Living in states for 6 months

Hello,

Im a canadian citizen engaged to an american. My fiancee plays for the CFL, so we live in Canada for 6 months during the season and then move to the US during the off seanson. My question is, once were married am i abel to work in the US for 6 months then be abel to go back to Canada for the football season. I hear that once you get your US visa you cannot leave the states for up to a year. Is this true?
My fiancee has signed a 5 year contract, meaning we will be traveling from Canada to the US for the next 5 years evrey 6 months. What are my options when it comes to working?

You can't stay outside the US for more than one year, you don't have to stay IN the US for more than one year.

Read this: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-131instr.pdf

When and where do you plan to get married? Timing is everything with USCIS. And what state do you live in when you're in the States? This will make a big difference too.

For marriage based immigration info to the US, see http://www.visajourney.com ALL the info you need is there.

We are living in Texas and are planning to get married next year.

Yeah AOS takes awhile so think about getting married for legal purposes now so you can get the paperwork going. It is difficult to leave while that is underway and it can take the best part of a year.

You've also got the problem of visitor status if you spend a long time in the US.

Well lukily we will be heading back to Canada in May, just before my 6 month visitor pass ends.
But if we get married in the US with in the next coupel of months for legal purposes, get the papers started, am i able to leave with my fiance in May to go back to Canada? Or can i not leave?
And if i do get to leave, will i be able to head back to the US 6 months later on a visitor pass or do i have to wait for the Visa to be issued?

This can be so confusing, thanks in advance for your help Steven.

You should not leave the US once you submit your application for Adjutment of status (even if you do get advanced parole document it is not advised). If you do, they can consider that you've abandoned your application, and they will deny it outright. And denial of AOS from tourist status has no appeal.

If you must be back in Canada with your partner for the season, you may want to consider petitioning for a K1 instead. Get that started now, and by the time the petition is approved and you're scheduled for you interview, the season will be about over and then you'll be ready to head back south for the off-season. Then get married ASAP and file the AOS docs, which may or may not be completed before the next season starts.

Again, see Visa Journey for all the info you'll need about the paperwork and whatnot. All the info is already there.

do you need to apply for a 6month vistor visa? how much money do is required to stay in the states for that amount of time

no, you do not need to apply for a visa if you are a Canadian citizen.

Nobody knows really. It's up to the CBP officer you happen to cross when you get to the border. Only $100 probably wouldn't do it though.

Figure out how much it costs you normally to live for 6 months, then figure on having about that much with you when you go. Cash, traveler's cheques, credit cards, debit card etc etc...They do like to see cashy money specifically, if you don't have any cash, they can deny your entry based on suspicion that you're a vagrant.

I think they use the poverty level formula, although I doubt it's applied in a consistent way, only if they bother to check the manual. Currently for a six-month visit that would be $8,250. Remember if you take more than $10,000 you must declare it!

Visas aren't required for Canadian visitors, however you must be able to demonstrate proof of an abode abroad and if you say you're staying for six months expect to be grilled on that point. Take proof, bank statements, rent/lease agreements, property titles, that sort of thing.