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how long do I leave Canada before returning for a new tourist visa?

jackgrump

Newbie
Mar 11, 2013
8
0
This has got to be the simplest possible visa question, but the answer is apparently a classified government secret in Canada:

I'm a US citizen, visiting canada (tourist visa - 6 months). How long do I have to leave the country before returning again on another tourist visa?

Thanks so much for any help!
 

scylla

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Jun 8, 2010
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jackgrump said:
This has got to be the simplest possible visa question, but the answer is apparently a classified government secret in Canada:

I'm a US citizen, visiting canada (tourist visa - 6 months). How long do I have to leave the country before returning again on another tourist visa?

Thanks so much for any help!
There's no black and white rule - that's why you can't find the answer. When you enter Canada immigration is looking to see that you are entering Canada as a genuine tourist and have no plans to remain in Canada long term. If anything about you (how you act, how you talk, what you packed, how recently you visited, how long you plan on staying, etc.) says otherwise - that's when you run into problems. There's no one thing that determines how long and if you will be allowed into Canada.
 

jackgrump

Newbie
Mar 11, 2013
8
0
Thanks so much!

So US citizens can stay in Canada as long as they want, but every six months they have to pass an arbitrary test of honor where their ultimate fate is in the hands of an unpredictable immigration officer.

Honestly, that's quite a bit better than the conditions of any other country I've visited / overstayed my visa in :)