Going back to Canada

[nina1 0]

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian citizen, who started the AOS process IN THE US (through marriage to a US citizen) back in 2004... In the summer of 2005, I went to visit my family in Montreal for 2 months. I haven't been back there since then.

So I've got a question... I'm going back to Montreal very soon to see my family (after not going back since 2005), and wanted to know if I should be concerned about anything on the CANADIAN side when i enter borders... For instance, why do they ask how long I've been gone for (what is there to this question that i'm feeling uneasy about for some reason).... Do they get upset if i say i've been gone for 4 yrs, and why is it their business? Does it send them red flags when they see the stamp on my canadian passport showing i'm a permanent resident of the US?? Will they have a problem with the fact that I married a US citizen (my husband's not coming with me though)....

I'm just stressed out about leaving, so if anybody can ease my mind by telling me what should and/or could be asked and why, then that would be so great!

Edited June 15, 2009 by nina1

[Donna and Jay 0]

You're going back home.....they can't deny you entry. Why would they give you a hard time??

Hi everyone,

I'm a Canadian citizen, who started the AOS process IN THE US (through marriage to a US citizen) back in 2004... In the summer of 2005, I went to visit my family in Montreal for 2 months. I haven't been back there since then.

So I've got a question... I'm going back to Montreal very soon (after not going back since 2005), and wanted to know if I should be concerned about anything on the CANADIAN side when i enter borders... For instance, why do they ask how long I've been gone for (what is there to this question that i'm feeling uneasy about for some reason).... Do they get upset if i say i've been gone for 4 yrs, and why is it their business? Does it send them red flags when they see the stamp on my canadian passport showing i'm a permanent resident of the US?? Will they have a problem with the fact that I married a US citizen (my husband's not coming with me though)....

I'm just stressed out about leaving, so if anybody can ease my mind by telling me what should and/or could be asked and why, then that would be so great!

[nina1 0]

Donnaandjay, I don't really know why they would deny me entry..... I just heard of some canadian citizen entering back into montreal (from living in the UK for a couple of years), and the Canadians had her sign some papers stating that she no longer has anything to do with Canada....

I don't know anymore details than that, but was afraid, and just wanted to know what could happen at the borders......

So i should have nothing to fear if i say i've been gone for 4 yrs?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I went back to Canada for the first time since I moved to the US 3 years after I moved to the States. We flew into Ottawa. I had absolutely no problems entering Canada - they asked my citizenship - I handed them my passport. They asked where I lived and I said Georgia. They asked where I was going and I said to visit with my family. They said, have a good visit. That was it. The last time I visited Canada was last summer and we crossed at the Ivy Lea Bridge. They asked my citizenship, I said Canadian - my husband said American. They asked where we lived, I said Georgia. They asked where we were going and I said to visit family. They said, have a nice trip. I had my I-551 stamp in my passport last summer as I was waiting to remove conditions. As a Canadian citizen they cannot deny you entry. There are no papers to sign - unless you are declaring yourself as a returning Canadian resident. You'll be fine. Have a nice trip.

Edited June 15, 2009 by Kathryn41

[trailmix 77]

Donnaandjay, I don't really know why they would deny me entry..... I just heard of some canadian citizen entering back into montreal (from living in the UK for a couple of years), and the Canadians had her sign some papers stating that she no longer has anything to do with Canada....

I don't know anymore details than that, but was afraid, and just wanted to know what could happen at the borders......

So i should have nothing to fear if i say i've been gone for 4 yrs?

Hi nina,

You will have no problem at all. Have a wonderful trip!