My wife is Canadian

[EricS 0]

Hi all,

My wife is Canadian I am American. We got married on July 31st this year. She still lives in Canada I'm Here. I can't go there because of Dui's.

Can she come and visit me before we file any paper work? What are the ramifications if she does not tell that she is married? If she does tell them will she be able to continue coming here before we file? Also how about after we file. Will that keep her from being able to come here?

Thanks so much

Eric

[aravis227 1]

Hi all,

My wife is Canadian I am American. We got married on July 31st this year. She still lives in Canada I'm Here. I can't go there because of Dui's.

Can she come and visit me before we file any paper work? What are the ramifications if she does not tell that she is married? If she does tell them will she be able to continue coming here before we file? Also how about after we file. Will that keep her from being able to come here?

Thanks so much

Eric

Hopefully Flames will list his rules for crossing the border. Short answer is YES she can cross the border, but she needs to tell them the entire TRUTH. When they ask what she's doing she should say "visiting my husband", she needs to bring proof of ties to Canada (a letter from her employer stating what day she is expected back, rental/mortgage agreement, current bills, current credit card statements, etc). They will probably let her through, but there are the occasional cases of people being denied. If she's denied and told the TRUTH it's not a problem, she can ask them how to better her chances of being allowed through next time, and she can try the next day if she so desires, it won't be a problem later on when you apply for her visa. If she's denied and they caught her lying they can issue a ban so she can't visit at all (they don't always do it, but they CAN...and I just don't think it's worth the risk). The officers are trained to catch people lying and it makes them suspect you of nefarious purposes when you try to.

Edited August 11, 2008 by aravis227

[EricS 0]

Hi all,

My wife is Canadian I am American. We got married on July 31st this year. She still lives in Canada I'm Here. I can't go there because of Dui's.

Can she come and visit me before we file any paper work? What are the ramifications if she does not tell that she is married? If she does tell them will she be able to continue coming here before we file? Also how about after we file. Will that keep her from being able to come here?

Thanks so much

Eric

Hopefully Flames will list his rules for crossing the border. Short answer is YES she can cross the border, but she needs to tell them the entire TRUTH. When they ask what she's doing she should say "visiting my husband", she needs to bring proof of ties to Canada (a letter from her employer stating what day she is expected back, rental/mortgage agreement, current bills, current credit card statements, etc). They will probably let her through, but there are the occasional cases of people being denied. If she's denied and told the TRUTH it's not a problem, she can ask them how to better her chances of being allowed through next time, and she can try the next day if she so desires, it won't be a problem later on when you apply for her visa. If she's denied and they caught her lying they can issue a ban so she can't visit at all (they don't always do it, but they CAN...and I just don't think it's worth the risk). The officers are trained to catch people lying and it makes them suspect you of nefarious purposes when you try to.

Hi thanks so much. Who is Flames?? LOL

[aravis227 1]

Hi thanks so much. Who is Flames?? LOL

He's one of the people who frequents the Canadian forum...he has a wonderful list of rules to ensure a pleasant and successful border crossing.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Howdy!! here with my list,lol yes one can visit, and yes one can be denied when trying to visit! So one has to be prepared! Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason why they deny people entry, the POE officer has to make a judgement on the spot. I traveled monthly to DC from Halifax (sometimes through Toronto) and I Never had a single problem.

My advice--its free and worth exactly that,lol

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3)keep ur response short and to the point, dont tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5)pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isnt going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didnt lie! Refer to #1

Best of luck

[MissStacey 1]

I was one of the people who was denied entry- twice.

The first time I was clueless- At that time we had our I 130 filed but didn't know much more than that about about immigration and had no idea I would have any type of problem going back to the US. I had never had a problem traveling before, but this time I wasn't a tourist anymore- I was an intended immigrant and it was a different scenario.

The second time- I brought as many ties as I could to Canada (they were pretty weak, at that point I had given up most everything in Canada), I had copies of all my paperwork that we had filed and I was totally honest. They felt my ties were not strong enough and I was denied again.

It really was humiliating to go through. At least when it came to my interview in Vancouver and I was asked about the denials and told him it was "lack of ties to Canada" He just said- "it happens often" and I got my Visa.

It was a tough 10 months. Mel was only able to visit me for 4 days during that time because he was busy with work here. It could have been worse- there are people who are separated for much longer than that.

It happened, it's over with and I am happily back in the US with my husband.

[Krikit 1,163]

I always direct people to this page. It only refers to K-1 applicants but is applicable to all visitors to the US:

Visitation FAQ's

Welcome to VJ, Eric!

Edited August 11, 2008 by Krikit

[JillA 2]

Howdy!! here with my list,lol yes one can visit, and yes one can be denied when trying to visit! So one has to be prepared! Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason why they deny people entry, the POE officer has to make a judgement on the spot. I traveled monthly to DC from Halifax (sometimes through Toronto) and I Never had a single problem.

My advice--its free and worth exactly that,lol

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3)keep ur response short and to the point, dont tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5)pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isnt going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didnt lie! Refer to #1

Best of luck

Flames you give the best advice, I remember when I printed this list and put it on my fridge LOL!!