Applying for extension of Visitor Status

[lucy786]

Hello

I am from New Zealand and am currently in Canada as a visitor (New Zealand is visa exempt and can stay up to 6 months). My visitory status expired at the end of June. I would like to extend my stay as a visitor for a few months.

My questions are:

1. Do I need a compelling reason to stay in Canada, or is continuing as a tourist ok? (i have enough funds).
2. How long does the visa application take to be assessed usually? I know I can stay on implied status, so I'm thinking this may be enough to stay for a few months?

thanks very much!!

 

[Jalex23]

1. Do I need a compelling reason to stay in Canada, or is continuing as a tourist ok? (i have enough funds).

You need a reason to justify acting as a temporal resident and not a visitor.

2. How long does the visa application take to be assessed usually? I know I can stay on implied status, so I'm thinking this may be enough to stay for a few months?

Implied status is not supposed to be used like that. That is abusing the law.

It usually takes 2 to 8 weeks

 

[canuck_in_uk]

1. Do I need a compelling reason to stay in Canada, or is continuing as a tourist ok? (i have enough funds).
2. How long does the visa application take to be assessed usually? I know I can stay on implied status, so I'm thinking this may be enough to stay for a few months?

1. If you show proof of funds and a plan for what will be doing/seeing/etc., you should be fine.

2. CIC is currently working on paper apps from Jan 4th and online apps from Feb 8th. If processing times stay the same and you apply by paper in June, then it would be around September before you heard anything. And yes, you can remain in Canada on Implied Status during this time without issue.

 

[lucy786]

1. If you show proof of funds and a plan for what will be doing/seeing/etc., you should be fine.

2. CIC is currently working on paper apps from Jan 4th and online apps from Feb 8th. If processing times stay the same and you apply by paper in June, then it would be around September before you heard anything. And yes, you can remain in Canada on Implied Status during this time without issue.

Thanks so much canuck_in_uk - thats really helpful advice! Just to be clear, i dont intend to take advantage of implied status but its useful to know how long this usually takes to be able to plan accommodation etc.