Getting Married in Peace Arch Park - no problem or causing myself trouble?

[cbott 0]

My Fiance and I are planning to get married and then file for CR1. We are planning a big destination wedding in a few months, but plan to have our legal ceremony in Peace Arch Park a few weeks from now. For those not in the know, Peace Arch park is a beautiful park the straddles the Canada/USA border at Blaine/White Rock in BC. It's a gorgeous place for a wedding and in fact people often get married there.

While I'm really keen to get married under the Peace Arch due to the symbolism it has in our relationship (one or the other of us has passed through that border crossing every weekend for the past 5 years) I'm concerned about it drawing unwanted attention from the border guards and possibly having them elect to ban me from entering the USA as they might think I intend to live there.

And in case it colours your opinion, I do plan to reach the park from the USA and return to the USA after the ceremony. I happen to be spending the weekend down there at my parent's cabin.

What do you think? No big deal, or playing with fire?

[SF2007 48]

I don't personally know that location but I don't see why it would be a problem. It is your prerogative to choose to be married in either country. As long as you do not plan to cross the border and live in the U.S. while your visa is pending, then you are not committing any offense. If you are questioned at the border on the purpose of your trip, you will have to say you are getting married. I fail to see how different this is than people eloping in Vegas for a weekend. If you have strong ties to Canada (job, home/mortgage/rental agreement, etc), I'd say go for it.

Is your officiant Canadian or American? Don't forget you will need to obtain your license from wherever he is authorized to marry you.

[hikergirl 277]

http://www.peacearchpark.org/faqs.htm

If you’re already in the US, why not just get married on the US side of the park?

Looking at the park website, you may have to “rent” a spot in the park anyways.

Although if your officiant is from BC you’ll probably have to get married on the Cdn side.

I think it’s a beautiful idea.

[Ms Hogan 295]

Not a big deal as far as what I'm reading in your post. I got married in Niagara Falls, NY. Crossed over at 3:30pm on a Saturday. Stayed for a couple hours. Went back to Canada for dinner and a night in the hotel. Went back to NY 2 days later to pick up our marriage certificate. Went back to Canada. Then spent the next few months waiting for CR-1 approval and traveled back and forth the entire time.

Be honest with the border guards, as always. Tell them where you're going and when you're coming back. Take some ties to Canada as a backup because this is one of the times you simply don't want to get refused.

[Darnell 8,478]

I think if you invited 5 USA CBP fellas and 5 Canadian Border Patrol fellas to stand up as witnesses for the ceremony, you won't have any issues coming or going at the border.

Plan ahead, aye?

[Ms Hogan 295]

I think if you invited 5 USA CBP fellas and 5 Canadian Border Patrol fellas to stand up as witnesses for the ceremony, you won't have any issues coming or going at the border.

Plan ahead, aye?