Post
by Mr Rusty » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:48 pm
No, you can't get longer than 6 months as a visitor.
I assume that as a Canadian she just has a stamp in her passport endorsed by an Immigration Officer on arrival, rather than a visa issued abroad. Non-visa nationals sometimes try to extend their stay by going to Europe for a few days and then seeking re-entry as a visitor. This is a high-risk strategy because when she comes back the IO is likely to suspect that she is establishing her life here, and refuse her.
You could extend her stay by applying anyway and using the time that BIA take to make a decision. But a) that would cost you several hundred quid, b) you don't know how long it will buy you, and c) she'd be racking up a refusal which might not be helpful in the long run.
You'll have to manage without her for a few months. It probably won't kill you.
