What to tell customs for long stay?

[Benni]

I'm going for my 3rd visit to marry my fiance, and file our outland application then. I'll be staying for 90 days on my US passport.

The trips before were only 2 weeks long and I had no problem with customs.

But, I've heard that they are stricter with questions for long stays.

I am retired so have no job to show proof that I'm returning. I live with, and care for, my elderly mother although my siblings will be doing that while I'm gone.

A friend told me she had gone to Canada to visit her boyfriend for 90 days but customs stamped her passport for only 2 weeks even though her return flight was for 90 days from arriving. I didn't know customs would do that!

What do I tell customs to ensure that I'm allowed to stay for 90 days?

 

[keesio]

My US wife came up last year with the plan to visit me for 4 months. At customs she told them exactly so. They asked to see proof of purchase of her return ticket four months from now. She showed it to them. They asked a few more general question (where does your husband live, what does he do for a living, etc) then let her through.

 

[bartjones]

I agree. Tell them you're here visiting your girlfriend for 3 months. Make sure you have a return ticket. If they don't give you 3 months, take what they give you, and promptly file an application to extend your stay. Costs $75 and it usually takes them 3 months to process it. While they're processing it you have implied status and can legally stay until they make a decision on your extension application.

 

[Benni]

Thanks for the replies! I'll be visiting my boyfriend, by the way (I am female).

I wonder if I should just apply for a visitor's visa now so I don't have any problems. I'll research that option.

 

[Alurra71]

Thanks for the replies! I'll be visiting my boyfriend, by the way (I am female).

I wonder if I should just apply for a visitor's visa now so I don't have any problems. I'll research that option.

You can't apply for a visitors visa as you are from the US and visa exempt. You shouldn't stress too much about this. It is quite easy to do. Just tell them you are here to visit with your boyfriend for a few months and when you plan to return. If you act all shady and nervous they are going to wonder what you are really intending to do while in Canada, so just calm down and tell them exactly how long you plan on staying and show them your return ticket if asked for it.

 

[Benni]

You can't apply for a visitors visa as you are from the US and visa exempt. You shouldn't stress too much about this. It is quite easy to do. Just tell them you are here to visit with your boyfriend for a few months and when you plan to return. If you act all shady and nervous they are going to wonder what you are really intending to do while in Canada, so just calm down and tell them exactly how long you plan on staying and show them your return ticket if asked for it.

I found that out through further research -- thanks! Me - shady? Ha, no problem there. I can be cool as a cucumber on the outside and look very convincing when fibbing a bit.

 

[BeShoo]

No fibbing! That is the one thing that they hate. You may come for a short time, then decide to stay longer once you're here, but never lie to the border people. If they ever find out you are lying to them, they can give you very hard time.

Just tell them what you are doing and they should let you in. If you don't seem at all suspicious, they are likely to give you six months. If they don't stamp your passport, or they stamp it and don't write a date, then you have 6 months. This is the normal thing for them to do even if you say you are coming for 3 months.

Once you are in Canada, you can send a request to extend your stay. It costs $75 to apply and you can stay until they decide. Right now, they are about 80-some days behind processing paper applications to extend. You can also apply online, which is faster.

If they think you might overstay when you enter Canada, they will issue a "Visitor Record" (VR) at the border which specifies a date by which you must leave and you're supposed to turn it in when you leave, so they know you didn't overstay. That can also be extended, even if it's just for a short time.

I've heard of people getting a VR of as short as two weeks. You're supposed to apply for an extension a month before your VR runs out, but as long as they get it by the deadline, it's fine. In fact, I think they go by the date that you mail the application.

 

[Benni]

Oh, I won't be fibbing -- just omitting. I'm not going to tell them I'm coming to get married.
I've been told, by a few people, to leave that out as some border people won't let you in because they think you might not leave,
then again some border people congratulate you and let you in -- I'm not taking any chances.

Thanks for the additional info, I'll make note of that.

 

[JRPW]

Oh, I won't be fibbing -- just omitting. I'm not going to tell them I'm coming to get married.
I've been told, by a few people, to leave that out as some border people won't let you in because they think you might not leave,
then again some border people congratulate you and let you in -- I'm not taking any chances.

Thanks for the additional info, I'll make note of that.

I agree with the above posters - be honest. My wife and I were honest when we arrived in Canada last month. My wife was given a 1 year visitors permit (record) after we explained our situation. Granted, we have been married for 4.5 years and have a PR application in process. But, I think you should be fine.

 

[Benni]

Thank you, JRPW!