Extension of stay, please respond asap

[Captainjp]

Hello! My husband and I are about to go into the spousal sponsorship process, and we have yet to send in our application, his stay will be over in a month and a half and we are wondering when to apply for an extension of stay?

Here are our questions

1.How long does it take, and can he stay immediately?

2.Should we apply for the extension before we send the application for sponsorship?

3. We noticed on the cic website, that they have a "apply online" option for extension, has anyone used this and is it preferable?

Thank you!

 

[little_apple]

It's better to apply for a visa extension after the PR application has been submitted.

I applied for an extension online and it took about 2 weeks to receive the visitor record in the mail. Processing times change all the time. So you better check. They recommend applying for an extension 30 days before the current visa expires to give it enough time. But you can apply later. The application for the extension has to be with CIC before his status expires. He then will have implied status until his application has been approved (or denied)

 

[Captainjp]

It's better to apply for a visa extension after the PR application has been submitted.

I applied for an extension online and it took about 2 weeks to receive the visitor record in the mail. Processing times change all the time. So you better check. They recommend applying for an extension 30 days before the current visa expires to give it enough time. But you can apply later. The application for the extension has to be with CIC before his status expires. He then will have implied status until his application has been approved (or denied)

How soon after? We will be sending out our application in the next 2-3 days.

should we send the extension papers immediately after, like a day or two,Or apply online like a week after we send the papers?

 

[little_apple]

I would wait a few days and then mention the date of your application in your explanation letter for the visa extension.

Usually I would wait until you have a file number but this could take 4-5 weeks so don't risk it.

You can ask for a visitor record for more than 6 months. Some people received it for 12 so you wouldn't have to worry about a legal status for a while

 

[Captainjp]

I would wait a few days and then mention the date of your application in your explanation letter for the visa extension.

Usually I would wait until you have a file number but this could take 4-5 weeks so don't risk it.

You can ask for a visitor record for more than 6 months. Some people received it for 12 so you wouldn't have to worry about a legal status for a while

Thank you! So would you recommend online? If we ask for 12 months, do you think it'd be possible to be denied? would 6 be safe?

 

[little_apple]

I would do it online. I don't trust snailmail
I don't think it matters for how many months you ask. What is the average processing time of the visa office? If it is around 12 months then ask for 12 months. Just explain why you want him to stay and show that you have enough funds for the amount of time

 

[cmathslu]

In my situation, I submitted together, although they will go in a separate processing centre, so that they will see why you are extending your stay. I even included a copy of my spousal application when I submitted my extended stay (visitors visa).

When I apply my extended stay it took, 3weeks. Once you have a application submitted you can stay until you receive a result of your application.

If you do apply online for extend stay, better to submit the spousal application first.

 

[sophieee]

Thank you! So would you recommend online? If we ask for 12 months, do you think it'd be possible to be denied? would 6 be safe?

I would (was) do it by snail mail. Regardless of how much time you are asking for, they give 3-6-12 months, but if you are doing it via snail mail, then you get approx. two extra months in implied status.

 

[little_apple]

I would (was) do it by snail mail. Regardless of how much time you are asking for, they give 3-6-12 months, but if you are doing it via snail mail, then you get approx. two extra months in implied status.

Good thinking. Never thought of that ;D

 

[screech339]

When my wife and I went back to Canada, the agent at the border, at the time, recommended that when we apply for visitor extension with the PR application, ask for 12 month extension, not 6 month. Why pay another 75 dollars for another 6 month extension when you can get 12 months for same price in the first place.

 

[sophieee]

When my wife and I went back to Canada, the agent at the border, at the time, recommended that when we apply for visitor extension with the PR application, ask for 12 month extension, not 6 month. Why pay another 75 dollars for another 6 month extension when you can get 12 months for same price in the first place.

I was asking for 12 months, got 6. My application is in process, I provided the UCI# for both the sponsor and the applicant, I'm from a visa-exempt country, and still.

 

[screech339]

I was asking for 12 months, got 6. My application is in process, I provided the UCI# for both the sponsor and the applicant, I'm from a visa-exempt country, and still.

Was it outland PR application or inland application? Just trying to figure out why they gave you 6 month despite you asking for 12.

My wife is from a non-visa exempt country.

 

[sophieee]

Was it outland PR application or inland application? Just trying to figure out why they gave you 6 month despite you asking for 12.

My wife is from a non-visa exempt country.

It's inland. The only reason I can think of is that they couldn't find my file because of the transfer, so they didn't give me 12 months just because I said I have an application in process.

 

[sophieee]

See also this:

Hi Sophieee,

I was wondering did you get the approval of the extension from CIC yet? I got mine today from CIC (myCIC account) and they are asking me to do the medical exam...meanwhile, I fond there is a letter called "in canada approval leter" which is an IMM5754 form states my visa extension app has been approved and a secure document has been mailed to me...however, the vaildity is showing 2014/07/04 on this letter.....

I have been requiring a one year extension for it since i'm waiting the process of my inland app for PR...i don't know if this is a "temporary" one because I need to sumbit my medical exam report?

does anyone know about this? i hope it doesn't mean i only got 3 months extension...it means almost nothing for me arrrrrrr.... :'(

 

[screech339]

It's inland. The only reason I can think of is that they couldn't find my file because of the transfer, so they didn't give me 12 months just because I said I have an application in process.

It is a little unusual to get denied the 12 month but get 6 months instead. But it does to show that you don't always get what you request.