|
|
| Subject: visiting states |
|
|
|
I am a US citizen residing in Canada with Canadian spouse and children. I have applied for PR. I have no legal status in Canada right now - was never given visitor visa or anything. I want to go to US to visit my family, but am afraid that if I cross the border, they will not let me back in to CA. Can´t take that chance with kids! Advice?
[01-06-2006,04:15]
[**.71.227.48]
nic |
|
(in reply to: visiting states)
You don´t need a visitor´s visa if you are a U.S. citizen.
Just say you´re visiting, you should be fine for up to 6 months.
[01-06-2006,04:32]
[**.146.201.120]
Anonymous |
(in reply to: visiting states)
No you don´t need a visitor´s visa to visit canada, but things could get sticky at the border on your return. We had a similar problem, and they only let us back in for 21 days even though we were ´in process´. People keep saying 6 months, but in the 2 years we went back and forth, never once were we given a 6 month permission to stay..even though we proved $ for such a stay.
The longest we stayed was 3 months, and then tried to get an extension, which was denied, and we had to go back. Talk about trying to find accomodations when you have made Canada your home during process. It´s hard to tell you what to do, cuz sometimes you get a nice customs person, and other times you get one on a power high. During the immigration process, they want to know that you will go home (US) and by coming and living past the allotted time, it´s called duality. We ran into that problem and paid dearly with a 4 month separation. If you don´t leave, they´ll ask you to leave, and may give you a one year suspension from ever entering Canada. I´ve seen that happen to other´s as well.
I´m sorry...just relaying our experience. Yours may be entirely positive. I hope it is.
waiting and waiting
[02-06-2006,14:27]
[**.116.200.10]
waiting and waiting |
(in reply to: visiting states)
Oh yeah, if they scan your passport, they´ll know exactly where you stand in terms of process, and will know that you are not truly ´visiting´ as they´ll also know you have a Canadian wife who´s sponsoring you.
waiting and waiting
[02-06-2006,14:29]
[**.116.200.10]
waiting and waiting |
(in reply to: visiting states)
I just don´t understand why this is so difficult if you are married to a Canadian citizen!! I definitely can´t and won´t say I´m just visiting, as the BC license plates on our car would give that one away, and the last thing I want to do is lie! We were going to go to the border (without intending to cross at that moment) to talk to immigration and see if they would give me some type of document, but maybe that would be too risky. It doesn´t make sense to me because when we came across the border in Dec. moving everything we owned from the US, they said all was good...I just had to apply for PR within 6 months of being here, which I did. Getting answers from anyone over the phone has been like pulling teeth for me - that´s why I was considering talking to someone at the border since we´re 1/2 hr away.
Well - thanks to all for your input.
[03-06-2006,12:36]
[**.71.227.48]
nic |
|
