French passport Visiting Canada without Visa

[rach3rd]

Hi there,
I've had no previous history with Tourist visas in Canada or anything (just two short visits to Montreal with my parents long time ago) but I wanted to go to Vancouver for 2 months to visit and see friends, and since I have a French passport, like other EU members, we are not required to have a visa.

However, I cannot find anywhere, How long are we allowed to stay without a visa? (In the US, it's 90 days)

I appreciate any helpful advice!!!
Thanks

 

[rach3rd]

Also, is there need of bank statements, my friends' inviting me/their addresses, etc, even if this isn't a Visitor's Visa?
If money is required, how much do I need to show??

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi there,
I've had no previous history with Tourist visas in Canada or anything (just two short visits to Montreal with my parents long time ago) but I wanted to go to Vancouver for 2 months to visit and see friends, and since I have a French passport, like other EU members, we are not required to have a visa.

However, I cannot find anywhere, How long are we allowed to stay without a visa? (In the US, it's 90 days)

I appreciate any helpful advice!!!
Thanks

The usual admission is for 6 months.

 

[toby]

Also, is there need of bank statements, my friends' inviting me/their addresses, etc, even if this isn't a Visitor's Visa?
If money is required, how much do I need to show??

If you are asked at the border (unlikely as this is) to show proof of funds, just show a credit card or two. If you have an unusually-high credit limit on the card, print off a statement showing that, so the border officer will know you have the funds to support yourself while in Canada.

 

[rach3rd]

Hello,
Thank you for Both of your responses!

If I first arrive in Canada in Sept, and leave 6 months later, do they stamp your way out? Because I read I'm allowed to visit Canada once a year without a visa.
So even if I technically fly out of Canda in February (6 months later) and come back in August, will they know?? or is it risky??

Thank you so much!!

 

[job_seeker]

Hello,
Thank you for Both of your responses!

If I first arrive in Canada in Sept, and leave 6 months later, do they stamp your way out? Because I read I'm allowed to visit Canada once a year without a visa.
So even if I technically fly out of Canda in February (6 months later) and come back in August, will they know?? or is it risky??

Thank you so much!!

Canada POE officers stamp your passport when you arrive but not when you leave. It is possible that the country you are arriving at will stamp your passport on your arrival and POE officers can check that or they can ask a point blank question of when you were last here (although of course you can tell your arrival date ) when you come back. But i have read posts of members from countries whose citizens do not need visa to enter Canada that they did not have a problem when they came back even when they left only for a couple of months.

 

[toby]

But if your question is "is there a risk you will be turned back at the border?", the answer seems to be "Who knows?"

Canada does not stamp your passport when you leave, but Canada does "swipe" your passport, and no one seems to know whether these records are available to a border guard (they all have a computer screen to look at). So, you might not, but also might, be stopped as you try to re-enter within the year.

It's an uncertain world we live in.

 

[GM]

Canada POE officers stamp your passport when you arrive but not when you leave. It is possible that the country you are arriving at will stamp your passport on your arrival and POE officers can check that or they can ask a point blank question of when you were last here (although of course you can tell your arrival date ) when you come back. But i have read posts of members from countries whose citizens do not need visa to enter Canada that they did not have a problem when they came back even when they left only for a couple of months.

Hello There,

So how could we make sure if we are allowed to enter twice in a year the country? I mean I visited my husband for 2 months and then came back... Now i was thinking of going again for like 4 months, will they stop me?

Now if the french passport holder is eligible to stay 6 months and stays only 2 like I did... if I go again during the same year, can I stay 6 months?

Thanks a million for your prompt reply

 

[job_seeker]

Hello There,

So how could we make sure if we are allowed to enter twice in a year the country? I mean I visited my husband for 2 months and then came back... Now i was thinking of going again for like 4 months, will they stop me?

Now if the french passport holder is eligible to stay 6 months and stays only 2 like I did... if I go again during the same year, can I stay 6 months?

Thanks a million for your prompt reply

Are you from a country whose citizens do not need a visa to enter Canada? As per previous posts read, there had not been too much issues for those who do not need visa to enter Canada. Usually the POE officers stamp your arrival date and then nothing else. If they "quizzed" you upon entry then they may put a cap (end date less than 6 months).

And as to your question "will they stop me?" We don't know, but they can stop you from entering Canada.

 

[matthewc]

Now if the french passport holder is eligible to stay 6 months and stays only 2 like I did... if I go again during the same year, can I stay 6 months?

Yes, in theory. It's not cumulative; the clock resets to zero when you leave Canada. In theory, you could re-enter the same day and be allowed in for another 6 months. However, if they realise you are doing this, it will raise suspicion that you are not a genuine temporary visitor.

 

[blueangel371115]

Yes, in theory. It's not cumulative; the clock resets to zero when you leave Canada. In theory, you could re-enter the same day and be allowed in for another 6 months. However, if they realise you are doing this, it will raise suspicion that you are not a genuine temporary visitor.

What if I just visited last week and will again next week ( due to our jobs) but my seasonal job ends the end of August? Could I then stay six months as I had reasons for returning home then back to canada repeatedly? I intend filing for an extension at the end of six months to gain common-laew status with my boyfriend (for many reasons).