A question about marriage and crossing the border...

[meauxna 15]

I'm sorry this doesn't mesh with your plans, but this is what the law states.

I'm sorry, but I think you should read more and post less, or stick to topics that you actually do know something about. This is clearly not one of them (like many of your posts).

True to form, when challenged for your wrong answer, you don't gracefully learn anything but like to <shrug> or say "I don't really care".

You are 100% incorrect on this topic and are steering this poor OP completely wrong.

The definitive answer you seek is: There is a difference between getting married an immigrating.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I can post our experiences crossing the border while engaged: I lived in Ontario and would drive to Detroit to fly to Atlanta. My fiance would fly to Detroit and I would drive to the airport and pick him up then we would both cross the border together both into Canada and back into the US for his return flight. I was always asked where I was going and responded I was going to the airport to catch or meet a flight to/from Atlanta. I was never asked "is your trip for business or pleasure' but 'what is the purpose of your trip'. I stated I was visiting my fiance for the weekend or week or however long I was going and will be returning Sunday night (or picking him up at the airport). I then offered proof of my flight to and from Atlanta. Most times I was waved through but twice I was sent to secondary. I had a package that had my most up to date paychecks, bills, insurance papers, vet bills for the cats, outstanding health claim, proof of employment, etc., whatever I could bring to show ongoing financial ties and commitments in Canada. I also included a complete copy of the K-1 application. In both times I was allowed to proceed. Another time I was pulled into secondary was when I was going to meet my fiance and pick him up at the airport. I didn't have my full package with me, however, the information was in their computer from the previous times and they cautioned me that even for going to the airport to pick him up I should be prepared to prove my intentions. They told me to stop in at the US immigration side of the border with my fiance before heading back into Canada to 'prove' I was telling the truth, which you can believe we did. My fiance always answered the Canadian immigration authorities honestly saying he was coming to visit me and when asked what our relationship was, he replied that we were engaged. He never had problems with the Canadian border.

I'll end with a cute story. When I finally moved to the States and activated my K-1 visa, my then fiance flew into Detroit, rented a van in which to transport my cats and some of the things not going with the movers, and then drove into Canada. At the border he was asked where he was going and the purpose of his visit. He told them he was going to pick up his fiancee and we were then moving me down to the States and getting married. The border guard got a big smile, waved him through and told him "Go on, Brother! Go, on! Far be it from me to interfere with another man's misery!"

Edited October 5, 2006 by Kathryn41

[Kez/JWolf 6]

homesick_american

How whould you feel if you came to this forum and were given the wrong information by someone and the result was you going down totaly the wrong path???

You are giving more and more wrong info to people and its not fair to do this.... unless you are 100% sure of your answer and you have expirence of the subject then maybe you should take time to just watch and learn....

Your "Well it don't matter to me" attitude is not being fair to the people who come looking for help...

Kezzie

[DeadPoolX 9]

Kathyrn41, thanks for the information.

It's good to know that, as long as we have our documents that prove ties to the U.S. and Canada, we should be let through to our fiance/fiancee's country. The only bit of evidence we won't have will be the K1 visa application. We have no intention of getting married for a while yet (ours is a long engagement), and even when we do, we may apply for a K1 or perhaps do an IR1/CR1--it depends on how everything works out. Everything else, we should be able to get and have ready, just in case we're asked for it.

Question: How long does "secondary" take? We have a flight that leaves at 11:00 AM, and we probably won't be able to get to the airport until 8:30 AM at the earliest. We need to get our boarding passes (stupid airline won't let us print them out online...), go through regular security and then through U.S. customs.

I'm not overly worried about my entrance into Canada. What I'm concerned about is when my fiancee and I come back to the U.S. for our New Years week-long vacation.

Sorry about the constant stream of questions. I guess I'm just an inquisitive guy.

[girl 37 7]

Question: How long does "secondary" take? We have a flight that leaves at 11:00 AM, and we probably won't be able to get to the airport until 8:30 AM at the earliest. We need to get our boarding passes (stupid airline won't let us print them out online...), go through regular security and then through U.S. customs.

It all depends... I've been to secondary several times, and sometimes it takes a couple of minutes, sometimes it takes over an hour. When I went through in Toronto, the waiting room was packed, and it took a long time just to get to talk to the officer. In Edmonton, it took a long time, but that was partly because I was fingerprinted & stuff. Trips to secondary in Vancouver have been very quick and straightforward. Anyway, if you miss your flight, you can re-book, for a $100 change fee, or whatever.

PS. Edited to say, It might not be a great idea for your fiancee to carry her wedding dress.

Edited October 5, 2006 by girl 37

[DeadPoolX 9]

Thanks for your input about "secondary" and as I said in a previous post, my fiancee and I have NO plans to get married on this trip...or any other trip in the immediate future. Chances are, we'll have to use the K1, even though it's not the best for us. We'd much prefer the IR1/CR1.

And this raises yet ANOTHER question. How does anyone get to use a K3 or IR1/CR1? I mean, you need to be married BEFORE the fact, right? Well, I've done some research and it seems to me, that in order to get married within the United States, you need a social security number. What I've read is that in order to get an SSN, my fiancee would need to be here via the K1.

So how do people get married in the U.S. without the use of a K1?

Once again, we don't wish to break any laws. So if the K1 is the only way to do it, then...well, that's that. But if there is another way, we'd really appreciate knowing!

[Kez/JWolf 6]

You dont need a SSN to get married.... I did not get my SSN until months after I got married... we just told the town hall that I did not have one and they took a note of my passport number...

If you want to do CR1 then why not get married on your trip to Canada... instead of in the US....

Kezzie

Edited October 5, 2006 by Kezzie

[neiks 19]

A two-part question then...

I'm visiting my fiancee (and her family) this Christmas. When the Canadian agents at the airport ask me what the nature of my trip is ("business or pleasure?") and I tell them "pleasure" and they ask more about it, do I divulge I'm going to see my fiancee? Would that keep me out of Canada?

I am an officer with Canada Border Service (Canada Customs). Here is my professional opinion.

First of all - relax! Everyday hundreds of people enter Canada to visit their fiances. The scenario usually does not go like this"

CBSO - What is the purpose of your trip?

Traveller - To visit my fiance.

CBSO - No, you can't do that - go home!

This is usually how the scenario goes:

CBSO - What is the purpose of your trip?

Traveller - To visit my fiance

CBSO - When are you getting married? Where are you getting married? Where do you plan to live after getting married? How you meet? How long have you know each other? Have you looked into the immigration proceess into the US or Canada? etc etc etc.

What do you do in the US? Do you have sufficent means (money) to support yourself for the duration of your stay in Canada? Do you have a residence in the US? Do you have a return ticket to the US? ETC ETC ETC............

And any other question s the officer may ask to satisfy that you are indeed a bon a fide visitor. You may also be selected for a secondary to ensure that you aren't packing "everything and the kitchen sick" as well.

If everything looks good, you answer the questions truthfully - you have satisfied the officer.

Have a nice visit with your fiance!

[DeadPoolX 9]

Okay, thanks, Neiks. That actually makes me feel quite a bit better.

If things go like that, then I really have nothing to worry about! Besides, I've spoken to my fiancee about this, and we both firmly decided that not only is "telling the truth" the best policy, but that we need to relax and remain calm when heading to the U.S. or Canada. Acting anxious will just get us noticed more and probably pulled aside.

So perhaps the best policy is just to be honest, relax and bring documentation that we're each headed back to our home countries after we spend a week with each other and our families.

[meauxna 15]

So perhaps the best policy is just to be honest, relax and bring documentation that we're each headed back to our home countries after we spend a week with each other and our families.

Exactly!