Canadian Spouse to visit U.S. Citizen spouse

[Umz121 0]

Hello everyone, my wife and I are concerned about her entry into the U.S as a visitor. I am a U.S. citizen and my wife is a Canadian citizen. I received a priority date for the i-130 application on December 9, 2011. My wife's last day of her contract job in Toronto is March 31. We plan to have a wedding reception in Michigan on April 7, 2012. We are confused as to what is the best way for her to enter the U.S. to prove to Customs that in fact she is only visiting and will return to Canada. These are the following scenarios we think are best:

1. Drive together into the Sarnia border, with a return ticket for April 30, 2012 (about 3.5 week stay), her bank account statements, and our wedding reception invitation card. With this scenario we hope they allow her to return for short periods of times (4-7 days at a time) until she receives her visa.

2. Drive together into the Sarnia border, with a return ticket for July 23, 2012 (about 3.5 month stay), her bank account statements, and our wedding reception invitation card.

3. Fly from Toronto to Chicago, with a return ticket for July 23, 2012 or April 30, 2012. Taking with her bank account statements and wedding reception card.

Everyone please advise based on your personal experiences and what you think will be the best option and what other documents may help to prove that she does NOT intend to stay permanently. I really hope they will let her enter on April 6. Thank you in advance.

[canuckbos 10]

Hello everyone, my wife and I are concerned about her entry into the U.S as a visitor. I am a U.S. citizen and my wife is a Canadian citizen. I received a priority date for the i-130 application on December 9, 2011. My wife's last day of her contract job in Toronto is March 31. We plan to have a wedding reception in Michigan on April 7, 2012. We are confused as to what is the best way for her to enter the U.S. to prove to Customs that in fact she is only visiting and will return to Canada. These are the following scenarios we think are best:

1. Drive together into the Sarnia border, with a return ticket for April 30, 2012 (about 3.5 week stay), her bank account statements, and our wedding reception invitation card. With this scenario we hope they allow her to return for short periods of times (4-7 days at a time) until she receives her visa.

2. Drive together into the Sarnia border, with a return ticket for July 23, 2012 (about 3.5 month stay), her bank account statements, and our wedding reception invitation card.

3. Fly from Toronto to Chicago, with a return ticket for July 23, 2012 or April 30, 2012. Taking with her bank account statements and wedding reception card.

Everyone please advise based on your personal experiences and what you think will be the best option and what other documents may help to prove that she does NOT intend to stay permanently. I really hope they will let her enter on April 6. Thank you in advance.

You will need more proof of her ties to Canada then what you have included above. Does she have property in Canada, or her name on a lease? Utility bills in her name, letter from her employer, letter from her priest or minister, anything that shows she has ties to Canada. Enrollment in school? You have to put together all of it to prove you are returning. None of the scenarios above will make a difference without the proof.

Now that she has indicated that she is preparing to immigrate to the USA she has to prove to the US Customs that she is returning to Canada. I had a binder with everything I could think of every time I crossed the border. When you speak with the customs guy, look him in the eye, only anser with what he is asking and make your answers definite and short. NEVER lie or tell a half truth.

It's very nerve wracking but it can be done if you knmow ahead of time what is expected.

Good luck!

[Umz121 0]

Thanks for the reply. The only property she owns in Canada is her car and only bill she pays are her MasterCard and cell phone bills. I guess I will we will also take with us her vehicle title, credit card, and cell phone bills. Unfortunately, she will no longer be employed on April 6, however if she returns on April 30, then she will file for unemployment benefits(which do not allow her to leave the country for more than 7 days) when she returns to Canada.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

bring along a complete copy of your I-130 package and anything you have received from immigration to show that you are aware of and have initiated the proper steps for her to move to the US. If you have the process already ongoing from outside of the US, then it isn't a guarantee but a much better reassurance to the border that she doesn't intend to 'move' to the US prematurely but is going through the proper process.

Does she pay any bills - utilities? phone? cable? insurance? Does she have any appointments coming up on her return such as with a doctor or dentist? These are examples of other things she can bring with her. The cumulative effect is sometimes useful if there are indications of a lot of 'responsibilities' in Canada. Where does she live? Does she have a lease or can she get a letter from her landlord - or if she lives at home, a letter from her parents explaining she is expected home on xxx date? Bring along an application for Employment Insurance - have it filled out with her Canadian address to show she will be applying for this Canadian benefit upon her return. You can always 'say' these things to the border officials, but it is much more compelling when you have the actual proof in hand that this is what you are doing.

Definitely have the return ticket, copies of the credit card statements and bank statements with her current address, copies of vehicle title and insurance (showing ongoing insurance for after she returns - really good if it has been recently renewed), and cell phone bills. Bring the most recent bills that are awaiting payment or have most recently been paid.

Make sure she only brings enough clothing that is weather appropriate for the time of year to account for the 3 weeks she is away - so no shorts and summer wear as it won't be warm enough while she is away. Don't carry copies of resumes or anything like that which could make it look like she is intending to 'remain' and find work.

Are her parents or family members intending to come over for the reception? Then letters from them verifying that their daughter/sister/niece is having the reception in the US and will be returning to Canada to wait out the immigration process. You can try to show that her family's expectation is for her return as well, and not for her to remain in the US.

Good luck.

Edited March 5, 2012 by Kathryn41

[Umz121 0]

bring along a complete copy of your I-130 package and anything you have received from immigration to show that you are aware of and have initiated the proper steps for her to move to the US. If you have the process already ongoing from outside of the US, then it isn't a guarantee but a much better reassurance to the border that she doesn't intend to 'move' to the US prematurely but is going through the proper process.

Does she pay any bills - utilities? phone? cable? insurance? Does she have any appointments coming up on her return such as with a doctor or dentist? These are examples of other things she can bring with her. The cumulative effect is sometimes useful if there are indications of a lot of 'responsibilities' in Canada. Where does she live? Does she have a lease or can she get a letter from her landlord - or if she lives at home, a letter from her parents explaining she is expected home on xxx date? Bring along an application for Employment Insurance - have it filled out with her Canadian address to show she will be applying for this Canadian benefit upon her return. You can always 'say' these things to the border officials, but it is much more compelling when you have the actual proof in hand that this is what you are doing.

Definitely have the return ticket, copies of the credit card statements and bank statements with her current address, copies of vehicle title and insurance (showing ongoing insurance for after she returns - really good if it has been recently renewed), and cell phone bills. Bring the most recent bills that are awaiting payment or have most recently been paid.

Make sure she only brings enough clothing that is weather appropriate for the time of year to account for the 3 weeks she is away - so no shorts and summer wear as it won't be warm enough while she is away. Don't carry copies of resumes or anything like that which could make it look like she is intending to 'remain' and find work.

Are her parents or family members intending to come over for the reception? Then letters from them verifying that their daughter/sister/niece is having the reception in the US and will be returning to Canada to wait out the immigration process. You can try to show that her family's expectation is for her return as well, and not for her to remain in the US.

Good luck.

Thank you for your suggestions. Unfortunately, she does not own any property in Canada, however we plan to simply use her bank accounts, mastercard account, cell phone bill, return ticket, letter from a place she volunteers, and her last pay stub. Thanks for wishing us luck!