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Recommendations for people traveling to
Canada.
With the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in September of
2001
and
with
the
growing
number
of
people
trying
to
enter
and
remain
in
Canada
illegally,
the
canadian
government
has
instituted
stricter
procedures
to
determine
if
an
individual
coming
to
Canada
will
be
granted
access
to
the
country
or
if
it
will
be
denied
and
sent
back
to
his
country
of
origin.
This
has
caused
many
problems
for
people
who
wanted
to
come
legally
for
a
purpose,
and
were
ultimately
deported,
paying
for
the
abuses
of
others.
This
is
why
it
is
so
important
to
understand
the
admission
process,
the
different
access
categories
and
the
consequences
of
being
deported.
This
page
is
divided
in 4
sections:
Admission
Process
-
Every
person
intending
to
enter
Canada
by
land,
air
or
sea
must
go
through
the
following
process:
Immigration
The
first
person
whom
the
traveller
will
talk
to
upon
entering
Canada
will
be
an
immigration
officer.
This
officer
has
the
right
to
grant
or
deny
access
to
the
country
and
to
ask
as
many
questions
and
require
as
many
documents
as
he
or
she
wants
to
aid
with
the
decision.
A
valid
passport
and
visa
must
be
shown
right
from
the
start
as
well
as
the
customs
form
(which
must
have
been
filled
out
before
talking
to
this
officer).
In
some
cases,
the
officer
may
require
your
airplane
ticket
to
validate
you
have
a
return
trip,
an
invitation,
homestay
or
work
letter
(if
applicable)
or
even
a
proof
of a
hotel
reservation.
In
general,
if
everything
is
in
order,
your
entry
will
be
accepted.
In
this
case,
the
officer
may
stamp
the
data
you
have
to
leave
Canada
by
(if
there
is
no
stamp,
the
default
is 6
months
or
the
date
indicated
in
your
visa)
and
he
will
write
a
code
on
your
customs
form
which
you
will
have
to
show
to
the
customs
agent
once
you've
picked
up
all
your
luggage
(in
case
you
came
to
Canada
by
air
because
if
you
came
by
land
or
sea,
the
same
officer
will
probable
do
everything).
If
the
immigration
officer
denies
you
entrance
to
the
country,
you
will
most
likely
be
deported.
Refer
to
the
deportation
section
for
more
information.
Customs
If
you
come
to
Canada
by
plane
you
must
go
to
the
customs
officer
who
will
review
your
form
and
will
determine
if
it's
necessary
to
review
your
belongings.
This
officer
can
also
send
you
to
someone
else
for
further
questioning,
and
he
can
deny
you
access
to
the
country,
in
which
case
you'll
most
likely
be
deported.
Officers
will
ask
you
a
broad
range
of
questions
upon
your
entry.
The
typical
questions
are:
- How long will you stay?
- What's the purpose of your trip?
- How many people in your party?
- Where are you staying?
- Where are you coming from?
- What's the value of all goods you are bringing into Canada?
- Did you bring food, animals or plants?
- Will you stay on a farm?
Based
on
your
answers
and
your
documentation,
the
officer
will
decide
if
he'll
let
you
enter
the
country
or
not.
Access
Categories
-
There
are
4
categories
under
which
you
can
enter
Canada:
- Resident: includes canadian citizens and permanent residents as well as people with temporary working permits.
- Visitor: it is temporary by nature and includes tourists and businessmen
- Student: it is temporary as well, and it generally requires a proof of enrollment
- Refugee: for people who want to ask for asylum
In
all
cases
it
is
important
to
have
with
you
the
appropriate
documents.
The
passport
is
required
in
all
cases,
and
the
Maple
Leaf
(Resident)
card
is
required
for
landed
immigrants.
Student
and
tourist
visas
(if
applicable),
letter
of
acceptance
from
the
school
and
homestay
letter
may
be
required
for
students.
Hotel
or
homestay
(for
tourists)
and
return
ticket
(for
both
tourists
and
students)
may
also
be
required.
Other
documentation
may
be
required
at
the
discretion
of
the
officer.
The
best
is
to
come
well
prepared.
For
more
information
read
the
recommendations
section.
Deportation
-
If
you
are
denied
entrance
into
the
country,
you
will
most
likely
be
deported.
If
that
happens,
you
may
have
to
endure
the
following:
- Spend HOURS being treated as persona non-grata with constant questioning and examination
- Be given the option to contact your consulate or embassy
- Have your picture taken
- Have your fingerprints taken
- Be handcuffed
- Take you to another "location" on a bus
- The other location is a hotel where the other "guests" are about to de deported like yourself
- You will be sent back to your country in the first available plane, usually within 12 to 24 hours.
- You will be included in the black list of people who cannot enter Canada in the future
Incredible?
if
you
are
wondering
how
this
things
can
happen
in
Canada,
especially
if
your
intentions
were
legitimate,
suffice
it
to
say
this
has
worsened
after
the
terrorist
attacks
in
New
York
and
also
due
to
the
increasing
number
of
people
trying
to
come
and
stay
in
Canada
illegally.
It's
a
shame
but
innocent
people
are
paying
for
the
abuse
of
others.
Which
is
why
it
is
IMPERATIVE
to
come
well
prepared.
Recommendations
-
To
minimize
the
odds
of
being
deported,
Vamos
a
Canada
makes
you
the
following
recommendations:
Visitors:
- If possible, bring an invitation or homestay letter, or a reservation proof in case you are staying at a hotel.
- If you come by air, buy a round trip. Many people don't do it because they don't know when to get back. It's preferrable to do so.
- DO not bring 40 suitcases. Bring only 2 or 3. If you bring too many, the officer migh suspect you are moving to Canada.
- Respond to all questions with confidence.
- Only answer the questions you are asked.
- Try to arrange airport pickup by your family, friends or school / homestay employees. This can help you prove you are being expected.
- Do not overstay in Canada. Leave by the date you are suppposed to leave. It is always better to get an extension.
- Bring and declare enough money to pay for all expenses you will incur while in Canada.
Students:
- If possible, bring an invitation or homestay letter, or a reservation proof in case you are staying at a hotel. Although many people want to come to Canada before registering in a school, it's better to do so before arrival so you get the letters.
- If you come by air, buy a round trip. Many people don't do it because they don't know when to get back. It's preferrable to do so.
- DO not bring 40 suitcases. Bring only 2 or 3. If you bring too many, the officer migh suspect you are moving to Canada.
- Respond to all questions with confidence.
- Only answer the questions you are asked.
- Try to arrange airport pickup by the school or homestay employees. This can help you prove you are being expected.
- Do not overstay in Canada. Leave by the date you are suppposed to leave. It is always better to get an extension.
- Bring and declare enough money to pay for all expenses you will incur while in Canada.
Residents:
- Make sure to have your Maple Leaf (resident) card and passport.
- Make sure you don't stay outside of Canada longer than you should
Refugees:
- Have your passport in order.
- Bring as much documentation as you can, that proves your life is in danger. This may include pictures, newspaper articles, magazines, etc. The better prepared, the more chances you have to be accepted. Do not abuse the system. Canada opens its doors to people who need it, but it also acts against people who wants to play smart. Only ask for refugee status if you need it, and if you don't leave it for someone who does.
Note:
The
content
of
this
page
is
presented
from
a
Vamos
a
Canada
perspective.
If
you
have
a
question
or
comment
write
us
directly
to
info@vamosacanada.com |
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