Outland application in process - IEC expires in July. Visitor Extension Query

[PurpleJellyBean]

Hey everyone,

I'm from the Uk and I have been in Canada, Alberta since July 2013 on an IEC visa. My Second and last IEC runs out on July 2nd 2015. My Canadian boyfriend is sponsoring me as common law and we currently have an outland application in place.

The processing times for London have increased and so now I am in a bit of an unfortunate situation.

Obviously I have two choices. 1. Go back to the uk and wait it out. With the processing times having increased I would rather not do this. 2. Apply for an extension as a visitor.

My worry with applying for a visitors extension is how do I explain that I wish to stay in Canada whilst my outland application is processed without it seeming like I plan on over staying. There is a chance the application will take more than an extra 6 months. Does anyone have experience with being granted more than 6 months? Are visitor extensions given to those waiting for PR or are they usually denied?

 

[surleplateau]

I arrived in Canada on a study permit June 2013. After one year, I applied to Change Status and Extend my Stay in Canada. At the time, my partner and I were putting together my PR sponsorship application.

I don't know if/how it is different for IEC, but the processing times - Temporary Residence shows that:

New temporary resident visa -- (For valid Study or Work Permit holders ONLY)

category is among the fastest, and presumably the easiest. 2 weeks for the online application!

For both my extensions (first one gave me about 5-6 months, 2nd one gave me about a year, not from issuance, but from the date of my current/soon-to-expire status), I wrote a Letter of Explanation stating my reasons for wanting to stay in Canada and I also expressed that I had no intention of overstaying and that I was prepared to leave Canada if my extension request was denied. I'm not really sure if that was necessary to add, but I felt better being upfront that I had no delusions that CIC "must* let me stay.

I also included a letter from my partner (all uploaded as a PDF to the online app) expressing his desire that I be granted my extension because he wanted us to stay together, etc.

Nothing sappy, just the facts, 1-page letter.

It appears that as long as you, being from a visa-exempt country, have the necessary funds and don't have a history of overstaying (or other bad records), then CIC will probably grant you the extension.