Stay in Canada as a visitor

[1_Soph_1]

Hi guys,

my visa is about to expire and I'm planning on staying in Canada as a visitor until I get invited to apply for PR.
I'm a German citizen and I know I don't need a visa to stay as a visitor.

How long can I stay and do I have to leave Canada and return as a visitor, just like you do when you activate a visa?

Thanks for your help!
Soph

 

[scylla]

What kind of visa do you have now? If you want to remain in Canada without leaving, you'll need to apply to change your status to visitor before your current visa expires.

 

[1_Soph_1]

Hi,

thanks for the reply! I currently have a work visa through the Young and Professional Visa option.

 

[eddie.r]

yay wait.... u can not just stay... u have to change ur status. apply for visitor visa then, otherwise u will be illegal.... by the way how do u expect ITA?? do u have enough points for it? the best option for u if u find LMIA really fast the visitor visa is just max 6 months if they give u but now what i know without support (family in canada) and enough money they reject the visitor visa...... dont take a risk if u r planing to get PR ...

 

[1_Soph_1]

I'm getting my degree accredited, which will hopefully give me enough points, but I'm running out of time.
I do have family here in Canada and means to support myself.

Do you know if I have to "activate" this visitor visa by leaving the country?

 

[eddie.r]

u can apply online for it but the border is faster tho.... make a profile now tho see how many points u have if its over 450 then try to stay if its not then better if u r waiting at home... no headache if u get ITA coz u r visitor ... they can mess with u like why did u stay as a visitor and apply for PR... visitor is the shittiest thing here in canada

 

[Lammawitch]

I'm getting my degree accredited, which will hopefully give me enough points, but I'm running out of time.
I do have family here in Canada and means to support myself.

Do you know if I have to "activate" this visitor visa by leaving the country?

You must apply to change your status to visitor.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visitor.asp

You do not have to leave the country.

 

[dobes]

Hi guys,

my visa is about to expire and I'm planning on staying in Canada as a visitor until I get invited to apply for PR.
I'm a German citizen and I know I don't need a visa to stay as a visitor.

How long can I stay and do I have to leave Canada and return as a visitor, just like you do when you activate a visa?

Thanks for your help!
Soph

You can apply to change your status to visitor, or you can go to the US for a while and then return as a visitor. Either way, you get 6 months. Then you can apply to extend, but that isn't always granted without a good reason.

 

[scylla]

You can apply to change your status to visitor, or you can go to the US for a while and then return as a visitor. Either way, you get 6 months. Then you can apply to extend, but that isn't always granted without a good reason.

Not true. There is no guarantee someone will be allowed back into Canada or given a six months visit - even if they are visa exempt. There is typically a higher chance of success if someone applies for a change of status from within Canada rather than flagpoling (i.e. going to the US).

 

[Daniellestvn]

I agree with scylla!

 

[Englishman1987]

Not true. There is no guarantee someone will be allowed back into Canada or given a six months visit - even if they are visa exempt. There is typically a higher chance of success if someone applies for a change of status from within Canada rather than flagpoling (i.e. going to the US).

Good information.