Visiting US and Canada During K-1 Approval Process

[fredjohnsen 1]

My Canadian fiancee and I will be applying for K-1 sometime around May 2013. I am currently a chaplain in the US Army but will be leaving the service in July to take a church in the New York/New England area. In July my fiancee and I will be traveling to Paris via JFK Airport in New York City. Upon our return I will accompany her back to Canada where I will stay for a short period of time while I am awaiting being called to my new congregation. Does anyone see any hindrance or problems that might arise in the K-1 process in light of our traveling back and forth across the US/Canada border and my staying with her (I can stay up to six months without a visa)? Any advice on what we might expect when we cross the borders? What documents in addition to our passports, boarding passes, etc, should we have with us and what might we be asked by the immigration officer at the border? Thanks much.

[TBoneTX 45,962]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to Canada regional subforum -- large part of topic involves rules surrounding a USC's visiting Canada. ***

[Flames9_RN 358]

My Canadian fiancee and I will be applying for K-1 sometime around May 2013. I am currently a chaplain in the US Army but will be leaving the service in July to take a church in the New York/New England area. In July my fiancee and I will be traveling to Paris via JFK Airport in New York City. Upon our return I will accompany her back to Canada where I will stay for a short period of time while I am awaiting being called to my new congregation. Does anyone see any hindrance or problems that might arise in the K-1 process in light of our traveling back and forth across the US/Canada border and my staying with her (I can stay up to six months without a visa)? Any advice on what we might expect when we cross the borders? What documents in addition to our passports, boarding passes, etc, should we have with us and what might we be asked by the immigration officer at the border? Thanks much.

#1 question asked in the Cdn Forum,lol Welcome to VJ!! When one is visiting the USA--or Canada---1 should always have in their possession, evidence that builds a case that you are going to return to your home country. Such as return airfare, utility bills, letter from employer stating when they expect you back, Immigration paperwork. My 2 cents is down below in my signature. Most visit during the immigration process with no problems at all. Some do get sent into secondary for more questions before allowed to continue with trip. And yes some do get denied entry--they are usually the ones that did not bring any evidence with them or possibly rude. Never lie!!! A denied entry is no big deal, yes it sucks, but it wil not affect your Immigration journey! Get Barred, and thats a totally different story, so simply do not lie! But like I said the majority have no problems at all. Best of luck!

[Penguin_ie 5,996]

The only potential issue I see is that you could get a letter from USCIS requiring a response and you are not home to receive it, so make sure you have someone trustworthy who can check your mail.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Also carry with you a copy of your K-1 file with the I-129f submission and the responses (NOAs) you get back from USCIS. This helps to verify you are indeed aware of the correct process to follow and have already invested time and money in that process so are more unlikely to jeopardize it by doing something stupid immigration-wise :-). I was pulled into secondary twice when I was going from Canada to the US to visit my now husband. In both case when they reached the K-1 part of my file folder of proof of my ties to Canada, they closed the folder up, handed everything back to me and said I could go.

Edited January 27, 2013 by Kathryn41

[hikergirl 277]

In addition to the above, you could look into getting yourselves NEXUS cards. It makes crossing the border so much easier.

You can apply on-line (a mini-security clearance), it’s only $50 and an interview once you’re accepted. For your fiancé, if she’s changing her name once married, all I had to do was bring my marriage certificate to a NEXUS centre and they changed my name and issued a new card for free.

With your new congregation being relatively close to Canada it seems like it may be useful to you.

Best of luck in your journey

Edited January 27, 2013 by hikergirl

[Marie-Eve 3]

Hello! Canadian fiancee of OP here! Pleased to meet you all, wonderfully helpful people of the VJ forums!

When fredjohnsen will be first coming here in June or July, he will likely be between two jobs, and between two residences. I looked with the Canadian government and there is no problem for him to stay here for up to 6 months, but usually, as it is the case when a Canadian crosses the border to go to the States, proving ties to your country of origin is a good thing, wether with a letter from your employer or a proof that you have a house. Do you think he should present the K-1 file with the I-129f submission, as Kathryn41 was suggesting for me? I mean... if we are in immigration process for me to move to the States, it will be pretty obvious he isn't sneaking in Canada to stay, right? Also, I suppose that a letter from the bishop handling his call process/job attribution would also help to prove he intends to go back to the States. I realize this is usually a forum for questions about the other way around, but I am nervous and any advice is gladly welcome! Merci!

Edited January 27, 2013 by Marie-Eve

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I think a letter from the Bishop explaining his situation and when he is expected to be back in the US to take up his new responsibilities, along with the K-1 file would be very useful. It shows intent to the Canadian authorities that he is only planning on being in Canada temporarily, plus it gives a valid reason why he has the time available to visit Canada for a bit of an extended stay at that time.

Also - welcome to Visa Journey .

Edited January 27, 2013 by Kathryn41