Moondoggy

I'm sorry I don't know what your job is...

Exactly! I agree with your points about it being a case by case basis, but I don't see the relevance of you saying in your previous post that it can take "up to 15 months", and then saying it could take longer or less, you may as well have not specified any time frame at all. Which is what the official stance is, no timeframe or estimates.

I could say TRP applications can take anything "up to 5 years" using the same logic as you used to come up with 15 months...

Former Lancastrian

Because far to often when dealing with inadmissible persons they turn up at the POE with some idea in mind that they can just get a TRP on the spot.
By indicating a timeline of upto 15 months makes people think twice about just turning up. It also gives a timeline that many who might be close to deemed rehabilitation or eligible for a waiver of rehabilitation wait for that period of time to either apply for the waiver or wait the 15 months for the deemed rehabilitation.
Unfortunately CIC do not set service standards regarding TRP's nor do they advise people who are inadmissible to make applications at a POE.
I would never advise a person to do that as I know our officers make their own decisions and not all think the same way regarding to issue or not.

Moondoggy

Yes that is very true. It is totally down to the immigration officers at the point of entry and how they feel about the situation.

Me and my partner were lucky when we turned up at the POE to apply for his TRP because we had an officer that sided with my own personal opinion that us waiting over 6 months for a response from London was unacceptable and hence granted my partner his TRP.

See, Some officers do have good common sense! :-D

geedee

But.... how are they going to know if they don't ask the question?

christmasoompa

They may well not do, but the onus is on the person entering Canada to comply with the entry requirements of that country. And if they are later found out to have entered when inadmissible (say, when applying for PR and supplying a police certificate) then that'll come back and bite them on the bum.

Advising anybody to enter Canada when they shouldn't is (a) just plain stupid; and (b) against site rules.

christmasoompa

I'm intrigued, how does your job as a border agent equate to you knowing CIC processing times? I thought that you wouldn't have any dealings with visa applications etc, and would just deal with people as they turn up rather than the process that they'd been through up to that point?

Former Lancastrian

Normally we dont get involved in any of the CIC processing times thats why I stay out of those topics. We do have people who were legacy CIC still working on the CBSA side of things who have worked in Visa offices abroad plus we have the local CIC office who share with Inland Enforcement officers.
There has been the odd internal bulletin about processing times as well as CBSA has raised the TRP processing times with the overseas consulates.
CBSA has become very service orientated in some aspects and we have actual service standards posted for the public to see. Unfortunately some people who have had TRP applications in for 6 months and above arrive at the POE hoping they get a sympathetic officer who just might issue the TRP as in the case mentioned above.
Im certainly not being critical of CIC and their procedures but at the POE I have the actual live body in front of me as opposed to an application sitting on someones desk or in tray.
We all try our best with the resources we have

christmasoompa

Ah, ok. I thought from your comment above you were meaning you knew about the processing times from your job, and I was intrigued to know how that was the case, but I get it now.

That's definitely true.

castra

Would the OP's driving offences show on a Criminal records check should they apply for permanent residency at a latter date? Apart from D.D., causing death by dangerous driving & similar, I thought most driving offences in The UK were classed as 'civil offences'?

Just curious?.......

Former Lancastrian

It all depends on if the offence equates to any Act of Parliament in particular the Criminal Code of Canada in driving offences.

Almost Canadian

No such thing as a civil offence. One can only be convicted of an offence. The various Road Traffic Acts will confirm what is and what is not an offence.

Moondoggy

Hence why I originally advised the OP to get a police check done. This should really be the first step in any and all cases relating to offences and immigration,

If you don't know the exact specifics on what your official record states then you cannot make any informed decisions about your next steps.

geedee

Er, a bit less of the "stupid" if you don't mind!

The OP's question was partly:

My question is
1. Will i be able to travel to Canada initially without a visa for a holiday ?

I have advised nothing, but have asked if UK passport holders are asked that question on any landing forms. That's certainly not advice to "turn up and hope for the best".... unless I've misread my post!