Question about Passport Stamps & Amount of Time Allowed to Stay in Canada!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Okay, I'm the USC. I recently visited my fiancee in Canada (December 23, 2006 - December 30, 2006) and then we both came down to Texas (December 30, 2006 - January 7, 2007) and she left again to return to Canada.

I got a Canadian passport stamp last time I was there; however, when coming back to the U.S., they didn't give me a stamp in my passport. The officer just stamped my card and that was it, and I had to give that card to another agent before going any farther. So I don't have a U.S. stamp in my passport showing when I LEFT Canada on December 30, 2006. All I have is a Canadian passport stamp showing when I ENTERED Canada on December 23, 2006.

Because of this, will Canadian Customs & Immigration think that I've been staying on a much longer trip in Canada my previous go-around? I'm heading up there again this May (the actual dates are the 12th to the 28th, 2007) for a trip, and I already have the flight booked.

Is the six month time limit per year? In other words, does the amount of time one may stay in Canada CARRY OVER from one year to the next, or does it RESET each year? Even if it resets -- and Canadian C&I think I've been staying in Canada all this time -- I'm probably still screwed!

I'm really in need of answers and I've looked all over the Internet, and I can't find a thing about this!

Thanks for any assistance,

DPX

Edited February 27, 2007 by DeadPoolX

[riblet 0]

It's totally normal not to get stamped, it's highly unlikely this will be an issue... just based on my own experience. I have crossed the border at least once or twice a month for the last 6.5 years.

If it ever became an issue you would have the opportunity to show that you were in the U.S. - I assume this wouldn't be very difficult to do since you live here.

My understanding is that they don't really track it that carefully.

[misa 2]

Does CBP stamp passports of USCs? I don't think so. Canada customs and immigration doesn't stamp passports of Canadians when they come back.

I wouldn't worry about it.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Well, the reason I ask is because the first time I visited my fiancee (when she was still my girlfriend), the U.S. gave me a stamp in my passport returning home. So I naturally expected one again this time. That's all. If they normally don't do it, and Canada knows this, then I assume it'll be okay...I just don't want any terrible surprises once I get there.

[misa 2]

The reverse situation, I sometimes get my passport stamped by CBP and sometimes don't. They've never assumed I overstayed in the U.S.

Also, from what I understand, Canada and U.S. share information (IBIS) so if they swipe your passport they can see when you left and when you came back.

[DeadPoolX 9]

I was not aware that the U.S. and Canada shared information like that. I knew they shared some info, but not those details.

Well, that's good then.

Thanks for the help!

[misa 2]

Maybe it's not IBIS, but I'm sure they can find that info if they really want to.

I wouldn't worry about it!

[Caladan 19]

I believe the rule is "no more than six months at a time, no more than six months aggregate per year." (So, if you stay from October-June, you've overstayed, even though you only had three months in one year and six in the next.)

I don't expect you should have any trouble, though; I have only about half of my re-entry stamps to the U.S., and I've never been questioned about it.

[Ontarkie 14,266]

I visited my fiancee three times in 2006. Two trips were about 2 weeks long. The last trip was three weeks long. When entering on my third trip, I was already engaged so I told them I was there to spend the holidays with my new family. Canada Immigration asked me a few questions to make sure I wasn't intending to immigrate to Canada and then told me to enjoy the holidays. All three visits I entered Canada just using my drivers license. Not once was I asked for the date I left Canada on my previous visit. I don't know if the US border shares the information they collect when you re-enter the country with Canada or not. To me it appears your length of stay would not likely be an issue and Canada Immigration and Customs can always check with our border if they really want to verify it.

[Ontarkie 14,266]

nt... double post by accident

Edited February 27, 2007 by Ontarkie

[Killer_Clown_2009 0]

Hmmm, It's not fair, neither the US or Canada customs has EVER stamped my passport. They simply look at it and hand it back.

[Cassie 8]

The only time my passport got stamped since I've been in the US was this past Christmas. Halifax is finally a PFI and I got a US Customs stamp. That's the only one, my passport is kinda naked.

[misa 2]

CBP has been stamping my passport at almost every visit! It's getting pretty filled up now with DHS stamps and B-2 scribbled underneath.

[RocksAnne 0]

They sure do share info! One time I drove my husband to catch a flight in the US (where he works) and the US border agent was giving me a hard time - not believing I was only going to drop him off and not stay myself, but she let us in. When I returned later that day, the *Canadian* border agent said to me 'did your husband make his flight on time?' Obviously the US agent had asked the guys on 'our' side to make sure I came back that day like I said I would. Neither of them stamped my passport though!

[Mephys 2]

stamping passports seems to be a random thing, depending on how they feel that day

We've seen each other 11 times over the last year, and I got stamped twice entering the US, and only one stamp was actually showing a B visa with the date on it, and he had his passeport stamped only once coming to canada. I also saw an officer stamping my custom card once instead of my passport, of course they kept it.