Returning to Canada after Marriage

[sunshine82 0]

I'm a Canadian citizen and my fiance is a US citizen. We visit each other about once a month. We haven't set a wedding date but if we happen to elope in the US during a future trip down there, what do I tell the Canadian Customs Agent when I return back to Canada? (We've already discussed the various Visa routes and the best one for us would be the CR-1 so I'd have to return to Canada anyway) Canadian Customs always asks what the purpose of the trip was, and if the original intent was just to visit and not to marry what would I say? Should I tell them that we eloped? Thanks in advance!

[Flames9_RN 359]

If ur a canadian going back to Cnada from the USA, canada customs isn't really going to care! Just tell them ur were in the USA seeing ur husband!!

Now coming into the USA from Canada is a different story!! I did it monthly (from Halifax to DC) and never had a problem. And yes some do get denied entry. this topic comes up weekly here in the Canada forum, so you should be able to find a lot of responses, and I'm sure others will chirp in. here is my advice:

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, don't 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 didn't lie! Refer to #1

Best of luck

[SapphireDreams 71]

Yup, Canadian customs wont care if you eloped or not. Whatever you do, don't tell the US customs guy on the way in that you're going down to get married.

[sunshine82 0]

Thank you so much for your replies! I've been doing the Toronto to DC trips for about a year now and going through Customs is always so nerve wracking in case you run into someone having a bad day (most of the customs agents in Toronto seem miserable!). So far, I've always made it through without any problems, although they always ask more questions when I'm coming back into Canada, which I find odd. Thanks again!

[SapphireDreams 71]

^^ That's odd, the Canadians usually only ask me how much $$ I spent. They don't even ask me why I was travelling anymore, haha.

You should be find, just treat it like any other visit.