Are visa extensions still valid if you leave the country and come back in?

[mitten]

Hello,

I am applying for permanent residency through common-law sponsorship. I am a British citizen and have been living in Canada since May 15th as a visitor with my partner. My 6 month visitor 'visa' expires November 5th. I am looking to request a 12 month extension whilst my PR application is processing, however I am looking to leave the country for 1-2 months to go to Mexico to stay with a friend whilst my partner starts his 2 new jobs. We will have a house together by that point, and a kitten

My question is:
- If I apply for a 12 months extension which would be granted around the beginning of November and then I leave the country for 2 months returning at the end of December will that make my extension invalid as I left?
- If so, would it be best then to not ask for an extension and if I have spent 2 months out of Canada when I return will they give me a fresh 6month visitor visa on arrival? Or is it 6 months of a calendar year you can spend inside Canada as a tourist? In which case would that mean I have to return in January for it to refresh?

Thank you. Any help will be appreciated!

 

[POLICAP]

In Principle, if you leave the country while your PR is in process, you will not be allowed back into the country even though you have a TRV extended.It doesn't work.

 

[Rob_TO]

In Principle, if you leave the country while your PR is in process, you will not be allowed back into the country even though you have a TRV extended.It doesn't work.

If the poster is applying Outland, they can come and go from Canada as they want during processing.

To answer the question, I wouldn't even bother with the extension request. Go to Mexico (assuming you are leaving before your current visitor status expires), and when you return back to Canada you will re-enter as a tourist/visitor again, and hopefully given a new 6-month status.

 

[truesmile]

So you have 12-months of 'continuous cohabitation' already and have submitted you PR common-law application on that basis?? Or does "I am applying . . . " mean "I am going to be applying . . . "? If yes (to the latter) then your 2 month visit to Mexico is going to break up your "12 months" of cohabitation and your 12 months will restart from zero upon your return.

 

[mitten]

We have lived together since 15th July 2012 in Australia, England and Canada. We would have been together 15/ 16 months by the time I leave for Mexico, which will roughly be one month after my PR application would have been sent off.
I am applying OUTLAND so leaving the country during the app won't be an issue.

My questions are;

a) will I forfit my extension if I leave and come back?

b) will my visitor visa be refreshed if I leave for two months? In which case I will not need to request an extension. However what concerns me is a British citizen can only spend 6 months of the year in Canada and I will have already have spent 6months here despite if I leave for 2 months as I shall be coming back to spend Christmas and New year with my partner.

Thanks

 

[canuck_in_uk]

a) will I forfit my extension if I leave and come back?

b) will my visitor visa be refreshed if I leave for two months? In which case I will not need to request an extension. However what concerns me is a British citizen can only spend 6 months of the year in Canada and I will have already have spent 6months here despite if I leave for 2 months as I shall be coming back to spend Christmas and New year with my partner.

a) Basically, yes. If you got the extension and then left, a new 6 month period would start from the date you re-entered.

b) Yes, it will be refreshed. You can spend years in Canada as a visitor, as long as you extend your status.

Are you leaving for Mexico before your current status expires? If so, then don't bother with an extension. When you re-enter Canada, you should show proof of the PR app and ask for a year instead of 6 months.

 

[QuebecOkie]

I'm non-exempt (American) and have been in Canada since July 2012. I applied for and was granted a one-year extension to my visitor status. However, the new visitor record certificate I received after requesting the extension specifically states on it, "NOT VALID FOR RE-ENTRY."

Sounds like you would probably be best served to simply leave Canada before your visitor status expires, then reenter. You'd be wasting $75 if you applied for the extension, I believe.