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Marriage during the US visit

By redBlue in Canada

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redBlue Collaborator

redBlue   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Last time when I visited US on Mar ,09 , we got married.I stayed only for 10 days in US and went back home to Canada.Now we are pursuing IR1-CR1 process.

Now,I will be visiting my husband again on May...Was it illegal that we 've got married in US while I was a visitor...And I know that I will be questioned this time at the border ..I'm wondering if it would be a problem and how should I answer the question of getting married while I was a visitor..

Thnx

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beans Community Regular

beans   7

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

My understanding that it wasn't illegal because you did leave and it was probably spur of the moment. However, when crossing the border bring proof of ties to Canada with you (lease or mortgage, letter from employer, utility bills etc.) and you should be fine. I could stand to be corrected however.

Congratulations on your marriage and good luck on your visa journey!

I-751 file: 11/07/11

NOA1 date: 11/10/11

Biometrics: 11/30/11

Approval: 08/17/12

Hold what you got and maintain.

Kathryn41 Grand Master

Kathryn41   3,205

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Nope - it is perfectly legal to get married to a US citizen while visiting the US. It is even legal to enter the US planning on getting married as long as you then leave the country to follow the proper immigration process. What isn't legal is entering the US planning to get married AND then staying in the US to adjust status. That is considered visa fraud since you entered as a visitor - saying you are only staying temporarily - while being fully aware you had no intention of being a visitor but staying permanently. What you did is perfectly legal and is the recommended process.

If you are asked, just be honest. Say you decided to get married and that you are pursuing immigration through the legal route of a CRI. Carry copies of your immigration paperwork with you so they can see that you are indeed following that route. Carry with you as well proof of your current ties to Canada - a letter from your employer, a lease or rent receipts, bills for utilities, insurance, pets or kids still in Canada, things that show you still have financial commitments and personal ties to Canada that indicate your intent to return to Canada.

Rest assured, you did nothing wrong and have no need to worry. Good luck on your visa journey.

Edited by Kathryn41

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carslo Community Regular

carslo   0

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Excellent reply Kathryn! redBlue that is what I did also and we are almost at the end of the journey; see my timeline or below for details. As for visiting, I went in March for 10 days with no trouble - I used a land crossing and will be going again in 11 days but flying out this time. I always carry a slew of paperwork to document where we are in the CR-1 process and my times to Canada and thus far have had no problems.

Good luck and congrats on our marriage! You will find pretty much all you need on ths website to complete the process.

Janet

Met online playing pinochle in late Feb or March 2001

Married in San Luis Obispo - July 18, 2008

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redBlue Collaborator

redBlue   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thnx for the replies,feeling better now..

I'm prepering all the required doc.s now.

I-130 Journey

04-18-09 - I-130 sent USPS Priority to Chicago Lockbox

04-24-09 - I-130 received by USCS and the first touch

04-27-09 - I-130 NOA1 (California Service Center)

04-27-09 - Check Cashed

08-13-09 - I-130 Received NOA2 e-mail

08-17-09 - I-130 Received NOA2 Hardcopy (I-797)

NVC Journey

08-17-09 - NVC Received/Case number assigned

09-08-09 - NVC sent the first mail to the petitioner

09-08-09 - DS-3032 / AOS Bill Generated

09-08-09 - E-mailed DS-3032

09-09-09 - Mailed DS-3032

09-09-09 - Pay AOS Bill (Online)

09-10-09 - AOS Bill Show as PAID

09-10-09 - IV Bill Generated

09-11-09 - Paid IV Bill

09-11-09 - NVC accepted DS-3032(received an e-mail)

09-12-09 - Mailed I-864 Package

09-14-09 - IV Bill Show as PAID

09-15-09 - I-864 received at NVC

09-16-09 - Mailed IV Package(DS-230)

09-17-09 - DS-230 package delivered to NVC(confirmed via fed-ex)

09-21-09 - NVC received the DS-230

09-23-09 - NVC sent an e-mail asking for DS-230 package

09-24-09 - NVC confirmed that the DS-230 package received

09-26-09 - Login Failed!!!

09-28-09 - Case Completed at NVC --------------------------------------------------NVC stage is completed in 38 days

01-27-10 - Medical

02-05-10 - Interview Date

04-14-10 - POE

Done with USCIS until Apr 14,2012 (Removal of Conditions)

Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

many of us have done that, including myself. Read below for my free advice when crossing to the USA

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free 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 isn't 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

JillA Experienced

JillA   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
many of us have done that, including myself. Read below for my free advice when crossing to the USA

:lol: free advice LOL Flames love the new siggy!

Good luck redblue!

K-1

I-129F sent to Vermont: 2/19/08

NOA1: 2/21/08

NOA2: 3/10/08

Packet 3 recd: 3/25/08

Packet 3 sent: 4/18/08

Appt letter recd: 6/16/08

Interview at Montreal Consulate: 7/10/08 **APPROVED!!**

K1 recd: 7/15/08

US Entry at Buffalo, New York: 11/15/08

Wedding in Philadelphia: 11/22/08

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AOS/EAD/AP filed at Chicago Lockbox: 12/17/08

NOA: 12/29/08

Case transferred to CSC: 1/7/09

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EAD received: 3/12/09

AP received: 3/13/09

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GC received: 4/9/09

ROC

Sent package to VSC: 1/5/11

NOA1: 1/7/11

Biometrics: 2/14/11

Approval letter received: 8/1/11

GC received: 8/11/11

Citizenship:

N-400 sent to Dallas lockbox: 3/1/12

NOA1: 3/6/12

Biometrics: 4/9/12

Interview: 5/25/12

Oath Ceremony: 6/4/2012

Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

ya, i got tired of copying/pasting,lol

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free 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 isn't 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

 
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