Land crossing into Canada w/girlfriend

[RedSox2004 0]

Hi guys, this is a great forum and it has answered a huge number of questions for my girlfriend and I. We have currently not filed any paperwork to start the visa process but we intend to do so. She and I met in Boston and we have both traveled to and from Canada and the States mostly via airplane. We had done a trip together to Canada from the states on train and had no problems, never had any problems with customs at airports either. I am about to drive to see her in Ontario, my first time driving across the border, and then I am going to pick her up and bring her back to the states for about a week, then bring her back home. As she is a foreign national (and my girlfriend) I am curious if customs will give us any trouble if we are traveling together?

If anyone has any experience with this prior to applying for a fiance visa I would love to hear it. I think I am going to bring proof of my ties to the US either way. She says I am just paranoid but you never know!

Thanks in advance.

[Jashley820 0]

Hi guys, this is a great forum and it has answered a huge number of questions for my girlfriend and I. We have currently not filed any paperwork to start the visa process but we intend to do so. She and I met in Boston and we have both traveled to and from Canada and the States mostly via airplane. We had done a trip together to Canada from the states on train and had no problems, never had any problems with customs at airports either. I am about to drive to see her in Ontario, my first time driving across the border, and then I am going to pick her up and bring her back to the states for about a week, then bring her back home. As she is a foreign national (and my girlfriend) I am curious if customs will give us any trouble if we are traveling together?

If anyone has any experience with this prior to applying for a fiance visa I would love to hear it. I think I am going to bring proof of my ties to the US either way. She says I am just paranoid but you never know!

Thanks in advance.

For sure bring your ties to the U.S...but don't forget for HER to bring ties to Canada. I was pulled into Secondary questioning and ultimately was denied entry into the U.S. because I didn't bring paperwork showing ties to Canada. I was crossing with my then-fiance. It's a good idea to be prepared- you wouldn't want to get into that mess with CBP. It's awful! Just answer their questions directly and honestly, don't offer any information they don't ask for, and be prepared to show evidence if they ask. Good luck! Chances are, you'll be fine.

Edited August 15, 2007 by Jashley820

[Tinker 0]

I live in Kingston, Ontario, and Jim flies into Syracuse NY all the time. Easier drive and alot cheaper. I drive over, pick him up, take him back and come back home. We've never had a problem EXCEPT

hit the wrong button

EXCEPT when he forgot his B.C. and something came up on him, but the woman at Canadian Immigration let ME buy him a temporary resident permit, UGH....but that was it. They have never asked to see any paperwork I have or anything.

Edited August 15, 2007 by Tinker

[Dakine 26]

You guys have it made in the shade!

Try going thru bringing in your love one from the Philippines.

No simple drive across the border or short plane flight to see each other.

LONG swim and LONG periods of not seeing each other.

Worth it tho as PINAY RULE!!

[Lance27 19]

Me the Canadian citizen never had any problems crossing the land border crossing in my own vehicle even with my wife in the car with me. Ive been asked a few times about whos car I was driving when crossing but thats about it. The only time I got hassled was at the airport when I didnt have proof of ties to Canada on me.

Edited August 15, 2007 by Lance27

[Udella&Wiz 325]

My girlfriend (fiancee) have driven across the border several times. As long as she brings paperwork that shows ties back to her country then you should be fine. Bills, lease, a employment letter, etc. all qualify.

[RedSox2004 0]

Thanks for the answers they have all been very helpful. Tinker, does BC = birth certificate? I'll make sure we both have our passports. My main concern is proving to customs that when we will pull into either country that we don't intend to run off and get married.

beckypua aw sorry about the distance you deal with! I'm lucky she is in Ontario and that I am not too far away to drive, good luck to you!

Edited August 15, 2007 by RedSox2004

[Tinker 0]

birth certificate.

I've been driving back and forth to pick him up for over 6 years, and NEVER had a problem. I just told them I'm going to Syracuse to pick up my boyfriend....

Just tell them your going to ....... Ontario to pick up your girlfriend and bring her back for a visit because she doesn't have a car, or whatever reason your going to pick her up.

I might get it for this one, but you haven't filed yet, there's no point in saying fiance right now.

[L_n_O 3]

done the same.. haven't had a problem

[Lona.C. 16]

my fiance has been picking me up for the last 3 years traveling left and right ( Mass/ canada and backwards)even trough the visa process now , all they ask is how long I intend to stay in the states and if i can prove i live in canada , and they also ask if we know about the fiance visa , we usualy give a friendly smile and say yes already in process , show the prove of ties to country , answer how long we stay vo la bone voyage , lol have a nice trip Lona

Ps: if she is not canadian citizen she will have to go in and aply for tourist visa when you guys go back to the states , wich is no big deal , its good for 3 month she has to show her passport and canadian permanent residance card, ( good to show some bills and stuff to prove status ) answer few questions fill out a short form 1 finger print, photo taken , pay like 6$ U.S , if no one is inside its a done deal within 20 min

[Aaralyn 0]

You may not have any problems as long as you have strong ties to Canada.

Alf and I flew into Seattle, before the engagement, and drove to BC with his brother... no problems on my entry into Canada. We planned on driving back to KY for a bit, but he was denied entry due to no letter from an employer. He had other ties, but not that. We were completely honest (a good idea in any case, imho) and said we were bf/gf, but not planning on marrying in the near future. Still, without the letter he was considered 'a risk.' We then had to re-enter Canada (I had no way home!) and figure out how I was getting home. We did have to go inside the building on the Canadian side, but it took about 3 minutes.. explained to them what happened, and they let me in.

After getting back to his place and talking a lot, we decided to go ahead with a K-1, and here we are! We had discussed marriage before all this, and we both pretty much knew it would end that way anyway, we just thought we'd have a little more time together before we had to say goodbye and wait it out.

Ack, I babble far too much... my advice would be to have as much evidence as you can bring to show them you're going to return. Good luck

[RedSox2004 0]

Wow great! You have all been helpful. Aaralyn I see that you had some problems which is exactly what I would want to avoid. I assume if she gets sent back would they let me re-enter Canada?

Also, would CBP give out a visitor visa to her upon entry to the US if we drove through? Or do they not do this?

[Aaralyn 0]

Wow great! You have all been helpful. Aaralyn I see that you had some problems which is exactly what I would want to avoid. I assume if she gets sent back would they let me re-enter Canada?

Also, would CBP give out a visitor visa to her upon entry to the US if we drove through? Or do they not do this?

I have no experience with the visitor visa, so hopefully someone else will know.

I can't say 100% that they would let you re-enter, but they let me back without any real issues. I told them I had to be back in the States by a certain date, and they said good luck. I haven't had much experience crossing the borders, but it did seem the Candian side is much more relaxed.

[rooster 1]

Wow great! You have all been helpful. Aaralyn I see that you had some problems which is exactly what I would want to avoid. I assume if she gets sent back would they let me re-enter Canada?

Also, would CBP give out a visitor visa to her upon entry to the US if we drove through? Or do they not do this?

I have no experience with the visitor visa, so hopefully someone else will know.

I can't say 100% that they would let you re-enter, but they let me back without any real issues. I told them I had to be back in the States by a certain date, and they said good luck. I haven't had much experience crossing the borders, but it did seem the Candian side is much more relaxed

I must agree. I am the USC and when I traveled by car to meet up with my then GF now Wife, I had no problems entering Canada. The A$$hole was going back into the US. I didnt get called into secondary,but, I got the 3rd degree from the jerk. Asked me 3 times what my job was in Oklahoma. I finally told him I worked to pay his f##kin salary.

[Lona.C. 16]

Wow great! You have all been helpful. Aaralyn I see that you had some problems which is exactly what I would want to avoid. I assume if she gets sent back would they let me re-enter Canada?

Also, would CBP give out a visitor visa to her upon entry to the US if we drove through? Or do they not do this?

I have no experience with the visitor visa, so hopefully someone else will know.

I can't say 100% that they would let you re-enter, but they let me back without any real issues. I told them I had to be back in the States by a certain date, and they said good luck. I haven't had much experience crossing the borders, but it did seem the Candian side is much more relaxed

I must agree. I am the USC and when I traveled by car to meet up with my then GF now Wife, I had no problems entering Canada. The A$$hole was going back into the US. I didnt get called into secondary,but, I got the 3rd degree from the jerk. Asked me 3 times what my job was in Oklahoma. I finally told him I worked to pay his f##kin salary.

LMAO you sound like my fiance he gets frustrated when they ask the same thing a hundred times too , cant blame him lol but patience goes a long way ,lol

to the question if she needs a visitor visa , she only needs one if she is not canadian citizen , if she is canadian citizen all she needs is passport ( good to show birth certificate and bills ) she has visitation right up to 6 month , if shes born out of canada in migrated to canada she is legal permanent resident (LPR) status , as a LPR she has a permanent resident card ( same as greencard in the states )wich she will have to carry with her and show with her passport and other documents (same as a CC ) go in to port of entry at the border apply for the visa wich will be good for 3 month , ( as i said she only needs it if shes not canadian citizen ) hope i helpd good luck Lona