Questions about Canadian visiting the USA with American boyfriend who has been in Canada:

[cantotex 0]

First a tiny bit of story:

My boyfriend (who is american) has been visiting Canada for a year for the intent to establish a common law relationship in Canada. However we have decided that we would like to try living together in the states. So I would like to visit there for 6 months. He has a much better job there than I do here, and I feel it will work out better for both of us overall, but i would like to visit to see exactly how that will be before committing to anything.

Here are my concerns:

1. He originally drove here, so I will have to go through the land border with him in his car and all of his belongings, plus what ill be taking. That makes me a bit nervous because we will have so many things with us for my visit. We dont want to raise any suspicions at the border that im trying to move there. Only to visit.

2. He obviously had to quit his job to come here for a year, as well as his apartment.. However he already has a promise that he has his original job back once he returns, but of course when the border officer asks how he will be supporting me (since i also had to quit my job.. see below), he will not have a job until he returns.

Will a call to his boss work as sufficient evidence that he will have a job waiting for him to be able to take care of my financial needs while im there? Since i wont and have no intent to work there. Also, his sister will gladly welcome us to stay with her (in the same city/state) until we get our affairs in order (which would be his job & residence back). So that is where we will be saying we are going when they ask.

3. On the flip side, i also had to quit my job in order to prepare for visiting. I know one of the things they will ask is about my ties to Canada. I have a lot of family here, and my mother is planning on visiting at the end of the 6 months and I will be going back with her at the end of it to decide on a K1 Visa from within Canada, but there is no proof I can give them that I have ties to Canada, other than my word that I will be returning at the end of the 6 months. Any suggestions or examples i could be missing that i can use?

So basically im asking if anyone has any advice as to the best way to proceed to satisfy USCIS at the border for visiting under these conditions? This will be the first time doing this and im a bit nervous. Im not even sure of the process of how this will take place since im Canadian going to America, and he is American returning from Canada in the same car. The first time my boyfriend visited they had reason to believe he way trying to work here illegally because he had some job related items with him (He is an automotive technician, and had some tools with him for his car and they denied him entry at first.)

Thank you in advance for any replies. I just want to be able to do everything legally and smoothly as possible with enough proof under our current situation and conditions.

[Boiler 45,966]

Do you have a Dog or a Cat you are taking?

[cantotex 0]

Do you have a Dog or a Cat you are taking?

No animals of any kind. I will only be bringing clothes for the most part.

Edited April 15, 2014 by cantotex

[Boiler 45,966]

That is a positive.

[CanGirl 95]

Let me tell you from my experience. You should not drive across the border with your boyfriend and all of your/his belongings. That is a red flag right there for any CBP officer. They will immediately assume that you are planning on living there illegally. Since you have no sufficient ties to Canada there is also nothing you can say to prove that it is not true. I suggest he goes first and establishes where you guys will be living (he can even take some of your stuff with him). As an American citizen going back home he will most likely not be stopped if he is alone. You can follow at a later date by bus or air. I suggest getting a round trip ticket. That is proof you are leaving the country after a set amount of time.

[canadian_wife 1,827]

I agree with CanGirl, your plan screams of getting denied entry at the border.

Good luck

[Dualie 185]

I agree with CanGirl and canadian_wife. They both stated exactly what I was thinking.

[cantotex 0]

I Thank you for all the replies. Even re-reading my original post. I can see why they would deny me, however..

After talking with a few other people who have crossed the border multiple times, and the passport & immigration office, they stated the biggest concern at the border is that I have no proof I am coming back. As I said, I plan on coming back in 5 months and I have purchased myself a flight back to Canada at that time to satisfy that I have no intent to live there and that I will be returning on a set confirmed date.

I can easily see why they would deny me without a return ticket. But I should not have any problems bringing that along with me now.

[Boiler 45,966]

As you are driving, what does a Return Ticket look like?

You mean you have a single ticket that you can cash in if allowed, re book for a fee, or just bin.

[cantotex 0]

My Boyfriend will be driving, not me. As its his car and he came here first and we will be leaving together. The return ticket is an airline ticket from Texas back to Canada in September in 5 months.

[Kajikit 65]

If you want to get in, wait patiently in Canada for a month or so, and THEN go to visit him in his established home with his established job... cancel the ticket you've got now or rebook it. Going with him and all your worldly goods when neither of you has anything established in the US other than a 'you can have your job back' promise is just asking for a denial/ban.

[CanGirl 95]

You asked for our advice and everyone that has replied agrees that you should wait and not cross the border at the same time as your boyfriend. There are a lot of red flags in your situation that CBP will not over look. We have a lot of experience with crossing the border and would not give you wrong or hurtful advice. We are just trying to help you be with your boyfriend in a way that would not get you a refusal and a black mark on your record. Take it or leave it.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I agree with CanGirl, your plan screams of getting denied entry at the border.

Good luck

I'm in agreement also.

Lack of ties, extended length of trip, lots of luggage, no job, crossing with boyfriend. All adds up to a denial of entry.