Canada Border Patrol

[JillA 2]

Best of luck and congratulations!! Isn't this journey so exciting. I can't wait to move and get married, just under a month for me.

[Izoom 0]

The employees and customs officials have generally been nice when asked questions. Its certainly a nice airport and I'm that they have

the US-bound flights area separated from the rest, as to not create any confusion. I imagine that your waiting by those opaque "DO NOT ENTER"

doors is always fun

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Our experience is rather funny. My husband to be flew up to Detroit, rented a van at the airport, drove to the border at Windsor where he was asked the purpose of his visit. He said, "I am going to Chatham to pick up my fiancee and I am driving her back to Georgia where we will be getting married". The Border Guard stood back and waved him on saying, "Drive on, Brother! Drive on! Far be it from me to stand in the way of another man's misery!". That was it (VBG).

So, have your fiance tell the truth but include the details that he is here to pick up his fiancee who just got her visa, and drive back with her to the US where they will be getting married. Sometimes you need to give just the minimum amount of information - but sometimes it helps if you add to more than just the minimum to fill in any potential blanks.

Good luck on your trip and relocation.

[Cassie 8]

I've gone through Halifax a number of times using various assortments of USCIS paperwork. Haven't had a problem with the new PFI at all -- except for the time they confiscated a small pair of scissors that were within regulations, but I digress.

When entering Canada through Halifax, you'll get asked are you here for business or pleasure, how long you are staying, and you may get asked what I call "level 2" questions, like are you here for vacation or to visit someone, etc etc. If they ask tell them -- my fiance got her US visa to move down and marry me, and I am here to help her pack and move. They should be ok with that. An officer may come out to find her and check to make sure your story is bonafide (I speak from experience on this one), so she may just want to bring her passport with the K-1 visa in it.

You'll be fine. Halifax is an excellent airport, especially now with all the renovations completed. And yes, there is a little pub in the US flights waiting area.

[Caladan 19]

I flew to Edmonton to help C. fly down; I cleared Canadian immigration in Toronto, and said that I was here to help my fiance move to the United States. The agent did a quick double-take -- "on this visit?" and I said something to the effect of 'Yes, ma'am, he has a U.S. fiance visa and we're getting married in July.' No problems.

(As a side note, isn't it true that if one is intending to immigrate to Canada as a spouse, one can declare that at the border as they permit 'inside Canada' adjustment? Anyone know the details of this, or if I'm at all in the ballpark? )

[DeadPoolX 9]

I flew to Edmonton to help C. fly down; I cleared Canadian immigration in Toronto, and said that I was here to help my fiance move to the United States. The agent did a quick double-take -- "on this visit?" and I said something to the effect of 'Yes, ma'am, he has a U.S. fiance visa and we're getting married in July.' No problems.

(As a side note, isn't it true that if one is intending to immigrate to Canada as a spouse, one can declare that at the border as they permit 'inside Canada' adjustment? Anyone know the details of this, or if I'm at all in the ballpark? )

I'd assume that if the intended immigrant traveled through the border with his or her spouse and they could provide proof of their marriage and proposed plans to have the non-Canadian immigrate legally, it'd work. Otherwise, why would the CBSA officer believe the story? Anyone could walk in claiming they're on a spousal visa that way.

I immigrated to Canada from outside the country (which is why the visa got processed much quicker), so all of this is based on my best guess.

[Caladan 19]

Right; obviously you'd have to be able to prove it (and I'm guessing fill out some paperwork.) But that might be a good reason that Canadian officials seem a little more calm about border visits. If someone married to a Canadian wanted to get in with immigrant intent, there'd be no reason to sneak in.

[Allie 5]

I've found only a handful of VJ members that either lived or still live in Nova Scotia. I will be the first to write a P.O.E. review for Halifax I suppose

I figure I'll just tell them I'm visiting my fiance and if he pushes for any more information, I'll tell him. The previous 4 visits have all been "have a nice day" type

of greetings from CBP. The USCIS people are little more curious when US citizens are returning, but its their job. Techniccaly speaking, the first bit of American

soil we land on will be Boston, then Atlanta, and finally West Palm Beach around midnight.

Post-checkpoint areas are still within the "rules and laws" of the governing country, not the sovereign nation represented right?

Halifax is a very easy POE. My first few visits here to WA. were through Toronto as Halifax at that time was not a U.S POE.

The 3 trips through TO were with very cranky border officers. I know they have a job to do and TO is a very busy entry point but atleast show a bit of personality.

It was with out doubt a pleasure when I entered through Halifax. The agents were very pleasant and even said enjoy your visit much different to what I had experienced in TO.

I activated my K1 Visa through Halifax in June of 07 and at that time they hadn't done many K1's through there as they were only certified as U.S POE in Jan of that yr. but I had no problems at all They were very nice and although did thier job also chatted outside the everyday procedures they do.

My review on Halifax is in my timeline. Good luck and I know you'll have a pleasant POE at Halifax.

Ask for the Employment stamp they gave me mine no problem what so ever

[thetreble 19]

I was released and allowed into Canada after about 45 minutes of interrogation.

Ever since then, I've avoided YVR as an entry point. I've also heard that YYZ is terrible, as well. I suppose it has something to do with the heavy traffic coming through there. Whatever the case, I've found that flying into nearly any other airport nets better results than Vancouver or Toronto.

It may not be as rare as you think, Sapphire Dreams. I was also pulled into secondary last year while going through YYZ. They thought that since I had visited new york, I should have more presents for people I guess. When they opened my suitcase they only found 3 pairs of pants and a few shirts. I had been away for a considerable amount of time so that puzzled them. I didn't bring a lot home because I was planning on bringing more clothes FROM home, back to NJ. I wasn't doing anything wrong and I was already a PR at that point. If they want to see something, they will...if you get my drift.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I was released and allowed into Canada after about 45 minutes of interrogation.

Ever since then, I've avoided YVR as an entry point. I've also heard that YYZ is terrible, as well. I suppose it has something to do with the heavy traffic coming through there. Whatever the case, I've found that flying into nearly any other airport nets better results than Vancouver or Toronto.

It may not be as rare as you think, Sapphire Dreams. I was also pulled into secondary last year while going through YYZ. They thought that since I had visited new york, I should have more presents for people I guess. When they opened my suitcase they only found 3 pairs of pants and a few shirts. I had been away for a considerable amount of time so that puzzled them. I didn't bring a lot home because I was planning on bringing more clothes FROM home, back to NJ. I wasn't doing anything wrong and I was already a PR at that point. If they want to see something, they will...if you get my drift.

Well that goes back to my original point, they are usually looking for some sort of profile and you must've fit their profile. And, they were more concerned with what you were bringing in then your reason for visiting. That's my point, the Canadian Border Agents don't seem to care very much about intent to immigrate so much as charging you duty on gifts. I have a friend at work who is searched everytime she returns without fail in secondary. They told her she fits a profile in their system that always comes up. Let's just say she never lies about what she spends on her vacations!

[SonoranSongbird 3]

* My fiance just got her K-1 visa and I'm here to help her pack and fly back home with her.

I would go with the above. Shows you have no intent to stay and is the truth. I think that's what my husband said when he flew up to get me. Something along those lines, anyway. Congratulations!

That's what I said as well, for the same reasons. Have a safe journey!

[DeadPoolX 9]

I was released and allowed into Canada after about 45 minutes of interrogation.

Ever since then, I've avoided YVR as an entry point. I've also heard that YYZ is terrible, as well. I suppose it has something to do with the heavy traffic coming through there. Whatever the case, I've found that flying into nearly any other airport nets better results than Vancouver or Toronto.

It may not be as rare as you think, Sapphire Dreams. I was also pulled into secondary last year while going through YYZ. They thought that since I had visited new york, I should have more presents for people I guess. When they opened my suitcase they only found 3 pairs of pants and a few shirts. I had been away for a considerable amount of time so that puzzled them. I didn't bring a lot home because I was planning on bringing more clothes FROM home, back to NJ. I wasn't doing anything wrong and I was already a PR at that point. If they want to see something, they will...if you get my drift.

Well that goes back to my original point, they are usually looking for some sort of profile and you must've fit their profile. And, they were more concerned with what you were bringing in then your reason for visiting. That's my point, the Canadian Border Agents don't seem to care very much about intent to immigrate so much as charging you duty on gifts. I have a friend at work who is searched everytime she returns without fail in secondary. They told her she fits a profile in their system that always comes up. Let's just say she never lies about what she spends on her vacations!

Interesting. That doesn't surprise me. All security agencies use profiling techniques, even if they claim not to or aren't supposed to do so. TSA is a good example. That organization likes to say they don't profile individuals, but seeing as their job is to screen airline passengers in the U.S., they're probably looking for whoever is considered "dangerous" at the time.

The one thing that puzzles me is why would I come up representing a certain profile at YVR, when I never did at any other airport in Canada? It seems a bit odd. The only thing I can assume is that YVR (like YYZ) have a lot of traffic, plus the CBSA officer I first spoke to was relatively young (and perhaps inexperienced) and it was right before Christmas at around midnight. Maybe those working at the airport at that time of year and day were annoyed and took it out on foreign visitors.

I do know that customs officers seem more "easy going" the earlier you speak to them. In other words, you'll probably receive less hassle if you go through them in the morning versus the evening or late night. I'm not sure why, since it can't be the same officer working all those hours. Whatever the case, that seems to hold true in most cases.

[Marilyn. 340]

my hubby was questioned almost every time he went through YVR....

[SapphireDreams 71]

^^The only theory I can think of, and again this is just my theory is that they either a) have different profiles they are looking for at different point of entries and B) that profiles wanted in their system change over time.

I'm guessing its a) because there is a demographic of people who normally travel through YVR, that probably vary from YYZ.

I also totally agree with you on time of day. Not sure why it differs, but I feel like it does too.

[Izoom 0]

Ask for the Employment stamp they gave me mine no problem what so ever

I didn't know that they gave that in Halifax...thats a big help!

Thanks for the review and information.