TD status traveling to Canada for more than 30 days

H

hyperbling

New Member
Hello. From everything I've ready, people with TN/TD could keep their existing I-94 cards if they visit Canada for less than 30 days.

My wife (Canadian) is planning on visiting Canada for more than 30 days (ideally the ~45 day mark), and I will not be with her. Our TN/TD status is valid during the entirety of the visit.

What's the best course of action here?
1) During the visit, cross the border to "reset to clock".
2) Surrender it at the airline, and on the way back apply for a new I-94. Does she need any documentation? Will her TD status be already in the records?
3) Keep the I-94 and let the IO deal with it on the way back?

Thanks for the advice.
 
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This is a weird subject. I agree with nelsona.

I was on a TD, but went to study up in Montreal (low tuition, of course!). I kept my I-94 when I got back to Canada. At one point my I-94 was going to soon expire, and I typically travel by Greyhound to the Burlington airport when I return home (to my parents' US residence) and didn't want to deal with having a new one drawn up the next time I travelled by bus.

So I had a relative drive me to the border. I went in, said that I wanted to renew my I-94, even though I was still studying for the next few months before the summer break. The customs officer scolded me for not handing in my I-94 when I entered Canada... gave me the whole speech about how I MUST hand over the I-94 when I enter Canada... then proceeded to make me a new I-94 even though I'd told her I was going to turn right around and go back to Montreal.

It made no sense. She told me I'm supposed to surrender the I-94 when I exit the US, then made me a new I-94 (and stamped the passport) knowing fully well I was going to pop a U-turn and make it back to Montreal for a few more months.

I don't think they understood what they were doing, or what I was doing.

Just keep it. Especially if it says "MULTIPLE." Most of the time the US guard won't give a damn. If they give you trouble, just tell them the Canadian post didn't want to take it (which has happened in the past: Canadian border says keep it. You can justify your choice to keep it by saying that you never argue with border agents, which they will appreciate hearing.)
 
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