Proof of ties and extending stay?

[Cami94 0]

So I made a new thread for this question..

I wondering is it legal to extend my stay in the USA while there ( within the legal 6 month range)? I'm going to visit my fiance and only have been there to visit him once before for 2 weeks. When I crossed the border I was given a form ( what I think is called an I-94) that asks me to fill out the duration of my stay, the address I'm staying at, flight number. If I fill out this form and say 3 months, go through customs and my passport is not stamped with a date I must leave by, Is it legal for me to decide to stay longer, and rebook my flight for a month or two after-for example? Or would I run into trouble when come back to Canada.

For proof of ties-I have to get my wisdom teeth removed and want to schedule my appointment for after I return from my trip. Would this be accepted as proof of ties or would it basically be irrelevant? I have to quit my job before travelling so I would have no proof of employment..though I may get one of my bosses to write me a note saying when Id return IF she'll still need me when I get back, so I'm hoping for that but its not likely. I need ties other than employment, a bank account, anything else that could help? I live with my mom so she could write me a letter but what should it say? I pay a bit of rent to her every month. All my family is here, I have pets to take care of. I pay my cellphone bill, which is in my moms name not mine. I might be bringing my ferret with me on my trip and I'll schedule a vet appointment for when I return and bring sheet from the vets offices stating so.

Any suggestions, help, advice would be great! Thanks!

[troutcat 41]

I might be bringing my ferret with me on my trip and I'll schedule a vet appointment for when I return and bring sheet from the vets offices stating so.

I realize this is the least of your worries, and you may already have sussed this out, but be certain that it is legal to bring a ferret into any State and/or city here you plan to visit. California bans ferrets outright, while in NY, they are banned in the 5 boroughs, but legal in the rest of the State. It appears they are legal in Michigan, except in Grand Rapids, which defines them as wild animals which may not be kept. The laws regarding ferrets vary from State to State and city to city - some States require an import permit, others a permit to own, in some cities they must be spayed or neutered, etc. You might contact the American Ferret Association - although even their list of ferret laws by State and city dates from 2009. Fun!

Is it easy to cross a border with a member of the weasel family?

American Ferret Association, Inc.

PO Box 554 g Frederick, Maryland 21705-0554

www.ferret.org g afa@ferret.org g 1-888-FERRET-1

CR1 Interview date: LND 10/26/12 (can't update signature)

[Anh map 2,098]

So I made a new thread for this question..

I wondering is it legal to extend my stay in the USA while there ( within the legal 6 month range)? I'm going to visit my fiance and only have been there to visit him once before for 2 weeks. When I crossed the border I was given a form ( what I think is called an I-94) that asks me to fill out the duration of my stay, the address I'm staying at, flight number. If I fill out this form and say 3 months, go through customs and my passport is not stamped with a date I must leave by, Is it legal for me to decide to stay longer, and rebook my flight for a month or two after-for example? Or would I run into trouble when come back to Canada.

For proof of ties-I have to get my wisdom teeth removed and want to schedule my appointment for after I return from my trip. Would this be accepted as proof of ties or would it basically be irrelevant? I have to quit my job before travelling so I would have no proof of employment..though I may get one of my bosses to write me a note saying when Id return IF she'll still need me when I get back, so I'm hoping for that but its not likely. I need ties other than employment, a bank account, anything else that could help? I live with my mom so she could write me a letter but what should it say? I pay a bit of rent to her every month. All my family is here, I have pets to take care of. I pay my cellphone bill, which is in my moms name not mine. I might be bringing my ferret with me on my trip and I'll schedule a vet appointment for when I return and bring sheet from the vets offices stating so.

Any suggestions, help, advice would be great! Thanks!

Your ties to home are weak at best.

You won't have trouble with reentering Canada. There is a possibility that you would have trouble when trying to enter the US in the future.

[codygrace 14]

If they gave her an I94 to fill out and hand back in once she came back, doesn't that mean they're already a tad hesitant to let her in? Not to worry you, because I really don't know. Maybe it's just common practice at your POE.

[Krikit 1,165]

I wondering is it legal to extend my stay in the USA while there ( within the legal 6 month range)? I'm going to visit my fiance and only have been there to visit him once before for 2 weeks. When I crossed the border I was given a form ( what I think is called an I-94) that asks me to fill out the duration of my stay, the address I'm staying at, flight number. If I fill out this form and say 3 months, go through customs and my passport is not stamped with a date I must leave by, Is it legal for me to decide to stay longer, and rebook my flight for a month or two after-for example? Or would I run into trouble when come back to Canada.

Yes, you can extend your stay. The only time you can't is if they give you an expiry date on your visit.

I might be bringing my ferret with me on my trip and I'll schedule a vet appointment for when I return and bring sheet from the vets offices stating so.

Don't bring the ferret. Your proof of ties are weak, and bringing a pet just screams "I'm not leaving."

If they gave her an I94 to fill out and hand back in once she came back, doesn't that mean they're already a tad hesitant to let her in? Not to worry you, because I really don't know. Maybe it's just common practice at your POE.

She flew, so that was a Customs declaration form she's describing. The I-94 is an additional form which also needs to be filled out and handed in when going through pre-clearance. It doesn't get attached to a Canadian passport like they would if one had been processed through secondary at a land border and were given a specific departure date.

[amberlynnloves 125]

I realize this is the least of your worries, and you may already have sussed this out, but be certain that it is legal to bring a ferret into any State and/or city here you plan to visit. California bans ferrets outright, while in NY, they are banned in the 5 boroughs, but legal in the rest of the State. It appears they are legal in Michigan, except in Grand Rapids, which defines them as wild animals which may not be kept. The laws regarding ferrets vary from State to State and city to city - some States require an import permit, others a permit to own, in some cities they must be spayed or neutered, etc. You might contact the American Ferret Association - although even their list of ferret laws by State and city dates from 2009. Fun!

Is it easy to cross a border with a member of the weasel family?

American Ferret Association, Inc.

PO Box 554 g Frederick, Maryland 21705-0554

www.ferret.org g afa@ferret.org g 1-888-FERRET-1

CR1 Interview date: LND 10/26/12 (can't update signature)

Ferrets are illegal within the City Limits of Grand Rapids! Born and raised just a little outside the city limits, but still!

[SF2007 48]

You can access your bank account, see a dentist, a vet, and pay your bills from anywhere. These are not substantial proof of ties, a job, rental agreement or owning property in Canada would be good ones. Quitting your job prior to visiting the US might seems suspicious. I am by no means trying to be a downer but to a customs officer, you will be an unemployed living-with-mom traveler visiting the US with a pet you don't want to leave behind. In short, you have no reason to go back to your home country. You might get lucky and not be questioned or you might.

If you were to be denied entry, you would loose your airfare and it would be exponentially harder to visit your fiancé again without the proper documentation or an immigrant visa. It would however not affect your visa petition, as long as you did not lie. Lying will always get you in trouble with US authorities and can be grounds to deny you entry or immigration privileges. Don't do it.

If you do intend to immigrate at some point to be with your fiancé, perhaps you should consider filing for your visa before visiting. That would be a good thing to show customs; that you are immigrating through proper channels, not visiting with the intent to stay (which is illegal and grounds to deny your visa). You could also visit for a shorter period of time. Short trips are less likely to be questioned than long ones.

Good luck!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Been awhile---but normally Cdns do not get an I-94 when traveling. I advocate never lying, as it can come back to haunt you. But people change their minds when traveling quite often. I would not take the ferret with you or over pack!

[dukeandduchess 141]

Your proof-of-ties is pretty weak. Quitting your job and bringing your pet would look very suspicious. Unfortunately, the surgery could be done anywhere - so that isn't really sufficient proof.

Normally they look for things like: a job, rental agreement, home ownership.

Maybe a quick trip would be better, but you could always try going. Being turned back at the border would be emotionally stressful but it wouldn't affect you if you applied for a K1/CR1. Just be honest because the only thing that will mess you up is lying.

Good luck!

[Cami94 0]

Thanks everyone for the help! Shorter and more frequent visits would probably be the smartest option but isn't really doable for us, Id have no work to come back to and its quite expensive to travel back and forth between Florida and Vancouver, also we'd need to save that money towards visa cost and moving in the future. I'm gonna try for a couple months, maybe do it in two trips and leaving my ferret behind would be best. All I can do is tell the truth, and pray they don't give me too much trouble!