6 month limit! Help

[Debby2850 0]

I understand that there is a 6 month limit for staying in the USA. Does that mean 180 days total or do weekends count as a week? I go down to see my fiance just about every weekend so would that be 3 days out of the 180 or 7 days?? I don't want to get turned away at the border - especially since we are getting married soon. I will not be immigrating to the US as I have strong ties here in Canada. We will apply for immigration for him eventually down the road to come to Canada. Also - is the limit a calendar year or from the first day of consistent entry

Thanks

Edited May 20, 2009 by Debby2850

[Sprailenes 47]

nm.

Edited May 20, 2009 by Sprailenes

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Pretty sure it is total days. As in, if you go down for three days, it will count as three days, not seven. However, since you visit that regularly, it can raise suspicion that you are an "intending immigrant," so just be sure to bring evidence of ties to home in case you are questioned. Some possibilities: deed or mortgage or lease, letter from your employer showing you need to be back by a certain date, bills with due date after your return, appointment cards showing you have an appointment scheduled when you return. I'm sure someone can add to that. We usually just carried copies of the deeds to our houses, but we also always crossed by air and had round trip tickets. I think one time I was asked clearing customs in Edmonton if I had a round trip ticket, but they never asked to see it. Neither of us was ever asked for anything beyond that.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

it's the total amount in one visit.

Going back and forth resets this count.

Edited May 20, 2009 by Bobby_Umit

[thetreble 19]

it's the total amount in one visit.

Going back and forth resets this count.

Not true. Here we go again!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

It is 6 months in one calendar year; however you slice it.

And of course weekends count .

[sly_wolf 199]

I went for a visit every weekend with no problems. I always brought proof of my ties to Canada just in case.

Sly

[Emancipation 2]

it's the total amount in one visit.

Going back and forth resets this count.

Not true. Here we go again!

hee hee.. and when you read Bobby's siggy.. it makes you giggle given the advise above

[Krikit 1,164]

Haha. Reminds me of one of the member's siggy which says they can't go to bed because somebody is wrong on the interwebz....

At the risk of starting a flame war.... it's six months per admission.... but you have to convince the CBP officer that you're not trying to game the system by taking short trips out to reset the clock. If you do a search on the CBP site you can find the relevant information.

[warlord 73]

This is the same as time out on the N-400 process for citizenship. You have to not be out more then 6 months in a year as an unwritten rule of the USCIS at any point. You can, but then you have to prove your US residency.

People have taken that as a different meaning and would leave the US for 5 months, come back for a week and then leave for another 5 months thinking they were safe. Most these people got quite a surprise to find out that they're citizenship application was denied for breaking residency requirements, and some even were in jeapordy of having their Green Cards revoked since that has a residency requirement for it and being out for a certain duration qualifies as abandonment of the Green Card.

So yeah, quite similar that the 6 months is 6 months total not at one time...