U.S. citizen in Canada

[esther8287]

Hi, I'm a U.S. citizen in Canada visiting for two months, but wanting to stay a month longer now that I'm here. I didn't need a visa, and my passport didn't get stamped or anything.

The possible problem is that when I was filling out my declaration card before we landed, I wrote that I'd be staying here for 60 days.

Does it matter that I want to stay longer? Do I have to formally/officially extend my trip? I know as a U.S. citizen I can technically stay for up to 6 months, so feel like I shouldn't have an issue. Any insight to this would be of great help. I tried calling the airport but kept getting the run around.

Thanks in advance!

 

[scylla]

Unless you were given a stamp in your passport indicating a specific departure date, you can stay for up to six months.

 

[ashokcan]

Hi, I'm a U.S. citizen in Canada visiting for two months, but wanting to stay a month longer now that I'm here. I didn't need a visa, and my passport didn't get stamped or anything.

The possible problem is that when I was filling out my declaration card before we landed, I wrote that I'd be staying here for 60 days.

Does it matter that I want to stay longer? Do I have to formally/officially extend my trip? I know as a U.S. citizen I can technically stay for up to 6 months, so feel like I shouldn't have an issue. Any insight to this would be of great help. I tried calling the airport but kept getting the run around.

Thanks in advance!

Scylla is absolutely right. There is no problem U.S. citizen. Relax 8)

 

[MSP2YYZ]

Scylla is absolutely right. There is no problem U.S. citizen. Relax 8)

Ditto

 

[Dollars.jp]

Wait... So a U.S. citizen could book a flight, say they were leaving in a week and then leave in 6 months instead? I know that's probably not the case (and also just a big money sink, with not having healthcare, job, ability to study, etc,) but that just seems a little weird. I figure there would be some way for you to get in trouble next time you would enter the country, but Scylla's info has always been extremely solid and I wouldn't doubt a word that the man says.

 

[MSP2YYZ]

I did it, I'm in T. right now

 

[Dollars.jp]

Wow, that seems like an insanely large loophole... So you're saying that I could stay here for 6 months and that there would be no way for people to tell?

 

[MSP2YYZ]

Yes, but if you plan to stay longer than 6 months, be sure to file for an extension or you will run into problems later.

 

[LovingMyCanuck]

Yes you most definitely would be able stay for 6 months if your passport was not stamped. However if you want to stay longer you would have to extend it and will only be accepted if you have a stamp on your passport. People get refused for this reason (lack of the stamp) however there is a restoration of status that you could do (if stated in the written refusal letter) you would have to pay for the fee which is 200$ and these applications takes a while to process so you might even end up staying four extra months.

 

[KittyAW]

Unless you were given a stamp in your passport indicating a specific departure date, you can stay for up to six months.

Related to this situation and the "up to six months", is this directly like the US gov requirement on Canadian citizens explained here: help [dot] cbp [dot] gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/619
Specifically the portion: "There is no set period of time Canadians must wait to reenter the U.S. after the end of their stay, but if it appears to the CBP Officer that the person applying for entry is spending more time over-all in the U.S. than in Canada, it will be up to the traveler to prove to the officer that they are not de-facto U.S. residents. One of the ways to do this is demonstrate significant ties to their home country, including proof of employment, residency, etc." (This forum disallows links so I hope you will make subs & check that gov website & its answer to question: "Documents required by Canadian Citizens / Residents / Landed Immigrants to enter the U.S. and how long can they stay?")

I - a USer - *visit* my Canadian-citizen/resident husband from end of April (or beginning of May) staying until end of October (or beginning of November) with a 3 to 5 day trip back into US at end of July. All my papers are up to date with every border crossing showing very clearly where my current legal residence actually is. So is the Canadian law like that shown in above link? I have not been successful finding equivalent wording on Canadian government website.

 

[MSP2YYZ]

Related to this situation and the "up to six months", is this directly like the US gov requirement on Canadian citizens explained here: help [dot] cbp [dot] gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/619
Specifically the portion: "There is no set period of time Canadians must wait to reenter the U.S. after the end of their stay, but if it appears to the CBP Officer that the person applying for entry is spending more time over-all in the U.S. than in Canada, it will be up to the traveler to prove to the officer that they are not de-facto U.S. residents. One of the ways to do this is demonstrate significant ties to their home country, including proof of employment, residency, etc." (This forum disallows links so I hope you will make subs & check that gov website & its answer to question: "Documents required by Canadian Citizens / Residents / Landed Immigrants to enter the U.S. and how long can they stay?")

I - a USer - *visit* my Canadian-citizen/resident husband from end of April (or beginning of May) staying until end of October (or beginning of November) with a 3 to 5 day trip back into US at end of July. All my papers are up to date with every border crossing showing very clearly where my current legal residence actually is. So is the Canadian law like that shown in above link? I have not been successful finding equivalent wording on Canadian government website.

The situation is the same at the Canadian border. At any time the border guard can say you are spending too much time in Canada and deny entry, no matter what your paperwork says. Even so, lots of people do the 6-month stay and return with no problem at all. Just don't be that thousandth person that gets the border agent who is having a bad day...that would suck!

 

[KittyAW]

I'm not sure my question was fully understood. I'll go further. I was told recently by a Canadian border agent that my stay in Canada could NOT be for more than 6 months total in a year. She then went on to claim that this was the same requirement that was imposed on my Canadian citizen husband by the US. We always carry a current print out of that U.S. Customs and Border Protection website "answer" (in my previous post) and so I showed it to her. She read it and then had nothing more to say; and I was not interested in pursuing the matter at the time - crossing the border.

I am asking here where does it state on an official Canada gov website that the requirement is no more than 6 months *total* within a year, as that agent claimed. Please provide a link so I can make a similar copy of the *official* standing.

 

[scylla]

I'm not sure my question was fully understood. I'll go further. I was told recently by a Canadian border agent that my stay in Canada could NOT be for more than 6 months total in a year. She then went on to claim that this was the same requirement that was imposed on my Canadian citizen husband by the US. We always carry a current print out of that U.S. Customs and Border Protection website "answer" (in my previous post) and so I showed it to her. She read it and then had nothing more to say; and I was not interested in pursuing the matter at the time - crossing the border.

I am asking here where does it state on an official Canada gov website that the requirement is no more than 6 months *total* within a year, as that agent claimed. Please provide a link so I can make a similar copy of the *official* standing.

No - it doesn't say that anywhere. It's not an official rule.

 

[ihabkal]

my personal experience is that half the time the agents don't know or care they just like to play teacher and spank someone makes them feel big

 

[mpo7574]

My situation: Wife and I are US citizen and both work in Canada and have a 4 yr assignment. We have 3 young children and therefore would like my mother-in-law to come to Canada to be our live in nanny. She is also a US citizen. What is the best way to allow this? Seems she can come as a visitor for up to 6 months at a time and then possibly leave for a few days and then come back for another 6 months. Questions is how long can she do this? Unfortunately since we are temporary residents it doesn't seem that super visa for grandparents is an option.