Dual Intent Canada – Temporary Residents

Simona is a citizen of the Central African Republic. She has submitted an immigration application to Canada as a skilled worker. Of course, she is currently waiting for a final decision on her application. However, Simona intends to enter Canada as a visitor to stay for a couple of months with her sick aunt in Calgary. Consequently, Simona wonders if she could apply for a visit visa despite having an open immigration application. She has heard about the concept of dual intent, but is not quite sure what it is.

Canada accepts more than 300,000 immigrants every year. However, some of these immigrants may decide to enter Canada temporarily while IRCC reviews their immigration application. We call this approach a dual-intent. Let’s explore this matter in detail.

What is a temporary resident application?

A temporary resident application could refer to an application for any of the following or similar reasons:

• Visiting Canada without the intention of studying or working
• Conducting business within the meaning of the immigration law
• Legally working in Canada without a work permit
• Working in Canada under the International Mobility Program (IMP)
• Studying in Canada as an international student
• Working in Canada with the help of an LMIA
• Staying in Canada for a while despite being inadmissible

Simply put, a temporary resident is someone who intends to remain in Canada for a few days, a few weeks, or even a few months. However, this person will eventually leave Canada for their home country or another country. Nonetheless, you may read the following article for more information:

• Temporary Resident Canada: Opportunities and Restrictions

What is a permanent resident application?

A person may submit a permanent resident application under any of the following categories.

• Family reunification
• Economic immigration
• Refugee claims

A permanent resident (PR) is someone who has permission to stay in Canada indefinitely. Of course, maintaining Canadian PR is subject to specific requirements. Consequently, consider reading the following articles:

• Who is a Permanent Resident of Canada? – PR Status
• Losing Permanent Resident Status in Canada

What is dual-intent?

Imagine you have initiated a permanent resident application. If your PR application is still open and you submit a temporary resident application, then you have dual intent. For example, if your Canadian citizen daughter sponsors you for PR in Canada and you then apply for a visit visa, you have dual intent.

Is dual intent unacceptable in Canada?

The simple answer to this question is “no.” However, you need to make sure there is no conflict between the two applications. Of course, the conflict could arise from several different reasons:

• A contradiction between the forms you have filled out for the PR versus temporary resident applications!
• The destination of the two applications (e.g. one of them is a PNP application for Saskatchewan, and the other is a study permit for Quebec)! Of course, if you could justify the difference in the destination, then the officers might accept the application.
• The nature of applications (e.g. one of them says you are immigrating as a dentist and the other one says you are visiting Canada as a surveyor)!
• Any other contradictory documents or information!

People could submit dual-intent applications that appear contradictory. If they do come up with a proper justification, then the officers could accept them. However, without convincing explanations and supporting documents, they could face refusal or even misrepresentation. Consequently, you need to be extra careful when you have dual intent.

Will officers refuse dual-intent applications?

Under subsection 22(2) of the IRPA, “An intention by a foreign national to become a permanent resident does not preclude them from becoming a temporary resident if the officer is satisfied that they will leave Canada by the end of the period authorized for their stay.” Of course, in simple English, this means the officer must review the temporary resident application independently. They will accept the temporary resident application if you convince them:

1. You meet the application requirements.
2. There is no intention to overstay in Canada.
3. You are not going to breach the terms of your temporary stay in any way.
4. There are enough financial resources and arrangements for your stay in Canada, and
5. You are not inadmissible to Canada.

What to do in case of a dual intent?

If you have dual intent, or rather if you have already submitted a PR application and intend to initiate a temporary resident application, follow these principles:

• Make sure there are no conflicts between the two applications.
• Pay special attention and provide several documents that show you have sincere and severe emotional ties to your current country of residence.
• Present several documents to verify your financial ties to your current country of residence.
• Provide as many documents as you can to show you have no intention to breach the terms of your temporary stay in Canada.
• Ensure to present documents that verify your good character and your adherence to the rule of law.
• Present documents that show you will face no financial problems while you are staying in Canada

Of course, the devil is in the details. You may consult a professional immigration practitioner to determine which documents you need to verify these points.

Dual-intent for parents and grandparents

Generally speaking, officers are more flexible with parents and grandparents. Therefore, they issue Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) for them more often while they have open immigration applications. I have rarely seen cases where the immigration authorities refused a TRV application for this group. However, don’t ignore the possibility of refusals. I highly recommend considering all the issues I mentioned earlier for parental dual-intent applications.

Dual-intent at a port of entry

When you try to enter Canada with a dual intent, a border services officer (BSO) considers the following:

• “the length of time required to process the application for permanent resident status;
• the means of support;
• obligations and ties in the home country;
• the likelihood of the applicant leaving Canada if the application is refused; and
• compliance with the requirements of the Act and Regulations while in Canada”. (Source – ENF 4- v. 2019-08-15 – p. 84)

If you convince them you meet all the requirements, they will allow you to enter Canada. However, they may issue a Visitor Record that will limit your stay in Canada. Of course, the Visitor Record may also impose additional terms and conditions on your stay. Regardless, the BSO has the authority to allow or deny entry. In severe and exceptional cases, they may even detain you. Consequently, make sure to hold convincing documents with you while entering Canada.

Extending your stay with dual intent

Sometimes you are already in Canada while your immigration application is still open (e.g., a Canadian Experience Class application). If you intend to extend your stay (e.g. to continue working in Canada), then you need to consider all the issues I emphasized in this article. In other words, don’t take this lightly. Just because you are already in Canada does not guarantee the approval of your extension request. Of course, you may read the following article for your potential options:

• Stay Beyond Six Months in Canada for eTA and TRV Holders and US Citizens

Multiple immigration applications

IRCC does not consider submitting multiple immigration applications to be dual intent. There is nothing in the law that prevents you from submitting more than one immigration application simultaneously. However, consider the following:

• The applications should not contradict each other.
• Sometimes, IRCC may decide to close one of the applications to prevent extra strain on the immigration system.
• They may send you letters to ask why you have opened multiple applications.
• If they approve one of the applications, you need to withdraw the other ones.

If you wish to visit or move to Canada, please fill out our free assessment form. We will review the form for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal advice from a licensed practitioner.