What could I show them?

[AllisonChains08]

My fiancee and I still have not set a date to be married yet, in fact I have no idea when he wants to do it, he's trying to get over the fears he has about being married again. Anyway since we never get to spend any time together, the subject of me coming there for 6 months out of the year came up yesterday. I'd never really thought about it, but it would be nice to at least get to spend 6 months at a time with him, and I have a really seasonal job that I'd be able to spend half the year away from. I'm kind of worried about being admitted into Canada for the maximum amount of time I'm allowed to stay though, considering they gave me such crap at the Immigration Office the last time I came there when I was only there 17 days. What I'm trying to ask is, what do you think would be good solid proof that I'd be returning after 6 months? I was hoping that a letter from my employer stating when I'll be returning to work, a return airplane ticket, and a recent bank statement would be sufficient. I don't have anything like a rental agreement because I live with my parents so I don't have much proof of where I live. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[RobsLuv]

It's not a good idea to come to the border and ASK for 6 months stay. You'd have to show proof of funds to support yourself and they'd harass you like crazy. The way it works is this: if you're from a visa-exempt country and you come to a Canadian port of entry and are admitted, you're automatically authorized to stay for up to six months. What you have to do to be admitted in the first place is convince them that you only intend to stay temporarily. Having a boyfriend/fiance in Canada is a "red flag" to officials that you might not leave, as is not having a job at home, or a place to live, etc. So, first, when you attempt to enter Canada you should have a plausible explanation for why you're coming that does not include "living with" your bf for six months. They'll ask the "purpose of your visit": have a suitable answer like you're coming to holiday at a friend's cottage, or coming for someone's wedding, etc. AND they'll want to know how long you plan to stay - a few weeks maximum is reasonable . . . plans can always change once you're here, as long as you don't stay longer than six months. So, if you're going to fly, it's best to get a round trip fare with a return about 3 weeks later, and the ability to change your return date if you need to. Once you're in Canada, you can just call the airline and change your return date. I actually did this a couple of times - not because I had intended to but because my daughter had this tendency to get sick when we came to Canada to visit, with an ear infection or a stomach flu that made it impossible for her to travel - and we'd call and postpone our departure date for a week or two and that was fine. But I also successfully entered Canada by car before Christmas one year, telling the IO at the border that I was going to stay through the New Year, and because I was driving a vehicle licensed and registered in the States, he let me in and I easily stayed six months with my fiance.

However, looking back, I was lucky. I'd never try that now because I had no proof of my job or anything with me at the time. It would have been a long trip home. So - be prepared . . . a return trip ticket is usually sufficient to convince them. If they "suspect" you, though, you'll need more - like a letter from your employer or a rental agreement. (You and your folks could draw up a rental agreement, just get one at a stationary store and back-date it, and throw in some amount for rent - although, if you have a return trip fare and a job letter, you probably won't need more.)

Bottom line: remember - even though a visa-exempt national is authorized to remain in Canada for up to six months after being admitted . . . that's not the same thing as having the right to ask for a six month's stay on entry to Canada. You may know that you absolutely do not intend to stay longer than six months but you will NEVER be able to convince them of that - so don't get into it. Secondly - a relationship with a Canadian means you are automatically a risk of overstay . . . so don't get into that either. Have a plausible explanation for your visit to Canada - and reasonable plans for return. Once you're admitted, you can stay for up to six months - and then you need to leave, or apply to extend your stay. Be aware, though, that an application to extend will only be approved, basically, if you happen to get married while you're in Canada and you have an ap in process for permanent status. If that happens, come back here for information on how to successfully extend your stay. It will need to be done BEFORE your initial six months status expires.

Just on a personal note - a bit of unsolicited advice: staying with your bf in Canada for six months might not be the best answer to his "jitters" about getting married. It's really stressful on a relationship when one partner is out working and the other is stuck at home (in a foreign country especially) with nothing to do all day . . . and then there's the burden of additional cost for food, utilities, etc., that he'll take on having you there. Maybe a couple of months every once in awhile would be better - after all, they always say "Absence makes the heart grow fonder". Before you decide to marry this guy - give yourself the chance to make sure his heart grows just as fond of you in your absence as yours does for him.

 

[AllisonChains08]

The only problem with me not explaining that I'm going to stay for 6 months when I speak to the IO is the last time I was there I was ordered to leave Canada on a certain day and I had to turn in a sheet that was stapled in my passport on the day it said I had to.. so I'm worried about that happening again, if I tell them I'm only going to be there for a few weeks. I understand what you mean though.. sigh, I don't really know what to do.

 

[OneLuckyCookie]

I am actually really surprised that you said the IO gave you a hard time. I've been visiting my bf for several months at a time and never had any problems. I always told them I was here to visit my bf and how long I was going to stay (the longest was about three months so far on a visitor visa). They have never asked me to prove I was planning on going back or asked for rental contracts or bank statements...
When I was in Canada on a study permit I had to overstay my visa due to some problems, so I went to the IO and let them know what my problem was and they were really nice about it. They said it wasn't even necessary for me to come let them know that I was going to stay longer than the expiry date of the visa. (I let them know because of the PR application I knew we were gonna file...)

 

[AllisonChains08]

All I can think of is because I was just there in January as well.. that seemed to be what they had the biggest problem with.

 

[Boncuk]

What border point is this.. it seems like alot of hassle for something many do every day :S

 

[AllisonChains08]

This is in Edmonton, AB at the airport.

 

[Eric Parker]

When I fly, I use YVR (Vancouver International) for customs. They seem to be more professional and not as uptight as they are In Edmonton (YEG) and Calgary (YYC). It only took me one customs officer in Calgary to stop me from flying into Clagary directly from the states. He was extremely rude and and muttered "Americans" under his breath, while the Vancouver officers are quite pleasant.

 

[nyssa]

I am flying from Milwaukee to Toronto this Saturday to visit my boyfriend for 12 days. I was going to bring a letter from my employer, a recent bank statement and my return ticket paper of course. I was just going to say I'm visiting my boyfriend, I wouldn't even know what else to say. I was just there in April for his sister's wedding, and I'm coming back in October for a month for our wedding. I didn't think it would be an issue... am I wrong?

 

[AllisonChains08]

Well what's interesting is the woman I spoke to in the office was rude to everyone she spoke to in front of me, so I was terrified when I got to her but she seemed to be a little more pleasant to me, almost like there was no real reason for me to be in that office. She seemed a little more caring and nice towards me than she did the men in front of me. I'm a bit scared to lie to the IO officers and tell them I'll only be there for a few weeks.. only mainly because I've already gotten one of those things stapled into my passport before so I don't see what's to stop them from doing it a second time. Maybe if I'm honest with them and explain how long I'll be there, they'll just put one in that requires me to leave when I originally wanted to anyway.

Nyssa I think as long as you bring those things you mentioned you should be ok. I probably would've been fine if I'd had any proof at all of my intent to return to the US, but I was stupidly caught off guard and had none at all. The only reason I say you might need them is because you weren't there very long ago, which is similar to what happened with me.

 

[Aroundtown22]

How frequent is it that they staple something into your passport dictating a date to leave the country?

 

[nyssa]

Allison,
I was under the impression you DID have all those things! Okay. I wish you the best of luck, I wish I had advice for you. My boyfriend was refused entry at the US border, and I know all about their interrogation process, but not the other way around. I just don't know if I should say I'm visiting my boyfriend, or I'm visiting friends. I don't want to get caught in a lie. I AM visiting friends, but that's not my main purpose.

 

[saralune]

Don't Lie !!!

you went in last time saying you were going to see your boyfriend... it is very probable that they have that in a file under your name, specially since they seem to have given you a hard time... keep your story consistent from time to time, because they will figure out that your are not telling the truth...

 

[AllisonChains08]

I'm not going to lie, I'm too afraid to get told never to come back if they catch me in a lie. I have a good record, I've been to Canada twice, been honest, and left both times when I was supposed to leave. I don't see why they would make such a big deal out of it honestly. I wonder if I tell them the latest I'll be leaving is June, if that'd sound a little better than I'm staying 6 months to the day exactly.

Sorry to confuse you Nyssa, but no I didn't have any proof of anything the last time I went, and I think it bit me in the butt pretty hard.