told to leave canada after two weeks - trying to visit gf

[lookingaround]

Hi,

I met my girlfriend while we were visiting the west coast in the states. She lives in Canada and I live in the States. A week or so later I went up to Canada to visit her. I have been here on a passport for about two months. We took a trip to the states to check out a restaurant across the border and while we were coming back into canada we were brought into the office and questioned for 2 hours.

Apparently they do not like me because I do not have strong enough ties to the States. I own my own internet company and work from wherever there is WiFi. I had been traveling around the States for a few months before I went to Canada. They asked me if I had an apartment or anything and I said no, all my stuff was in storage, because I was planning on traveling anyway. So they said I can stay here for two more weeks and then I have to go. On the visit canada website it says you can stay for 180 days with a passport. I asked the guy at the border about this and he said it was true but they can shorten it if they want. Once this was explained I asked if I have to be inthe states for a certain period of time before I go back and he said no, I can go back the next day, or even that same day, I just have to give them this proof that I left the country when I said I would. I really am traveling and have been enjoying myself in Canada and thought that the portability of being able to work anywhere wouldbe awesome, but it seems they are worried I will stay here forever. What are my options for getting back into Canada and can I really go back the next day as he said I could but I wouldn't necessarily be allowedin. I drove my car here if that matters. Before I left I was living at my parents' house for a few months. I moved out of my place but had a few other things to take care of. I receive mail there and stuff. Can I use that as proof of residency? I asked the guy about this and he said "you're an adult, you don't live with your parents." I have no electric bills or anything but get card statements and stuff there. I'm trying to abide by the law and have no intention of staying here longer than I should without doing it officially, I just want to be legal about it.

 

[Jalex23]

What are my options for getting back into Canada

After going back to the USA come back with proper documents that address all of CBSA's concerns.

and can I really go back the next day as he said I could but I wouldn't necessarily be allowedin.

Yes (as long as you have all the documents with you that address all of CBSA's concerns).

I drove my car here if that matters. Before I left I was living at my parents' house for a few months. I moved out of my place but had a few other things to take care of. I receive mail there and stuff. Can I use that as proof of residency? I asked the guy about this and he said "you're an adult, you don't live with your parents." I have no electric bills or anything but get card statements and stuff there. I'm trying to abide by the law and have no intention of staying here longer than I should without doing it officially, I just want to be legal about it.

That is tricky. Canada does makes a difference between residential and mailing address. So I would think that trying to sell that to the CBSA officer will be tough, and even tougher as they might have put that in your profile and an attempt to use that as an argument again will be useless.

Basically you have to prove CBSA they have nothing to worry about. That would be a residential address, bank accounts with enough balance and proof of employment. This all shows that you have a life in the USA.

 

[scylla]

Sorry you're going through this. I can see what CBSA was concerned. They are looking to make sure that people aren't attempting to live in Canada unauthorized. So it's not surprising why your behaviour (i.e. crossing the border to go for dinner and then trying to return), combined with your lack of ties to the US, created a problem. Going back over the border to shop or get gas or hit a restaurant is the kind of stuff we strongly advise people here to avoid. That's the behaviour of someone living in Canada - not a visitor.

I would recommend that you leave Canada in two week rather than attempting to extend your stay. If you try to extend your stay, there's likely an excellent chance you'll be refused and this may further complicate future entries. Once you return to the US, I would plan on remaining there for a couple of months at least rather than attempting another Canadian border run (you don't want to end up with a one year exclusion order). Try to establish some kind of ties to the US, even if it's renting a place short term.

Whether you are allowed into Canada or not is entirely up to the CBSA officer and Americans sometimes mistakenly think they can come and go as they please (Canadians somtimes make the same mistake when it comes to entering the US). You're most likely somehow flagged in the system now, so you do want to have some kind of evidence with you that demonstrates ties to the US then next time you return. Good luck!

BTW: I assume your company has no Canadian clients and does work for no Canadian companies. Is that the case?

 

[lookingaround]

Can I ask them what their requirements for proving I have a life in the states are? I have mail and bills and bank accounts to the address in my passport. How much is enough bank account balance to show that I'm self sufficient? I don't have much in my checking account but have a decent amount more in investment and retirement accounts.

I have a feeling I should talk to them about this when I am departing the country and tell them I would like to return and what can I do to improve my chances of them aproving.

 

[scylla]

Can I ask them what their requirements for proving I have a life in the states are? I have mail and bills and bank accounts to the address in my passport. How much is enough bank account balance to show that I'm self sufficient? I don't have much in my checking account but have a decent amount more in investment and retirement accounts.

I have a feeling I should talk to them about this when I am departing the country and tell them I would like to return and what can I do to improve my chances of them aproving.

There's no black and white answer to your question unfortunately and speaking to someone as you're leaving won't tell you exactly what you need to do.. It's really up to the CBSA officer you speak to when you re-enter. It's entirely possible you could be waved through the next time - or they may have concerns but be OK with whatever evidence you provide - or you could get grilled again and feel your evidence is insufficient. Unfortunately impossible to predict. Evidence that could make a big difference would be things like proof of property ownership / rental, proof of full time employment in the US (which you obviously can't provide since you're mobile and self-employed).

One think you should definitely do is keep your next trip short (i.e. few days or a week) - don't say you're coming for a month or more (this demonstrates lack of strong ties). Of course it's possible they'll just wave you through and give you a six month stay in which case you can stay longer. But I think saying you're coming for a few months is probably not a good. Overall, you should be spending more time in the US than in Canada.

 

[lookingaround]

When you go to Canada do you normally get something in your passport that says how long you can stay? The first time I came here they just let me through. The second time they just let me through.

This is the only time when they have put a limit on it.

I am not going to try and stay longer this time. I am going to leave after 2 weeks.

How will I know what documentation I will need? Will they tell me if I stop in and talk to them on the way out? Should I bring my gf with me?

Since there's a chance I'm flagged in the system now I want to make sure the things I do ar eright.

WHen I came here before they asked how long I was going to stay and I said I don't know, I'm visiting a friend. They said ok. The second time they asked and I was at the airport and I had to include how long I was staying and I said I had no idea but could I just say 14 days. They said yes. I said but what if I stay longer? The official helping me just said to tell that to the agent at the border and I said ok, so when I got there she's like ok, you can go, and I said here, I said that I was going to stay for 14 days but it might be longer, is that ok, and she said sure, go on.

No documentation in the book or anything.

 

[scylla]

Normally they just let you in for six months and there's no stamp for the date you have to leave. Sometimes they give you a specific time to leave by. Rarer still (but possible) is being refused entire entirely.

You aren't going to know what documentation you need. No - they won't tell you on the way out. It will all depend who you are speaking to when you re-enter. Unfortunately there's no magic list of documents that are guaranteed to give you entry to Canada. Having said that, generally when they ask for evidence, they are looking for things like proof of property ownership / rental, proof of employment, proof you have sufficient funds, etc.

Not sure that having your girlfriend with you will help or harm. It would probably help if you were already married or common law and had sponsored you for PR. But in your case it might just increase the officer's concerns that you are trying to come into Canada long term.