Hi all, I am a Brit, who moved to Canada in October '08, subsequently met and married my Canadian wife and next month we want to visit the UK for the first time as a couple.

So I have my UK passport and PR card, she has her Canadian passport.

Our thoughts are to buy one-way tickets as they seem to be cheaper AND we've a lot of people to go and visit so don't have a fixed return date, except it won't be more than 2-3 weeks. Canada is our permanent home.

Does anyone have any experience of that scenario, i.e. a Canadian travelling on a one way ticket but going as a spouse, not a visitor and not having a return ticket AND if we might have any problems with the UK Border Agency folk?

I need qualified, experienced advice please, not just an opinion.

Many thanks.

It is unusual for 1 way tickets to be cheaper than return. Remember of you are booking the return leg late. I.e a few days before travel you will probably be paying top dollar for it. What looks cheap now may be totally different later. Look for a flexible ticket instead

$550.00 for x2 one-way tix, = $1100.00 plus a few $'s to get back, verified on the website is definitely cheaper than the $1760.00 rtn quote, same airline, same flights.

Hi!!

Your Canadian wife may have issues entering the UK with a one way ticket. There is no proof then that she intends to leave the UK. For you with a British passport it will be fine. My husband has a British passport (he was born in Canada) but always encounters issues as it states he is born in Canada....God knows why when entering the UK but he always has a few questions fired at him both directions.

Hi,

I would like to hear more people's experiences on this as well.

I'm Canadian and my common-law (and fiance) OH just got PR for Canada. We are leaving for vacation in the UK on Thursday. I have read many stories about people being rejected for having British boyfriends or fiances, and I am very nervous about being denied entrance at Heathrow.

In preparation for the trip, we have a return ticket (which is actually a one-way back to Canada with Icelandair) for both of us. I got a letter from my employer staying I was only granted vacation leave for specific dates (the two weeks we will be in the UK). Copy of our lease agreement for our apartment, copy of proof that we own a car in Canada. Bank statements proving that we are being paid in Canada and paying bills jointly in Canada. And of course, my OH's PR approval that will need to be activated prior to September.

Any thoughts???

Thanks!

I landed on Jan 26 this year and we were told that I should not attempt any international travel until the PR card was issued and we actually had it in hand - which was another 10 weeks. We were told (and I know there are many inconsistencies) "that attempting to travel without the PR card, even with all the evidence you have*, will 'almost certainly' result in a refusal to re-enter. That decision rests with the actual gate officer you get on your return."

I got the impression that it wasn't anything to do with us being married, having an apartment lease, bank account, car etc, etc. to prove we have a life together in Canada BUT that for some undefinable reason - its just not the done thing to travel while the PR application is in process. Even needing to travel for a family funeral was not deemed reason enough by CIC. And... as the gate officer can apparently see that your OH has a PR card in process (on their computer) - there isn't even an opportunity to travel in their own name.

The exception might be if your OH put in an 'outside Canada' application which apparently allows cross-border travel. I am sure others have different experiences but ultimately, especially as you have tickets now, you will just have to go for it and hope for a nice gate officer on your return.

whoever told you that was talking out of their arse!

No surprise there then, though it was the IO at the CIC office so ya kinda like think they know what they are talking about eh!

Hi Hopespeaker,

We're not worried about my OH as he applied outland and hasn't activated his PR yet. He has all the paperwork to activate it when we re-enter canada.

All the proof is for me (canadian) to be allowed into the UK as a spouse/fianace of a UK Citizen. Apparently the border guards at Heathrow are known to refuse entry to the UK for boyfriends/girlfriends and finances of UK citizens as they do not believe they will leave the UK at the end of their vacation.

My Canadian finace has been to the UK with me a few times - we used to line up separately to go through customs before we were engaged (me in EU line and him in non-EU line) - he was never refused entry but they did like to give him a good quizzing about what he was doing in the UK, what I was doing an Canada etc. He always said he was visiting my family and they let him in fine but I'm pretty sure they wanted to see his return ticket. Last visit, we both lined up together (in the non-EU line just to be on the safe side) and they never asked him a single question. Didn't even ask to see his return ticket!

Of course I'm sure this varies based on who you get as the customs official. And this was at manchester btw (although I don't think the airport should make a difference).

If you have return tickets in your hand you should be okay but will be asked loads of questions to confirm you are only on holiday. They may ask about convictions and stuff....Well that is the kinda thing my hubby got asked....finances, reason for visit, proof of intention to leave again etc etc I guess its all about ticking the right boxes in their eyes which makes sense.

I bin in out of Canada twice without my PR card and no issue when i came back both times...so i know what im talking about they just trying to put the wind up you.

An Update for anyone reading this thread in the Future.

I returned to the UK for a holiday with my OH (Common-law) a year after I had left after living in the UK on a Working Holiday Visa.

My OH and I went through Border Control together and he asked us a few questions: What is your relationship? (Married Common-law) Where do you live? (Canada) When did you leave the UK? (A date a year ago, and you can see on my OH's passport that he had the visa activated on the day I mentioned). How long are you staying in the UK? (Two weeks).

That was it! I got a stamp that says I was allowed to remain for 6 months not allowed to work and no access to public funds.

We left for a 4 night trip to Carcassonne returning to Glasgow Airport, same questions, and given another 6 month stamp.

They never asked to see the excessive amount of documentation I brought with me to prove that I lived and am working in Canada.

Thanks for the update, glad it was hassle free

Oh another point, no one asked to see my return ticket (airline or border control).

Air Canada did however ask what my OH's status in Canada was when we were returning to Canada and looked at his PR Visa in his passport.