Travelling with 2 passports. Help!

[loo1201]

Hello,

So last year while i was in the US under the esta program i went to Quebec to visit friends and i stayed there for a month. I traveled there with my Swiss passport and then went back to the US.

I have 5 stamps on my Swiss passport cause i entered it 5 times with the ESTA in the past 3 years.

Now i am back in Switzerland and i want to apply for a student visa to take ESL classes at a college in Vancouver and hopefully transfer to a full time diploma program.

Now my question is,

Can i use my other passport (French passport) to ask for a visa for Canada?

I am afraid of using my Swiss passports with all the stamps from the US and get a refusal for the study permit (e.g History travel or something like that).

Am i able to ask for a visa with my French passport even though i came to Canada as a visitor with my Swiss passport?

Im struggling finding answers!

Thank you!

 

[loo1201]

Help! D:

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Don't know why you think the stamps in the Swiss passport will have a negative effect. Travel history is a good thing. It shows that you have been approved in other countries and followed their rules.

 

[sokosan]

You can use any passport you like. You are a dual citizen and it's your choice which passport you use.

Btw, why do you think you would be refused for a visa with your Swiss passport because you went to the US? And to Quebec? What does that matter? The fact you legally traveled to Canada and back (and other countries, like the US), can only be a positive for you.

 

[loo1201]

You can use any passport you like. You are a dual citizen and it's your choice which passport you use.

Btw, why do you think you would be refused for a visa with your Swiss passport because you went to the US? And to Quebec? What does that matter? The fact you legally traveled to Canada and back (and other countries, like the US), can only be a positive for you.

Thank you for your answer.

Well here is the real problem. I overstayed my ESTA for a year and a half and came back to Switzerland in January 2016. Now i want to apply for a study permit from Switzerland for September 2016. Do i have any chances? Or will i get a refusal due to my overstay in the US? I heard that since i am back in my country Canada doesnt care about overstay but then i read somewhere else than it would actually grant me a refusal.

 

[sokosan]

On the forms, you must answer questions about whether you have ever overstayed in a country or done anything contrary to the terms of the visa you were on. You must answer these questions truthfully. Applying with a different passport does not save you from saying what you did with your other passport. Since you didn't overstay in Canada that's obviously good. Overstaying in USA will have a negative impact on your application, but it does not mean you will necessarily be rejected for that reason. And you must disclose this regardless of which passport you are applying with.

 

[loo1201]

On the forms, you must answer questions about whether you have ever overstayed in a country or done anything contrary to the terms of the visa you were on. You must answer these questions truthfully. Applying with a different passport does not save you from saying what you did with your other passport. Since you didn't overstay in Canada that's obviously good. Overstaying in USA will have a negative impact on your application, but it does not mean you will necessarily be rejected for that reason. And you must disclose this regardless of which passport you are applying with.

Ok that makes sense, thanks for the answer. But it seems like a pretty big red flag already...why would they grant me a study permit when they see that the candidate broke the law in a different country.. :'(

If i prove that i have strong ties to my country of origin and that i will return for sure (my mom has a business here and she is about to retire and i would be the one continuing) will it make easier?

Thanks again !

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Ok that makes sense, thanks for the answer. But it seems like a pretty big red flag already...why would they grant me a study permit when they see that the candidate broke the law in a different country.. :'(

If i prove that i have strong ties to my country of origin and that i will return for sure (my mom has a business here and she is about to retire and i would be the one continuing) will it make easier?

Yes, it is a red flag and something you should have mentioned in your first post if you wanted proper answers.

As said above, it must be declared in your app regardless of what passport you use. You will need to prove very strong ties to your country to overcome this overstay.

 

[loo1201]

Yes, it is a red flag and something you should have mentioned in your first post if you wanted proper answers.

As said above, it must be declared in your app regardless of what passport you use. You will need to prove very strong ties to your country to overcome this overstay.

So can my mom write a letter saying that i will be the one being in charge of the business and for that reason, she needs me back in the country? Plus my whole family is here and i have a full time job. And i want to enroll in a business management program so thats pretty related to it.

Thank you anyway for the answer

 

[scylla]

So can my mom write a letter saying that i will be the one being in charge of the business and for that reason, she needs me back in the country? Plus my whole family is here and i have a full time job. And i want to enroll in a business management program so thats pretty related to it.

Thank you anyway for the answer

Working for a family business is a weak tie. You would be far better off getting a full time job with a company with no connections to your family. Your family is also a weak tie - you clearly had no issues leaving them previously and living in the US for almost two years away from them. If you just left the US in January 2016, then you want to spent a number of months re-establishing ties to your country before attempting to apply for a study permit it Canada. So realistically you would be applying for the January 2017 semester or later.

 

[loo1201]

Working for a family business is a weak tie. You would be far better off getting a full time job with a company with no connections to your family. Your family is also a weak tie - you clearly had no issues leaving them previously and living in the US for almost two years away from them. If you just left the US in January 2016, then you want to spent a number of months re-establishing ties to your country before attempting to apply for a study permit it Canada. So realistically you would be applying for the January 2017 semester or later.

Thank you, i will seek the help of an immigration lawer.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Thank you, i will seek the help of an immigration lawer.

As said above, you need to establish strong ties to your country. An immigration lawyer can't help you do that and would be a waste of money.

 

[loo1201]

As said above, you need to establish strong ties to your country. An immigration lawyer can't help you do that and would be a waste of money.

I have a full time job at a restaurant and that's pretty much it. My mom has a business and i have family members here idk how else i can show strong ties...my current job wont write a letter saying "we will hire him again in 2 years when he comes back" and i'd rather seek professional help as i have many questions needed to be answered, i'd also like a lawyer to help me submit my application. Money isn't an issue.