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Tourist Visa extension while waiting for application

CanaSask

Full Member
Mar 18, 2014
24
0
My wife and I were married in Korea. We applied outland for permanent residency from Korea. I came to Canada to start a new job in April 2014 and she came in July 2014.
She came in on a 6 month tourist visa, which expires in January.
She has a return ticket to Korea in January, but we could always cancel it if we could get visa extension.
It seems like such a waste to have to fly out in January and have to leave the country again 3-4 months later after she gets her permanent residency status.
Is it possible to extend a tourist visa and how long of an extension can someone get?
It is a 15 month wait through the Manilla office which puts us at about June 2015 for permanent residency process to final be completed.
Anyone with any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated.
 

rhcohen2014

VIP Member
Apr 6, 2014
4,935
185
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
March 17, 2014
Doc's Request.
April 11, 2014
AOR Received.
May 8, 2014
File Transfer...
May 9, 2014
Med's Request
upfront
Med's Done....
Nov 15, 2013
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
July 15, 2014
VISA ISSUED...
July 25, 2014/ received August 1, 2014
LANDED..........
August 29, 2014
yes, it is recommended to apply to extend her stay as a visitor at least 30 days before her visa expires. PR applicants are rarely denied extension, and most people ask for (and get) 12, 16 or 24 month extensions. you will want to submit proof of the pr application in process. you can apply online for $100.
 

Kayaker

Hero Member
Aug 4, 2013
679
50
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
05-02-2014
AOR Received.
04-03-2014
Med's Done....
08-11-2013
VISA ISSUED...
29-09-2014
LANDED..........
11-10-2014
You can extend her visitor status online - costs 100$ and about 4 weeks to do.
It's straightforward, you just have to show she has enough funds for her stay. She can show her own bank statements showing she has plenty of money, or you could show a joint bank account if you have one, or your account and pay stubs plus a letter from you saying you will be financially responsible for her while she is here.

I'm an applicant from Japan, did the same thing. Requested a 1 year extension and got it (but the next month I got PR). People ask for extensions of 1 year to 2 years. They may give you less, but that seems unusual, and I think it's extremely rare for an extension to be denied, unless you omitted some documents or something like that.

Also, I don't know if you've done that, but I updated our address, both residential and mailing, for both of us. Our COPR was sent to Canada and I just crossed the US border to land.
 

rhcohen2014

VIP Member
Apr 6, 2014
4,935
185
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
March 17, 2014
Doc's Request.
April 11, 2014
AOR Received.
May 8, 2014
File Transfer...
May 9, 2014
Med's Request
upfront
Med's Done....
Nov 15, 2013
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
July 15, 2014
VISA ISSUED...
July 25, 2014/ received August 1, 2014
LANDED..........
August 29, 2014
Kayaker said:
Also, I don't know if you've done that, but I updated our address, both residential and mailing, for both of us. Our COPR was sent to Canada and I just crossed the US border to land.
hey! congrats kayaker! so that's where you've been...
 

bartjones

Champion Member
Jan 5, 2013
1,071
62
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
03/08/2013
Doc's Request.
08/27/2013 and 12/20/13 and 07/24/14
AOR Received.
16/03/2013
File Transfer...
04/04/13
Med's Done....
29/01/2013 redone 13/02/14 and 25/03/14
Interview........
none
Passport Req..
N/A
VISA ISSUED...
2014/08/27
LANDED..........
09/09/2014
CanaSask said:
My wife and I were married in Korea. We applied outland for permanent residency from Korea. I came to Canada to start a new job in April 2014 and she came in July 2014.
She came in on a 6 month tourist visa, which expires in January.
She has a return ticket to Korea in January, but we could always cancel it if we could get visa extension.
It seems like such a waste to have to fly out in January and have to leave the country again 3-4 months later after she gets her permanent residency status.
Is it possible to extend a tourist visa and how long of an extension can someone get?
It is a 15 month wait through the Manilla office which puts us at about June 2015 for permanent residency process to final be completed.
Anyone with any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated.
My Korean wife did the same thing last year. She applied for a one year extension and it was granted. You shouldn't have any trouble getting the same extension.
 

spaceexp

Hero Member
Oct 17, 2014
361
15
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna-->Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
received by CIC 12-03-2014
AOR Received.
10-04-2014
File Transfer...
01-05-2014
Med's Done....
03-02-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
19-11-2014 (IP 18-11-2014, mailed 03-12-2014)
VISA ISSUED...
30-12-2014 , then again 13-02-2015 (DM 03-01-2015, PP&CoPR received 06-01-2015, returned to Ottawa because of a mistake, received again on 16-02-2015)
LANDED..........
16-02-2015
CanaSask said:
My wife and I were married in Korea. We applied outland for permanent residency from Korea. I came to Canada to start a new job in April 2014 and she came in July 2014.
She came in on a 6 month tourist visa, which expires in January.
She has a return ticket to Korea in January, but we could always cancel it if we could get visa extension.
It seems like such a waste to have to fly out in January and have to leave the country again 3-4 months later after she gets her permanent residency status.
Is it possible to extend a tourist visa and how long of an extension can someone get?
It is a 15 month wait through the Manilla office which puts us at about June 2015 for permanent residency process to final be completed.
Anyone with any ideas or suggestions would be much appreciated.
I applied for the extension exactly 31 days ago, and got it yesterday. But her stay expires in January, so make sure to apply soon, because you have to apply 30 days before expiry.

Also, she will need to do another medical, with application or after getting approved, so make sure you start filling the form and gathering docs, it's not much, but it still takes a few days...
 

bartjones

Champion Member
Jan 5, 2013
1,071
62
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
03/08/2013
Doc's Request.
08/27/2013 and 12/20/13 and 07/24/14
AOR Received.
16/03/2013
File Transfer...
04/04/13
Med's Done....
29/01/2013 redone 13/02/14 and 25/03/14
Interview........
none
Passport Req..
N/A
VISA ISSUED...
2014/08/27
LANDED..........
09/09/2014
spaceexp said:
I applied for the extension exactly 31 days ago, and got it yesterday. But her stay expires in January, make sure to apply soon, because you have to apply 30 days before expiry.
Actually, you should apply 30 days before your stay expires, but in reality you can submit the application anytime before your visa expires. You just have to make sure CIC recieves the extension application, either online or in paper form before your stay expires.

Also, she will need to do another medical, with application or after getting approved, so make sure you start filling the form and gathering docs, it's not much, but it still takes a few days...
I assume his wife did a medical when she submitted her PR application. If that medical is still valid, there's no need to do a medical to extend her visitor's visa.
 

spaceexp

Hero Member
Oct 17, 2014
361
15
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna-->Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
received by CIC 12-03-2014
AOR Received.
10-04-2014
File Transfer...
01-05-2014
Med's Done....
03-02-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
19-11-2014 (IP 18-11-2014, mailed 03-12-2014)
VISA ISSUED...
30-12-2014 , then again 13-02-2015 (DM 03-01-2015, PP&CoPR received 06-01-2015, returned to Ottawa because of a mistake, received again on 16-02-2015)
LANDED..........
16-02-2015
bartjones said:
Actually, you should apply 30 days before your stay expires, but in reality you can submit the application anytime before your visa expires. You just have to make sure CIC recieves the extension application, either online or in paper form before your stay expires.

I assume his wife did a medical when she submitted her PR application. If that medical is still valid, there's no need to do a medical to extend her visitor's visa.
Sorry, in my head I just remembered 30 days, my mistake.

Well, it depends on when she did her medical. I did mine in January 2014, so it was expiring at the end of January 2015, so I had to do a new one.
 

CanaSask

Full Member
Mar 18, 2014
24
0
Well, I think she did her medical in March of 2014 and we applied in April of 2014. Can't remember exactly since it seems like such a long time ago.

She doesn't need a medical to extend her visa right? It's just for her permanent residency when we get approved I think.
 

rhcohen2014

VIP Member
Apr 6, 2014
4,935
185
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
March 17, 2014
Doc's Request.
April 11, 2014
AOR Received.
May 8, 2014
File Transfer...
May 9, 2014
Med's Request
upfront
Med's Done....
Nov 15, 2013
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
July 15, 2014
VISA ISSUED...
July 25, 2014/ received August 1, 2014
LANDED..........
August 29, 2014
CanaSask said:
Well, I think she did her medical in March of 2014 and we applied in April of 2014. Can't remember exactly since it seems like such a long time ago.

She doesn't need a medical to extend her visa right? It's just for her permanent residency when we get approved I think.
no, she does not need to re-do a medical to extend her stay as a visitor.
 

spaceexp

Hero Member
Oct 17, 2014
361
15
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna-->Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
received by CIC 12-03-2014
AOR Received.
10-04-2014
File Transfer...
01-05-2014
Med's Done....
03-02-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
19-11-2014 (IP 18-11-2014, mailed 03-12-2014)
VISA ISSUED...
30-12-2014 , then again 13-02-2015 (DM 03-01-2015, PP&CoPR received 06-01-2015, returned to Ottawa because of a mistake, received again on 16-02-2015)
LANDED..........
16-02-2015
CanaSask said:
Well, I think she did her medical in March of 2014 and we applied in April of 2014. Can't remember exactly since it seems like such a long time ago.

She doesn't need a medical to extend her visa right? It's just for her permanent residency when we get approved I think.
If you apply on paper, no. If you apply online, for some reason, you will have to upload her medical. I guess someone who is longer on forum can tell you can you just upload the one she did in March.

Again, if you will apply on paper, just ignore my comments, since I applied online.
 

CanaSask

Full Member
Mar 18, 2014
24
0
On the Document checklist there is no mention of Medical Test results. However I notice there is Photocopy of Marriage Certificate. Since we were married in Korea, it is going to be in Korean. We also had a ceremony in Canada for our family here but its called a renewal of vows. Would the certificate we received from the justice of peace this summer for our vow renewal ceremony work?
 

spaceexp

Hero Member
Oct 17, 2014
361
15
Category........
Visa Office......
Vienna-->Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
received by CIC 12-03-2014
AOR Received.
10-04-2014
File Transfer...
01-05-2014
Med's Done....
03-02-2014
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
19-11-2014 (IP 18-11-2014, mailed 03-12-2014)
VISA ISSUED...
30-12-2014 , then again 13-02-2015 (DM 03-01-2015, PP&CoPR received 06-01-2015, returned to Ottawa because of a mistake, received again on 16-02-2015)
LANDED..........
16-02-2015
CanaSask said:
On the Document checklist there is no mention of Medical Test results. However I notice there is Photocopy of Marriage Certificate. Since we were married in Korea, it is going to be in Korean. We also had a ceremony in Canada for our family here but its called a renewal of vows. Would the certificate we received from the justice of peace this summer for our vow renewal ceremony work?
From this I am guessing you are applying on paper.

I think you have to provide a copy of marriage certificate from Korea, with the official translation into English or French. I don't think renewal of vows counts, but it would be good if someone else who knows better answers this part. In my opinion, if it says marriage certificate, marriage certificate it is!
 

canuck_in_uk

VIP Member
May 4, 2012
31,553
7,205
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
06/12
spaceexp said:
If you apply on paper, no. If you apply online, for some reason, you will have to upload her medical. I guess someone who is longer on forum can tell you can you just upload the one she did in March.

Again, if you will apply on paper, just ignore my comments, since I applied online.
Medicals are only required for those visitors who have spent 6 or more consecutive months in a risk country in the year prior to entering Canada.