Need Help / Advice - Renewal of Visitor Visa

[c_farah]

Hey all,

I need some help and so I'm reaching out to the only place I know. I'll try to explain our situation as concisely as possible:

I'm the sponsor. My wife is from the US and we are currently waiting for the PR application to finish. She lives with me in Canada.
Initially, we drove across and she received the typical 6 month visitor allowance as she is an American citizen.

Afterwards, we applied for an extension of her visitors visa, and it was approved for 1 year. That 1 year is coming up in September, and with the strike still going on, I'm skeptical that she'll receive the PR before Sept.

The obvious answer: apply for another extension of the visitor visa.
The Twist - we happen to be going to the US in September for a vacation.

My Question - is our trip to the US enough that she can re-enter and get another 6 months as a visitor? Or are we still going to have to pay the $75 and extend her visitor visa?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[parker24]

Hey all,

I need some help and so I'm reaching out to the only place I know. I'll try to explain our situation as concisely as possible:

I'm the sponsor. My wife is from the US and we are currently waiting for the PR application to finish. She lives with me in Canada.
Initially, we drove across and she received the typical 6 month visitor allowance as she is an American citizen.

Afterwards, we applied for an extension of her visitors visa, and it was approved for 1 year. That 1 year is coming up in September, and with the strike still going on, I'm skeptical that she'll receive the PR before Sept.

The obvious answer: apply for another extension of the visitor visa.
The Twist - we happen to be going to the US in September for a vacation.

My Question - is our trip to the US enough that she can re-enter and get another 6 months as a visitor? Or are we still going to have to pay the $75 and extend her visitor visa?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

If they let her in, it will just restart another 6 months. The key phrase is "If they let her in".

 

[canadianwoman]

They`ll probably let her in - take proof of the PR application with you, such as the receipt and a copy of the sponsorship approval letter. If she is let in, you won`t have to pay the 75$ - she will just restart with the 6 months time limit, or whatever time the border agent decides.

 

[c_farah]

You guys are awesome!
thanks!

 

[David Jones]

ya ask for 1yr instead of 6mos

 

[c_farah]

ya ask for 1yr instead of 6mos

Is this an option??
that's news to me

Also - i replied in excitement before i really took it all in. Couple of clarifying questions:

a) Does the fact that we're only going to the US for 4 days have an impact? Or is that irrelevant?
b) Should we have all the paperwork that shows we already had the visitor visa extended once? Or do i keep that to myself? (i'm sure they can see that info anyway)

Thanks guys!

 

[c_farah]

Hey guys
Just to put my mind at ease, can anybody help with the above?
Thanks

 

[Alurra71]

Are you driving across the border? If so, you be the driver on the way back into Canada. You do the talking and let them know you would like to stop in and talk to immigration to have your wifes Visitor Record updated again as it is about to expire and you still have not heard a determination on your PR application. They shouldn't give you too much of a hassle regarding this, ESPECIALLY since she has already renewed/extended at least one other time before, so it shows she understands she would have to leave in case of a denial.

I am a US citizen also, and hubby and I drive across the border a couple times a month to see my daughter. Never have any problems.

 

[c_farah]

That helps!
We are flying for the trip, so I'm hoping that they don't give us trouble at Pearson.
I'm going to do all the talking and flat out ask them to renew for 1 year instead of 6 months.

 

[Alurra71]

That helps!
We are flying for the trip, so I'm hoping that they don't give us trouble at Pearson.
I'm going to do all the talking and flat out ask them to renew for 1 year instead of 6 months.

Yup, I would as well. Just ask them to renew of a year in light of the recent strike and slow down of application processing times. I think it should not be an issue.