I want to live in CA with my USA Boyfriend!

Hi,

I have a big problem, I am a legal Canadian Citizen and my boyfriend is from the USA. He wants me to come live with him but he does not want to get married. I think it's fair since we live so far and we need to know each other better before taking this big step. I am not looking to get my USA citizenship nor a work permit. I simply want to live in Vallejo CA for a period of time longer then 6 months. I heard that you can stay up to 180 days in the usa. But can you return to the usa after one day of stay in Canada. I was thinking flying to Vancouver for a day or 2. Is there any other options that I can take to help my cause. Please help.

Saying you're visiting your US citizen boyfriend for six months could cause you problems with CBP because it makes it sound as though you have immigrant intent, if you can show ties to Canada and have enough money to cover the trip you might get away with it. You cannot leave and return after one day, the limit is six months in a calendar year. (Legally anyway, you might get a dozy CBP agent).

You don't need a visa either if you're a Canadian citizen.

I guess the solution would be for him to come up to Canada if you need longer than six months.

I would not suggest you try to do what you want to do here. Yes, Canadians are permitted to visit for up to 180 days per calendar year, but as Steven said, you can't just return to Canada for a day or two and then go back to the US for another 6 months, it doesn't work that way.

You would need to have ties to home, like a job, an abode etc etc etc...if you're planning on "living" in the US for a year, I'm guessing you have no ties to Canada, and you're likely to be denied entry right off the bat.

Visit back and forth each of you for short visits, figure out what you want to do, which country you want to live in, then maybe re-visit immigration and marriage issues.

FYI
Sorry I forgot to mention....
I am a legl Canadian Citizen. I've been living in Canada for 27 years and half.

Can I stay longer in the USA if I don<t work? My boyfriend is a pulmonologist and ICU doctor. He cannot miss work to travel to Montreal to see me. I does not want to get married unless we live together for a at lest a year. I think it's fair. My parents own a store in Montreal and I work for them. I don<t have the 100K capital needed to invest in a business over there. I really want to save my relationship. Is there anything I can do to stay longer. Please help...

If you just graduated from college/university (within one year) you might qualify for an internship J-1 visa. They are valid for up to one year. You do have to have a job lined up, and those are scarce at the moment, but you could theoretically get an unpaid internship somewhere, for a non-profit for example. This would allow you to stay in the US for a year.

http://www.swap.ca/out_eng/destinations ... nship.aspx

FYI
Can I stay longer in the USA if I don<t work? (

Sorry, no. YOu will need some sort of visa to allow you to stay longer.

I really want to save my relationship. Is there anything I can do to stay longer. Please help...

It sounds like you are going through a lot of trouble to be with him which is nice, but there are ways to make it work legally and he should do some research, and then the both of you together can discuss your options. I mean, you could go as an international student or under a J-1 visa as an exchange student as well. There are options, you just have to ask the right people and do some research.

Don't give up, it will work itself out.

Can I stay longer in the USA if I don<t work?

By definition, if you're a visitor for pleasure you aren't working, if you said you were working, they wouldn't let you visit. You'd need to enter in a different category.

The only simple alternative would be to go to college down there I guess and go in as F-1, M-1 or J-1 perhaps. But obviously that is expensive as a foreign student.

Travel to USA and find one!

As I see it, you have a few options.

1. Tell the border people that you're going to be traveling around the US on a vacation from work. Don't mention your boyfriend (it'll make them think 'intended immigrant'). If you're driving, dont pack household items in your car (I got screwed cuz of a lamp). Bring some kind of proof of your intent to return after your 'travels' - like a lease or job....(you can fix these yourself and im sure your parents would help you out). Then go to California and be with your boyfriend, but don't overstay your 6 month limit cuz you'll be banned for 5 years after (maybe). You might come back to Canada after the 6 months and then get some kind of visa to return with (thats what I did, check out the TN-1 status on wikipedia). Also, who knows how long you'll want to stay, you might be good with 6 months or maybe you'll get engaged and then you have 90 days to get married....so worry about the extra time when you get there.

2. Before you go to California, get a visa. You can get a student or work one. Maybe your boyfriend will pay for it and then you can go to school, make some friends and further your education. Or you can get a work visa, maybe your boyfriend has some connections and he can help you out.

Hope this helps!