Would this be visiting too often?

[Kapwned]

I'm an American in a semi long distance relationship with a man from Canada - and we only live 2 hours apart since we both live an hour from the border.

Right now we're settling into the rhythm of visiting once a month and alternating - For instance just this month I visited him, in August he will visit me, then in September I will visit him, etc. And the stays will usually be a weekend to a week.

I'm just concerned that me visiting him every other month will be too often. So I thought I'd look online. Not much has come up other than the obvious fact that one shouldn't be spending more time in Canada than their own home country - which is not what I plan on doing. As much as I'd love to visit every month I thought that most definitely would be pushing it. Last time I crossed over they asked me when was the last time I visited Canada and when I told them 2 months ago they didn't seen bothered by it at all. But at the same time I haven't been in my relationship long and that was only my second visit.

Can anyone tell me or give me their opinion? I realize when it comes to crossing over it does indeed vary on who you get, but I'm looking more so for legal guidelines to follow.

 

[scylla]

You should be fine. Definitely get a Nexus card to make crossings even easier. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

My husband (American) and I did the long distance thing for a year before he moved to Canada. We saw each other every 3-4 weeks. Pretty much the same pattern as you - alternating between me visiting him and him visiting me for a weekend or a long weekend.

 

[Kapwned]

You should be fine. Definitely get a Nexus card to make crossings even easier. [link removed so I could reply to you]

My husband (American) and I did the long distance thing for a year before he moved to Canada. We saw each other every 3-4 weeks. Pretty much the same pattern as you - alternating between me visiting him and him visiting me for a weekend or a long weekend.

Thank you so much. I'm not sure if Nexus would be ideal for me as I usually travel by bus - unless flashing the card helps me get through there quicker. When you travel by bus you have to go into customs and immigration anyway. Since it's just you and what you have on you they just ask some basic questions and then either send you to get searched or send you on your way. Getting across the border has for the most part been pretty okay except for the first time since I'd never been to Canada and I met my boyfriend online. The lady kind of badgered to make sure I wasn't some run away or potentially falling victim to some sexy offender.

What kind of visa did your husband get? I've began wondering about my options to perhaps maybe move to Canada if my boyfriend and I became that serious. Most reponses I get are like "WELL TOUGH LUCK BUTTERCUP YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A VISA ARE SLIM TO NONE UNLESS YOU'RE MARRIED!" which is rather discouraging. The movies and other people I see make it look so easy. I realize it wouldn't be easy, but so many people whom I've asked make it sound like it's near impossible and like Canada is like some super exclusive club that only the few lucky chosen ones may enter.

 

[scylla]

You need to be either married or common law for your boyfriend to sponsor you for PR. Common law means that you have lived together for a minimum of one full year and can prove it. I sponsored my husband after we were married and that's how he got his PR status. Before that he was just a visitor to Canada. You could also apply for PR yourself/independently provided you meet the requirements for one of Canada's PR programs (e.g. skilled worker). Canada is really not much different than any other country when it comes to immigration (including the US). You can't just move to a country and begin living there permanently because you want to. You need to qualify and apply for a visa.

You technically cannot "move" to Canada as a visitor - all you can do is visit. If you want to move to Canada ahead of getting PR, you could look into getting a work permit or student visa. The first is typically quite difficult. The second is very expensive. Some Americans (and others) do end up "moving" to Canada as visitors although this is technically not allowed. Whether you manage to pull this off or not is a combination of planning and luck. My husband technically lived as a visitor in Canada for a couple of years before he became a PR. What probably made this easier for him was the fact that he was already a frequent global traveler as a development consultant - so coming in and out of Canada a number of times each year didn't look that strange to immigration. There were also certain rules he followed like never bringing too many personal belongings over the border and making sure he carried proof of ties to the US (properties and assets), never overstaying his visit, etc.

Yes - you should still get a Nexus card. I know you have to see a person when crossing by bus. But the Nexus card should still make this process easier for you since it identifies you as a more frequent / trusted traveler.