What to expect...

[Stevin]

Just going to be honest...

My US boyfriend for over a year is planning on moving to Canada for a year to live with me. This is how I think it's going to go, let me know if I am wrong...

He's driving here, will have a moving truck bring belongings. He will reside here with me for one year (not allowed to work or have healthcare is understood). After that year, apply as common law for his per meant residency. Once that is obtained, he will resume work. He has proof of funds. I can provide letter of invitation.

What other potential problems with our "plan" can I expect??


Thank you. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Stevin]

ik sorry, did you mean "isn't" a good idea? We do not want to get married. We've both experienced a failed marriage in the past

I look forward to your clarification

Thank you.

 

[truesmile]

If he arrives at the border in a moving truck, you can expect to be denied entry into Canada. He's allowed to "visit" you (maybe 2 suitcases), but not move/live here. That's not to say he can't end up "visiting" for a year.

There's nothing wrong with common-law. It's conjugal applicants that have problems if there are no barriers to marriage.

 

[Stevin]

Thank you for the clarification. Yeah, thought we could get away with conjugal before I really understood what the purpose of it was.

The moving truck will be driven by a diff company but it will all be in my name. Hope this is not a cause for concern.

Will he require a letter of invitation and proof of funds and such?? I will be driving back to Canada from Boston with him.

 

[SchnookoLoly]

What does he plan on saying when he gets to the border? Will you be with him? CRossing the border with a moving truck is going to get him turned away. As has been said, he cannot actually live in Canada, he has to visit, but he can "visit" for a year. But that means he has to appear as a visitor - ties back to the US, belongings in the US... showing up at the border with a moving truck is direct contradiction of that.

Honestly, I think you are best off just doing a courthouse wedding and applying as a married couple. You'd have your PR in under a year (instead of spending a year trying to live together on one income). You can explain on the form that you just did a small courthouse ceremony because you've both had failed marriages in the past but realize that getting married is the best way for you to be together in Canada in the long run.

If you insist on common-law instead you will have to be very careful about what happens at the border. Do not show up with a moving truck. (That said, if the truck is in your name and you show up on your own with a truck that might be different, then, bu tif you get searched you may struggle to explain why you are bringing back oodles of male clothing etc.) In any case, your BF should NOT rock up to the border with a moving truck. Bad, bad idea.

 

[Ponga]

It sounds like the OP has hired a professional moving company, which means that they will not be arriving at the border with a U-Haul full of their belongings at the same time. Is that correct?

If so, the moving company will have an itemized inventory of what they've loaded onto the truck, but it will be pretty generic (i.e., medium box- packed by owner-contents unknown, etc.). Unless CBSA goes through each box, she won't have any problems. If they do discover items that are not hers (such as his clothing, or personal items), there could be an issue.

I agree that crossing the border as a married couple would be a good idea and even better if the fees for PR sponsorship had been paid, showing the receipt to the CBSA as proof that the application is pending.

Since that's not likely to happen, it's really anyone's guess as to what, if anything, happens.

 

[Rob_TO]

The moving truck will be driven by a diff company but it will all be in my name. Hope this is not a cause for concern.

A few things to consider.

If everything is in your name, you will be subject to full duties/taxes on the value of everything being imported into Canada.

Also on his initial entry into Canada, he will most likely be given a 6-month visitor status. He may need to convince CBSA he's only a visitor, so may need things like proof of ties to USA that show he will return, proof of funds available or that you will support him so he won't work illegally, etc. Sometimes they just wave you in and don't ask for antyhing, sometimes you go to secondary inspection and have a hard time. Better to be fully prepared. The same thing may happen each and every time he goes back to USA and tries to re-enter Canada again.

After he's in Canada with 6-months status, he'll need to apply to CIC to extend that at around the 5+ month mark. In most cases US citizens have no problem getting an additional 6 or 12 months extension which remains in force as long as he stays within Canada.

Is he driving his own US car into Canada? If so he better check with his insurance company they are ok with him driving the car in Canada for a year or longer.

And finally if you intend to apply for his PR as common-law after 1 year, make sure you start gathering proofs from day 1. So get his name on any and everything (lease, rental agreement, utilities, bank account, credit card, etc) to show both your names and 1 address, and also make sure he gets mail delivered to your address from the start.

 

[Ponga]

Rob_TO brings up a couple of good points:

If he waits until he has his PR, he (or you) would not need to pay duties and taxes on his goods.

If he plans to keep his car insurance and shows his old address as still being his current address (while he is in Canada), that could be a problem.
If he were to have a claim, it could open up a pandora's box, since his rates are likely based on the home address where the car is usually parked. If the car is really going to be parked in Canada every night...that could be seen as insurance fraud.

He should definitely confer with his insurance company ASAP.

 

[Ravcat]

He cant simply walk up to the border, with no ties to the states, even with 2 suitcases. You will be most likely rejected. (he could though fly in...)
BUT if he flies in and then magically stays in Canada for over 6 months+++ THEN tries to apply for a visa of any kind...ya they wont like that...

Thats basically what happened to me, and now 2 years later...

You have to have a job/house/something that you are going back to, and be able to prove it. Bank statements, full health insurance, etc...

Driving a car with no ties to the states with all your personal or "worldly possessions" will get you no where.

We had the idea too that I would "visit" and look for me a job and apply for a work visa and have a company sponsor me...etc...yea...

I would read all the replies and really think about your actions before you are stranded at the border with a piece of paper rejecting you, and basically giving you a big fat X on your name till you get PR done in a year or so. (and after fines/fees...headaches and heartaches)

Be prepared for them to ask you 100+ questions, and the answers better line up. They also went through cell phones...saying you are moving in text messages /emails/fb whatever...will get you in a heap o trouble too

 

[Garry2008]

Just going to be honest...

My US boyfriend for over a year is planning on moving to Canada for a year to live with me. This is how I think it's going to go, let me know if I am wrong...

He's driving here, will have a moving truck bring belongings. He will reside here with me for one year (not allowed to work or have healthcare is understood). After that year, apply as common law for his per meant residency. Once that is obtained, he will resume work. He has proof of funds. I can provide letter of invitation.

What other potential problems with our "plan" can I expect??


Thank you. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I suspect that CBSA will allow him to come in Moving Truck with all belonging.As he need to explain what is motive to visit Canada on time of Entry and need to Declare All belongings .Other than that i do not see any issue.if a person Explain i am visitor and have Possession on all his Belonging CBSA Officer will likely to deny entry on Port of entry.Although not sure how long you can stay in Canada if you belong to USA.

U.S. citizens crossing into Canada as tourists can stay in the country for 180 days without a visa. A few special cases can hamper this trouble-free tourist trip. If you have any criminal record, even for misdemeanors, you'll need to obtain a rehabilitation approval in advance. Canadian border authorities also require a notarized affidavit for people traveling with minors if the adult does not have full legal custody. All boaters have to register their vessels with the Canada Border Services Agency after arriving in the country.
Source
http://traveltips.usatoday.com/long-can-us-citizen-stay-canada-passport-108862.html
This thread has some information that might be helpful.
http://www.atlasvanlines.ca/cross-border-moving-usa-to-canada.html

 

[Ponga]

I suspect that CBSA will allow him to come in Moving Truck with all belonging.As he need to explain what is motive to visit Canada on time of Entry and need to Declare All belongings .Other than that i do not see any issue.if a person Explain i am visitor and have Possession on all his Belonging CBSA Officer will likely to deny entry on Port of entry.

Ok, you're doing it again. You're just trying to reply to as many threads as possible to boost your count...which got you in trouble recently!

In this case, you are giving some VERY BAD ADVICE to this person!

 

[Garry2008]

Ok, you're doing it again. You're just trying to reply to as many threads as possible to boost your count...which got you in trouble recently!

In this case, you are giving some VERY BAD ADVICE to this person!

Are you sure it is bad advice ? Will CBSA Allow him to come with all personal Belonging ? ?
Did you have any experience to Come in a Moving truck without any issue with CBSA Officer as a Visitor ?

 

[Stevin]

Thank you for all the input.

Just to clarify: his ties back to the U.S. is his house. He will still have a house in the U.S. For the time being.
Clothes and such will be travelling with us, other possessions will be travelling in a moving truck. There should t be anything to say it isn't my stuff.

Will have to figure out how to get his motorcycle here.

But as far as ties go - he still has property in U.S. He will have proof of funds too.

 

[Rob_TO]

Are you sure it is bad advice ? Will CBSA Allow him to come with all personal Belonging ? ?
Did you have any experience to Come in a Moving truck without any issue with CBSA Officer as a Visitor ?

http://www.atlasvanlines.ca/cross-border-moving-usa-to-canada.html

It's VERY bad advice. The link you provided is for MOVING to Canada. Not visiting. If a VISITOR attempts to cross the border with a ton of stuff that is obviously more than a VISITOR needs, they can easily be denied entry by CBSA. A visitor needs to act like a visitor, so should bring minimal possessions that would be typical of a visitor. If CBSA thinks you are attempting to "move" or "live" in Canada permanently, you may find yourself being questioned intensely and ultimately turned back to the US.

Many people on this site have shared stories of being denied entry to Canada when CBSA was not convinced they were just visiting.

Thank you for all the input.

Just to clarify: his ties back to the U.S. is his house. He will still have a house in the U.S. For the time being.
Clothes and such will be travelling with us, other possessions will be travelling in a moving truck. There should t be anything to say it isn't my stuff.

As I said, just be prepared to pay duties/taxes on the value of everything being sent separately.

No matter if he has a house in the US and funds, he needs to convince CBSA he is a VISITOR. Make sure he does not use words like "moving" when asked his purpose for visiting Canada.

 

[DanSlh]

Are you sure it is bad advice ? Will CBSA Allow him to come with all personal Belonging ? ?
Did you have any experience to Come in a Moving truck without any issue with CBSA Officer as a Visitor ?

http://www.atlasvanlines.ca/cross-border-moving-usa-to-canada.html

No way! This is for moving, not visiting.