Hello all,
I'm an American (NYC) in a long distance relationship with a Canadian (London, ON) for the last year, driving up and down every other weekend for visits. I want to come to the Canada for a 6 month stay, so that we have the opportunity to test our relationship by living together before finalizing a decision on whether or not to marry. Now here is my confusion:
1) I'd like to go about this the proper way, and request the six month access into the country, but am extremely worried about proving substantial ties back home, and even more frightened of the risk of being flagged! What I'd have to offer at the border is as follows:
A. I can provide a letter from my employer saying my job will be waiting for me after the 6 months (but it's just a housekeeping job. Would this be looked upon as not important, being that it's not a "career" or more serious job for me to return to?).
B. I can provide proof that I am currently enrolled in my college, i.e. print out my transcripts and such, but cannot enroll in classes 6 months from now because my school does not allow class enrollment so far before the beginning of a semester).
C. I can have my boyfriend write me a letter stating he'll support me (a letter of invitation, even though it's not required under my circumstances, I'd assume it couldn't hurt).
D. I can print out my bank statements, but will only have about $4-$5k USD in the bank, and I'm not sure it that would be enough to prove my financial solvency over a 6 month period?
Now, after reading through these forums, I've come across several posts saying that I don't NEED to do this to acquire a 6 months stay. That I can merely say that I'm coming in for my routine visit for the weekend (which I never have any problem doing), and as an american tourist just STAY for the 6 months from my date of entry. But my fear of doing this is; if things work out well in our relationship, our plan is for me to move back into the states but to Port Huron, MI instead (an hour away from him) and process our marriage paperwork Outland (due to the speediness as opposed to Inland), and just visit him every weekend during the paperwork process. After staying in Canada for 6 months without being "granted permission", after returning to the states, would I then encounter any difficulties returning to Canada for weekend visits?
Upon responding please note that other visas are out of the question; student visa, work visa, etc. They are not an option.
Any advice, suggestions, input, ANYTHING in this matter would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Kendra
I'm an American (NYC) in a long distance relationship with a Canadian (London, ON) for the last year, driving up and down every other weekend for visits. I want to come to the Canada for a 6 month stay, so that we have the opportunity to test our relationship by living together before finalizing a decision on whether or not to marry. Now here is my confusion:
1) I'd like to go about this the proper way, and request the six month access into the country, but am extremely worried about proving substantial ties back home, and even more frightened of the risk of being flagged! What I'd have to offer at the border is as follows:
A. I can provide a letter from my employer saying my job will be waiting for me after the 6 months (but it's just a housekeeping job. Would this be looked upon as not important, being that it's not a "career" or more serious job for me to return to?).
B. I can provide proof that I am currently enrolled in my college, i.e. print out my transcripts and such, but cannot enroll in classes 6 months from now because my school does not allow class enrollment so far before the beginning of a semester).
C. I can have my boyfriend write me a letter stating he'll support me (a letter of invitation, even though it's not required under my circumstances, I'd assume it couldn't hurt).
D. I can print out my bank statements, but will only have about $4-$5k USD in the bank, and I'm not sure it that would be enough to prove my financial solvency over a 6 month period?
Now, after reading through these forums, I've come across several posts saying that I don't NEED to do this to acquire a 6 months stay. That I can merely say that I'm coming in for my routine visit for the weekend (which I never have any problem doing), and as an american tourist just STAY for the 6 months from my date of entry. But my fear of doing this is; if things work out well in our relationship, our plan is for me to move back into the states but to Port Huron, MI instead (an hour away from him) and process our marriage paperwork Outland (due to the speediness as opposed to Inland), and just visit him every weekend during the paperwork process. After staying in Canada for 6 months without being "granted permission", after returning to the states, would I then encounter any difficulties returning to Canada for weekend visits?
Upon responding please note that other visas are out of the question; student visa, work visa, etc. They are not an option.
Any advice, suggestions, input, ANYTHING in this matter would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
Kendra
