I am American; wife is Canadian. Before my 6 months ran out in July I applied for a visitor extension in June. I ended up leaving in Aug. before this was processed and returned Sept. 6th. WIth nothing specific said at the border except a quick welcome back, my new exit date was March 6th (6 months later).
Last week, four months after applying, I got a surprise approval in the mail. I thought when I left the country it canceled my application. I now have a Visitor Record with an exit date of April 12th, 2018, because they gave me 6 months from the processing date (Oct) rather than the application (June).
I'm confused about how long I can stay, and how easily I can come/go now having a VR instead of just entering as a normal tourist each time.
1) Does this VR trump my last entry- i.e. I can now stay until April 12th instead of March 6th?
2) Baring the usual 'it's at the discretion of the border' does this VR mean I can come and go without issue up until Apr. 12th? I wanted to make trips back to the US in both January and March and wondering if this will help me with re-entry at all (even though it says it does not authorize re-entry....I've read mixed things on here about 'coming and going with ease due to having a VR'.)
3) BIGGEST QUESTION: If I were to make these trips back to the US and I am let back into Canada without questions, will I get 6 more months from re-entry as usual, or will I still be stuck with the April 12th deadline?
i.e. If I return March 15th, can I stay now until Sept. 15th, or still only until April 12th, unless I apply for another extension before then?
Last week, four months after applying, I got a surprise approval in the mail. I thought when I left the country it canceled my application. I now have a Visitor Record with an exit date of April 12th, 2018, because they gave me 6 months from the processing date (Oct) rather than the application (June).
I'm confused about how long I can stay, and how easily I can come/go now having a VR instead of just entering as a normal tourist each time.
1) Does this VR trump my last entry- i.e. I can now stay until April 12th instead of March 6th?
2) Baring the usual 'it's at the discretion of the border' does this VR mean I can come and go without issue up until Apr. 12th? I wanted to make trips back to the US in both January and March and wondering if this will help me with re-entry at all (even though it says it does not authorize re-entry....I've read mixed things on here about 'coming and going with ease due to having a VR'.)
3) BIGGEST QUESTION: If I were to make these trips back to the US and I am let back into Canada without questions, will I get 6 more months from re-entry as usual, or will I still be stuck with the April 12th deadline?
i.e. If I return March 15th, can I stay now until Sept. 15th, or still only until April 12th, unless I apply for another extension before then?