Visa over stay ?

[Mamtasharma]

Hi experts,
I am extremely stressed. I got the ITA but then I was in Canada last year on visitors visa. I got the visa for 3 months initially and went to Canada but then before the 3 months visitor visa finished I applied for another visitors visa within Canada and I was granted 6 months visitor visa. In total I stayed in Canada as a tourist (of course at my sisters place) for 7 months. Now my friends are saying I over stayed (without status in Canada) because I stayed for more than 6 months and this will result in refusal of PR now that I have my ITA ?? I am freaking out . Are my friends correct ??

 

[Vitesze]

What was the expiry date on the visa? It doesn't really matter how long you stayed before, if you left on or before that date you're fine, if you left after you over-stayed.

Overstaying as a visitor for a short period of time likely won't have any major consequences for a PR application, but it does need to be declared in the forms when asked.

 

[Mamtasharma]

I left before the visa expired but then I stayed for 7 months , seems I stayed one whole month extra without status in Canada

 

[Vitesze]

I left before the visa expired but then I stayed for 7 months , seems I stayed one whole month extra without status in Canada

Not sure if I fully understand it - so you came to Canada on a 3-month visa, and before this visa expired you had it extended by a 6-month visa and left before this expired as well? In that case you maintained your visitor status throughout your entire stay.

However, if you came to Canada on a 3-month visa, stayed beyond the expiry date, and then applied and received a 6-month visa, then you did overstay your first visa.

 

[Mamtasharma]

I wasn’t clear With my post. I came to Canada with my 3 months visa and before that 3 months visa expired, I applied for another visa within Canada and I got 6 months visa. My friends are saying since I stayed in Canada for 7 months , I was out of status for that extra one month. They say one cannot stay in Canada for over 6 months.

 

[Vitesze]

I still don't full understand it I think sorry - what I gather is that you:
(1) Came to Canada on a 3 month visa
(2) Before this visa expired, you received a 6 month visa
(3) You left Canada before this 6 month visa expired

If you received a 3 + 6 month visa you would've been able to stay in Canada for up to 9 months.

Key here really is what the Expiry date on your 6-month visa is. If you left on or before that date, you're good. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, you maintain your Visitor Status until that Expiry date.

 

[Mamtasharma]

I still don't full understand it I think sorry - what I gather is that you:
(1) Came to Canada on a 3 month visa
(2) Before this visa expired, you received a 6 month visa
(3) You left Canada before this 6 month visa expired

If you received a 3 + 6 month visa you would've been able to stay in Canada for up to 9 months.

Key here really is what the Expiry date on your 6-month visa is. If you left on or before that date, you're good. It doesn't matter what anyone else says, you maintain your Visitor Status until that Expiry date.

Thanks I get it. Yea I left before the second visa expired. It’s juat that few conversations with friends freaked me out.

 

[Vitesze]

Thanks I get it. Yea I left before the second visa expired. It’s juat that few conversations with friends freaked me out.

You should be fine then. You didn't overstay and it won't affect your PR application.