What is a voluntary departure or voluntarily withdrawing the application to enter Canada?

Sometimes when you try to enter Canada, the officer decides you are inadmissible. In such situations, you could receive a Voluntary Departure form. This article explores voluntary departure or, rather, voluntarily withdrawing the application to enter Canada.

Table of contents

• Examination at a port of entry
• What is the Voluntary Departure?
• Voluntary Departure vs. a removal order
• Fighting the Voluntary Departure
• Ask your questions!

Examination at a port of entry

A person who tries to enter Canada is subject to examination. When you reach a port of entry, you automatically enter the Primary Inspection Line (PIL). Of course, this is where a Border Services Officer (BSO) asks for your passport and other documents. Subsequently, if the BSO believes you may enter Canada, they will let you in. However, if the BSO believes you are inadmissible to Canada or your examination could take a long time, they will send you to the secondary exam. Of course, you must not panic at this moment as the next officer could allow you to enter Canada.  Regardless, if they don’t, several scenarios could happen. For example,

• They could encourage you to be voluntary to withdraw your application to enter Canada.
• You could face a Removal Order.
• You could receive a Direction to Leave Canada or a Direction to Return to the United States.
• They could refer you to the Immigration Division for a removal order hearing.
• You could face detention under the Immigration Act.

Sometimes, they go midway and allow you to enter Canada with a Temporary Resident Permit. While these scenarios are improbable, consider having an immigration professional contact information handy for advice in those situations.

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What is the Voluntary Departure?

Imagine for any reason the officer believes you are inadmissible to Canada. In such situations, they normally initiate the process of a removal order. However, they could alternatively decide to allow you to withdraw your application to enter Canada and leave the country peacefully. Of course, this decision stems from section 42 of the Immigration Regulations. As a result, you must leave Canada and come back later to apply for entry. Of course, you may come back only when you believe you can respond to the previous BSO’s concerns.

If you doubt whether your issue is a Voluntary Departure look at the document, the officer handed over to you. If the document is IMM 5021B, you have signed the Voluntary Departure form.

Voluntary Departure vs. a removal order

Generally speaking, a Voluntary Departure is not a removal order. Consequently, if you receive IMM 5021B, you may go back to the port of entry at any time for a re-examination. Consequently, you do not need an Authorization to Return to Canada. However, make sure to address the issues. For example, if you have received IMM 5021B because the officer believed you intended to work in Canada without authorization, you must bring enough documents next time to prove otherwise. However, if you show up again, you could receive an Exclusion Order this time.

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Fighting the Voluntary Departure

Let’s say a BSO believes you are inadmissible. However, they allow you to withdraw your application to enter Canada. Consequently, you sign the Voluntary Departure form and leave Canada. Sometimes, despite the officer’s apparent generosity, you believe their decision is incorrect, and you are not inadmissible. Unfortunately, if you don’t take their offer, you will most likely end up receiving a removal order or, worse, a detention order. Nonetheless, an alternative option is to ask the officer to allow you to contact your counsel. If they allow you to do so, then you may explore your options before signing the form.

Ask your questions

If you have an immigration-related question, fill out the following form. Of course, I’ll do my best to answer general questions under the Q&A category. A general question is like the one I answered here (i.e. What is a voluntary departure or voluntarily withdrawing the application to enter Canada?). However, if the question is case-specific, I’ll advise you to book a consultation session.