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My experience flying into Canada with an app in process

amikety

VIP Member
Dec 4, 2011
4,905
143
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-01-2013
AOR Received.
2-2-2013
Med's Done....
12-10-2012
Passport Req..
9-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
7-08-2013
LANDED..........
7-08-2013
bscinto92 said:
i gues my best bet is to just answer the questions they ask me truthfully, which is no problem since there is nothing i wouldn't want to tell them lol.
+1!
 

lunas

Champion Member
Apr 10, 2012
1,349
25
USA
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09/07/2012
AOR Received.
11/07/2012
Med's Done....
8/15/2012
Passport Req..
03/14/2013
LANDED..........
04/19/2013
Even if the officers give the applicant a one-year visa, what happens if the applicant decides to go back to check on things back home before that visa expires? Does it reset and you need to reapply next time you cross the border?
 

bscinto92

Hero Member
Apr 8, 2012
234
5
124
Shelton, Connecticut
Category........
Visa Office......
Los Angeles
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
November 1, 2012
File Transfer...
December 9, 2012
Med's Done....
August 15, 2012
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
May 6, 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 31, 2013
LANDED..........
June 29, 2013
if a visa is considered the same thing as a visitor record for a visa-exempt country.... i'm pretty sure that the moment you leave canada it's considered expired and you have to reapply. at least that's what they told me lol.
 

runningfree

Full Member
Apr 3, 2012
29
0
Sweden said:
your wife has probably been given a "normal tourist visa" as I have in my passport - which means that your wife's passport got stamped, and unless something got specified, it's good for 6 months. It's the same for me.

a visitor record ( from one I understand) is a separate paper, and that can be up to one year. it's mostly given to people who have applications in process, but it's also probably only if you "ask for it" specifically, and/or if the officer decides to give you one. In your case, and mine too, the officer just stamped the passport - which means good for 6 months unless otherwise indicated - and that's it...

Hope it clarifies a bit.
Good luck with your application,
Sweden

thanks for clearing that up for me!
 

Pigey

Star Member
Nov 7, 2011
114
2
124
Alberta, Canada
Category........
Visa Office......
Case Processing Centre Ottowa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
24-05-2012
AOR Received.
16-07-2012
File Transfer...
23-07-2012
Med's Done....
23-02-2012
Interview........
Waived! WOOT!
Passport Req..
28-12-2012
VISA ISSUED...
08-01-2013
LANDED..........
19-01-2013
aerogurl87 said:
I just got back to Canada with my boyfriend and was scared to death I'd be turned around at the airport. I've been living with him for almost the past two years legally. But with a past work permit and after only spending two weeks in the US, I started to freak out when we got to customs. The officer there referred us to the immigration office and we talked to the officer there for a bit. I told her I only wanted to stay until February so I could spend the holidays with my boyfriend and his family. She checked some stuff on the computer and told me I should apply for an open work permit. I'm sure I can't since I applied outland, but I didn't argue with her over it. Then to my surprise she gave me a year long visitor record that was good for multiple entries. So flying isn't always bad if you are in process. You might get lucky like me and get a nice customs agent. :)
I had the same great experience flying into Calgary. I may actually try to land there, even though I'm less than an hours from the border crossing at Coutts.
 

Sweden

VIP Member
Mar 31, 2012
4,186
179
Category........
Visa Office......
London
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12/04/2012
File Transfer...
13/07/2012
Med's Done....
02/02/2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
05/11/12, received in Canada 19/11/12
LANDED..........
24/11/12, PR card received 30/01/12
bscinto92 said:
Not sure if we're sending it via Canada Post or UPS yet, but either way I will recieve a tracking number or something of the sort to show that the application got there. I can print out the page from the website to show it arrived there, would that be good enough? Or will i get something in the mail/e-mail from CIC once my application arrives?
you might get an AOR if you are lucky, but if not, then the UPS or Canada Post, + the receipt proving that you have paid the fees will do.
Good luck,
Sweden
 

amikety

VIP Member
Dec 4, 2011
4,905
143
Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-01-2013
AOR Received.
2-2-2013
Med's Done....
12-10-2012
Passport Req..
9-07-2013
VISA ISSUED...
7-08-2013
LANDED..........
7-08-2013
bscinto92 said:
if a visa is considered the same thing as a visitor record for a visa-exempt country.... i'm pretty sure that the moment you leave canada it's considered expired and you have to reapply. at least that's what they told me lol.
If you're from a visa exempt country like the USA you get a Visitor's Record instead of a visa. Regardless of how long the VR is for, it's forfeit if you leave Canada. You'll need to ask for a new one upon return. Although having a VR can show you've kept in status and CIC was comfortable issuing you a longer stay.

I was really confused about the differences between visa and VR when I first joined. Luckily the guys here taught me the difference :)
 

aerogurl87

Hero Member
Nov 14, 2010
444
15
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
31-07-2012
Doc's Request.
12-02-13
AOR Received.
18-10-2012
Med's Done....
23-04-2012
Interview........
WAIVED!!!! :)
Passport Req..
12-02-2013
VISA ISSUED...
15-03-2013
LANDED..........
10-04-2013
bscinto92 said:
if a visa is considered the same thing as a visitor record for a visa-exempt country.... i'm pretty sure that the moment you leave canada it's considered expired and you have to reapply. at least that's what they told me lol.
I asked the customs agent about this and she said mine was good for multiple entries as long as I don't do anything crazy that could make me inadmissible. She also put that it was good for multiple entries in my remarks section.