Success stories??

[CdnandTrini]

Reply: Success stories??

If you are a visa exempt US citizen, you are allowed to stay in Canada for 6 months. If you want to stay longer than 6 months, you have to apply for a visitor's visa extension 30 days before your status expires.

I entered Canada on July 17th, 2012 and have not left since. My husband and I married on August 04, 2012 and then sent in my Permanent Residency Application on September 08, 2012. In December of 2012, 6 months before my status expired I applied for a Visitor's visa extension. On January 26, 2013 I received my extension, which is a year long.

A lot of people stay in Canada while their application is processing, and most people end up getting their visas extended for a year or longer! . I did my medical and got my pictures taken here and everything.

WHEW!! You're safe. Thanks for sharing back the explanation for @missboon and others in your situation

 

[papirico]

Every story is different.
They don't automatically give you 6 months to stay. It depends on your circumstances. There are visitor records for both visa exempt or not countries which can be of days only, certainly not 6 months.
Being nervous does not help at all when it's your turn to face the immigration officer.

 

[Hnhkrk]

Every story is different.
They don't automatically give you 6 months to stay. It depends on your circumstances. There are visitor records for both visa exempt or not countries which can be of days only, certainly not 6 months.
Being nervous does not help at all when it's your turn to face the immigration officer.

If you are a US citizen, 9 out of 10 times you get 6 months to stay unless you're doing something suspicious. And even if you get less than that, you can still apply for an extension.

When I came to visit for a month last summer I told the Officer that I was visiting my boyfriend, and looking into schools and such while I was here to figure out if I wanted to move to Canada in the future. He smirked and said "And you plan on doing that legally, right?" and when I said yes, he stamped my passport and I went through.

 

[missboon]

If you are a visa exempt US citizen, you are allowed to stay in Canada for 6 months. If you want to stay longer than 6 months, you have to apply for a visitor's visa extension 30 days before your status expires.

I entered Canada on July 17th, 2012 and have not left since. My husband and I married on August 04, 2012 and then sent in my Permanent Residency Application on September 08, 2012. In December of 2012, 6 months before my status expired I applied for a Visitor's visa extension. On January 26, 2013 I received my extension, which is a year long.

A lot of people stay in Canada while their application is processing, and most people end up getting their visas extended for a year or longer! . I did my medical and got my pictures taken here and everything.

When you entered in July how long did you put that you would stay on your customs card? I want to visit my fiancé for over a month which is fine because I've done that before but there's a chance I might stay longer than what I put on my card.... Do I have to file a visitor extension for that or can I just stay passed the day I write on the card if needed since I am from a visa exempt country and can stay as a visitor for 6 months???

Thanks

 

[Hnhkrk]

When you entered in July how long did you put that you would stay on your customs card? I want to visit my fiancé for over a month which is fine because I've done that before but there's a chance I might stay longer than what I put on my card.... Do I have to file a visitor extension for that or can I just stay passed the day I write on the card if needed since I am from a visa exempt country and can stay as a visitor for 6 months???

Thanks

When I visited my husband (who was my fiance at the time) I put that I would be returning in three weeks (because that's when my return ticket was). When they stamped my passport there wasn't a date on it, meaning that I could stay for six months. If there is a date on your passport stamp you must file a extension 30 days prior to that date, where as if they don't you just have to file an extension 30 days before the six month mark.

In short: Yes, you can stay longer than what you put on your declaration. Just make sure that you file for the extension 30 days before the date stamped on your passport, or 30 days before you've been in Canada for 6 months.

 

[missboon]

When I visited my husband (who was my fiance at the time) I put that I would be returning in three weeks (because that's when my return ticket was). When they stamped my passport there wasn't a date on it, meaning that I could stay for six months. If there is a date on your passport stamp you must file a extension 30 days prior to that date, where as if they don't you just have to file an extension 30 days before the six month mark.

In short: Yes, you can stay longer than what you put on your declaration. Just make sure that you file for the extension 30 days before the date stamped on your passport, or 30 days before you've been in Canada for 6 months.

Were you able to get your fingerprinting done in Canada?? And did you say that you were visiting your fiancé? Is it considered misrepresentation to say your visiting your boyfriend when really your visiting your fiancé?

Thanks for all the info btw

 

[missboon]

Bump!

 

[amikety]

Were you able to get your fingerprinting done in Canada?? And did you say that you were visiting your fiancé? Is it considered misrepresentation to say your visiting your boyfriend when really your visiting your fiancé?

Thanks for all the info btw

Yes. The FBI mailed back to me in Canada as well. The service I used in Calgary even had official FBI fingerprint cards.

To CIC, Fiance and BF are about the same thing. They no longer qualify fiance as a separate class. (I. E., no more Fiance Visas)

I told them I was visiting a friend during my first entry into Canada. Apparently, no one cares at CIC that much, because I've gotten 3 extensions to my visit. (6 months, 1 yr, 14 months) And if they ask, I would just tell them my (now) husband IS my best friend. Nuff said.

Or maybe I'm so boring, CIC doesn't care........

 

[missboon]

Yes. The FBI mailed back to me in Canada as well. The service I used in Calgary even had official FBI fingerprint cards.

To CIC, Fiance and BF are about the same thing. They no longer qualify fiance as a separate class. (I. E., no more Fiance Visas)

I told them I was visiting a friend during my first entry into Canada. Apparently, no one cares at CIC that much, because I've gotten 3 extensions to my visit. (6 months, 1 yr, 14 months) And if they ask, I would just tell them my (now) husband IS my best friend. Nuff said.

Or maybe I'm so boring, CIC doesn't care........

You've been so helpful thanks so much! How far are you in the process? I'm still kinda scared about not saying fiancé because there's that question on the application about engagement... And they would have no record of ever referring to him as my fiancé .... ??? I'm going crazy lol one minute ill be sure about what to say and the next I'm not!

 

[amikety]

You've been so helpful thanks so much! How far are you in the process? I'm still kinda scared about not saying fiancé because there's that question on the application about engagement... And they would have no record of ever referring to him as my fiancé .... ??? I'm going crazy lol one minute ill be sure about what to say and the next I'm not!

We applied in Jan 2013. (My timeline is under my avatar to the left side.)

I never said Fiance either even though we were engaged at my second trip (the one where I never left). Of course, that trip the lady barely cared that I was entering Canada. She didn't exactly make sure I was leaving or anthing else. Very busy talking about her social life with the lady next to her........ ANYWAY......

Those questions about engagement are only super important if you're from a country/culture that celebrates it as tradition. (I. E., has a big party.) Since you're from the Western "do what works for you" culture, it doesn't matter as much. For proof of engagement, all I did was include our Facebook wall-to-wall with the engagement annoucement on my timeline with our relationship proof in general, not separately or highlighted. My father-in-law also mentioned when we got engaged in his letter (his letter was optional) but only because he knows about immigration as his ex-wife (my m-i-l) is also American. (This family has a thing for foreign women, because his current wife is Italian.... hehe.)

In fact, I've never refered to my husband as my fiance while we were engaged........ even when I applied for my extension for my Visitor's Record, I said "boyfriend" the entire time. The only time I refered to him as anything else was after we were married, because then he was my husband

 

[Hnhkrk]

Were you able to get your fingerprinting done in Canada?? And did you say that you were visiting your fiancé? Is it considered misrepresentation to say your visiting your boyfriend when really your visiting your fiancé?

Thanks for all the info btw

I had my finger prints done in the US before I left... but I thought I was going to need to get them done in Canada because my FBI background check expired the day after we sent our app in... but it turned out fin!

I don't remember what I said. I wasn't really calling him my fiancee, but I might have. I didn't have an engagement ring or anything. You should be good to say Fiancee though.

 

[missboon]

So I got sent to immigration from customs and got through ..they stamped my passport and it says the date I arrived and then under it the Immigration Officer stamped it and it says VO and 6 months from the date...so two questions....what does V.O mean? does it mean valid until...? If so does that mean I can stay legally for 6 months? (*fingers crossed*)

 

[amikety]

So I got sent to immigration from customs and got through ..they stamped my passport and it says the date I arrived and then under it the Immigration Officer stamped it and it says VO and 6 months from the date...so two questions....what does V.O mean? does it mean valid until...? If so does that mean I can stay legally for 6 months? (*fingers crossed*)

Normally, VO means Visa Office, but I have no idea in your case. It's good to hear things went well!

 

[missboon]

Normally, VO means Visa Office, but I have no idea in your case. It's good to hear things went well!

Thanks! I certainly hope it means I can stay Can I extend a visit that was originally set for a month?

 

[amikety]

Thanks! I certainly hope it means I can stay Can I extend a visit that was originally set for a month?

You can apply for an extension, yes. Make sure you've done it before you stay ends. CIC recommends 30 days, which isn't possible in your case. You should get familiar with what you need now and start preparing the application.