Can I Summer in Canada with my Girlfriend?

[skelliher]

Hi all,

As many of you likely know, it can be tough navigating the info on CiC and elsewhere. I even spoke to an Immigration office last time I was in Toronto, and they sort of gave me vague answers.

Here's the deal:

I am an American, dating a Canadian girl from Ontario. We're looking at renting/subletting a place for the summer, for anywhere from 3-6 months. I've read and been told that I can visit Canada for up to 6 months as an American without a visa or anything of the sort. I have an online job in the U.S. where all of my income is from, and that's how I'd support myself. Speaking with the immigration office, they assured me that working on my website in Canada during a long visit would not count as working in Canada without permission, since it takes no opportunities away from Canadians and since all my money accrues outside Canada.

I'm guessing people on these forums can give me the laymen terms for how to go about this. The woman at the immigration office said I could come for up to 6 months, but how long depends on the border officer I get. The problem is, if we're looking to commit to renting a place, I can't really just toss the dice hoping I get a nice border agent, right? This is something that we'd be planning months in advance, so to just bank on someone stamping my passport or not seems archaic, especially for an American coming to Canada.

Can you all help me clarify what the best way to go about visiting for 3-6 months would be and renting a vacation place? I was likely going to drive across the border. Would it help if my gf was with me for the drive?

Also, after that visit, would I be allowed to come up again during the year, even if it's for a week or two visit? In other words, can I stay for more than six months if one is a vacation rental thing and the others are just small visits.

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[amikety]

Hi Steve!

Here's the cold hard truth. No one can give you any tips or advice to guarantee you'll get into Canada short of becoming a landed resident or citizen. (Landed resident = Green card holder in Canadian )

With your online business, I would also make sure you don't have any Canadian customers. That could blurr the lines.

If you're renting a place, I would bring a copy of the rental agreement with me, showing it ends at X date. Also bring a rental agreement or proof of ownership on your house/condo/apartment in the US. If you have any other commitments, such as a conference or meeting for work scheduled that far in advance, you can bring proof of that too. Also, if you fly, you can book the return ticket to match your lease and use that to show you plan to leave.

You probably won't have any problems as long as you are polite, acknowledge you're only visiting, etc. I wouldn't volunteer that you're able to work online. Let that go unless they ask. You can say "I work online with American customers" and the IO hears "I'm going to work while I'm in Canada." Instead of saying "I work online" something like "I own my own website" might be better.

If they don't write a date on your passport stamp, it's 6 months. If they do write a date, it's that date. If you somehow get less than the time you want, you can apply for an extension either at the border or online.

If your girlfriend comes with you, let her drive and do the talking at least during border crossing. The IOs are usually nice to Americans (okay, they're civil. They don't smile!) but even nicer to the Canadian spouse.

Yes, you would be able to visit again later. The six month thing means at one time, not all together.

 

[skelliher]

Amikey,

Thanks so much. You helped more in one post than hours of my own research and in speaking with IOs. I understand that ppl can't predict what an IO might do. One might just be having a bad day or whatever, but your info makes sense.

I guess I makes sense not to bring up my online work unless they ask. I was going to only because the girl at CiC said what I do doesn't qualify as work. I have an Email from her saying as much, so maybe I should bring that as well.

I currently live with my parents, so I don't have proof of ownership or anything for a house here, but hopefully that wouldn't be a problem. Maybe I could book a return flight to coincide with my lease, but we're planning on driving over the border, so that might not work for me financially. Hopefully the lease agreement would be sufficient? I know you can answer with certainty, but would you said having a rental agreement and saying I'm leaving then would be sufficient, or should I plan to fly home?

 

[amikety]

A lease agreement will help. It shows planning.

I'd definitely bring that email with me. However, if it comes up, don't try to "one up" the IO. Just say you talked with the Call Centre and this is what they gave you.

Like I said, if your girlfriend can come with you, that's the best way to go.

Unless your in admissible for other reasons (i. e., criminal) you should be okay. Oh yeah and be polite and professional with the officer!

 

[skelliher]

I'm wondering how it would work if I need to fly back to the U.S. for a few days during that 6-month rental period. Do you foresee any problems with that? I'd probably just bring all my proof of rental stuff with me I suppose.

And if I did go back to the U.S. for a few days, wouldn't that reset the clock again for my 6-month stay? I'm guessing that's the type of gaming they don't like though, right?

I was more thinking I'd live there for 6 months, then maybe visit a week or so every once in a while after that. Think that would be fine if my rental ends Nov. 1st and I wanted to go back for Christmas and New Years?

 

[amikety]

I'm wondering how it would work if I need to fly back to the U.S. for a few days during that 6-month rental period. Do you foresee any problems with that? I'd probably just bring all my proof of rental stuff with me I suppose.

And if I did go back to the U.S. for a few days, wouldn't that reset the clock again for my 6-month stay? I'm guessing that's the type of gaming they don't like though, right?

I was more thinking I'd live there for 6 months, then maybe visit a week or so every once in a while after that. Think that would be fine if my rental ends Nov. 1st and I wanted to go back for Christmas and New Years?

Yes, it would reset the visit, provided they give you a new stamp (and they should). I wouldn't worry about that too much. A lot of people flagpole at the border - go just for the purpose of getting a new stamp.

That should be fine. Just remember, you aren't living there. You are "visiting."