visit limited to 3 months

[katester]

Hi everyone,
My husband and I are in the process of putting together all our paper work for my PR app. We have not sent it in yet because we do not have enough to pay the fee at the moment. He was with me in the states for 2 months and we planned for me to come visit his family until his work was done at the end of June. Then go back to the states together. Well at the border they pulled us over and basically treated it as if we already applied and I planned to stay here until the app is completed. So without knowing they asked for his pay stubs and all that even tho I plan to leave in a few months. Since we couldn't show his pay stubs they limited my stay to May 2nd. They said I could apply for an extention and even if I don't get word that I can stay by May 2nd I can still stay.... so it seems like they just want the $75 for the extention since I don't need proof in my hands. Is there anything I can do since I explained many times that we have a set exit date? But they chose to give me less than the processing time for the extention? I thought as a visitor I was allowed 6 months here no problem.

 

[scylla]

Visiting is a privilege - not a right.

How long you are allowed into the country is up to the immigration officer you encounter at the border. The immigration officer also has the right to refuse you entry into the country.

If you want to stay longer than three months then you have two options: (1) submit an application and the $75 fee to extend your visit past May; (2) leave Canada once your visit is over and then hope you're allowed back into the country and given another few months to visit.

I would go with option #1 if I were in your shoes. If you leave there's no guarantee you will be allowed back in.

 

[sounion]

Exactly what was just mentioned.

When I came in they gave me a little over a month because I lacked ties to the U.S., meaning they thought I was going to run and disappear into Canada.

So we just filed for an extension and paid the $75.00 because we planned to stay longer than 30 days. That was a little over 8 months ago now so it's worked out fine. And now my PR has granted me implied status.

So, story short, pay the money, stay til when you want.