Extending visa in Canada whilst sponsorship underway

[maica1x]

Hi, my 2 kids and I have UK passports and were stamped in passports in Oct 2013 on entry. We have 6 months allowance on UK passport before having to leave/extend visa. This is up in 2 weeks and we have sponsorship approved, so do not want to leave. It will be $300 to extend visa's - ouch! So, does anyone know if :
1. I can do a trip to states with family, and enter back...thereby getting another 6 months with my passport.
2. Can I go to the border with paperwork for visa extension and money, - they do it then and there at the border crossing?
3. Enter us and return from a trip and ask for a year allowance on visa, and visitor record? I'll take my approved sponsor paperwork with me.

Thanks for any help.

 

[bartjones]

Why wouldn't you just submit an application to extend your visitor's visas the normal way i.e. by submitting an extension application to Vegereville? No trip to the US required. If you leave the country you run the risk of not being allowed to re-enter.

 

[maica1x]

Hi, because it will take some months before getting a response and ideally I would like to get a BC drivers licence soon.

 

[bartjones]

Hi, because it will take some months before getting a response and ideally I would like to get a BC drivers licence soon.

Sorry, I'm confused and not from BC. What immigration status do you need to get a BC driver's license?

You do realize that once you submit the visitor's visa extension application your status as a visitor is automatically extended pending a decision on the extension application, right? All you need to do is submit the paperwork.

 

[maica1x]

Hi, thanks for responses. Yes, I know current status is assumed once filed, but drivers licence place said they wouldn't accept implied status.

 

[maica1x]

I guess my post is a bit confusing! There are 2 things i need to work out. 1. I want to extend time here without paying that $300 ideally, if I can simply nip across for a trip which we may do anyway and get an entire new 6 months on my passport. Why not.

2. I need to figure out what exactly i need to get a drivers licence here. I will get MSP end of April, I have a bank account but apparently they require I think a TRV or record to show i am staying here longer than 6 months. So, need to ensure i am able to supply this. So, I am confused myself as I get different stories everytime i ring ICBC....

 

[bartjones]

I guess my post is a bit confusing! There are 2 things i need to work out. 1. I want to extend time here without paying that $300 ideally, if I can simply nip across for a trip which we may do anyway and get an entire new 6 months on my passport. Why not.

2. I need to figure out what exactly i need to get a drivers licence here. I will get MSP end of April, I have a bank account but apparently they require I think a TRV or record to show i am staying here longer than 6 months. So, need to ensure i am able to supply this. So, I am confused myself as I get different stories everytime i ring ICBC....

I'm afraid I can't help you out with the driver's license part of it, not being from BC and all. There are probably others on this board from BC who can help or you might post the question over on the Settlement Issues forum.

I can tell you that when my wife got her first visitor's record we did the paper application and it took three months. I've read on this board that if you do it online it's about two months.

I'd be hesitant about leaving the country for the sake of saving the fee. You'll feel pretty foolish if you don't get back in. And if you request a visitors record at the border I believe the same fee is still payable anyway. If you don't request the visitors record, you'll just end up with another stamp in your passport, which apparently won't leave you any further ahead in terms of the drivers license situation. It wouldn't seem that a trip to the border is going to save you anything.

I brought my wife back from the US this past week and requested a visitor's record. It prompted the CBSA agent to start asking a lot of questions about whether she was just visiting or actually living here. I was very nervous for a few minutes there. Although that was just one person's experience, I wouldn't do it that way again. Others have gotten them without difficulty but it's a fairly substantial risk to take for the sake of $300. I'd do the online application. It's your safest and quickest route.