Each time we go to Canada we are asked by immigration what the purpose of our visit is.
Ultimately it is holiday rather than business but what do other people say when they are going on a recce?
Last time we were asked in Montreal whether we had any friends in Canada, and we didn't know whether the answer they were looking for was yes or no.
Do they like us to tell the truth that we are on a recce or does that put their backs up?

Any ideas?

Why would it put their backs up? The best thing to do with anyone who can snap on a rubber glove at will, is to tell the truth. The main thing a liar needs is a great memory.

The role of the Immigration officer is to ensure that the persons entering Canada pose no threat to National Security.
I know it sounds over the top but the main reasoning for questions like this is to gauge the reaction of the traveller.
Many a person has got themselves in trouble by not telling the truth.
Honesty is always the best policy as it's easy to see when people are bluffing. Remember Immigrant officials check humdreds of travellers you only go through the experience a few times a year.

In your case, it's perfectly understandable to say NO.
Just don't so like my dad and say "my son works for the Canadian govt".

I once talked to a US IO and he said his main purpose was to protect American jobs. Maybe that has changed for all.

I got asked by a US border guy what job I did in Canada, and when I told him, he asked why the hell they would want a Brit to do that.

I was an opinion pollster, so fair question I suppose.

Hi DandNHill

Your question made me think....as we are flying out on a recce trip on Monday.

I think my advice on the answer would be depending if you have your visa in your passport.......on Monday when we face the IO we will our PR visas in our passports and I will say recce trip to find a house (if he questions it then I will show them we are legally allowed to land permanently)......Had we not had our visas I would have said "holiday".

On Monday I have copies of all my qualifications and resume etc for the job interview I have organised....again not fussed if my bags get searched as I have visa in passport to back it up.

When I went out earlier in year I didn't take that level of paperwork and just emailed the resume to the relevant companies.

Cheers

JB

Urgh, what a rotten attitude.

Didn't work though did it. The jobs just moved instead.

lol, although if you have applied for pr and your application is in process, they will know that by tapping your name into the computer...

one immigration official apologised for not being able to give me an open job permit as our medical results hadn't shown up on the system yet.

i'd stick with the truth tbh.

About par for the course with US IOs, in my experience.

When I first flew into Pearson I was asked what I was doing, told them the truth, coming to work and could they direct me to where I could sort out my work permit.

After that, the few other flights I've made back here I've simply said I'm returning to work and live and received a nice "welcome home" from the IO.

As for the US. It seems they are hell bent on wanting people to fell privileged that they, an IO, is going to grant them permission to enter their great country. I've met only one that had a sense of humour.

It's a real joy trying to get into the US if you're on a business trip. I've been asked, when on a pre-sales trip to a potential client, that next time I should have a pro-forma invoice from the potential client, otherwise they might not let me in. Suffice it to say that I know when to hold my tongue.

We had originally wanted to relocate to our US office, but they made it incredibly hard to do so. We were a niche company and there were very few american's who could, off the bat, do what some of our staff, myself included, could do. They were maybe six of us in total who wanted to relocate, but they said the majority of us, including the MD, were not critical to the operation of the company, so they would not grant us access. We looked at Canada who welcomed us with open arms, and off we went.

Anyway, enough ranting

I just never understand why people contemplate telling lies to IOs.
Their job is to prevent illegal immigration and protect national security.
If you are going into Canada legally, i.e. in your case as a visitor and not intending to work under false pretences and not intending to stay beyond when you are allowed to, why lie? You are not doing anything wrong to contemplate what it would be like to live there!
It is not a case of what answer they are looking for. Just tell them the truth! I think you are reading too much into their questions.

It's not about contemplating telling lies to them. They ask you an open question and I just never quite know what to say! As a result I'm then not sure what to say and before I know it I feel as though my confusion is going to seem suspicious! So I'm not trying to mislead anybody on the contrary I want to be able to give a nice simple answer which will get me on my way asap. That's all!

My OH felt exactly the same when he went with his LMO in August to get his TWP, so I completely understand how you feel. Just don't worry! Anything you say will be fine as long as it is true. Some people have issues with immigration because they are trying to pull a fast one. Canadian Immigration (and probably all others in the world ) do clamp down hard on people who are attempting to cheat the system, but they are not monsters and they do understand a variety of circumstances. Relax and enjoy your trip.