Is it possible to visit Family in Canada

donny-gal

Our son, wife and 2 granddaughters are temporary citizens in Canada, he is working out there.  We would like to go,and see them, it is 18 months since seeing our son, and over a year since seeing the granddaughters.   

We had a flight booked for October 2020, but had to re-arrange it, which we did to May, then eventually to August, with the hope of having my 70th birthday out there with them.    We are both double vaccinated, and we are getting confused with the comments on the Canadian website, and wonder if anyone could give us a second opinion.  On the one hand it says no entry for non-Canadian, then it says reconciling families, And list parents as part of this category.   https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/covid-vaccinated-travellers-entering-canada

We would obviously love to go, and quarantining on return is not an issue, but dare not hold our breath.
DG

sheramber

If you go through the link you quoted you can complete a questionnaire as to whether you are eligible to enter Canada.
 
Completing it by saying you are reuniting with family,  at the end it says

What you need to do next

• demonstrate that your reason for travel is not optional, such as to establish yourself in Canada and live with your immediate family member while they are in Canada

I think you fall foul of that as your reason for travel is optional and you do not  intend to establish yourself in Canada, which I suspect is what 'reuniting' means.. A visit is not reuniting.

donny-gal

I had that feeling, too.  Think I may have to call them and ask.

Caz3121

https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php
immediate family members of nationals of Canada, of permanent residents of Canada and of persons registered under Canada’s Indian Act. They must stay for at least 15 days and have a quarantine plan;

the fact you mention he is a temporary citizen may mean you don't fit the exemption criteria
current rules show up to 21st July so probably best checking back after that date to see what the next step is....although it may stay unchanged

sheramber

I completed the form on the Canadian website stating he was a temporary resident and I wanted to reunite with family, which is what the OP was asking abut as it that is   one of the accepted reasons for entering the country. The OP wondered if   visiting family could be considered  as reuniting with family.

 It  stated I   had to provide evidence of my intention to  establish in Canada , No mention of not being allowed because he was a temporary resident.

However, the OP does not intend to establish herself in Canada so reuniting  does not cover visiting family.

Visiting family is not   accepted for entering Canada.

PollyEsther

sheramber said:

I completed the form on the Canadian website stating he was a temporary resident and I wanted to reunite with family, which is what the OP was asking abut as it that is   one of the accepted reasons for entering the country. The OP wondered if   visiting family could be considered  as reuniting with family.

 It  stated I   had to provide evidence of my intention to  establish in Canada , No mention of not being allowed because he was a temporary resident.

However, the OP does not intend to establish herself in Canada so reuniting  does not cover visiting family.

Visiting family is not   accepted for entering Canada.

By completing the form on the Canadian website I arrived at the opposite conclusion.

The OP wants to reunite with his son who is a temporary worker in Canada. As the parent/immediate family of a temporary worker in Canada he is entitled to do this. He is not looking to establish himself in Canada.

He is able to apply for an eTA entitling him to fly to Canada. The final decision whether to admit him to the country will be made by an officer at the border when he arrives.

That's the way I read it but happy to be put right if I've misinterpreted anything..

     

sheramber

PollyEsther said:

sheramber said:

I completed the form on the Canadian website stating he was a temporary resident and I wanted to reunite with family, which is what the OP was asking abut as it that is   one of the accepted reasons for entering the country. The OP wondered if   visiting family could be considered  as reuniting with family.

 It  stated I   had to provide evidence of my intention to  establish in Canada , No mention of not being allowed because he was a temporary resident.

However, the OP does not intend to establish herself in Canada so reuniting  does not cover visiting family.

Visiting family is not   accepted for entering Canada.

By completing the form on the Canadian website I arrived at the opposite conclusion.

The OP wants to reunite with his son who is a temporary worker in Canada. As the parent/immediate family of a temporary worker in Canada he is entitled to do this. He is not looking to establish himself in Canada.

He is able to apply for an eTA entitling him to fly to Canada. The final decision whether to admit him to the country will be made by an officer at the border when he arrives.

That's the way I read it but happy to be put right if I've misinterpreted anything..

     

 As I said  this is what it said when I went through  the form saying the son was a temporary worker

 

What you need to do next

• demonstrate that your reason for travel is not optional, such as to establish yourself in Canada and live with your immediate family member while they are in Canada
• 
  

 The fact that the nOP has no intention of establishing herself in Canada means  her proposed visit is optional and not allowed.

Alan_Bowen

The good news is that there are signs that Canada is about to change its rules. They agreed yesterday that cruises could use Canadian ports from November 1st when previously they had indicated no cruises before mid-2022. There are also strong suggestions that this week Canada will announce a re-opening of its border with the US to be effective from 22nd August. This has always been seen as a forerunner to opening other destinations, so long as we keep our figures down, and don't go crazy from Monday onwards, you might well be able to travel later this year

donny-gal

Thank you everyone, I will wait until the 21st July to review again.  Son asked the travel department at work and seems to think it possible, especially as we can offer childcare while they work in summer break.  ArrCanada App not going beyond 20th July atm. IRCC also mentioned seems a minefield,  don’t want to waste our money getting there, then border officials sending us back.   With such little children they are growing up fast.  

Robin9

My colleague's husband has just been for a family funeral..  The arrangements are not for the faint hearted.