What if I want to visit longer than 6 months?

[GIrl]

I am from Australia and I understand that because I am Australian I am allowed to visit Canada for a maximum of 6 months. My question is what if I want to stay longer?
My boyfriend is canadian and is leaving Australia at the end of year to go back home and I am planning on coming with him for maybe a year or longer. Is there any way I can do this? Or do I have to leave the country after 6 months and then come back? Are you even allowed to do that?
I heard there is a 2 year visa you can get and with that you don't need to purchase a return ticket but can't find any information on that so am guessing it doesn't exist. If anyone has any feedback on what I can do I'd love to hear it

 

[zsashimi]

Before your 6th month, you can apply for an extension. I am not sure if the max allowed is 1 year (seniors please correct me if I am wrong).

Or another option is to leave Canada then go back

 

[GIrl]

ahuh! Yeah I'm thinking leaving Canada and then coming back is probably the best option but do you need to stay out of the country for a certain amount of time?

 

[zsashimi]

I dont think there is a rule that says you are not allowed to come back within a specified time. A friend of mine comes back every week to Vancouver however his case is different as he just stays in Vancouver every weekend.

I think you go back anytime but why leave if you can apply for the extension. Just try it might be less expensive on your part

 

[GIrl]

Yeah true, I'm just thinking in terms of needing to book a return flight in order to enter Canada in the first place. Thanks

 

[zsashimi]

Book a flight that is open dated and valid for a year. This kind of ticket is cheaper.

 

[GIrl]

Oh ok, great! Thanks, I'll have to make a trip into the travel agent and sort out an open dated flight. Thnkyou for your help

 

[zsashimi]

You're welcome

 

[Aroundtown22]

Girl,

My significant other and I were in a very similar situation. You can come to Canada for a period of 6 months just based on the stamp in your passport. After that you'll need to apply for a visitor visa extension (do this before the 6 months are up!) asking for a 6 month extension. In our application, we were very honest about our intentions (we wanted to stay together and start a life together and we're at that time planning on getting married) and we got the extension. I wrote a letter saying that I was and would continue to support her and we each provided bank statements showing what funds we had available (I sent in pay stubs also).

We're sending in our second extension application now (and our PR application will be sent early next week... from the sounds of your situation, you could be heading in the same direction!) and I will be posting how that all goes.