Extending My Stay as a Visitor.

[cakeantidote]

Hello everyone,

I need an advice for my situation.

I live in Europe and my girl friend is Candian. I visited her couple of times and always left the country within the legal limits (I stayed max 4,5 months once). I have multi entry Canada touristic visa. This time I want to stay in total of 8 months because I work only during summer. I know the legal stay limit is 6 months. I plan to ask for an extension of my stay or plan to visit US during my my trip to Canada if it helps reseting my 6 month stay limit. I don't know what to say to the immigration officer at the entrance if he/she asks for my return flight ticket. Because my return flight is in June.

1- Should I be honest and tell them that I plan to extend my visit and will apply for it when it is close to my legal stay time limit?

2- Or being honest give me problems since my return flight is in June and they will ask me to leave in 6 months (if they allow me to stay 6 months of course)?

3- Do I need to show them my real return ticket? Or is it a good idea to make a reservation for another flight ticket that is within my legal stay limit and show it to them? And cancel it later so I can apply for an extension?

4- Is it good to apply for the extension before I arrive Canada? So I can show the immigration officer that I asked for an extension? Maybe it will help them

5- Will entering US reset my 6 month legal stay limit in Canada?

All answers welcome!
Thanks

 

[Christyohhh]

It's good to be honest but don't tell the immigration officer that you're planning to extend your stay. If you're planning to stay within the 6 months, it's better that you have the return ticket or the reservations for the flight with you to show the officer that you are actually leaving when your time is up. Don't apply for extension before you arrive in Canada (I don't think you can even do that), the ideal time to apply is 30 days before your 6 months is up. Travel plans can change so applying for extension of another 2 months won't be a problem. And yes, entering the US will reset your 6 month stay in Canada but you're also taking the chances of being denied at the border if they have suspicions that you're planning to stay longer than you're suppose to. I suggest you stay in Canada and apply for the extension.

 

[scylla]

4- Is it good to apply for the extension before I arrive Canada? So I can show the immigration officer that I asked for an extension? Maybe it will help them

5- Will entering US reset my 6 month legal stay limit in Canada?

4. You can't apply for the extension before you arrive in Canada. You can only apply once you are in Canada.
5. This is risky. Your 6 months could be reset - or the CBSA officer may tell you it's time to go home. It's better / safer to apply for an extension from within Canada rather than doing a border run.