Cr-1 crossing border frequently

[sallycat 0]

Just wondering if anyone has experience getting married and traveling across the border daily/frequently until the CR-1 is approved. We live in Windsor and Detroit. Want to make sure that getting married then applying for the CR-1 is the best option. I want to be able to go to Detroit frequently without hassle. Any advice?

[Inky 1,111]

This is technically a canada specific question, might do better to ask it in the canada section forum.

[CanAmBride 5]

We live Windsor Detroit too and my husband comes to visit every weekend and 1-2 times during the week. He always brings his paperwork and ties to Canada. He never has a problem. Most of the agents are drug agents and are not really familiar with the immigration system, so as long as you sound like you know what you're doing, they just go along.

[sallycat 0]

We live Windsor Detroit too and my husband comes to visit every weekend and 1-2 times during the week. He always brings his paperwork and ties to Canada. He never has a problem. Most of the agents are drug agents and are not really familiar with the immigration system, so as long as you sound like you know what you're doing, they just go along.

how is the cr-1 process? we haven't gotten married yet, but feel this is the best route. i live in canada and work for the federal govt on contract. do you stay in detroit for a couple days at a time, or do you have to come back daily?

[LotofPatience 65]

how is the cr-1 process? we haven't gotten married yet, but feel this is the best route. i live in canada and work for the federal govt on contract. do you stay in detroit for a couple days at a time, or do you have to come back daily?

A pocket guide of CR1 process in my signature for you!

Loto

[philandjulie 0]

A lot of people travel through the border without issues. You need to bring ties to Canada, be honest, but say as little as you need to. There is the possibility of being denied entry - especially if they have reason to think you are moving prematurely. See here http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/266939-now-this-is-upsetting/ for some current examples of it not working out as smoothly. I actually think the more frequently you go down the better your chances because they see you keep coming back. Staying overnight is not a big deal. Canadians are actually allowed to visit the US for 6 months at a time, but the catch is that you need to keep ties to Canada right now.

Just FYI, count on the process taking 9-12 months. The current wait just for the interview in Montreal is over 5 months for the CR-1's. That's after about 2-3 months with USCIS and 1-2 months at the NVC. The K-1's are going a bit faster but things can change quickly at Montreal and for the worse not the better. It is best to be prepared for this otherwise you will be disappointed and frustrated all year.

The nice thing about the cr-1 is that you don't have to adjust status once your in. You get your green card directly.

Have you thought of having your spouse move up to Canada? Sounds like you have a good job up there. It's a way easier process - your spouse can get a visitor visa for a year in about 2 minutes when you go to the border with a marriage certificate. That way you can live together while you wait for her residency in Canada. Took my wife about 8 months. She just worked across the border in the states during that year. The con is that the cost of living in Canada is too darn expensive

Good luck, and welcome to the journey!

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Crossing into the US frequently is solely up to the CBP at the time of crossing. If you attempt to enter the US daily, that looks a lot like 'living' in the US and not visiting. Living is not allowed, visiting is.

Admittance is not a guarentee, I was denied entry twice because I was deemed to have 'immigrant intent'.

Take lots of ties to Canada, your job letter is good, having an expected return date is better

Good luck

[sdw 10]

I crossed almost every Friday and went back to Canada early Monday morning. I never had a issue, I always had my tied to Canada. Was never asked for it, but had it just in case.

[StacyandPeter 2]

My husband visits me every single weekend (I live in Rochester, NY) and he is in Niagara Falls, ON. There have only been a couple of times where he has been questioned and he always has proof of employment and living situation in the car with him.

We decided to go the CR1 route because of the fact that we both needed to be working this year (we are saving for our big wedding in May!) The K1 would have forced him to stay in the states for 3 months without work. the whole process has been pretty simple so far except that I hear that waiting for an interview in Montreal is a big deal.

Good luck!!!!!

[LotofPatience 65]

My husband visits me every single weekend (I live in Rochester, NY) and he is in Niagara Falls, ON. There have only been a couple of times where he has been questioned and he always has proof of employment and living situation in the car with him.

We decided to go the CR1 route because of the fact that we both needed to be working this year (we are saving for our big wedding in May!) The K1 would have forced him to stay in the states for 3 months without work. the whole process has been pretty simple so far except that I hear that waiting for an interview in Montreal is a big deal.

Good luck!!!!!

StacyandPeter, have a beautiful big wedding!

Loto

[Kimbear 53]

My husband crossed the bridge at windsor almost twice a month to come see me when i was living in Windsor. Never had any issues. they are pretty used to the traffice due to the casino etc right there as well. If you go just make sure you have proof of ties, job, lease, etc. the bridge was always a no hassle crossing for us.

[CanadianRedneck 8]

I usually stay a week in Ohio..and then come back to windsor for about two weeks..I travel 2 to 3 times a month..going over in the middle of the week makes them suspicious. They always pull me over...I show them my paperwork..I'm in there for 10 minutes and I'm on my way. Primarily they just want to know when I'm coming back and how much money I have. Plus I got an inch of paperwork.

[CanAmBride 5]

CR-1 process has been frustrating but necessary. My husband owns a business in Windsor so he had to be in Canada every day, and therefore couldn't do K-1. The attorney we hired before I found VJ told us that if he tried to cross into the US while his visa was in process, it would be cancelled and we would have to start the process over. So for the first 4 months, he was "trapped" in Windsor. This was VERY hard on us. A lot of his customers are in Michigan and he had to give up a lot of business because he could not make meetings. Additionally, he sold his house WAY quicker than we anticipated and had to move in with his parents, so we spent our first newlywed months at his parents house.

Once I found VJ and realized that he could come and visit, it's been a lot easier. My husband comes in every weekend and often during the week. He can go to business meetings and we get to spend time in our own house and live like a normal married couple, even if it's not every day.

We have our wedding planned next weekend. When we chose the date, we thought FOR SURE that he would have his green card by now (8 months after we filed our I-130).

I'm crossing my fingers that we'll be able to celebrate getting out interview date at the wedding on Saturday!!

[canadian_wife 1,823]

We have our wedding planned next weekend.

Just out of curiosity, how do you have a wedding planned and you've already filed the I-130?

[CanAmBride 5]

We had a civil ceremony with our immediate family in February and we filed the paperwork. We planned a bigger reception with all of our family and friends in September, thinking that gave us plenty of time to do the paperwork, especially when we received our "case complete" on June 4. Turns out the Montreal consulate decided to take a summer vacation and we haven't even received an interview date. But we're still going forward with the reception because everything was already planned.