Re-visiting Canada policies for American: I can't find any answers, please help.

[meowza]

My fiance' lives in BC, and I live in the states. I visited him for 6 months, and I just got back a little over a month ago. We have the money and the means for me to go back there again, but I can't find any (or reliable) information about how long I'd have to wait before going back there again.

Is it true that if I were to go back now/soon, the 6 months would "reset", or do I have to wait another 6 months to see him?

The previous (2) times I've visited, CBSA said I didn't do sufficient research on this subject.

The first visit was for only a month so they could see that I'd comply with the policies. The second (6 month) visit was allowed to me but they seemed very frugal about it. So for the third time I want to make sure I have everything at 100% so they know that they can trust me and that I HAVE done the research.

Any answers/advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[on-hold]

There is no rule -- it will always depend on the border agent. Generally, Canadians and Americans get a certain amount of leeway to spend time in each other's country, but at some point if you look like you are living here, you'll meet an agent who will require you to maintain a 6 months in, 6 months out schedule.

 

[Jalex23]

My fiance' lives in BC, and I live in the states. I visited him for 6 months, and I just got back a little over a month ago. We have the money and the means for me to go back there again, but I can't find any (or reliable) information about how long I'd have to wait before going back there again.

Is it true that if I were to go back now/soon, the 6 months would "reset", or do I have to wait another 6 months to see him?

The previous (2) times I've visited, CBSA said I didn't do sufficient research on this subject.

The first visit was for only a month so they could see that I'd comply with the policies. The second (6 month) visit was allowed to me but they seemed very frugal about it. So for the third time I want to make sure I have everything at 100% so they know that they can trust me and that I HAVE done the research.

Any answers/advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

The problem is that you are not a genuine visitor, you are living with your partner, therefore your entry can be refused anytime and the chances that it is refused increase with each "visit".

Regardless of you not staying and complying with "the rules" is not enough. A visitor is not supposed to stay so long and so often, therefore if CBSA feels you are abusing the law they will not like it.

As a rule of thumb for these cases I always suggest to not "visit" Canada for more than 6 months in the last 12 months, more than that is "living" not "visiting".

 

[scylla]

As others have said, there's no black and white answer. Generally you need to prove you are really visiting and not trying to live in Canada. If you were just here for six months and are trying to re-enter for another six months, that may very well be looked at as "living". To increase your chances of re-entery, it's a good idea to carry documents that prove you have strong ties to the US (example: proof of full time job, proof of property ownership or rental, proof of full time school attendance, etc.). Ideally you should also have a return ticket and not pack like you're moving. Ultimately it will be up to the immigration officer if you are allowed in and for how long. If you've already been warned a couple of times there's certainly a chance they've made a note in your file which may come up again when you try to re-enter. Additionally, it does appear like you're trying to effectively live in Canada as a visitor. So that may make the immigration officer unhappy. In the end, it's impossible for any of us to say what will happen. Good luck.

 

[meowza]

Thank you for your reply!

What if I were to stay for only a month, would that change anything, or would it just be better for me to wait out the 6 months in the states?