Canadian moving to St.Thomas temporarily- HELP!

Take a Ferry to Tortola BVI, Stay on Tortola for 24 hours return to STT for another 6 months. Your Passport will be stamped by the BVI which is proof you left the USVI and returned at a later date.

Thanks for your post Lizard, I appreciate it. I had heard from some people about that idea, however some places said that unless I went to another country for as long as I was in the US for, I would still get in trouble with immigration. For example, if I was in USVI for 6 months, I would have to spend 6 months in BVI etc. Is that information completely false?? It would be so great if all I had to do was take a ferry to BVI for the day and then come right back.

The 6 month rule does not apply to Canadian Citizens.

When they stamp my passport isn't the date on it though?? I'm sorry for all the questions but I'm kinda paranoid about having some sort of huge issue and just want to have all my bases covered before I put down my deposit on the place. Is there a link somewhere that says Canadians are exempt from the rule?? Again, thanks for your help I really appreciate it.

The hop-to-BVI trick doesn't fool immigration, which has been cracking down in the past couple of years on people doing this. As I understand it from my British friends, U.S. visa holders are supposed to leave for a minimum of 30 days before they can legally return on a new visa. EdmontonRounder, you would be wise to call Customs & Immigration to verify all the steps of the renewal process.

Canadians are not British, Canadians can travel with a passport no visa required unless they are going to work in the USA. It doesn't matter what port of origin for entry a Candian enters from. By all means you should contact your Customs and immigration office to verify this. The only problem I can see is that you might lose your Health insurance in Canada because you left Canada for more than 6 months. This is not a "Trick" to fool immigration it's a requirement. There is an old saying for Candians (you can stay until your money runs out).

Is there anyway I can stay for a MAXIMUM of another 6 months? I want to spend an entire year on the island. I do not need a green card etc. because I have no interest in working during my time in the USVI, as I have more than enough saved up. It is my understanding that the law is in place to prevent people from just staying in the United States forever, but I have no intention of doing so. I will be coming either way, but I would do anything to get an extra 6 months of adventure time. Anyways, all help would be appreciated.

Individual Border Patrol agents have *significant* discretion to determine the intent of entrants, so, it may be hard to say what method would necessarily be successful if attempting a second entry after leaving:

<> (Customs and Immigration website re Canadians)

Good luck and best wishes on your upcoming stay.

Lola

Canadians are not British

Thanks for clearing that up, Lizard. 😉

fdr,
You're welcome!

Asked my husband he say you need to come in as a B2 Vistor for pleasure visa and its good for six months. And then you just need to go to the CIS to extend it. Long as you are not working it's not a problem.

My husband used to be border patrol and knows there are different rules for Canadians especially near their border but this far down and in international waters he recommends getting the visa and doing it the right way. You can't go wrong and it may save you a lot of hassle.

Ask your embassy. You do not need a visa unless you want to work so the visa rules do not apply to you. I have friends who are Canadian but only go home every now and then to visit the grandkids. More to the point I think is what Canada wants you to do not the US. Homeland Security refers to you as "uncontrollable aliens".

Pamela