Boyfriend or Fiance?

[Bern. 3]

I've been engaged for about 4 months now, and due to someone posted a link about a girl getting banned out of USA for saying engaged instead of married, it got me thinking.

Should I say boyfriend or fiance?

And whats the difference in treatment depending on what you say?

Any experiences?

I was planning to say, ''to see my fiance before deployment.''

And I have proof of ties to Canada, letter of employment with schedule starting I am due back on Feb 27th and my managers business card

and I have proof of registration for school.

I'm sure I'll be fine, but I always get paranoid before a trip.

You guys must hate me! Haha.

I leave on the 21st. :]

[MrsCat 6]

Hope you have a great trip!

One time I said to meet my fiancee. This was before I knew about VJ and bringing proof of ties to Canada. So she said, I needed to prove that I was going to go back home to Canada and not take up residence in the USA. Hunh? I couldn't figure out why my return ticket was enough. Mind you it was 6am and I couldn't call my boss at work and put him on the speaker phone.

Well, I went into a long spiel about how I hated Metlakatla, and I'm not moving to butt-####### nowhere to get married and live in the US illegally. I explained that groceries are shipped up every two weeks and the lettuce is wilted and gross long before its arrived. I explained that there were 14 miles of roads in Metlakatla to go absolutely nowhere, 8 months of the year is constant rain and wind, and another month is snow. The ferry runs to Ketchikan only a few days a week and the best shopping it has is a Wal-Mart. She got my point and said have a nice trip.

Every other time, I've said visiting my husband or a friend. Never had a problem.

Edited February 16, 2009 by MrsCat

[Bern. 3]

Well, I am visiting friends in a sense...but Cat, will my letter be enough? I'm barely 20, and I'm pretty positive that they won't be loving that I became engaged so young.

I will probably say, ''boyfriend (before deployment next month), friends, and of course, SHOPPING!

I do a lot of my clothes shopping the USA. And my boy said he'd say boyfriend if need be. I mean, we're engaged but it's not really...fully taken in yet, at least on my end because I'm still a spring chicken probably.

Was your experience through Calgary US Customs? xP

I find all the customs officers there grumpy.

[MrsCat 6]

Well, I am visiting friends in a sense...but Cat, will my letter be enough? I'm barely 20, and I'm pretty positive that they won't be loving that I became engaged so young.

I will probably say, ''boyfriend (before deployment next month), friends, and of course, SHOPPING!

I do a lot of my clothes shopping the USA. And my boy said he'd say boyfriend if need be. I mean, we're engaged but it's not really...fully taken in yet, at least on my end because I'm still a spring chicken probably.

Was your experience through Calgary US Customs? xP

I find all the customs officers there grumpy.

I've only been through Calgary once, and it was with my husband. The lady was pretty nice and never asked a single question. This is when our application at USCIS was still pending too.

The one's in Edmonton were not friendly but efficient. Never really asked any questions.

When Chris and I were dating, I'd just say going to visit a friend. They never asked any questions except the one time. I've always taken the approach, that unless specifically asked, I don't offer up any more information than needed.

"Purpose of visit" - "vacation"

"How long will you be gone" - "10 days"

"Return ticket" - "right here"

"Have a nice trip"

That's usually it.

A letter from your employer and return ticket should be more than enough. Once I brought my parking stub for my car, since obviously I wasn't going to leave my car abandoned at the airport.

[Bern. 3]

I think I'll stick with boyfriend. It's safe for me. I have anxiety so the less complications the better.

And yeah, I've noticed that about Edmonton...they never asked me anything, they just said, ''going to see some friends?'' ''Yes'' ''Have a nice trip.''

I was very confused by the end of it.

By, I've noticed that when I declare food like chocolate they tend to ask more questions about that than me. :S

[Sprailenes 47]

The first time I came down alone, I had just finished college, had two weeks before I started work, so I had some time to spare, didn't have proof of ties or anything.

I took a bus down and it was only my second time going to the states and the guy at the border told me that I needed more than what I had, which was a 1 way ticket and my birth certificate and my student ID. No joke.

He asked me if I had any other ID, I decided it was then that I'd use my 'race card'.

I quickly said: "Oh yea my status card!" and he said: "Oh you have a status card.." and waited for it.

So I looked in my wallet shuffled around and then said: "Oh no, its not in here! I forgot it! Damn it!"

So he looked at me and told me that he normally wouldn't have let me go, but I seemed honest and that I looked 'indian', and to carry my status card the next time I went down.

I don't have a status card... but they don't really question you or bother you too much if you have one. So I pretended to have one that day.

[Bern. 3]

I could probably pull off native.

But good job! You're quite clever. Haha.

Should I mention that he is being deployed March 5th?

[Marilyn. 340]

I would only answer truthfully the questions they ask.. but you don't need to go into detail, of course if you are asked for details then give them......

Edited February 16, 2009 by *Marilyn*

[Sprailenes 47]

That could work. Pull the race card!

We get free passage rights. Yay for the Jay treaty.

However...

Taken from the embassy site:

Beginning January 31, 2008, verbal declarations of citizenship (or Indian status) alone is no longer acceptable as proof of citizenship (or status) at any U.S. land-border and seaport Port of Entry

So I don't know if it would work now.

[Bern. 3]

I blame you!

But yes, I keep my answers short but to the point. I just really want to see him before he leaves for a year.

And when he comes back, we're filing for the K-1

[Sprailenes 47]

My fault!

Aww a whole year! That must be hard, you are so strong.

[Bern. 3]

I suppose but he finally bought a laptop today! And right now, I'm talking to him on MSN for the first time in almost a year. It feels kind of odd. But I'm enjoying it. And I'm not strong, I'm just, in love. <3

[DeadPoolX 9]

I've entered Canada numerous times before my wife and I got married. Only one time did I ever have a problem with CBSA and that was in the Vancouver Airport. I arrived close to midnight and it was a few days before Christmas. I'm sure Customs was tired of seeing passengers, especially at that late hour. Regardless, I refused to go through YVR again -- at least until we were married and permanently together

What happened was I told the Customs officer that I was there to visit "my fiancee." Well, he looked at me with an expression of horror on his face. He then told me to go to secondary. I went there and spent about 30 minutes attempting to convince the officer there that I had no intention of illegally immigrating and that I would leave. She basically asked me my entire life story, how my wife (then my fiancee) and I met, why I was there, where I planned to stay, how I paid for the trip, what I did for work, how much money I had on me, etc. In addition, I had to show her all of my documentation, including proof that I had a life back in the United States. Once she was satisfied, I was allowed to enter Canada.

After that, I said "girlfriend" every time, except for the one time I was immigrating (legally, that is). Then I said "wife," but that was expected of me. Canada doesn't have a fiancee visa, so I couldn't have said anything else.

I know some people will tell you to "always answer honestly." For the most part, I agree with that; however, you need to judge each and every situation as they come. In other words, just because saying "fiancee" easily got you in one time, it may not another time -- you might have to spend a long time convincing them you're legit. Even worse, if the CBSA officer is having a bad day, he or she could deny you simply for having an SO in his or her country.

Edited February 16, 2009 by DeadPoolX

[Bern. 3]

Oh ouch, yeah, they did that to my boyfriend too, but at the time he had never met me, it had been the first visit. I don't know why but it seems a lot harder to get into Canada than it is to get into the United States. I found that when I, the Canadian, was returning home, they acted like they didn't want me there. THIS IS MY HOME COUNTRY DAMNIT.

But yeah, boyfriend and shopping is all I tend to say. But this one fellow during christmas asked me 30 questions about what I did. I ALWAYS get asked if I have a job, and I always say yes and where. I've never been asked to prove it though. :S

[Necrotica 0]

Whatever you do, make sure you and your fiancé agree on what to refer to him as ahead of time and stick with it, otherwise you may find yourself in the position my now-husband and I were in.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=21974&hl=