If a CBSA officer doubts your visitor intentions, they may offer you a “Voluntary Withdrawal of Application to Enter Canada” (Allowed to Leave). Accepting this option prevents a formal deportation order, saving your permanent immigration record and making it easier to secure a future Canadian visa.
Arriving at a bustling Port of Entry like Vancouver International Airport or Montreal Trudeau should be the thrilling start of your Canadian journey. Unfortunately, border inspections do not always go smoothly. Sometimes, a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer may begin to seriously doubt your story, suspecting you intend to work illegally or overstay your temporary visitor status. 😔
When this happens, you are standing on the edge of a formal removal order. However, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), officers hold a powerful discretionary tool. They can offer you an “Allowed to Leave” direction, permitting you to formally withdraw your request to enter the country. Understanding why this option is vastly superior to a deportation order is critical for your future travel plans. 📝
Step-by-Step Process for a Voluntary Withdrawal in Canada
If you are cornered in a secondary inspection room, navigating the legal options requires quick thinking. The voluntary withdrawal process generally unfolds in the following manner. 📍
Step 1: Discovering the Admissibility Issue
During the secondary interview, the officer will confront you with their findings. They might have found a hidden resume in your luggage, text messages indicating unauthorized work, or a lack of sufficient funds. At this moment, the officer explicitly states that they believe you are legally inadmissible to Canada. ⚠️
Step 2: The Officer’s Assessment
Before issuing a devastating Exclusion or Deportation Order, the officer will assess your attitude and history. If you have no criminal background, have never lied to immigration authorities before, and cooperate fully, they may decide that a formal ban is too harsh. They will then present you with the option of a Section 42 IRPR voluntary withdrawal. 📄
Step 3: Offering the Voluntary Withdrawal
The officer will explain that you can voluntarily withdraw your application to enter Canada. This means you agree to turn around and go home immediately. By doing this, no formal removal order is stamped on your permanent immigration file, meaning you will not require an expensive Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) later. ✈️
Step 4: Signing the Official Forms
If you accept, you must sign a statutory declaration formally withdrawing your request for entry. CBSA will cancel your current Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), as the conditions of your original approval have clearly changed. You will be held in a waiting area until your departure. 🔒
Step 5: Returning to Your Home Country
You must leave Canada immediately. You will either be placed on the next available flight back to your origin, or if you are at a land border in Ontario or Alberta, you will simply be directed to walk or drive back into the United States. 🚗
How Much Does it Cost in Canada?
While an “Allowed to Leave” direction saves you from legal fees later, it carries massive immediate financial penalties. You are entirely responsible for the costs of your sudden departure. 💵
- Flight Rebooking: You must usually purchase a new, last-minute flight home, which can cost anywhere from $800 CAD to $2,500 CAD.
- Lost Visa Fees: The $100 CAD visitor visa fee or $7 CAD eTA fee you originally paid to IRCC is non-refundable.
- Lost Accommodations: You will likely lose your deposits on Canadian hotels or Airbnb rentals, costing hundreds or thousands of dollars.
- Future Applications: When you apply for a new TRV, you may want to hire a Canadian law firm to write a submission letter explaining the withdrawal, costing $1,000 CAD to $2,500 CAD.
How Long Does the Process Take?
The situation at the border unfolds incredibly fast. ⏱️
- Border Processing: The entire secondary inspection and withdrawal paperwork usually takes 2 to 4 hours.
- Waiting for Departure: You may be held in the CBSA departure lounge for 6 to 24 hours until the next available outgoing flight.
- Future Reapplication: Because there is no formal ban, you can theoretically apply for a new Canadian visa immediately, though it takes IRCC several weeks to process it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Am I banned from Canada if I voluntarily withdraw?
No, you are not formally banned. Unlike an Exclusion Order which carries a mandatory 1-to-5-year ban, a voluntary withdrawal leaves no time-based prohibition. However, you must prove to IRCC that you have fixed the original issue before they will approve a new visa.
Will my current visitor visa be cancelled?
Yes. When CBSA allows you to leave, they will physically cancel your TRV foil in your passport or revoke your eTA in the computer system. You cannot simply try to fly back to Canada the next day using the same document.
Can I demand to see a judge instead of withdrawing?
As a foreign national visitor at a Port of Entry, you have very limited appeal rights. If you refuse the voluntary withdrawal, the CBSA officer will simply proceed to issue a formal removal order. It is almost always in your best interest to accept the withdrawal.
Does a voluntary withdrawal affect my US visa?
Canada and the United States share extensive border immigration data. A voluntary withdrawal from Canada will be visible to US Customs and Border Protection. While it is not a deportation, you should expect heavier questioning the next time you try to enter the US.
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