years. The immigration officer write up a report and allows me to ENTER Canada. I have to contact the immigration center within canada, the Judge is going to edetermine my case. It takes about 4-6 months before a decision shall be made. I can use a lawyer to try to prove that my stay outside canada was a necessity. It is upto the descretion of the judge to decide. Hopefully, one can save deportation.
The bottom line is that according to the immigration officer, even if I am outside Canada for 10 years and as long as I am in possession of the landing document, the agent cannot refuse me entry in Canada. Worst scenarios is that my residentship will be redetermined INSIDE Canada. The judge can institute that I get citizenship after 6 years rather than 3 or other things.
guys and gals please call (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/call.html) the immigration office directly to get your queries answered. That is the best way to do it.
Another piece of information, the passport stamp is not important. It is landing document that is important. Your passport can get expired and therefore, the stamp is not needed at all.
I hope this helps.
Landed in Canada in Jan 1999. Spent a day in Canada and returned. Never been to canada and have been working in US ever since. Needed info on what will happen at the border, will I be turned back or something. Everyone I talked to in Canada gave me different answers, noone is sure. Finally, I called the CIC center in Canada (get numbers from http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/call.html).
People are very courteous.
- Best case scenario
Border post agent asks a few questions and is satisfied and I enter Canada, no problems. Get my case build for citizenship inside canada.
- Worst case scenario
Border post agent is not satisfied and sends me to the immigration officer at the border post. I tell them that I have not been to Canda for three+ years. The immigration officer write up a report and allows me to ENTER Canada. I have to contact the immigration center within canada, the Judge is going to edetermine my case. It takes about 4-6 months before a decision shall be made. I can use a lawyer to try to prove that my stay outside canada was a necessity. It is upto the descretion of the judge to decide. Hopefully, one can save deportation.
The bottom line is that according to the immigration officer, even if I am outside Canada for 10 years and as long as I am in possession of the landing document, the agent cannot refuse me entry in Canada. Worst scenarios is that my residentship will be redetermined INSIDE Canada. The judge can institute that I get citizenship after 6 years rather than 3 or other things.
guys and gals please call (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/call.html) the immigration office directly to get your queries answered. That is the best way to do it.
Another piece of information, the passport stamp is not important. It is landing document that is important. Your passport can get expired and therefore, the stamp is not needed at all.
I hope this helps.