Hypothetical scenario

[Romeo]

Say let's say there is a girl from a slavic country. She wants to visit a guy in Canada to stay with him for a few months. So she applies for a tourist visa, not mentioning anything about her guy since a single girl from a slavic country going to visit a boyfriend is a big red flag for her not returning. So instead she opts for a solo tourist visa and she gives meticulous details about her visit, and by some miracle she gets a 6-month visa (even though her intended period of stay is only 2 weeks for sightseeing). So she buys a return plane ticket for the "2 weeks". The hotel was already booked during the visa application time to satisfy the officers. Upon arriving in Canada she tells the entry officer her plans to see the sites, etc and she is allowed entry with her 6-month visa. So next she cancels her hotel since she can stay with her guy and also changes the return date on the plane ticket to 6 months later. So she then ends up staying with her guy for 6 months instead of the intended 2 week tourism on which she applied for. How could the visa officers prevent this?

 

[davek1979]

The visa officer at the boarder that you cross is the one who tells you when you have to leave. The officer could write down only two weeks, and you would have to be out by that date, or have applied for a visit visa extension.

 

[Romeo]

The visa officer at the boarder that you cross is the one who tells you when you have to leave. The officer could write down only two weeks, and you would have to be out by that date, or have applied for a visit visa extension.

That's a good point, but then I have to ask. Aren't all tourist visa for some short limited period of time? I have read many posts online where people even travelling for a few weeks get the full 6-month visa. Why don't the officers systematically always reduce the visit time to what is indicated by the plane ticket? What's the point of even giving a default 6 month visa? For example I know someone who got a visa to visit england. The actual visit was for 7 days, but the visa was for 6 months. Why do they do that?

 

[Romeo]

I guess a followup question would be. How then is it possible to actually retain the 6-month visa you get from the application? i.e. such that the officer at the border doesn't cut it down? Is there some visit plan that would give a better chance of not having it cut?

 

[SenoritaBella]

The minimum length of a visitor visa is 6 months, even if you are coming for a week. When you get to the border however, the officer could change the date to match that of your flight.

 

[Romeo]

The minimum length of a visitor visa is 6 months, even if you are coming for a week. When you get to the border however, the officer could change the date to match that of your flight.

Yes I understand that. I'm asking if there are ways or scenarios to circumvent this change of dates.

 

[user828]

Romeo

In certain cases, they give 1 week stay etc, but in most cases it's 6 months. ( for eg., I was 7 hrs Transit in UK, I wanted to get out of the airport - I got six months )

Immigration does that they typically feel its enough buffer and wanna avoid people requesting extensions so they have a set figure

 

[user828]

Yes I understand that. I'm asking if there are ways or scenarios to circumvent this change of dates.

More or Less?

 

[Romeo]

More or Less?

Thank you for your response above. It was actually helpful. I meant what type of story can you tell them so that they give you the full 6 months and don't cut it to whenever the plane tickets say.

 

[user828]

Actually be very simple and straight, plan to see friends, visit few cities etc. I don't think anyone books a ticket with 6 months return, its mostly 2-3 weeks max

 

[davek1979]

Just be truthful to what your story is. I am going to 2 weeks. I am going to be visiting Toronto, Montreal, etc. They will ask for your paper work and then make a decision. I think they do 6months by default but I am not sure. If they don't as soon as you have 1 month left on your visa apply for an extension.