Got visa, booking return ticket of a date later than date put in appl. form?

[nevillek]

Hi all..

I am an int'l student in Canada since one year and filed for my mother's visitor visa application last month...

In the application, she had written intended dates of stay as Aug 13-Sep 25 (6 weeks) but she got a visa of 1 year+ so can she book her return ticket for Dec 15 instead of Sep 25 as she would like to stay longer? She would be leaving on Aug 13 itself, but would like to stay longer as she's paying so much. Or would the officer at the Port of Entry know about the details filled in visa application form and create issues? As far as I know, you're allowed to stay upto 6 months.

Thanks

 

[mikeymyke]

Ok I'm saying this based on what my wife told me when she was reading the Vietnamese forums about people entering with TRVs, so don't take it too seriously.

She's read a few cases where the person is from Vietnam, applying to visit a spouse in Canada. They asked for only a few weeks stay, but at the border, they were granted 6 months (no stamp). They decided to stay the 6 months, left before expiry, no problem. The problem lies when they try to return again as a visitor. The officers refused entry because they don't believe they intend to stay for the indicated duration, as they had stayed longer than they had asked for (even though it was allowed) the previous time.

 

[Jalex23]

Ok I'm saying this based on what my wife told me when she was reading the Vietnamese forums about people entering with TRVs, so don't take it too seriously.

She's read a few cases where the person is from Vietnam, applying to visit a spouse in Canada. They asked for only a few weeks stay, but at the border, they were granted 6 months (no stamp). They decided to stay the 6 months, left before expiry, no problem. The problem lies when they try to return again as a visitor. The officers refused entry because they don't believe they intend to stay for the indicated duration, as they had stayed longer than they had asked for (even though it was allowed) the previous time.

This is true. At least in the first visit timelines should match. As always it all depends on the officer.... but be sure that your application dates and all arrivals/departures from Canada are at hand to the immigration officer at POE.

 

[nevillek]

Ok I'm saying this based on what my wife told me when she was reading the Vietnamese forums about people entering with TRVs, so don't take it too seriously.

She's read a few cases where the person is from Vietnam, applying to visit a spouse in Canada. They asked for only a few weeks stay, but at the border, they were granted 6 months (no stamp). They decided to stay the 6 months, left before expiry, no problem. The problem lies when they try to return again as a visitor. The officers refused entry because they don't believe they intend to stay for the indicated duration, as they had stayed longer than they had asked for (even though it was allowed) the previous time.

How would the officers know what the "intended dates" were? Those are only mentioned in the applications and checked by EMBASSY officers, not POE officers.

 

[mikeymyke]

They will usually ask you, how long do you plan to stay? Also, by the time you're at the border, you're supposed to show return tickets leaving at your original date anyway.

 

[AMJ]

would the officer at the Port of Entry know about the details filled in visa application form and create issues[/b]? As far as I know, you're allowed to stay upto 6 months.

She would be required to inform the Officer about the duration of her stay in Canada, if asked. The duration of the stay has got nothing to do with the dates mentioned on the visa application as long as she returns back 'on time'.

 

[Jalex23]

How would the officers know what the "intended dates" were? Those are only mentioned in the applications and checked by EMBASSY officers, not POE officers.

But the information is shared.

One thing, don't try to outsmart CIC. Many try, many get lucky, many get caught.

The duration of the stay has got nothing to do with the dates mentioned on the visa application as long as she returns back 'on time'.

For the first one yes, at least there should be rational difference, as Mikey mentioned if you wrote 2 weeks and stay 6 months a scenario like the discribed can happen.

As always it depends on the officers criteria.

 

[nevillek]

She would be required to inform the Officer about the duration of her stay in Canada, if asked. The duration of the stay has got nothing to do with the dates mentioned on the visa application as long as she returns back 'on time'.

Exactly. That's what I wanted to know. She will be asking POE officer for 3 months and not 3 weeks as mentioned in the visa application. If the officer allows, I don't see a problem.

 

[mikeymyke]

Exactly. That's what I wanted to know. She will be asking POE officer for 3 months and not 3 weeks as mentioned in the visa application. If the officer allows, I don't see a problem.

The problem with that is you're supposed to have return tickets on hand when you arrive at the border. If you have return tickets that show you leaving after 3 months, the officer might look at how much money you have on hand, purpose of stay, etc, and make a determination that you will only stay for a few weeks. Then you have to pay the costs of having to change your return ticket to an earlier date.

Some people choose to arrive on a one way ticket, and planning on buying a return ticket after they know when they're supposed to leave, but this can be risky as some officers might refuse you entry without proof of return ticket. Some refuse, some don't, depends on the person. The chances of refusal are much greater if you don't have a return ticket, and depending on your personal circumstances. It would suck to be refused entry after you spent that money and took that flight.

And also, you have the issue mentioned earlier, where you could potentially be refused entry a second time when they find out you stayed longer than what you had asked for previously. If an officer gives you 6 months stay when you asked for 3 weeks, and you take it, shouldn't be a problem right? Well then I don't know why those other people were told they cannot enter because they stayed longer than asked last time. One person even said that the border officer implied that maybe she was working under the table to support herself during her extended stay, as she only had $2000 for 3 weeks to begin with, so to survive $2000 on 6 months, the officer assumed she must be working under the table.

 

[DIVYAZABI]

Ok I'm saying this based on what my wife told me when she was reading the Vietnamese forums about people entering with TRVs, so don't take it too seriously.

She's read a few cases where the person is from Vietnam, applying to visit a spouse in Canada. They asked for only a few weeks stay, but at the border, they were granted 6 months (no stamp). They decided to stay the 6 months, left before expiry, no problem. The problem lies when they try to return again as a visitor. The officers refused entry because they don't believe they intend to stay for the indicated duration, as they had stayed longer than they had asked for (even though it was allowed) the previous time.

What happens if the spouse on TRV changes to OWP inland after entering? I heard that the exit date or details are not being tracked by CIC! In this case, how do they know if someone over-stayed (I mean staying longer than specified on visa application) but well within the legally permitted duration stampled on the passport? Will changing the conditions of stay to OWP affect future entries?!

 

[mikeymyke]

I'm not familiar with OWP's, you can ask Rob_TO or PMM.