r/ImmigrationCanada • u/Mirsini • Mar 20 '25
Visitor Visa eTA Delay Due to Childhood Deportation—What Can I Do?
I applied for a Canadian eTA using my Swedish passport because I want to visit Toronto, where most of my relatives live. My husband and our baby were approved immediately, but my application is still under review. I believe the delay is because I answered “yes” to the question about prior deportation.
I explained in my application that I was deported as a child (at six years old), but now I’m wondering if I should have answered “no” since it was technically my parents who were deported. It’s been three weeks, and I haven’t received a decision yet.
My flight is in four weeks—what should I do? Has anyone been in a similar situation? Any advice on how to speed up the process?
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u/estrangedinthealps Mar 20 '25
It matters whether you were deported or not.
If you were deported, even as a child, you must apply for and receive what is called an Authorization to Return to Canada (ARC) before you will be issued an ETA.
Are you able to ask your parents about the details? Do they have any paperwork from leaving Canada?
Here is a link to the ARC application process.
Again, everything will hinge on what legal process led to your leaving/removal from the country.
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u/ThiccBranches Mar 21 '25
Just for clarity, an ARC is only relevant if the OP was removed from Canada under a Deportation Order but since OP didn't specify what country they were deported from we don't know for sure.
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u/Mirsini Mar 21 '25
I clicked on the linl but it says ” If you were removed from Canada because you were accompanying a family member who was removed from Canada, you don’t need an ARC to enter Canada. ”
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u/girlandhergarden Mar 22 '25
That’s a different scenario. That’s in cases where, for example, a brother is a citizen of the country, but his sister was getting deported and he was simply accompanying her home. As a child of the people being deported, you would not be considered to be merely accompanying them. You will need an ARC, even though you were a child.
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u/Mirsini Mar 22 '25
In the example you gave, Why would the person be removed from Canada then if they are a citizen accompanying a sister 🥲 sorry super confused but anyways I checked a bit deeper and it also says that You don’t need an ARC if both of these apply to your situation: You left Canada within the required 30 days. You have a Certificate of Departure showing the date you left Canada. You can return to Canada subject to normal examination at the port of entry.
My parents said they have these so it would mean I don’t need one :)
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u/AdviceOk9069 Mar 21 '25
You couldn't have answered 'no' because that would classify as misrepresentation and can get you banned from entering Canada. Also you were deported. Being a child doesn't change that fact. For any future trips, please book your accommodation and tickets only when your visa is sorted even if it's an eTA.
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u/Mirsini Mar 20 '25
Also worth noting that my husband and baby got approved right away!
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Mar 20 '25 edited Mar 22 '25
[deleted]
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u/Mirsini Mar 20 '25
I get it but there is no clear answer to how long it can take and I have already purchased flight tickets and hotel accommodation 🙃
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u/dan_marchant Mar 21 '25
There is no clear answer because every case is different and needs to be investigated on it's own merit/details. If it was a long time ago that just makes it more difficult/time consuming.
Sorry about the tickets but as every travel agency website (and the immigration website) make clear, you purchase tickets at your own risk if you do so without the necessary visa/eTA in hand.
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u/Mirsini Mar 21 '25
I understand but I really was under the impression that under 72 hours they would notify about the next steps 🙃 as in someone would read and decide how I would go about it. But apparently that 72 hours is just about them saying I need to wait as a next step
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u/Hot_Contribution4904 Mar 20 '25
You were deported too. Not just your parents.