Concerns on Visitor Status in Canada and leaving the country

[shesosilly]

I need your opinion please. I know this is frequently talked about in this forum because of the RISK, but I still asked the CIC call centre about it and now I'm all confused.

My Inland PR application is ongoing and I am on a visitor status here in Canada, valid for 6 months from Oct 2014 to April 2015. I am from a visa required country and I want to visit my family in the States in April before my visitor status expires, then come back in May with the idea that when I come back here in Canada, it will be like a "restart" and I can get another 6 months in my visitor status.

CIC call centre agent says that I have to come back to Canada before the first 6 months expire (oct 2014 to April 2015). If I come back after April 2015, they wont let me in because I don't have a status anymore. From my understanding, once I leave the Canada, I fulfilled their 6 months requirement for stay and get back in May for another 6 months, hopefully. I have a multiple entry visitor visa valid until 2018. What is she talking about?

Also, what do you think are my chances of not being able to be let back in (as to why these short trips are not recommended)? I am from a visa required country, never been out of status, have finances to show, my husband lives here in Canada, my OWP and inland PR is being processed (I have AOR).

Any help would be very much appreciated.

 

[scylla]

It's really impossible to say what your chances are of not being allowed back in - this is up to the visa officer you encounter at the border. The only thing we can tell you is that you will most likely be allowed back into Canada - however there is always some possibility you will be refused entry. AOR, OWP and the multiple entry visa do not guarantee re-entry. Also note that assuming you are allowed back into Canada, there is no guarantee you will be granted a six month visit (this is up to the discretion of the immigration officer at the port of entry).

 

[rhcohen2014]

first, it's impossible for a CIC call center agent to tell you what will happen when you cross a border and deal with a CBSA agent. they are not the same agency, nor does CIC deal with border crossings. as scylla said, it's impossible for ANYONE to tell you what specifically will happen when you cross the border, ESPECIALLY a CIC call center agent.

Considering you have a multiple entry visa and have a pr application in the system, the chances of being denied entry are very slim. of course there is ALWAYS a risk. when crossing the border it's always best practice to carry info about your pr application and any ties to your home country to alleviate CBSA's concerns you plan to overstay and sponge off the system. also, remember to use the right language. you are in canada as a VISITOR and are only seeking entry to "visit". you don't want to ever use the words "moving" or "living" in canada until you are approved for pr.

good luck and don't listen to the CIC call center!

 

[shesosilly]

thanks @scylla and @rhcohen2014 I am aware of the risks.

LOL i know the call center agents are not to be trusted but now she brought up that issue about "I should go back within the 6 month period they gave me the first time I entered."<<-- that's totally wrong, right? Because once I leave, it's like a "restart"?

 

[rhcohen2014]

thanks @ scylla and @ rhcohen2014 I am aware of the risks.

LOL i know the call center agents are not to be trusted but now she brought up that issue about "I should go back within the 6 month period they gave me the first time I entered."<<-- that's totally wrong, right? Because once I leave, it's like a "restart"?

i've never heard of needing to "fulfill" a 6 mo. requirement. once you leave canada, you will need to seek entry again. it's not so much as "restarting" a clock. you are allowed in for however long the border agents give you. either it will be the full 6 mo. allowance or it will be shorter. you have a multiple entry visa. by the title alone that suggests you can enter MULTIPLE TIMES within the validity date. the only way to know for sure what you can do is to call CBSA at the border you plan to enter or go to the border and see what happens. good luck!