For a multiple-entry visitor visa holder who wants to leave Canada briefly and come back (rather than waiting out a longer gap), the group's advice focused on extending the stay instead of relying on a quick re-entry:
- A multiple-entry visa itself does allow re-entry, but rather than leaving and coming back within a month, it's simpler and safer to apply for a visitor record to extend the authorized stay in Canada directly.
- If the visitor wants to stay significantly longer than originally planned, apply for a visitor visa extension before the current 6-month authorized stay expires — don't wait until it's about to lapse.
- Applying for a visitor record/extension avoids uncertainty around re-entry rules and border officer discretion that can come with leaving and re-entering shortly after arrival.
Bottom line: if the goal is simply to remain in Canada longer, extend the stay through a visitor record application rather than testing an exit-and-return within a short window.