We're a Canadian and an American, both more or less retired --- we're snowbirds and we want to marry. We don't seek permanent residency or citizenship in each others country, and we don't intend to work in each others country. All we want is to be able to travel freely between our respective homes in the U.S. and Canada, alternating the legal 6 month visa waiver in each country, without overstaying. Your helpful tips will be much appreciated. If another forum would be a more appropriate place to post, please let us know.

Not sure if there is an appropriate forum.

Well a Canadian can vist the US for 6 months as a Senior/OAP/Troisieme Age whatever is not subject to suspicion of work/immigrant intent.

As far as a USC going to Canada for 6 months, I have no idea.

You might find it easier in the long run getting PR status in the US as a Canadian. Yet again I can not comment on the Canadian perspective.

The US does not have a retirement status.

For the sake of this discussion, I will assume that you are the male US citizen.

Sounds like a good option would be for you to petition for a K-1 visa for your Canadian fiancee, bring her here to the US, get married, and then file for her US permanent resident status. That allows her to travel freely into the USA.

Once you are married, if Canada has a similar residence requirement, then your (new) wife can petition for your residence status in Canada.

This will all take a couple of years, of course, but since you are retired, as was mentioned, you probably will not be subject to serious questioning about your intent not to immigrate when you cross the border.

Best of luck,

G

Hi,
Your question is exactly what we plan on doing in the next few years, although Anton is a permanent resident of Canada and he wanted to be able to work in the US in the winters, so we went the K-1 route.
I don't know what it would be like to have the retired status, if neither of you intend to work, I would just get married and do the Passport thing with the Visa Waiver. Canadian Citizens are allowed in the US for up to 6 months without any questions asked, especially since your fiancee' doesn't intend to work or live here full time. US citizens are more than welcome in Canada if they don't over stay 6 months and are not seeking employment.
I would suggest not to get caught up in this immigration nonsense since you will need to show assests, your fiance' wouldn't be able to travel ect... until you have residency approved.
I wish now that Anton had just come in to the US Seasonally with his visa waiver, and then I would go to Canada in the summer with my Passport. I wouldn't have the stress I do working to sponsor him, as well as he not being able to leave this summer to be where it is cool..
Good Luck,
Moondancer