Crosing the Border

[La Souris 19]

Hi,

The I-130 is now in the mail! Now, I have a question about my future visits to my husband. I usually drive to visit him once a month or so... I've always been truthful with the border agents about who I'm visiting and how long I'm staying; I do bring proof of my ties to Canada (bills, school schedule, etc.) and, so far, I've had no problem (just a few weird questions, open the trunk, this kind of things...).

Now, I would like to know if you had more questions and troubles after you sent your petition or if the level of scrutiny did change? Should I bring a copy of our file (forms, documents, etc.)? Any other tips?

Thank you!

[YuAndDan 153]

FAQ: http://www.visajourney.com/faq/k1k2visa-application.html#4.6 (Applies to all visa petition types)

[La Souris 19]

Thank you I'm well aware of the "theory", I was looking more for Canadians who did cross the border on a regular basis before and after their petition, to see if they did notice any differences.

[YuAndDan 153]

Thank you I'm well aware of the "theory", I was looking more for Canadians who did cross the border on a regular basis before and after their petition, to see if they did notice any differences.

This is a very frequent question, and I have seen MANY posts of Canadians who had no problems entering the USA for visits while the petition is being processed.

Some even tell stories where they were on a first name basis with the POE officers.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Man, its Thursday,lol!! This question gets brought up a zillion times on VJ,lol Majority have NO problems, some do get brought into secondary for more questions,and ya a few do get denied! I traveled monthly from Halifax to DC without a problem. I had ties to canada with me, but they never asked to see them! 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, dont 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 didnt lie! Refer to #1

Never noticed a difference in the questioning before filing the petition or after. Best of luck

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Flames is quite right - be honest, I said I was visiting my fiancé many times and I crossed by land and flying throughout a 2 yr period. Not once was I stopped, taken aside or even given a second look.

Have the proper items to prove ties back home if needed and bring copies of any pertinent documents just in case.

[La Souris 19]

Thank you all - I'll continue to do what I'm doing, take a deep breath, and count myself lucky that we have the possibility to visit each other so often

[coldwatersurf 5]

flames got all the info right.

I cross the border every weekend to visit my hubby. I didnt even know i wasnt really allowed to cross. They don’t really scrutinize me. They just ask more questions about what I do and where do I live in Canada. They are trying to find out how strong is your tie to Canada and make sure that you're not going to move too early in their country. This is what the guard told me while she was training a newbie. In my case, my living situation and my income showed that I have no intention of moving early and basically screwing what good things that are going for me in Canada.

However, I did get in trouble on Christmas week when there was the winter storm, and I couldn’t drive. All the greyhound buses shut down and I had to take a different bus last minute. I didn’t get a ticket for going down to US and since all the tellers were closed, I didn’t get a return ticket. I was staying for 1 week and when the guards asked me why I didn’t have a return ticket, they gave me such a hard time as I was staying with my hubby for 1 week. Plus, I told them my I-130 was still in process so the guy just gave me such a hard time for 30 mins. Of course, I didn’t know why it was such a problem and I was oblivious of what was going on. I did a little homework about certain documents and asked them so many questions and proved to them what and how my life is like in Canada and they finally let me go and gave me a warning that if I had a return ticket to Canada, it would make my life so much easier and I would be exempt from the questioning. So I would suggest to be honest as possible. They will find out everything.

[Krikit 1,164]

No, I didn't notice any difference at all before, during, or after I received the visa. I think I remembered to bring a copy of my visa application once. But I was a regular to them so I don't think they were terribly concerned. Whenever I'd get a newbie I'd be scrutinized a little closer. Mostly questions like "Where do you work/What is your occupation?" "Is this your car?" "Do you have a return ticket?" (If I was crossing to fly out of the Buffalo airport.) Nothing out of the ordinary.

[La Souris 19]

Good I'll continue to bring proof of my ties to Canada and enjoy the drive! I got a few other questions, but nothing too complicated... "When are you planning to move with your husband? -- When I'm done with my degree in school and I receive my visa... "

Thanks again!

Edited March 27, 2009 by La Souris

[Flames9_RN 358]

Many time I never even stated I was visiting my wife. POE dude would ask business or pleasure, I would respond pleasure and that I'm returning on such a date, and that was it. Now if he asked who I was going to see, then yes I would say wife. But if he didnt ask, I didn't tell,lol

[Holliday 4]

I flew to the U.S. from Ottawa yesterday, and it was slightly different than the other times I've gone. This is also my first visit since I've been married. I was actually less nervous yesterday than other times I've gone, because I brought a copy of the NOA1 and NOA2 (along with a folder that contains everything that was submitted with the I-130), and I figured if I were to be questioned, I could prove that I am doing this the legal way, and we just spent $355 on the I-130, and just received the approval notice this week - which states that I'll have to appear at the appropriate Consulate for an interview eventually. So yeah, while I do intend to immigrate, I certainly don't intend to do so on this trip.

Anyway, this is how it went at the border yesterday:

(Gave the guy my passport.)

Guy: What is the purpose of your trip?

Me: Just a little vacation.

Guy: Are you importing any alcohol or cigarettes?

Me: No. Nothing.

Guy: How long will you be gone for?

Me: I'll be returning home on Wednesday of next week.

Guy: Where are you going?

Me: Tulsa

Guy: Do you know anyone who lives in Tulsa?

Me: Yes. My husband lives there.

Guy: Where is your home in Canada?

Me: Here in Ottawa.

Guy: Okay.

(Guy looked through my passport for a few seconds and then stamped it.)

That was it. That was probably the least amount of questions I've ever been asked.

The weird thing was that the guy stamped my passport twice... That concerned me, briefly. He stamped the usual "Admitted March 26, 2009", and the second stamp was on the "Class/Until" line (which in my experience has always been left blank) "B-2, September 25, 2009". So yeah. I figure if he was suspicious or reluctant, he would've changed the date stamp to something less than 6 months away. Or he would've asked to see proof that I was coming home.

Every other time I've gone to the U.S. to visit, I've always been asked about my employment. They always have asked where I work, what I do, and how long I've worked there. The last two times I've gone, I have brought a signed letter from my boss stating that I am employed, and that he is aware that I'll be gone, along with the date I'll be returning to work, but I've never needed to show it to anyone.

Last October when I went for a visit, I was asked by the border guy when was the last time I was in the U.S. I told him "from July 31/08 - August 5/08". Then he asked "why didn't they stamp your passport?" My answer was "I don't know!" I thought that was an odd question. I have no idea why they didn't stamp my passport. I clearly have no control over that. Further, I know it's quite common for them to not stamp Canadian passports. Ah well. Anyway, then the guy asked "when was the last time you were in the U.S. before that?" I answered "I was there for almost two weeks in April." "Why didn't they stamp your passport then?" "Um... my passport was issued in May."

Heh. Border crossing is funny.

[amberL 0]

If anything I have noticed less questions and less of the weird type of questions have been asked of me since I filled.

[JillA 2]

If anything I have noticed less questions and less of the weird type of questions have been asked of me since I filled.

I think once you filed, it shows you are doing immigration the legal and right way. It would be dumb to spend all that $$ and effort into the immigration process, then to throw it away by staying illegally. I'm sure the border guards know that.

[SapphireDreams 71]

If anything I have noticed less questions and less of the weird type of questions have been asked of me since I filled.

I think once you filed, it shows you are doing immigration the legal and right way. It would be dumb to spend all that $$ and effort into the immigration process, then to throw it away by staying illegally. I'm sure the border guards know that.

Must be because last time I crossed they didn't ask me a single question! All he said was, "Have a great time!" and stamped my passport!