The best route to follow for a Canadian marrying an American

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Ooo Timmies - yay! You sure know how to bribe us right, hehehehehe!

[Danu 19]

I know its the middle of winter but I'd like an Ice Cap please, made with chocolate milk...and a fruit explosion muffin I love the canadians here, they are super awesome and friendly and even as a new person you can just hope into convo's without feeling like you are a newb...unlike some of the other boards here. <3 my fellow canadians and their awesomeness. I definately recommend the Canadian wiki and doing a forum search on this board because there is just about every answer to every question you could imagine, but if you need any clarification they are wonderful for that too.

Welcome to the board!

[bauser 0]

I'd just like to add something about timing: If you get married first you may have a harder time crossing the border (especially if you are together) unless you can prove intent to return. This is usually done in the form of a letter from your employer or a mortgage statement.

I have a friend who had a bad dose at the border because he was traveling with his wife (neither had status in the other's country yet and he did not have intent to return) and their passports got flagged. While you are engaged can just state that you are visiting friends (it's true) and you will probably not receive further questioning.

Personally, I chose the K-1 Fiance visa because I didn't want to go through all the planning and execution of a marriage only to return to Canada right away and wait for a year to get back together. With K-1 you stack all of your major milestones after the long waiting period, rather than having a big waiting period between marriage and reunion. Food for thought.

[sly_wolf 199]

I'd just like to add something about timing: If you get married first you may have a harder time crossing the border (especially if you are together) unless you can prove intent to return. This is usually done in the form of a letter from your employer or a mortgage statement.

I have a friend who had a bad dose at the border because he was traveling with his wife (neither had status in the other's country yet and he did not have intent to return) and their passports got flagged. While you are engaged can just state that you are visiting friends (it's true) and you will probably not receive further questioning.

Personally, I chose the K-1 Fiance visa because I didn't want to go through all the planning and execution of a marriage only to return to Canada right away and wait for a year to get back together. With K-1 you stack all of your major milestones after the long waiting period, rather than having a big waiting period between marriage and reunion. Food for thought.

I went with the CR1 and never had any trouble visiting my spouse. It does depend on the individual's ties to Canada and I always carried evidence of that. However, we never did try crossing the border together during the process, so I can't comment on that.

Sly

[Flames9_RN 358]

I went the Cr-1 route and never had a problem visiting, and I visited monthly to DC from Halifax. All depends on the POE officer. One has to pick what Visa works best for you. In reality, I could have went the k1 route, I have been here since Dec 2004 and never worked, but was in no hurry, not as if I'm living in a 3rd world country,lol

[Krikit 1,163]

I went K-1 and never had a problem crossing, with and without my other half. I was always truthful. When he was my boyfriend, that's what I told them. When he was my fiancé, that's what I told them. Sometimes they wanted to see proof that I was returning (as in evidence of a return airline ticket), other times they just wanted to know what I did for a living. After a while, they pretty much stopped asking because I had crossed so much that they knew me and my answers. And I had obviously always returned when I said I would.