30 days before extension of status

[rickk85]

Hi guys,

I'm applying to extend my wife's stay (she's American) while we work on the outland application (a lot to go through still). Everyone is saying outland is the way to go right now as Inland has bad wait times with strikes and stuff.

My question, my wife's 6 months is up in Sept 9. I'm hoping to get her extension in by this Friday Aug 9 (online, with scanned docs). The website says "You should apply 30 days before your status expires." I'm just waiting on a payment to go through on my credit card so that I can pay for the PR app ($575?) and attach the receipts, so we show we have full intention of applying before the extension runs out (people have told me this is a good strategy).

How strict is the 30 day rule? i.e., if we get it in like 2 days after or this monday would we be screwed? Everything should go through by tomorrow but just want to know if I need to stress or act faster.

cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

Thanks! This forum is a life saver.

 

[Foster]

Hi guys,

I'm applying to extend my wife's stay (she's American) while we work on the outland application (a lot to go through still). Everyone is saying outland is the way to go right now as Inland has bad wait times with strikes and stuff.

My question, my wife's 6 months is up in Sept 9. I'm hoping to get her extension in by this Friday Aug 9 (online, with scanned docs). The website says "You should apply 30 days before your status expires." I'm just waiting on a payment to go through on my credit card so that I can pay for the PR app ($575?) and attach the receipts, so we show we have full intention of applying before the extension runs out (people have told me this is a good strategy).

How strict is the 30 day rule? i.e., if we get it in like 2 days after or this monday would we be screwed? Everything should go through by tomorrow but just want to know if I need to stress or act faster.

cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

Thanks! This forum is a life saver.

I didn't send in any proof of applying to sponsor but I did send in a copy of my pay stubs just to show I can support my husband while he's here "visiting". I pretty much put that we are in the midst of putting together all docs for the application. As for the timeline don't worry. As long as you have sent it in, a couple of days doesn't hurt but the sooner the better. Also, the extension of stay notice of approval or denial takes awhile so don't stress if you don't see it in a couple of weeks.

 

[rickk85]

Ah, that's a relief. Thanks Foster.

I figure I'll pay for it anyway just to get it out of the way and I'll attach my pay stubs as proof as well with my letter stating we are in the midst of applying. I don't want her to be denied for any reason.

 

[kkbaggio]

Hi Rick,

I'm applying for my PR too and my fiancee already approved to be my sponsor so I came to Canada last month and want to stay here and wait till the application approved. I applied for outland too and hopefully everything will be fine. I can stay in Canada for 180 days visa free so how do I extend my stay here? I can just tell them I'm in progress of the PR application so I can stay here longer? please advice. Thank you very much.

kk

 

[Foster]

Ah, that's a relief. Thanks Foster.

I figure I'll pay for it anyway just to get it out of the way and I'll attach my pay stubs as proof as well with my letter stating we are in the midst of applying. I don't want her to be denied for any reason.

No worries!! Extension of stay isn't as strict as other applications. Since she's American she shouldn't have any problems. My hubby is American and he had no issues it just took forever to receive the extension of stay certificate.

 

[Foster]

Hi Rick,

I'm applying for my PR too and my fiancee already approved to be my sponsor so I came to Canada last month and want to stay here and wait till the application approved. I applied for outland too and hopefully everything will be fine. I can stay in Canada for 180 days visa free so how do I extend my stay here? I can just tell them I'm in progress of the PR application so I can stay here longer? please advice. Thank you very much.

kk

Click this link for the extension of stay...

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/extend-stay.asp

It's really easy and it costs $75. Just let them know your sponsor is approved you are just waiting on PR.

 

[kkbaggio]

thanks foster!

 

[rickk85]

Hi gang,

So we've gathered all the docs, I have a letter that I'm supporting my wife, she's written a letter outlying her intent. I'm just about to pull the trigger, pay the $75 and apply for her visitor extension.

My wife is paranoid and scared so I have to ask, what are the reasons for a refusal on extension? She doesn't want to go back to Cali as she loves it up here. Is there anything we should watch for?

I've told her, worse comes to worse, she has to leave Canada on Sept 9th if she gets refused the extension, then can try to visit me and be very upfront with the customs guy. We're doing outland so at least her app won't be in jeopardy.

Any words of reassurance I can give her so she doesn't lose sleep over the next 3-4 weeks?

 

[Alurra71]

Hi gang,

So we've gathered all the docs, I have a letter that I'm supporting my wife, she's written a letter outlying her intent. I'm just about to pull the trigger, pay the $75 and apply for her visitor extension.

My wife is paranoid and scared so I have to ask, what are the reasons for a refusal on extension? She doesn't want to go back to Cali as she loves it up here. Is there anything we should watch for?

I've told her, worse comes to worse, she has to leave Canada on Sept 9th if she gets refused the extension, then can try to visit me and be very upfront with the customs guy. We're doing outland so at least her app won't be in jeopardy.

Any words of reassurance I can give her so she doesn't lose sleep over the next 3-4 weeks?

Provided she did not try to sneak in under the radar, she should have NOTHING to worry about. I went directly to the border on the day my visitor record expired, informed them I was prepared to leave as was outlined when the original was given to me. They told me that it wasn't necessary and gave me another 12 month visitor record. You should have NO problems at all with extending her stay. Just be sure to stay within the rules. Don't let her go to work or study while here in Canada until/unless she gets a work/study permit.

So long as you follow the rules, there should not be a problem at all with extending her stay, ESPECIALLY since she is from the US.

 

[rickk85]

Thanks so much Alurra. I'll let her know. We are definitely trying to be legit. No way is she working or anything until we have the okay from CIC.

The reason she's scared is because when she crossed over to stay with me she was hassled a bit. They randomly searched her under suspicion she was a drug mule (young girl with some bags apparently they assume she's working for a mexican drug ring). After quickly realizing she wasn't a drug mule or anything of the sort, nor was there anything suspicious in her bags, they decided to let her through but they found her wedding dress. The guy gave her a hard time saying he didn't like the way she was going about getting married or something even though she wasn't doing anything wrong 'technically'. She explained she was visting me and we were going to get married, so after everything he still let her through.

So she's been paranoid ever since. I've tried to explain to her that if they were super pissed they wouldn't have let her through to begin with, or they would've given her a visitor record saying she could stay two weeks or something.

The customs guy never gave her a slip nor do I think he wrote anything up. He just stamped her passport and let her through after verbally hassling her.

 

[Alurra71]

Thanks so much Alurra. I'll let her know.

The reason she's scared is because when she crossed over to stay with me she was hassled a bit. They randomly searched her under suspicion she was a drug mule (young girl with some bags apparently they assume she's working for a mexican drug ring). After quickly realizing she wasn't a drug mule or anything of the sort, nor was there anything suspicious in her bags, they decided to let her through but they found her wedding dress. The guy gave her a hard time saying he didn't like the way she was going about getting married or something even though she wasn't doing anything wrong 'technically'. She explained she was visting me and we were going to get married, so after everything he still let her through.

So she's been paranoid ever since. I've tried to explain to her that if they were super pissed they wouldn't have let her through to begin with, or they would've given her a visitor record saying she could stay two weeks or something.

The customs guy never gave her a slip nor do I think he wrote anything up. He just stamped her passport and let her through after verbally hassling her.

Oh for sure! I totally understand the 'grumpy' part. My hubby and I were going to apply outland and I was going to stay in the US until my PR was approved and continue working and pay off some of my debt before I moved here with him. Because of a 'grumpy' border agent, I ended up quitting my job and moving over here as soon as we were married. He gave me such a hassle trying to come to Canada to see my then fiance a week before our wedding. He decided that he thought I was living in Canada already since I crossed over on Tuesday nights and went back to the US on Weds morn for work, then came back on Friday night and left again Sunday afternoon. He sent me into immigration/customs where they proceeded to give me the third degree, made me sign a 'voluntary removal request for entry into Canada', gave me a list of things 10 miles long to PROVE to them I was still living in the US then told me I could maybe come back and see my fiance.

Long story short, I brought them ALL the requested documents and they STILL gave me a hassle, but let me in. Directly because of that incident the day we got married, we crossed back into Canada (we were married in the US) together, and went directly into immigration/customs and got me my first visitor record. I gave you the story after that. They had seen my PR paperwork was being processed, yada yada not a big deal at all.

Tell her not to worry about Mr. Grumpy Ass at all, it is not a big deal and as anyone will tell you. CIC and CBSA are two different entities. The guard was CBSA and can not do anything to her. CIC makes the decision if she gets to stay and they would have no reason to deny her.

 

[rickk85]

Oh for sure! I totally understand the 'grumpy' part. My hubby and I were going to apply outland and I was going to stay in the US until my PR was approved and continue working and pay off some of my debt before I moved here with him. Because of a 'grumpy' border agent, I ended up quitting my job and moving over here as soon as we were married. He gave me such a hassle trying to come to Canada to see my then fiance a week before our wedding. He decided that he thought I was living in Canada already since I crossed over on Tuesday nights and went back to the US on Weds morn for work, then came back on Friday night and left again Sunday afternoon. He sent me into immigration/customs where they proceeded to give me the third degree, made me sign a 'voluntary removal request for entry into Canada', gave me a list of things 10 miles long to PROVE to them I was still living in the US then told me I could maybe come back and see my fiance.

Long story short, I brought them ALL the requested documents and they STILL gave me a hassle, but let me in. Directly because of that incident the day we got married, we crossed back into Canada (we were married in the US) together, and went directly into immigration/customs and got me my first visitor record. I gave you the story after that. They had seen my PR paperwork was being processed, yada yada not a big deal at all.

Tell her not to worry about Mr. Grumpy Ass at all, it is not a big deal and as anyone will tell you. CIC and CBSA are two different entities. The guard was CBSA and can not do anything to her. CIC makes the decision if she gets to stay and they would have no reason to deny her.

Wow, I can't believe that. Grumpy to the max. I'm glad to hear you got through without any BS after you were married. The lengths they'll put people through... insane. Though there's technically nothing illegal about getting married to a citizen of another country.

I consider myself somewhat lucky that I'm a dual citizen (born in the states, Father Canadian) as I usually get through without any grief on either side, though I have noticed Canada, YVR specifically, is a lot less nice than they used to be. Last time I came home I got all kinds of questions, they even sent an agent to ask me the same set of questions again while I was waiting for my bags. I was half tempted to talk back but I didn't due to exhaustion and wanting to leave the airport.

I hate the criminal first mentality. Jeez.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hi guys,

I'm just waiting on a payment to go through on my credit card so that I can pay for the PR app ($575?) and attach the receipts, so we show we have full intention of applying before the extension runs out (people have told me this is a good strategy).

Hi

Just reading through and saw this part of your initial post. There is the Sponsorship application fee of $75 and the Principal applicant fee of $475, which totals to $550. And then there is the RPRF, Right of Permanent Residence Fee, which is another $490. The total amount is $1040.

It is actually recommended that you pay the entire $1040 upfront. If you don't pay the RPRF upfront, then they will have to request it and this will delay your app.

 

[frege]

Thanks so much Alurra. I'll let her know. We are definitely trying to be legit. No way is she working or anything until we have the okay from CIC.

The reason she's scared is because when she crossed over to stay with me she was hassled a bit. They randomly searched her under suspicion she was a drug mule (young girl with some bags apparently they assume she's working for a mexican drug ring). After quickly realizing she wasn't a drug mule or anything of the sort, nor was there anything suspicious in her bags, they decided to let her through but they found her wedding dress. The guy gave her a hard time saying he didn't like the way she was going about getting married or something even though she wasn't doing anything wrong 'technically'. She explained she was visting me and we were going to get married, so after everything he still let her through.

So she's been paranoid ever since. I've tried to explain to her that if they were super pissed they wouldn't have let her through to begin with, or they would've given her a visitor record saying she could stay two weeks or something.

The customs guy never gave her a slip nor do I think he wrote anything up. He just stamped her passport and let her through after verbally hassling her.

I hate it when they give you a hard time even though you haven't done anything wrong.

She can probably find out what he wrote, if anything, by requesting her file from the CBSA.