Hi,

My spousal application has just been started by CIC. I am planning to visit my husband in Toronto at the end of January after spending Christmas with my family in the UK. As the current application time is 41 days and with the Christmas holidays soon I am thinking by the time it gets reviewed and we get told whether it was successful it will probably have the first stage sorted by beginning of January time, My question is am I allowed to visit him on my regular passport as a visitor if this application has been sent to London office for Step 2?

Ive just read somewhere to wait until I get word from London as I have to send passport but that could be 8 months? I don't want to wait that long until I can even visit him and I booked a cheap flight two days ago to surprise him!!!

Thank you in advance

Of course you can visit him

The border officers will want to make sure you will be leaving at the end of your visit though, so have with you the required proof that you will go back to the UK: return ticket, some proof of employment, something that shows you have something in the UK to return to. Also, if you are visiting your hubby, you want to mention that you have an application in process, bring a copy of your application (not the whole package, just the application to sponsor and application for PR, as well as the receipt from the payment of your application fees.
That being said, my husband never had to show any of this whenever he visited me while our application was being processed.

Enjoy your visit in january! (Hope you have warm winter clothes lol)

Also - if you are from a visa -exempt country ( which I suppose you are, but in case) - you won't have to submit your passport. Most likely, when London is ready to issue your PR, they will send it to you at home, via snail mail, and the next time you land in Canada, you can show that and your passport.
Since December 2011, visa-exempt nationals are not longer required to submit their passport, the COPR is issued on a separate paper.

To confirm - you should have no problem to go and visit. I have just arrived in Canada ( waiting for my PR), and was given a 6 months entry visa, without questions almost. So you'll be fine!
Good luck,
Sweden

Thanks guys

I thought it was stupid if I couldn't even go and visit him in the time it takes for the application to be processed!!

Phew, panic over

Thanks again

Hi Tyles

I just came back from visiting my hubby in october , i did as the others have advised you , and made sure i had my return ticket , a letter from my employer etc . When i arrived in Canada i had built my self up for questioning and had my documents ready ...... to have some nice gentleman say ok have a nice stay ...... i actually felt quite deflated after the ease of it all .... so youwill be fine

I booked a return flight, took all my documents and purchased insurance just to show the officer.

She literally didn't ask me anything. Just said "you know, you don't need a visa every time you come to Canada as long as you leave when your 6 months is up" and that was it, it was great lol.