Visiting girlfriend

[mallock]

I am a US citizen and my girlfriend is in Canada and she is a Canadian citizen. I was planning on visiting my girlfriend at the beginning of January, I had moved up there in March of 2008 and they gave me a three month TRV at the border, I applied for a work visa only to have it closed after over a years wait, they sited not sufficient evidence of skills, we tried to explore our options while I was there.She had been supporting me the whole time..

Finally in September of 2009 I had to come back to get work...

My plan is to go up for a few months and see if we can get the PRV process started

Can anyone give me some advice on what to say at the border,and what I might need? I will be driving up alone, the first time I went up she was with me and I had a truck load of my belongings and they let me through..

I'm also a landscaper and I will be off for a few months as the season has slowed down...

 

[Suin]

being a US citizen there shouldn't be any problem for you at the border, especially if you enter by land. just tell them the truth, that you are planning to visit your girlfriend. they are trained to see if somebody is not honest.

 

[mallock]

Is a visa required for me to enter and stay with her for a few months?
They gave me a three month TRV the I drove up...

I had been there many times before that though having traveled by bus

 

[job_seeker]

Is a visa required for me to enter and stay with her for a few months?
They gave me a three month TRV the I drove up...

I had been there many times before that though having traveled by bus

As citizens of the US do not need a visa to be able to enter Canada, you do not need to get one prior to entering Canada. But you had been given a visitor record the last time, you may yet be given another one this time.

 

[mallock]

Ok thanks

I was just a little nervous because I overstayed, once the application was closed in October of 2008 I was supposed to return,but we were trying to appeal and explore other options ( finding another job and job offer ) I am just worried they might frown upon that and not let me cross...

But I did come back to the states so....

 

[Suin]

they might not have any other notes about you in their database except that entry visa. I don't think they can be certain about whether you left after your visa expired or not. they usually don't stamp US passports. You just need to think about what to say in case they ask you questions.

 

[Karlshammar]

Even if they don't stamp the passport they will scan it and the entry will be recorded in their database, and from what I've heard the Canadians and Americans share information, so they'll know.

they might not have any other notes about you in their database except that entry visa. I don't think they can be certain about whether you left after your visa expired or not. they usually don't stamp US passports. You just need to think about what to say in case they ask you questions.

 

[Suin]

maybe Canadian and US border services have different rules, but my husband's Canadian passport was never scanned by US POE. I was personally present and saw it myself.

 

[mallock]

Well I had spoken to someone at CIC and they said as long as I had a work permit application in process it was legal to stay up there.
The application was closed in October of 2008

I left at the end of August 2009

 

[Karlshammar]

Interesting... When my wife and I went over the border with a Canadian they scanned his passport. He is quite foreign-looking, so maybe that's why?

maybe Canadian and US border services have different rules, but my husband's Canadian passport was never scanned by US POE. I was personally present and saw it myself.

 

[mallock]

The main reason for my visit is because she has a court date on the 5th, she is fighting for custody of her children
the judge even recommended she have her partner there as a character witness, if she sends me some paper work
stating she needs me as a witness will this help my chances?

 

[tgchi13]

maybe Canadian and US border services have different rules, but my husband's Canadian passport was never scanned by US POE. I was personally present and saw it myself.

I'm the Canadian sponsor. Mine is scanned or glanced at entering the US (all the ducks are in a row to be fed next week for my visit..I hope) and keyed in each time upon returning to Canada.

My American partner's passport has been scanned or glanced at upon entering Canada. Having not accompanied him back, I can't speak to that.

If you want - and there are legal circumstance dictating it - ask her to have her lawyer to have a subpoena issued. That MAY help. I don't think a note from your girl friend will. But IF you are granted entry based strictly on that basis, don't abuse the terms (ie you said originally ***My plan is to go up for a few months and see if we can get the PRV process started***).

You don't need to go up there for a few months to help her out with a custody hearing.

 

[mallock]

Well there were a few reasons I was going up, just wasn't sure how much personal info to give out
my only concern really was because I overstayed my visa, but as you said when I came back into the states
I don't remember him scanning the passport, the officer was at my window most of the time...

 

[tgchi13]

Well there were a few reasons I was going up, just wasn't sure how much personal info to give out
my only concern really was because I overstayed my visa, but as you said when I came back into the states
I don't remember him scanning the passport, the officer was at my window most of the time...

Don't give out anything here that would reveal you beyond the forum but if you can't be honest here, you'll have no basis to judge the quality of the responses against.

Being honest and personal here has the potential of saving you a whole lotta grief when you want it least.

I still say your strongest chance would be a subpoena and, again, if you the case is considered strong enough to warrant a bi-national subpoena you will be in grave trouble if you don't honor the terms.

 

[mallock]

We have been together for almost three years, at first we were going back and forth, then in March of 08 I moved up there
two weeks after I arrived I was hired and started the work visa process, we waited, they would send something to me I would send info back, that went on for a while, then in October of 08 they closed the application

I had tried to find work and reapply

I waited as long as I could but I have bills and truck payments

We don't want to be apart, and I certainly don't want to have to worry everytime I want to visit her

We would like to get married once the situation with her children is resolved
and apply for the PRV

what I'm worried about is what should I tell them? should I say its' just a visit and once I arrive we start the process so we can be together?