Canadian Student

Hi there,

So I am a Canadian student who seems to be not well informed about the process of going to an American school. I honestly just discovered I had to pay 200 dollars for a form to use to cross the border.

I have several questions:

1. I want to go down to the states about 4 days before the 30 days prior to class time. It says on all the websites that a visitor visa is needed in those situations, but Canadians do not need visitor visas or so I understand, so am I allowed to go or not?

2. I would be flying down prior to my stuff being moved down. My family would bring my posessions a few weeks later, do they need some sort of proof that I am living down in the states so that the border knows they are allowed to bring the goods over?

3. I will be bringing two cats down, I called the border and they said they just needed updated shots and vaccinations and the like, is this accurate? Is there anything else I can do to ensure that they make it across safely?

Thanks for your input!

I'll try and answer your questions as best I can -

1 - Canadians don't need visitor visas per-se - you just cross the border and you're good to go. Technically while you're in the states you're in visitor visa status, but it's not like they actually give you a visa in the traditional sense. Most times they don't even stamp your passport (but there will be a computer record of you crossing).

2) It's best to have as much paper work as possible. Maybe give your folks copies of your rental arrangement in the US as well as proof of your admission to the US school. Probably won't need it, but might as well have copies.

3) I've crossed over with my dog several times and they've never asked for documentation - though they do officially want to have that proof of vaccinations and all that. I got a copy from my vet and just keep it in my car.

Good luck!

If you are going to school in US, you need Student F-1 status, NOT simple visitor status. Its not as simple as going shopping or vacation.