Extending my stay- Question: Date & place of original entry into Canada?

[lleahdoll]

I have had to answer this question a few times when I applied to renew my Temporary Resident Visa.

Date of original entry = date of your very first visit to Canada

Most recent entry = if you have been in and out of Canada since your original entry, then put the date you last entered Canada.

If you have not left Canada since your "original entry", then your most recent entry is the same as your original entry.

Thank you so much!!!! I just wanted some replies from people who had applied for an extension to see what CIC accepts as an answer.
Cool. I will have to estimate my "original" entry since it was 3 years ago and it was by car. Nor was I the one driving so I don't remember exactly.

 

[screech339]

CSBA does have a record of first original entry since they swiped passports coming in. But the problem lies in the applicants remembering when that original date was, especially those coming from US when they come into Canada multiple times. Would be hard to track that first date entry.

 

[rhcohen2014]

CSBA does have a record of first original entry since they swiped passports coming in. But the problem lies in the applicants remembering when that original date was, especially those coming from US when they come into Canada multiple times. Would be hard to track that first date entry.

yeah, that's what i'm concerned about when i'll need to apply for an extension in the future. i'm sure i went to canada as a child 20+ years ago, so technically that would be my first entry date. the next time i know for sure was back in college, and i can't even be too sure of what year that was!

 

[screech339]

yeah, that's what i'm concerned about when i'll need to apply for an extension in the future. i'm sure i went to canada as a child 20+ years ago, so technically that would be my first entry date. the next time i know for sure was back in college, and i can't even be too sure of what year that was!

As for the child part, I wouldn't dwell on that as it is likely that you came to Canada with just your birth certificate, I am purely making assumptions on what docs was used for you to enter Canada. It wasn't that long ago that Americans and Canadians were using driver's licenses to enter each othe's countries.

Since you mentioned going to college in Canada, I would use the college entry date as your original entry as best to your knowledge. I would suspect you would have required a study visa to study in canada.

Screech339

 

[rhcohen2014]

Since you mentioned going to college in Canada, I would use the college entry date as your original entry as best to your knowledge. I would suspect you would have required a study visa to study in canada.

Screech339

no, i meant i came to canada as a visitor while in college (to enjoy the lower drinking age for new years). Thank your for reminding me, because i'm pretty sure all i used was a driver's license. this was in the 90s, so a passport wasn't needed then.

 

[screech339]

no, i meant i came to canada as a visitor while in college (to enjoy the lower drinking age for new years). Thank your for reminding me, because i'm pretty sure all i used was a driver's license. this was in the 90s, so a passport wasn't needed then.

I would go with the entry date when you started using your US passport to enter Canada.

 

[lleahdoll]

Yeah hopefully I can guess the date correctly. I traveled by land (in a car), and they didn't give me a stamp in my passport so I just have to try and guesstimate with the help of facebook posts around that time.. lol

 

[SenoritaBella]

If you don't know the exact date and do guesstimate, be sure you include a cover letter explaining that you do not recall the exact date, so did your best to estimate approximately when. This will cover your butt against a charge of misrepresentation. They can then try to figure out on their end when exactly it was.

Once you do this though, make a copy of your entire application and letter for future reference. Each time you apply to renew, use the same date as "original entry"(to be consistent), re-write the same cover letter and sign it, then include with your application.

Yeah hopefully I can guess the date correctly. I traveled by land (in a car), and they didn't give me a stamp in my passport so I just have to try and guesstimate with the help of facebook posts around that time.. lol

 

[lleahdoll]

If you don't know the exact date and do guesstimate, be sure you include a cover letter explaining that you do not recall the exact date, so did your best to estimate approximately when. This will cover your butt against a charge of misrepresentation. They can then try to figure out on their end when exactly it was.

Once you do this though, make a copy of your entire application and letter for future reference. Each time you apply to renew, use the same date as "original entry"(to be consistent), re-write the same cover letter and sign it, then include with your application.

Yeah I will put a note with my "Letter of Explanation". I am applying online so I can only submit one file per requested document.
So I'll have to combine the note with something else and easiest would be to insert a note with the Letter of Explanation.

Did anyone else submit their marriage certificate? My husband will be financially supporting me while I'm visiting and I put that and will show that. But how do they KNOW he's my husband. Anyone could lie about that. I wanted to scan a copy of our marriage certificate for them, but as I said for each document they request you can only upload one file for each. And they don't request a marriage certificate.

 

[screech339]

We sent in photocopy of marriage certificate. We don't send in any originals unless asked. Police reports, letter of employment, Option C and income slips from CRA are the only originals we sent in.

We had the copy of our marriage certificate notarized to give it more weight in proof of marriage instead of sending in originals.

 

[rhcohen2014]

We sent in photocopy of marriage certificate. We don't send in any originals unless asked. Police reports, letter of employment, Option C and income slips from CRA are the only originals we sent in.

We had the copy of our marriage certificate notarized to give it more weight in proof of marriage instead of sending in originals.

screech, i think she is asking about what is needed for application to extend visitor status.

 

[screech339]

screech, i think she is asking about what is needed for application to extend visitor status.

My mistake. Was thinking PR sponsorship while writing it.

But yes we also submitted a photocopy of our marriage certificate with the visa extension as well.

The checklist IMM5558 does ask for copy of marriage certificate among documents required with visa extension.

 

[fumbler1983]

They are asking when you first came to "visit" (live) in Canada. They do not mean the first time you have ever been in Canada. They just want to make sure you haven't been here for 3 years and just keep applying for extensions instead of PR.

 

[rhcohen2014]

They are asking when you first came to "visit" (live) in Canada. They do not mean the first time you have ever been in Canada. They just want to make sure you haven't been here for 3 years and just keep applying for extensions instead of PR.

i don't understand what the difference is then? the op is suggesting they are asking for first entry AND last time entered. so wouldn't first time she visited be the first time her passport was used to enter canada?

 

[fumbler1983]

i don't understand what the difference is then? the op is suggesting they are asking for first entry AND last time entered. so wouldn't first time she visited, would have been the first time her passport was used to enter canada?

Well myself as an example is:

I originally entered Canada in October to "live" with my wife. I had left Canada in March right before my first visit expired and before I applied for my first extension. So when I apply for my next extension (I only do six months at a time because I am paranoid) I will put October as the date I first entered Canada and March as the last date I entered Canada.