Question about my B2 Tourist Visa

[canadian03 0]

I'm a Canadian traveling in the US. Am I granted a 6 month tourist visa each time I come? Or if I come say on October 1st for 2 weeks an am given the B2 tourist visa then, and then I come again 5 months later, that would mean I only have 2 weeks left on my visa right?

What happens if I overstay it by a few days, is there anyway they would know? Would this prevent me from being approved to come back next time?

Thanks for all your help.

[Darnell 8,479]

is not a visa.

is special 'thing' between US and Canada.

HOWEVER - if you actually APPLIED for a tourist visa, and GOT IT, then that's something else, entirely different.

[canadian03 0]

I'm stamped with a B-2 in my passport. What is it then?

Edited March 6, 2010 by canadian03

[canadian03 0]

I know I don't have an exit visa form I have to have filled out when I leave though, so is there anyway they'd actually know if I overstayed my 6 months? And would it even expire after those 2 weeks or is it renewed for 6 months every time I come?

[canadian_wife 1,829]

Canadians are not given B-2 visas. Each time to reach a POE you could, in theory, be granted a 6 month stay. We do not have visas which we need to abide by the terms geneally. However, each stay is up to the border patrol at the time of entry.

Yes, they will know if you overstay, they always do

Again, you don't have a visa to renew. You may have been stamnped B/2 at the entry, that does not mean you have a B/2 visa, that means you fall under the guidelines of a B/2 visa (meaning you are a tourist, not a worker or immigrant)

Good luck.

[Darnell 8,479]

I'm stamped with a B-2 in my passport. What is it then?

Is this a Canadien passport?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes, Canadians are now required to show passports or one of the other approved documents to enter the US. They are being stamped as B-2s since they are visitors to the US, although they don't have to apply for the paper B-2 visa.

A few days 'probably' aren't going to cause you any problems - but they could have unexpected repercussions that can come back to haunt you, especially as there are places you have to record the exact dates you are in and out of the country (lying on such documents brings very serious repercussions and you definitely don't want to go there!).

You are supposed to spend as much time outside of the US as inside of the US, but in addition to that if you spend more than 6 months in any given year in the US you are subject to filing an Income Tax Return with the IRS as a deemed 'tax resident' (different than immigrant resident), and to avoid paying taxes in the US on your world income you would have to file a special form proving you have maintained closer ties to Canada than to the US. As well, if you spend more than 6 months outside of Canada in any one year you cancel your Provincial health coverage. You need to be physically present inside Canada for 6 months or more of the year in order to maintain eligibility for health care benefits - this is one of the main reasons most snowbirds don't stay longer in Florida than they do.

[antda 13]

I'm a Canadian traveling in the US. Am I granted a 6 month tourist visa each time I come? Or if I come say on October 1st for 2 weeks an am given the B2 tourist visa then, and then I come again 5 months later, that would mean I only have 2 weeks left on my visa right?

What happens if I overstay it by a few days, is there anyway they would know? Would this prevent me from being approved to come back next time?

Thanks for all your help.

Hi Canadian03,

Yes, Canadians are given B-2 tourist visas on rare occasions (lol...like I did when I first came over and had my passport stamped...but that's another story). Basically, that visa says that you are here to visit the USA as a visitor, and no other purpose. You cannot work and/or have legal residency in the USA with that visa. Were you given an I-94 with your tourist visa too? If you were given an I-94 arrival/departure card, then you will have to comply with that return date too. You can stay up to 6 months, however, it is up to the discretion of the border guard/official as to how long you can stay within those 6 months. For example, the border guard can say you can only stay a few days, a few months, etc. and that is stated on an I-94 card. If not, you can assume that you can stay for 6 months as legally allowable by Canadians. Do not overstay your visa and/or do not stay over 6 months, and/or lie about it, as that could be a lifetime ban against you coming over from the USA. They can check in the system against this too...

Hope this helps. Good luck on your journey too.

Ant

Edited March 9, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA