Clarifications of Strong Ties

[JillA 2]

All of the info in this thread is easing my mind a little bit. I'm a nervous wreck because I'll be attempting to cross the border today to go visit my husband for 4 weeks. I feel like I might be bringing too much stuff, but I have no idea what the "appropriate" amount of stuff is for a 4 week vacation! I'm bringing all my paperwork, including my interview letter, along with a letter from my boss stating when I'll be back at work, a few pay stubs, a phone bill and the invitation to my friend's wedding in Ottawa at the end of July. I'm always nervous about crossing the border, but it feels worse this time since I'm driving. I've driven there before (before I was married), and I didn't have any problems, and I didn't even know I was supposed to be nervous back then and I didn't bring any ties with me. I reaaaaallly hope I'll be allowed to cross today! Ack! Wish me luck!

You'll be fine! You have the interview letter, that shows you have to come back. Anyway, good luck and have a nice visit!

[Sam and Ben 2]

All of the info in this thread is easing my mind a little bit. I'm a nervous wreck because I'll be attempting to cross the border today to go visit my husband for 4 weeks. I feel like I might be bringing too much stuff, but I have no idea what the "appropriate" amount of stuff is for a 4 week vacation! I'm bringing all my paperwork, including my interview letter, along with a letter from my boss stating when I'll be back at work, a few pay stubs, a phone bill and the invitation to my friend's wedding in Ottawa at the end of July. I'm always nervous about crossing the border, but it feels worse this time since I'm driving. I've driven there before (before I was married), and I didn't have any problems, and I didn't even know I was supposed to be nervous back then and I didn't bring any ties with me. I reaaaaallly hope I'll be allowed to cross today! Ack! Wish me luck!

Good luck!

I'm sure all will be perfectly fine and you'll be able to enjoy those four weeks with your hubby.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I, too, was extremely worried about crossing the border on the K1, and I was automatically pulled into secondary because I took the Greyhound from Ontario down to Florida. I brought all of my ties (employment letter, bank statement, copy of our NOA1, information regarding my fiance/address/phone number/etc, return itinerary, etc), and the officer still gave me a hard time. He probably asked me the same set of ten or so questions about half a dozen times. He poured over my paperwork for twenty minutes while I sat down, nervous as a wreck, until his superior came over and in a rather hushed tone told him it wasn't necessary for him to give me a hard time, that my paperwork was clearly in order and I could go. He called me up, threw all of my paperwork haphazardly into the folder I brought, told me to have my luggage scanned and to be on my way.

A young woman like you took they Greyhound alone all the way down to Florida?! Wow! The crazy things we do for love eh? I bet that was a little frightening! Let alone having to sit on a bus for over 20 hours, yikes!

[Sam and Ben 2]

I, too, was extremely worried about crossing the border on the K1, and I was automatically pulled into secondary because I took the Greyhound from Ontario down to Florida. I brought all of my ties (employment letter, bank statement, copy of our NOA1, information regarding my fiance/address/phone number/etc, return itinerary, etc), and the officer still gave me a hard time. He probably asked me the same set of ten or so questions about half a dozen times. He poured over my paperwork for twenty minutes while I sat down, nervous as a wreck, until his superior came over and in a rather hushed tone told him it wasn't necessary for him to give me a hard time, that my paperwork was clearly in order and I could go. He called me up, threw all of my paperwork haphazardly into the folder I brought, told me to have my luggage scanned and to be on my way.

A young woman like you took they Greyhound alone all the way down to Florida?! Wow! The crazy things we do for love eh? I bet that was a little frightening! Let alone having to sit on a bus for over 20 hours, yikes!

It was a 36hr drive down... haha.

My fiance thought I was nuts. But I can't fly, else be rendered to days' worth of illness following a flight... so I figured I'd try this out. Honestly, it wasn't that bad, save for a few weirdos. Luckily, I met up with a bunch of folks from Ohio that were headed down to Florida too, and we all stuck it out together.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I, too, was extremely worried about crossing the border on the K1, and I was automatically pulled into secondary because I took the Greyhound from Ontario down to Florida. I brought all of my ties (employment letter, bank statement, copy of our NOA1, information regarding my fiance/address/phone number/etc, return itinerary, etc), and the officer still gave me a hard time. He probably asked me the same set of ten or so questions about half a dozen times. He poured over my paperwork for twenty minutes while I sat down, nervous as a wreck, until his superior came over and in a rather hushed tone told him it wasn't necessary for him to give me a hard time, that my paperwork was clearly in order and I could go. He called me up, threw all of my paperwork haphazardly into the folder I brought, told me to have my luggage scanned and to be on my way.

A young woman like you took they Greyhound alone all the way down to Florida?! Wow! The crazy things we do for love eh? I bet that was a little frightening! Let alone having to sit on a bus for over 20 hours, yikes!

It was a 36hr drive down... haha.

My fiance thought I was nuts. But I can't fly, else be rendered to days' worth of illness following a flight... so I figured I'd try this out. Honestly, it wasn't that bad, save for a few weirdos. Luckily, I met up with a bunch of folks from Ohio that were headed down to Florida too, and we all stuck it out together.

I get really sick when I fly too, but I just take lots of Gravol and I'm fine. Have you tried that? Might make your life a big easier.

I also used to take the Greyhound and the first time I crossed, I had a similar experience to you. I stopped taking the Greyhound when I somehow came to my senses one day and realized that it was a really unsafe way to travel. I was pretty fearless in the early days of my long distance relationship just like you and almost had to learn the hard way one day when at one of my transfers in the middle of the night I was delayed a long time (like 3 or 4 hours) and the station was full of creepy men (i'm not exaggerating) I was exhausted and alone and the security guard was asleep!! Any one of them could have taken advantage of me, but I was lucky that they didn't. And from then on I decided never to travel alone on the bus overnight again. Be very careful and get yourself some pepper spray for the trip home.

[Sam and Ben 2]

I, too, was extremely worried about crossing the border on the K1, and I was automatically pulled into secondary because I took the Greyhound from Ontario down to Florida. I brought all of my ties (employment letter, bank statement, copy of our NOA1, information regarding my fiance/address/phone number/etc, return itinerary, etc), and the officer still gave me a hard time. He probably asked me the same set of ten or so questions about half a dozen times. He poured over my paperwork for twenty minutes while I sat down, nervous as a wreck, until his superior came over and in a rather hushed tone told him it wasn't necessary for him to give me a hard time, that my paperwork was clearly in order and I could go. He called me up, threw all of my paperwork haphazardly into the folder I brought, told me to have my luggage scanned and to be on my way.

A young woman like you took they Greyhound alone all the way down to Florida?! Wow! The crazy things we do for love eh? I bet that was a little frightening! Let alone having to sit on a bus for over 20 hours, yikes!

It was a 36hr drive down... haha.

My fiance thought I was nuts. But I can't fly, else be rendered to days' worth of illness following a flight... so I figured I'd try this out. Honestly, it wasn't that bad, save for a few weirdos. Luckily, I met up with a bunch of folks from Ohio that were headed down to Florida too, and we all stuck it out together.

I get really sick when I fly too, but I just take lots of Gravol and I'm fine. Have you tried that? Might make your life a big easier.

I also used to take the Greyhound and the first time I crossed, I had a similar experience to you. I stopped taking the Greyhound when I somehow came to my senses one day and realized that it was a really unsafe way to travel. I was pretty fearless in the early days of my long distance relationship just like you and almost had to learn the hard way one day when at one of my transfers in the middle of the night I was delayed a long time (like 3 or 4 hours) and the station was full of creepy men (i'm not exaggerating) I was exhausted and alone and the security guard was asleep!! Any one of them could have taken advantage of me, but I was lucky that they didn't. And from then on I decided never to travel alone on the bus overnight again. Be very careful and get yourself some pepper spray for the trip home.

I have an inner ear problem (have since I was a kid) and literally no medication that would keep me semi-conscious seems to fight the illness, so I'm stuck getting sick non-stop during a five-hour flight. If Ben and I travel together on a flight somewhere, I will attempt to simply knock myself out and have him worry about everything, but on my own, that isn't really an option.

The pepper spray is probably a really good idea. Though I should probably trash it before crossing the border?

[ThePirateStar 0]

Ok, another twist in the story -

When I got laid off, I applied for EI but I didn't have my Record of Employment yet. I am currently not collecting EI because I didn't have the information. I got a new job (temporarily) and they let me have the weekend off because I booked the trip way before I was laid off. Today I just receieved my EI access code to enter in my report.

I called to cancel the claim but since its Canada Day, I can't. I haven't actually recieved any money from the government, and I have a letter to go back to work. If I haven't filled out the information to make any claims, and I'm not getting paid EI, will the border know I actually applied but haven't recieved anything, and do I have to tell them up front that I had applied for EI but haven't made any claims because I got a temporary job during the waiting period between when I filed and when I was prompted to make a report?

[JillA 2]

Ok, another twist in the story -

When I got laid off, I applied for EI but I didn't have my Record of Employment yet. I am currently not collecting EI because I didn't have the information. I got a new job (temporarily) and they let me have the weekend off because I booked the trip way before I was laid off. Today I just receieved my EI access code to enter in my report.

I called to cancel the claim but since its Canada Day, I can't. I haven't actually recieved any money from the government, and I have a letter to go back to work. If I haven't filled out the information to make any claims, and I'm not getting paid EI, will the border know I actually applied but haven't recieved anything, and do I have to tell them up front that I had applied for EI but haven't made any claims because I got a temporary job during the waiting period between when I filed and when I was prompted to make a report?

The border will not know you have applied for EI. That is a totally separate system / Govt entity.

[Persona 0]

That sum basicly all what i was thinking and going through as well... Boarding friday the 14th and i wish everything will be alright... but i will repost on my experience to let you know ^^