What can I do to stay in USA longer?

[M_Vallee]

In 2009 I have only been out of the country for 5 months. Before this trip, I did not travel anywhere.

But why do you risk losing your health care because of being out of the country? I have heard some people say this, but have not been able to find any info on why it happens, or how someone would get it back.

[agnelson]

Each province has strict presence rules in order to maintain their health coverage. if you leave for more than 183 days (210 days for Ontario) in any 12-month period, you have technically invalidated your coverage.

You aren't going to be out of province for that long, so don't worry.

[Steven]

If I do stay here illegally,

You're making a broad assumption that what you're doing is illegal, only an immigration judge can actually make that decision. If you stay for say, ten months, but maintain non-immigrant intent, possibly a judge would consider you aren't breaking the law, after all, you're waiting on an immigrant visa for your partner for a foreign country - pretty strong evidence of non-immigrant intent.

CBP may not like the fact you stayed ten months and that might cause you hassle if you visit the US to visit but it's not technically illegal until a judge says it was.

-- Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:45 pm --

I am an Australian that fell in love with an american.

Not a pleasant story but not strictly relevant to the circumstances because Canadians are treated differently under US immigration law.

[robert200]

How does the US immigration knows if I have exceeded the maximum stay of 180 days? (Assuming I went in by car and left by car)

Also, does the US immigration share that info with the canadian counterpart?

Do all canadian border croossings swipe or scan your passport when you re-enter the country by car?