Extending my visitor visa to stay longer in Canada

[JayKay72]

Hi everyone. My brother and his two young sons live in Canada. I first spent time with them, in Canada, from April 2018 to June 2018, on a 6 month visitor visa, returning to the UK after an 11 week stay. I returned at the end of November 2018 and spend 4 months in Canada, on my second Visitor Visa, leaving in April of 2019. I am about to return to Canada and my existing visitor visa will run out at the end of May 2019. I do ultimately want to live in Canada, but not sure how I am going to do this yet. I need to spend more time in Canada to find out how I can do this

Questions:
How simple is it to extend my visitor visa.
If I just stay in Canada past the expiration of my visitor visa, what actually happens? I am assuming that as long as I don't leave the country, and try to come back in, I can just stay as long as I like
Do I need to give reasons for extending my visitor visa and can it be as simple as wanting to spend more time with my brother

 

[Bs65]

So by visitor visa you mean you are not travelling on a visa exempt passport and you were granted a 6 month stay by default on each entry to Canada. .?

Given the times you have visited there is a remote possibility that the next time you enter there may be a suspicion you are in some way trying to live in Canada resulting in a restricted dated stay of maybe weeks. Generally it is advisable to spend equal amount of time or more out of Canada than in.

On the assumption that you are not visa exempt and allowed in again then provided you arrive before end of May that visa is fine given only has to be valid for entry where how long you can stay will be determined by CBSA if they consider you a genuine visitor.

You cannot stay as long as you like as a visitor, 6 months is usually the default unless CBSA enter a date in your passport for a shorter time period which given your visit history as said is a possibility.

Once in Canada you can apply to extend your stay through the below link and stay pending a decision. Whether wanting to spend more time with your brother is a good reason given time already spent nobody could predict.

As said there comes a point when immigration might suspect trying to live in the country. An extension is only good for the time whilst still in Canada, cancelled once you leave by the extension date given. It is not a refresh of any visa if not visa exempt to allow exit and reentry that would require a new visa application.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html

 

[JayKay72]

I am travelling from the UK, which means I travel on a ETA, but on arrival in Canada, each time they stamp my passport with a 6 month stay. So when I return in the next couple of days, I will still be on my 6 month stay from when I arrived last November, which says I can stay until end of May 2019. I am assuming this won't stay just because I have been out of the country.

I know I can apply to extend my stay, I'm just wondering how likely they will be to approve that

 

[JayKay72]

sorry meant to say that I AM travelling on a visa exempt passport, as I am travelling from the UK, and Canada requires you to have an ETA, which I have. When I arrived in november, they stamped by passport with a 6 month expiry

 

[Bryanna]

I am travelling from the UK, which means I travel on a ETA, but on arrival in Canada, each time they stamp my passport with a 6 month stay. So when I return in the next couple of days, I will still be on my 6 month stay from when I arrived last November, which says I can stay until end of May 2019. I am assuming this won't stay just because I have been out of the country.

I know I can apply to extend my stay, I'm just wondering how likely they will be to approve that

Your previous visitor status lapsed when you left. You will be assessed for a new entry. It would seem like you are *living* in Canada and not *visiting*.

Your eTA is linked to your passport validity which is probably expiring end-May. You can expect your next stay to be restricted to your passport expiry date or sooner than that.

If you want to live long-term then you must research for options that allow you to do so instead of entering as a visitor

 

[JayKay72]

Thank you, this is useful information. I actually took my ETA out in October 2017, and I think that lasts for 5 maybe even 10 years. My understanding was that each time I visit I can stay for a max of 6 months and I can visit multiple times over the length of my ETA, as long as I don’t overstay those 6 months.

 

[JayKay72]

I’ve just done some more research and it seems to me that as a UK resident I can travel to Canada as many times as I like over the 5 year duration of my ETA as long as I don’t stay longer than 6 months. So that seems to mean as long as I leave Canada every 6 months, I can keep returning for 6 month periods over 5 years.

 

[Bryanna]

Thank you, this is useful information. I actually took my ETA out in October 2017, and I think that lasts for 5 maybe even 10 years. My understanding was that each time I visit I can stay for a max of 6 months and I can visit multiple times over the length of my ETA, as long as I don’t overstay those 6 months.

Your eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expiry, whichever comes first.

I’ve just done some more research and it seems to me that as a UK resident I can travel to Canada as many times as I like over the 5 year duration of my ETA as long as I don’t stay longer than 6 months. So that seems to mean as long as I leave Canada every 6 months, I can keep returning for 6 month periods over 5 years.

It does not work that way.

You can certainly return as many times as you want to during the validity of your eTA. The officer at the POE will decide how long you are allowed to stay each time you return. It won't be a default 6 months.

Sooner or later, your stay will be curtailed.... or you could be denied entry (bounced back from the POE to the UK).... or given an exclusion order for 1 year.... if it seems like you are visiting too often and/or you are staying in Canada for long lengths of time unlike a typical visitor.

I recommend you research your options for immigration or a work permit

 

[JayKay72]

this again is a very useful bit of information. Seems like it's pot luck when you arrive! And dependent on the Border Officer you meet. Hopefully luck will be on my side as I am flying out there tomorrow. So I was in Canada for 4 months, spent the last 3 weeks in the UK and when I arrive tomorrow, I'll see how long they let me stay.

 

[scylla]

this again is a very useful bit of information. Seems like it's pot luck when you arrive! And dependent on the Border Officer you meet. Hopefully luck will be on my side as I am flying out there tomorrow. So I was in Canada for 4 months, spent the last 3 weeks in the UK and when I arrive tomorrow, I'll see how long they let me stay.

It’s not entirely pot luck. A big factor is your previous visitor history. Note that being in Canada in no way helps you to figure out how you will immigrate to Canada. If you want to immigrate then you simply need to dedicate time to researching options through the IRCC web site.

 

[Bryanna]

this again is a very useful bit of information. Seems like it's pot luck when you arrive! And dependent on the Border Officer you meet. Hopefully luck will be on my side as I am flying out there tomorrow. So I was in Canada for 4 months, spent the last 3 weeks in the UK and when I arrive tomorrow, I'll see how long they let me stay.

Hope you have evidence such as a return ticket + proof of funds to support your stay + evidence of your ties to the UK (a lease, school enrollment, bank account, etc)

 

[JayKay72]

Hope you have evidence such as a return ticket + proof of funds to support your stay + evidence of your ties to the UK (a lease, school enrollment, bank account, etc)

I wasn't asked for any of these things when I last visited

 

[Copingwithlife]

I wasn't asked for any of these things when I last visited

Eventually they will. Some people assume that by holding a visa exempt passport it is their ticket to just start living in a country they do not hold authorization to. You are still a foreign national "visiting" Canada, sooner of the later you will get asked those questions and why you keep "visiting" Canada, and if they suspect you are attempting to live here they will just send you packing. If you abuse the ETA system, immigration can just as easily cancel your ETA, then you would have to go thru the route others have to go thru, apply for a visa

 

[Bryanna]

I wasn't asked for any of these things when I last visited

As you have already stayed for four months + you're returning so soon.... plus you stayed earlier for nearly 3 months. So, you could be either waved inside if you're lucky or you could be asked these questions if you're not so lucky.

It's advisable to have evidence that you are a visitor and not someone who intends to move to Canada on an eTA.

EDIT:
Just curious to know if you're returning to take care of your nephews? And if your brother is paying for your visits?

 

[JayKay72]

As you have already stayed for four months + you're returning so soon.... plus you stayed earlier for nearly 3 months. So, you could be either waved inside if you're lucky or you could be asked these questions if you're not so lucky.

It's advisable to have evidence that you are a visitor and not someone who intends to move to Canada on an eTA.

EDIT:
Just curious to know if you're returning to take care of your nephews? And if your brother is paying for your visits?

No, I am returning for my health and I pay for my own visits