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MarkGuy

Star Member
Dec 28, 2009
131
3
It was my understanding, after doing research and speaking with two Government of Canada CIC reps, that when a visitor enters Canada their passport is either stamped or stamped and hand-written.
A stamp with no hand-writing would signify a 6-month visit duration was allowed.

If there was additional hand-writing, it would indicate the visit duration permitted.

The CIC website even gives these two examples for the public to view.

My fiancee recently entered Canada on a TRV and had her passport stamped and written on.
The date written was six months from the date of entry!

Can someone please explain why this 'third' possibility was used at the point of entry?
TIA
 
Hi

MarkGuy said:
It was my understanding, after doing research and speaking with two Government of Canada CIC reps, that when a visitor enters Canada their passport is either stamped or stamped and hand-written.
A stamp with no hand-writing would signify a 6-month visit duration was allowed.

If there was additional hand-writing, it would indicate the visit duration permitted.

The CIC website even gives these two examples for the public to view.

My fiancee recently entered Canada on a TRV and had her passport stamped and written on.
The date written was six months from the date of entry!

Can someone please explain why this 'third' possibility was used at the point of entry?
TIA

1. So your fiancee has no doubts about her length of stay.
2. There is another option, a visitor record can be issued as well as the passport being stamped.
 
PMM said:
Hi

1. So your fiancee has no doubts about her length of stay.
2. There is another option, a visitor record can be issued as well as the passport being stamped.

Thanks PMM.
I guess I'll have to read up now on visitor records. :)
 
I have a related question....

I got into Canada last August 16 (Im from an exempt country) meaning my six months wouldve been up Feb 16. However, I went on vacation and left the country Dec and returned back to Canada Jan 5.....I just realized now (now that Im back in Europe) that I got a new stamp saying Jan 5 2011......technically would that mean I was allowed to stay another 6 months ?? However at customs, I had told them I was returning to Europe Feb 16 (and she looked at my last stamp from August and said "oh ok")

If I decide to return to Canada in a few months, will it count as my 6 months under the Jan 5 stamp?? ehh

Thank you so much for your help!
 
Hi

rach3rd said:
I have a related question....

I got into Canada last August 16 (Im from an exempt country) meaning my six months wouldve been up Feb 16. However, I went on vacation and left the country Dec and returned back to Canada Jan 5.....I just realized now (now that Im back in Europe) that I got a new stamp saying Jan 5 2011......technically would that mean I was allowed to stay another 6 months ?? However at customs, I had told them I was returning to Europe Feb 16 (and she looked at my last stamp from August and said "oh ok")

If I decide to return to Canada in a few months, will it count as my 6 months under the Jan 5 stamp?? ehh

Thank you so much for your help!

No, once you left Canada, your visitor status expired, so it is up to the officer to determine your length of stay on your next entry.
 
Ok thanks!!!!
But was I right that the new Jan 5 stamp wouldve meant I could stay until June...?
 
rach3rd said:
Ok thanks!!!!
But was I right that the new Jan 5 stamp wouldve meant I could stay until June...?
If you stayed in Canada, you are correct. As Master "PMM" (Immigration Guru) stated "No, once you left Canada, your visitor status expired, so it is up to the officer to determine your length of stay on your next entry."
 
I went to Canada on a visit visa, just to sit for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination. I got an entry stamp with no hand writing below it. I stayed there for only 10 days and left. But I noticed there is no exit stamp on my passport. Do they usually put exit stamp on passports upon leaving? Or they just do it electronically in their computers. Please comment as I am fearful that the officer might have missed making the exit notes on his computer.
 
aspire said:
I went to Canada on a visit visa, just to sit for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination. I got an entry stamp with no hand writing below it. I stayed there for only 10 days and left. But I noticed there is no exit stamp on my passport. Do they usually put exit stamp on passports upon leaving? Or they just do it electronically in their computers. Please comment as I am fearful that the officer might have missed making the exit notes on his computer.

I have never received an exit stamp. Depending on where you are traveling (i.e. states) they may stamp our passport upon entry, but in most cases, if you are a citizen, they won't stamp your passport. Where were you traveling from Canada?
 
j2m said:
I have never received an exit stamp. Depending on where you are traveling (i.e. states) they may stamp our passport upon entry, but in most cases, if you are a citizen, they won't stamp your passport. Where were you traveling from Canada?
I stayed in Winnipeg and exited through Toronto. So, do you mean there is nothing for me to be worried about? Thank you for your reply.
 
yes, there is nothing for you to worry about :). I don't think I ever got a "exit stamp". If they were concerned they would have given you a Visitor Record and instructed you to turn that in upon exit. You are good to go.
 
Canada does not place any mark or stamp when you leave Canada. You don't have to worry. If you went back to the Philippines or went back to the middle east airport authorities would have stamped your passport on your arrival date to either country.

aspire said:
I went to Canada on a visit visa, just to sit for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination. I got an entry stamp with no hand writing below it. I stayed there for only 10 days and left. But I noticed there is no exit stamp on my passport. Do they usually put exit stamp on passports upon leaving? Or they just do it electronically in their computers. Please comment as I am fearful that the officer might have missed making the exit notes on his computer.
 
Nothing to worry! i have been in Canada twice and they never stamp my passport when i arrive or when i leave....never. I'm US citizen.
 
Morena said:
Nothing to worry! i have been in Canada twice and they never stamp my passport when i arrive or when i leave....never. I'm US citizen.

Thank you.
 
Morena
Don't forget that biometric passports and others can also be scanned and not stamped.
And that information can be shared between Canada and the USA.