Tracking visits to the US?

[Ms Hogan 295]

I've seen a couple of notes in various posts about having to track all of your visits to the U.S.? Is this true? I've been traveling to the U.S. all my life. I used to work in the U.S. each Winter. And since starting my relationship in 2009 I go at least once per month and often more. What are the requirements going to be for listing the trips? Can anyone help?

We haven't even started our application but I'm trying to get ahead and start preparing whatever I can so I'm ready when the time comes.

[Que Saudade 284]

I've seen a couple of notes in various posts about having to track all of your visits to the U.S.? Is this true? I've been traveling to the U.S. all my life. I used to work in the U.S. each Winter. And since starting my relationship in 2009 I go at least once per month and often more. What are the requirements going to be for listing the trips? Can anyone help?

We haven't even started our application but I'm trying to get ahead and start preparing whatever I can so I'm ready when the time comes.

What are you filing for?

[canadian_wife 1,829]

Yes, the DS230 asks you to list all trips to the US

now, being Canadian, they understand our prediciment. I often used to travel to the US for a few hours, never presenting documentation, and often being 'waved' through.

I listed what I could remember from the past few years but put a statement stating that I frequently entered the US, no I don't remember each and every time, but I never overstayed and obeyed the laws every single time.

If you had a visa to work in the US, which I hope you did, then certainly list that

Good luck

[Saylin 1,605]

I've seen a couple of notes in various posts about having to track all of your visits to the U.S.? Is this true? I've been traveling to the U.S. all my life. I used to work in the U.S. each Winter. And since starting my relationship in 2009 I go at least once per month and often more. What are the requirements going to be for listing the trips? Can anyone help?

We haven't even started our application but I'm trying to get ahead and start preparing whatever I can so I'm ready when the time comes.

I think most Canadians have that problem. Here's the supplemental sheet I made for my process: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit#bookmark=id.26d497d460f3

[rclcaw 0]

I read a link from this site saying if one is filing DS-260 online, the form only asks for the last 5 visits. Anyone know it this is correct?

Thanks

[Saylin 1,605]

I read a link from this site saying if one is filing DS-260 online, the form only asks for the last 5 visits. Anyone know it this is correct?

Thanks

Yes, that's correct.

[Krikit 1,165]

The intent of the question is to determine if there have been any overstays. They also understand that visits to the US for Canadians.... especially for those who live near the border... are frequent and that it is impossible to list them all. I was told by USCIS (back when they used to actually answer the phones themselves) to enter "Numerous visits, but none lasting longer than [insert timelength here]."

Edited August 13, 2012 by Krikit

[Ms Hogan 295]

OK this is great news! I will do whatever I need to do but was certainly dreading trying to figure out every single trip!

What is the DS-260 vs DS-230 I see elsewhere?

Edited August 13, 2012 by MsHogan

[Saylin 1,605]

OK this is great news! I will do whatever I need to do but was certainly dreading trying to figure out every single trip!

What is the DS-260 vs DS-230 I see elsewhere?

The DS-230 is the paper form. The DS-260 is an online version of the form that only a few certain countries are eligible to do. For Canada, it's REQUIRED you do the DS-260.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_5165.html [table at bottom]

[Ms Hogan 295]

You guys are all terrific! Thanks for such prompt replies!

[sk8rpatty 17]

I think most Canadians have that problem. Here's the supplemental sheet I made for my process: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit#bookmark=id.26d497d460f3

We're in the process now of filling this out. Living near Vancouver he's visited numerous times. Also he passes through to join cruise ships in US ports to go to work. He did not have a visa as the ships are foreign flagged so he is not working IN the US, just from a port in the US. We're struggling how to list this. He's been doing this job for over 20 years.

I tried to open your link to see your example but it is not working for me. Could you possibly email it to me at sk8rpatty3@yahoo.com ?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Edited August 23, 2012 by sk8rpatty

[Saylin 1,605]

We're in the process now of filling this out. Living near Vancouver he's visited numerous times. Also he passes through to join cruise ships in US ports to go to work. He did not have a visa as the ships are foreign flagged so he is not working IN the US, just from a port in the US. We're struggling how to list this. He's been doing this job for over 20 years.

I tried to open your link to see your example but it is not working for me. Could you possibly email it to me at sk8rpatty3@yahoo.com ?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks!

Weird the link didn't work for you... Anyway, I just sent an email with the attachment of the file instead. It's safe to open, I swear

And I'm not sure about the cruise ship thing. You might want to just include a paragraph about it below on the supplemental sheet, stating the average time he usually spends at the ports, how long in between going back to Canada and coming back to the US to work on the cruise ships, and how long he's been doing this. I assume he had to still go through US customs, right? If so, make sure you include a statement in the paragraph that each time he's come to the US that he was inspected by a US Customs officer.

You could always try calling up NVC and asking about this, or creating a separate thread about it.

[sk8rpatty 17]

Weird the link didn't work for you... Anyway, I just sent an email with the attachment of the file instead. It's safe to open, I swear

And I'm not sure about the cruise ship thing. You might want to just include a paragraph about it below on the supplemental sheet, stating the average time he usually spends at the ports, how long in between going back to Canada and coming back to the US to work on the cruise ships, and how long he's been doing this. I assume he had to still go through US customs, right? If so, make sure you include a statement in the paragraph that each time he's come to the US that he was inspected by a US Customs officer.

You could always try calling up NVC and asking about this, or creating a separate thread about it.

Thank you soo much! I did receive it. I'm at work and a lot of stuff gets blocked here so that is probably why the link did not work. I could probably open it at home but it's better to have a file I can copy and paste from.

I'm going to start drafting the paragraph to explain the cruise ship contract situation. I'm just relieved we can explain things this way. My poor fiance was freaking out last night trying to construct all his visits. He's 54 years old and always lived near the border, so you can only imagine the number of times he's crossed besides the trips for his job. I told him I would work on something based on advice I could get here. He was glad to let me help!

Thanks again!

[Saylin 1,605]

Thank you soo much! I did receive it. I'm at work and a lot of stuff gets blocked here so that is probably why the link did not work. I could probably open it at home but it's better to have a file I can copy and paste from.

I'm going to start drafting the paragraph to explain the cruise ship contract situation. I'm just relieved we can explain things this way. My poor fiance was freaking out last night trying to construct all his visits. He's 54 years old and always lived near the border, so you can only imagine the number of times he's crossed besides the trips for his job. I told him I would work on something based on advice I could get here. He was glad to let me help!

Thanks again!

You're very welcome!

Although I'm not as old as your husband, I did visit the US quite often, since I was a baby, and was in the same dilemma. I started off by freaking out as I'd never be able to get all the dates, but then I found a thread on here about just listing the last few I know of, then to include a paragraph. I stopped freaking out

[sk8rpatty 17]

I'm freaking out less now too! Whew.