how long can they stay without a visa

[payneja01 0]

Does anyone know how long a Canadien citzen can stay in the US before they need a visa? Can you also provide a link citing the law? Thanks.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

They can stay in the US for 6 months. I don't have a link citing the law, sorry, its just pretty common knowledge around here.

[payneja01 0]

Now here is the next question. My fiancee and I would like to stay together, since she can stay here for up to 6 months without a visa. I plan to drive up there, pick her up, and drive back. How much trouble will boarder security give us?

[ZansGirl 0]

there is no easy answer to that....

Some people have had zero issues...others have been denied...some have been banned.....

All I can say is have tons of proof of ties, and lots of luck

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Well, there really is no simple answer to that question! It is totally up to the border guard at the time you cross the border- the decision to let her in or deny her entry is 100% discretionary. Does she have strong ties to Canada? This can be a job to come back to, a lease or mortgage payment, enrollment in school, serious financial obligations waiting in Canada, children waiting at home, etc. You will likely need to convince the CBP that she will be returning to Canada and doesn't intend to stay in the US illegally or marry you and adjust her status. Proving her intentions may include presenting strong evidence that she will/must return to Canada. It probably will be an uphill battle for you if you don't have any strong evidence prepared.

Also be aware that if they are suspicious of her intentions they can issue her an I-94 that limits the time she can stay in the US to a specific time frame, usually well under 6 months. This has happened to several people on the board.

With that said, several years ago before my husband and I even became engaged we did this- he drove across the border, picked me up and took me home with him. The guard at the border didn't seem to care at all and never questioned us at all. With that said, I was only staying a week. Usually declaring your intent to stay for 6 months raises some eyebrows.

[trailmix 77]

CBP - Documents Required by Canadians and How Long Can They Stay?

[Married2009 32]

CBP - Documents Required by Canadians and How Long Can They Stay?

Trailmix knows where all the good stuff is!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You also need to remember that Canadians are allowed to visit - they are not allowed to 'live' in the US without the appropriate permission (visa). It is up to the Canadian to provide enough evidence to reassure the border guard that they are only a temporary visitor and not an immigration risk. You might be better off planning on a series of much shorter visits rather than doing 6 months at one fell swoop.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

To avoid a full hijack, Chaz I sent you a PM but read the guides here, it explains everything.

To payneja01 - I was one of the (un)lucky ones here to have been denied entry...twice. So it does happen. My mistake was not bringing strong enough ties to Canada. The CBP asked me to produce some, I couldn't because I took for granted the ease of entering the US so many times before, so he denied me. I went back, the ties were not sufficient so he denied me again. Going a third time with an arsenol of information I was granted entry. So I cannot stress the need for ties to your country - in the even you get a difficult agent.

Good luck

[Krikit 1,164]

Post with separate issue has been split from topic and given its own thread here.

Responses also moved.