What do I say at the border?

[Panamai]

I will be "moving" to Ontario to be with my boyfriend in January. Our plan is to do the 6 months, then apply for an extension, and eventually apply based on common law. Do I tell them I'm just staying for a month or two? Or do I tell them I'm planning to stay for the full 6 months? I don't want to mess it up. I'm getting really stressed about it. He also wants to open a joint chequing account with me. What sort of documents will I need? The plan is that I will fly to Ontario first for a few weeks, then we will fly back to the US together, collect more of my things, and then drive together back to Ontario.

 

[Cvstos]

From what I can tell you have to be an already landed immigrant (as in, have permanent residency) to have a joint bank account. As an American I can't open a bank account in Canada. I'm pretty sure you need something akin to a Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN), their equivalent of a Social Security number.

 

[Panamai]

What if he just added me to his current account? Is that possible?

 

[Cvstos]

Not from what I can tell. It's been a problem for me, too, so I sympathize. If you can find a bank that makes their own cards and doesn't put a name on them (Servus maybe) you might have some wiggle room. Just get a new card and use that. Otherwise, you may need to make due with a pre-paid card, but that'll have load fees.

That being said, I could very well be wrong here.

 

[Panamai]

Ok, what are some other ways to establish that we are living together? He has a mortgage, so he can't add me to a lease.

 

[missboon]

Certain banks that are 'global' will usually take an American. TD bank and I believe the Bank of Montreal...are two that come to mind. Ive had this same problem so I too sympathize, I can open another bank account elsewhere but I'd rather go with the bank my husband has...Its stupid that he will need two accounts just have one account that I can be in jointly.

As far as 'moving' ...try not to make it so suspicious. Take only what you really need. If your boyfriend can take care of you then really all you need is some clothes. If you have a lot of bags they will think you are trying to move here illegally. I always had a return ticket just as proof that I was intent on leaving...

 

[Panamai]

Ah, yes, it will be with TD bank. That sounds good. I was looking at the documentation I will need and it seems I need some form of Canadian issued ID. I could get an Ontario driver's license very easily and use that. And yeah, I'm not worried so much about flying in, it's driving across the border that worries me. I won't have a return ticket to show. I do, however, have a lease on an apartment that goes until the end of April. I could bring that with me just in case.

 

[Panamai]

Also, I will only be bringing clothes, toiletries, and a laptop. I have a lamp that I inherited from my mom that I want to bring, I hope that doesn't look suspicious. How likely are they to search my car? If I brought a box with a few kitchen items, do you think I could just say I was giving them to a friend of his?

 

[QuebecOkie]

My husband had an account with BMO. He had no trouble opening a joint account there for us to share (I'm American as well). I think they even let me use my Oklahoma driver's license and not even my passport (my passport lists my maiden name, and my DL my married name - married name is on the bank account).

 

[Panamai]

Additionally, If I get my Ontario license in November and we open the bank account, will my living with him start from that time? I will go back to the US around the 3rd of December and we will be apart around 3 weeks before he flies to me and from then on, we will stay together. Is 3 weeks too much?

 

[Alurra71]

You should be fine with 3 weeks.

I had absolutely no problems being added to my husbands bank account at RBC. We have had it joint since I moved over last year. They used my Passport and my DL as ID. I am not even PR or anything yet, still waiting, but I now also have a credit card with my bank. Not a shared one with my husband, so I can build a credit rating here in Canada. So I don't see why you should have a problem opening a joint account at all.

 

[Cvstos]

Huh. Well, I sit corrected. My bad, but I warned ya I could be wrong.

 

[missboon]

You should be fine with 3 weeks.

I had absolutely no problems being added to my husbands bank account at RBC. We have had it joint since I moved over last year. They used my Passport and my DL as ID. I am not even PR or anything yet, still waiting, but I now also have a credit card with my bank. Not a shared one with my husband, so I can build a credit rating here in Canada. So I don't see why you should have a problem opening a joint account at all.

Lucky! If I had an American drivers license I could've gotten a Canadian one but I don't have one :/

 

[QuebecOkie]

Huh. Well, I sit corrected. My bad, but I warned ya I could be wrong.

That's why this forum is so great. Lots of people sharing info. Lots of different experiences.

As for DL...we'll see how easy it is. Québec is special. Tomorrow I land. Next week I drive to Québec (city) to register for insurance. Then I suppose I'll tackle the license thing. I took my husband's name, and that's an issue here.

 

[Panamai]

Oh, nice! Sounds like I'm all set! Thanks for the info! Still not sure what to say at the border though, lol. I'm hoping to have my Nexus card by then too. That should help, eh?