Pen mark on my multiple entry visitor visa, problems to enter Canada!!

[katia23]

Hi!

I have multiple visitor canadian visa (v1). I got it in 18/09/2012 and expires on 18/09/2014. I study and live in USA (NY), my husband is Canadian, but I am Colombian, so we cross the boarder between USA and Canada often. I got the multiple entry visa because I went to Colombia, traveling from Toronto, so I wanted to be able to re-enter Canada without problem and I did it, that was in December 2012. After that trip I have crossed the boarder at least 14 times!!!!! and I never ever had a problem. However, today (March 20, 2014) when I entered to Canada, the boarder officer told me that my visa is expired because it has a black pen mark made by the Canadian boarder people in one of trips, I am not sure in which one tough. The officer left me entered Canada but she said they could reject me at any time.

I am not sure if this officer is right, because I have crossed so many times and technically my visa has not expired yet. Now I don´t know what to do, I have a trip to Colombia soon and I need my passport so I can not send it to a Canadian embassy for a new visa application and I scheduled my trip leaving from Toronto and coming back to Toronto. As I thought my multiple entry visa was fine.


Any clarification on the rules for this! what should I do ?

I really appreciate your advice or direction

 

[Jalex23]

Hi!

I have multiple visitor canadian visa (v1). I got it in 18/09/2012 and expires on 18/09/2014. I study and live in USA (NY), my husband is Canadian, but I am Colombian, so we cross the boarder between USA and Canada often. I got the multiple entry visa because I went to Colombia, traveling from Toronto, so I wanted to be able to re-enter Canada without problem and I did it, that was in December 2012. After that trip I have crossed the boarder at least 14 times!!!!! and I never ever had a problem. However, today (March 20, 2014) when I entered to Canada, the boarder officer told me that my visa is expired because it has a black pen mark made by the Canadian boarder people in one of trips, I am not sure in which one tough. The officer left me entered Canada but she said they could reject me at any time.

I am not sure if this officer is right, because I have crossed so many times and technically my visa has not expired yet. Now I don´t know what to do, I have a trip to Colombia soon and I need my passport so I can not send it to a Canadian embassy for a new visa application and I scheduled my trip leaving from Toronto and coming back to Toronto. As I thought my multiple entry visa was fine.

Any clarification on the rules for this! what should I do ?

I really appreciate your advice or direction

Yup, any alterations to an immigration document can render it obsolete (and a pen mark qualifies as an alteration). The officer maybe didn't say it expired but that it might not be longer valid.

What to do? I would suggest not travelling outside Canada until your VISA expires and then reapplying for the VISA, that's the easiest way of proceeding.

Can you be denied entry? Yes, anytime. The rule states it is up to the immigration officer to decide whether to accept someone into Canada, they can reject you because "they feel" you don't qaulify even if you have all your paperwork in order. Even though I wouldn't worry too much I think you just had bad luck catching an immigration officer on a bad day, though.

 

[katia23]

This is really old but I want to post it just in case it might help someone else.

I could not stay in Canada because I study in US with a J1 visa. But before leaving Canada, I went the immigration office at the boarder and talk to Canadian officers and expose my case, they checked my visitor record and notice that I did not have any denied entry. So they printed a visitor record explaining that my visa was still good and that was a mistake, he signed it, put a stamp on it and stapled it in my passport. So I was able to use my visa until its expiration date.

However, the boarder officer explained to me that I could use it just because I usually cross by land. But that if I tried to fly the travel agency won't recognize it as they just will accept the visa.

 

[Cupkeyk]

Thank you for this! Planning a trip to cross the border to new york and back again to canada.