Travel to the US from Canada while NVC is processing my CR-1??

[cillyx5 2]

Hi everyone.

Just as it sounds...

Can I travel to the US (from Canada), while waiting for my CR-1? Everything has been sent in, we are just waiting for the last package and interview date.

I'd like to know if there are rules/regulations about this, and to hear about your personal experience if you've tried.

THANKS.

[JerryShaw 6]

Hi everyone.

Just as it sounds...

Can I travel to the US (from Canada), while waiting for my CR-1? Everything has been sent in, we are just waiting for the last package and interview date.

I'd like to know if there are rules/regulations about this, and to hear about your personal experience if you've tried.

THANKS.

Canadians can travel to the US as a visitor using their Canadian passport. The forum has lots of advice on this subject, but in a short version..... you need to be able to prove to the US Border Officer that you intend to return to Canada, and not stay over 1/2 year. Take a current utility bill with you, or other documents that prove you are currently living in Canada. I have never had them ask for it.. but I have the evidence just in case.

My wife is from Calgary, and I live in a border town. She has spent 158 days in the US this year with over a dozen border crossings. Never a problem. Had 3 POE pull-overs for inspection, no big deal.

Besides... one time we were asking for it Canadian truck with me and her inside, pulling my Idaho trailer, with her Canadian registered motorcycle on the trailer.... oh.... yes... they were going to pull us over for sure

Not a problem, they did the inspection, had us sign forms saying we know the rules, then let us continue on our way.

Always tell the truth at the POE, you are not coming there to live, you are just visiting. Its okay and normal to say you are visiting your spouse. They have even suggested that we start our paperwork to immigrate. We tell them we have already submitted the paperwork. They say Great! and good luck, then sent us on our way.

I even get it from the Canadian officers. I always tell the Canadian POE officer ... heck no, I'm not immigrating to Canada.... Canada is way too expensive for me - they usually give me the nod of agreement, and smile, then send me on my way.

Good luck to you... our interview is in October.... no more day counting after that.

[CarolinaGirl 2]

I agree with what was said above. We crossed many times during the NVC process and again after our interview was denied and we were working on the RFE. We always had copies of our lease and a letter from my husbands work saying that he worked there and was expected back. We've never been asked for it, but it's good to have just in case. He even traveled to the US once after the RFE with his job to do maintenance on an airplane that his company owns that was at a US airport, no hassle whatsoever.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Canada regional forum.

[Dru 0]

For what it's worth, this sounds promising. My fiancee and I are processing a k1 now, but are going to try and cross the border in her car in January. She's going to visit me, study, take the US physical therapy test, and return to Canada before the 6 month window hits. We are thinking of just committing to work June 1st or something, having her work issue a LOA form to prove we don't intend to lie or mislead anyone. She has money saved and wants to visit/study/take us test, then return. The k1 should be done before May, and we will fly to canada to get the packet and cross. I know it looks like she is coming to "wait out" the K1, which they do not encourage. Hopefully we do not have any problems, but everything I've been told is that it's just up to the officer that day.

It seems logical to me that two people spending all the time and money to get her certified, go through the k1 process, etc. are not going to jeopardize anything when it comes to overstaying. Does anyone else have a positive crossing/visiting experience?

[Flames9_RN 358]

#1 questions asked on the canada forum, so a search wil bring you up a lot of hits!! I travled to DC monthly during the process never had a problem. My 2 cents is down below in my signature!!

[alizon 77]

It seems logical to me that two people spending all the time and money to get her certified, go through the k1 process, etc. are not going to jeopardize anything when it comes to overstaying. Does anyone else have a positive crossing/visiting experience?

Just a word of caution: you might be legitimately following the rules, including filing for the K-1 and intending to return to Canada before her time is up, but having her stay with you for so long could very well raise some red flags at the border. Last summer, after we had filed for our IR-1/CR-1, my Canadian husband was helping me drive home to the states from staying with him during the summer. He was only going to stay with me for a week and had a plane ticket home to prove it, but the fact that we had so much stuff in the car made them seriously consider turning him away. I had to get them to go through the bags to see that it was all MY stuff ("girly stuff" as they said) so that they would let him through with me. In your case, she will have a bunch of her own belongings, including her car, so it's probably not going to look good. I'd suggest you have a solid plan B in case they won't let her through.

[lilsweetie 32]

I just got my CR1 visa and the whole time we were waiting, I was crossing the border every weekend. THey did ask me if I had a job and residence in Canada, so that may have helped prove that I wasn't going to disappear into the United States by crossing the border.

Once we were pulled inside for a random inspection and they asked about our relationship and if I was an intending immigrant. I said YES and told them all about the stage we were at in processing. (At that time we were already being processed by NVC and waiting for interview date). The border guard was fine with that and wished us luck and sent us on our way.

[cillyx5 2]

Thanks everyone, for your replies. These all sound so positive and promising. I've read some horror stories, so I'm now happy to read these. I'll think about trying.

THANK-YOU.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Thanks everyone, for your replies. These all sound so positive and promising. I've read some horror stories, so I'm now happy to read these. I'll think about trying.

THANK-YOU.

Lot of the horror stories are from people that are NOT prepared---and some just get rude!! Guess what happens when you get rude with a POE officer---your not going to win,lol And yes some POE officers are clueless,lol But I lot of what they base their decision on is how you handle yourself--body language and being respectful

[O&Z 1]

my husband visited me in buffalo a few times during this process. we have been in Administrative Processing for 5 months now so that is holding up our case. it was fine before, because i could visit him every weekend, but now due to job transfer, i'm in north carolina.

he helped me settle in and was with me for abt 3 months. but we are worried if he tried to visit me again, they will give him a REALLY hard time now.

i emailed CBP about their advice and this is what they said:

"Thank you for contacting the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) INFO Center.

If you are in the process of obtaining an immigrant visa, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recommends you do not travel while pending the visa. It is known your intentions are to permanently reside here in the U.S., and it will be difficult to prove this when entering as a tourist to visit. CBP encourages you to wait in Canada until your visa has been processed before seeking entry to the U.S. If you do choose to travel, it is strongly recommended you carry documentation showing your ties to Canada and reasons to be returning. Helpful documentation would be a return plane ticket, evidence of a Canadian residence, employment and financial solvency. Please note that every admission is at the discretion of the admitting official and if you were to be denied entering the U.S., it could cancel your pending visa.

Thank you again for contacting the CBP INFO Center.

Sincerely,

CBP INFO Center"

[Ms Hogan 295]

Lot of the horror stories are from people that are NOT prepared---and some just get rude!! Guess what happens when you get rude with a POE officer---your not going to win,lol And yes some POE officers are clueless,lol But I lot of what they base their decision on is how you handle yourself--body language and being respectful

Agreed 100%. Do NOT be rude. Be honest and show them respect! They have an important job to do and no matter how inconvenient it is for us, they have to be allowed to do it properly!

I myself traveled back and forth with the kids the entire time we were in progress. No issues.

[Stubby and Rio 4]

I agree with Ms. Hogan...do NOT be rude, be patient and show respect. Answer honestly. I continue to travel back and forth across the border and we are almost NVC CASE COMPLETE....no problems at the border...I show strong ties to Canada in case I need it....