Confused about Tourist visa extension

[Carol m]

Hi Guys


I`m so confused, who can help me?

My situation:

I arrived Canada as a tourist August 2009.
I sent my application January 2010 to extend another 6 month (till August 2010)

I wanna start the 6-month Live-in-caregiver School this May....


so my question is....what if they extend my Tourist-Visa again and it`s gonna be good till August but I need to finish the School till October?
Can i leave the end of April just for 48 hours and get at the border a new tourist visa from may-oktober?

I have to make sure that i can stay exactly 6 month in a row!!!!



Thank you already!!!

 

[Baloo]

I assume you got your extension form in 30 days before your tourist visa ended.

Can I ask, are you from a visa exempt country, or did you have a visa or a visitor record?

I believe that in some cases you are not allowed to attend school while you are in Canada - I know my visitor record specifically prohibits this.

There is no guarantee that you will be allowed a six month stay, that is up to the POE officer. But many people are admitted for six months at a time.

 

[Carol m]

Hi Baloo

My (first) tourist visa is still good till 14.february. so i did apply one month before(january)and i guess i will know in around 1,5 month.I`m from a exempt country(switzerland).
I'm just worried in case they alow me to stay i would get the next 6 month(what is great!) but i have to leave 2 month earlier(august) than my school ends.

so if I leave again at the end of april and come back may to start school, what counts? My extended tourist visa till august or 6 month from the day i would re-enter canada in may.

(would it help to show at the border a letter of recommentation from the School?)


i don't get that...

 

[Baloo]

Sadly I don't know about the caregiver scheme.
If you have an extension I believe you will get a visitor record (I am waiting for my first one), it will normally say "THIS DOES NOT AUTHORIZE RE-ENTRY".

Visa extension times are currently at 73 days - check here http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/canada/process-in.asp#temp_res

I am told (from this forum) it is not advisable to leave the country in the middle of extending a visa.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/i-see-that-the-visa-extension-processing-time-has-been-updated-t34085.0.html;msg216093#msg216093

 

[Carol m]

Thanx Baloo

Why is it not advisable to leave and re-enter Canada in the middle of an extended tourist visa?I'm still confused sorry
And I'm wondering wich one would count?The extension or the new tourist visa that i get when re-enter...?

Does anybody know?

 

[Baloo]

Whenever you travel to Canada as a visitor the POE can refuse to let you in. There is no right of entry, well, unless you are a citizen [Edit - or a PR].

You have to meet the immigration criteria whenever you visit Canada, if the POE does not believe you, then you will be going back where you came from.
I think the words are something like, "you can sign this form and leave the country or we can arrest you and you will be deported" - I overheard that in Toronto Pearson on my last visit (It was not said to me, I was allowed in for six months ;D ).

I accept that most people do not have a problem, but that means nothing if it is your "visit" that will not happen.

When you are from a visa exempt country your "virtual visa" (it is my term for the stamp the POE puts in your passport) runs for a maximum of six months. If you leave and re-enter, they will stamp your passport again, that new stamp is valid for six months - unless the POE specifies a different period of time.

So if you paid $75 to extend your visa and then you leave, I believe that visa means nothing, because it usually does not allow re-entry. The next time you arrive you get a new "virtual visa", but as the POE sees your past history he/she may want more proof that you will leave.

It all sounds rather grim, because POE decisions are their view of what you are doing (you may not like it but they have the power),
But like I said, the reality is most people have no problem. Remember, the POE is not there to help you, they defend the country.

 

[Carol m]

Thank you for your detailed answer baloo!

So do you think when I re-enter it is for my advantage to show the POE the letter of recommentation?
Everytime I come to Canada i hope I get the nicest POE,hihihihi!The thing is, you never know...

If the POE will say NO, could I try the next day to come in from the Staates?Or would he sent me back to switzerland when re-enter canada thru the staates??Is there a time how long you have to wait until you can come back??

Unreal how many thoughts go through my head.I wish someone could predict my future

Enjoy your sunday!!!

 

[Baloo]

I wish that I knew the best way to do this,..... I could make millions
But I have a hard enough time dealing with all my stuff, let alone advising you ;D
Just imagine how bad would I feel if you were sent back because of my recommendations !

Actually, wherever you try to enter the POE's have access to your details.

I would guess that you would have to go back to Switzerland, why would the USA (who share immigration info' with Canada) allow you to enter if your story/proof was not good enough for Canada.

Like I said, most people don't have any problems.
I have been in an out of Canada a lot recently, my last entry was after I had been in Canada for six months, I went to the UK for about a week (for a business meeting) and then returned to Canada wanting to stay for six months (business visitor and tourism) - I met a very nice POE officer, who gave me a visitor record (only after a long conversation, a bag search and phone calls to check my story). To be honest, I expected to be asked what was I doing, so I had as much proof as I could carry. Read the visitor guidelines, learn them and make sure you meet all of them. Carrying more proof than less is always the best option.

Predict the future........ that would be nice.

All I can say is, if you keep trying you will make it in the end

 

[Carol m]

Hi baloo, I really appreciate that you spent your time for me,it feels so good to get an answer and I know that I just have to take a risk and nobody can actually tell if it`s gonna work out or not...jeaa you really would make millions if you knew

I think I`ll do that program and hopefully in about 3 years I`ll get my PR...

So thank you again for your patience! I wish you all the best and I hope that whatever way you go you`ll be successful.
Take care

 

[Baloo]

Thanks, keep us up to date.
There are plenty of helpful folk here, if you have a question just ask.

Good luck.