canadian snowbird

rg1495 · Post by **rg1495** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 5:38 pm

Guys..Need your help on this one....
What is the max amount time canadian snow birds who are only canadian citizens(not dual citizens) allowed to stay in US ?.....How does the US Immigration verify their entry?......is there any way I can get a timeshare home in canada for 6 months ?

thanks,

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 6:06 pm

Each entry into US can only be a maximum of 6 months. The actual time period is determined by what you say to the officer when crossing. You MUST maintain a Cdn residence available to you at all times during your visit to US.

If you say you are going 2 weeks, you can only stay 2 weeks. If you say 6 months, he will question you, and maybe let you in for 6 months. They enter your info (car. passpotrt # in their computer). They may, if they suspect overstay, issue you an I-94.

Note that you can go in for 6 months, come out for one day and go back in for another 6 months if you wish. There is no maximum number of days that you can be in US in the year -- however this will get your proivincial health coverage cancelled rather quickly, if you stay mnore than 180 to 210 days outside canada, depending on province.

rg1495 · Post by **rg1495** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:25 am

Thanks for your reply. So, what you are saying is I can stay in US for 6 months, come back to canada for a few days and go back to US for another 6 months?....If thats the case, I could be staying for as long as 11 months in US in a year and 1 month in Canada......wouldn't US Immigration have a problem with that since I do not have any legal status in US?.....What kind of Health Insurance would I need in US? How much would it cost?......How would OHIP know I am outside the country?

thanks.

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 11:03 am

US immigration *could* have a problem with it; that is why they question you when you cross.

But, so long as you maintain a residence in canada (most snowbirds are encouraged to carry a 'file' with them with copies of recen phone bills, mortgage/lease, etc).

If you are a visitor in US, you should get Blue cross (from Canad) like most snowbirds do. It pre-supposes that you will maintain provincial coverage, as it will only pay what OHIP doesn't pay.

genaerally, OHIP will begin investigating the moment you put in for a foreign claim. I'm sure they have ways of determining fraudulent use of OHIP, since that is an epidemic.