re-entering Canada

[RebeccaF]

My boyfriend and I are applying for the out-of-country common-law sponsorship option. I am currently residing in Canada and have a study permit that expires at the end of this month (July). I hope to have the application ready and sent off before I have to leave the country, but am under the impression that I will have to leave and re-enter on a visitors visa irregardless of whether I have submitted it or not.

Does anyone know if I have to leave the country once my study permit expires? Also, would it be as easy as crossing the border to Buffalo and re-entering after a weekend in the States? I travel on a German passport.

Any help is appreciated

 

[Deutschbug]

I think you should just apply online to change your status from student to visitor, no need to cross the border.

 

[RebeccaF]

oh? I did not know that was possible - so far I've always changed my stay by applying for a new study/work permit. Thanks a lot Deutschbug.

Could you send me the link where I can do that?

 

[Deutschbug]

This is for doing the paper application:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/extend-student.asp - if you read through the blurb there it states somewhere that you can change your status to visitor to extend your stay, and there's also a link to the online application if you don't want to do the paper route.

 

[RebeccaF]

that will make things a lot easier! (although I was kind of looking forward to my 'excuse trip' to the states for some outlet shopping ) Thanks again Deutschbug!

 

[montrealsnow]

I guess your question has already been answered. Just to add, in case you do want to go to the US: My situation was pretty similar to yours, right down to our nationality: Work permit until end of June, then went to Europe on June 27, came back mid-July. At the airport I had to go through immigrations where they took out the work permit and gave me a "V" stamp. No problems, just a fairly long wait. We had submitted our PR application at the beginning of June.