Tourist Visa for my girlfriend to visit

[Triple 1]

Is one of the issues with child support arrears that you lose your DL?

Other than not being to aquire a passport; the only times it has came up is my current car loan, mortgage, and my current position at work. With the loans, the underwriters wanted further documentation showing it was paid and with arrears that I could still afford monthly payments. It's the only baddy on my credit report. With work, the guy from legal I sent paperwork to said he say no reason for it to affect my promotion.

If I take no action with it, it'll be paid down to the point that I can apply for a passport in 18 months.

[Triple 1]

I appreciate everyone's help and suggestions. Maybe I was foolish to think it would be easy to get her here a couple of times before we tie the . It feels wrong to expect someone to give up everything they've known, move, get married and then learn everything about your new home.

The Canadian trip or a closed loop cruise works for the 2 year requirements, just doesn't help with trying to get her here for 2 weeks to a month at a time so the things that we need to do can be done.

[VOL 425]

It's ridiculous that someone has to have child support paid up in order to get a Passport, Fishing & Hunting Licenses, etc

You can actually go to Mexico via Texas and get on Lake Falcon or Lake Amistad and go from US / Mexico all you want and never have to worry about passports ,etc....

[jan22 3,056]

Actually there's a treaty between amongst others Canada and the US called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, started to make it easier for Canadians and US citizens to cross the border. That initiative means that Canadians and US citizens can travel without passport across the border by land and sea. They need a government issued enhanced driver's license and proof of country status, e.g birth certificate. Many people live in e.g Canada and work in US and vice versa. Below is a link to CBP's website explaining this:

http://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/whti-program-background

First, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is NOT a treaty between the US and Canada. It is a law passed by the US Congress post-9/11 to specifically -- for the first time -- require a US passport to return to the US from Canada or Mexico via land or sea. (Until WHTI took effect for land crossings in 2009, no passport was required).

WHTI did provide options in lieu of passports. For example, it resulted in the creation of a passport card (credit card sized) to be used in lieu of a passport for land crossings and closed-loop cruises-- but the requirements for one are the same as a passport, so the OP would not qualify for one. You cab also use one of the "Trusted Traveler" cards that USCIS approves, but the applications for those require you to provide your passport information, so that's also not an option. Finally, as you indicated, it did contain a provision for states to create an enhanced driver's license; however, there are currently only five states who are issuing WHTI-compliant licenses (MI, NY, VT, WA, and MN). I believe the OP is from IL, so would not have an enhanced driver's license.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Passport is not required to get nexus I don't know about global entry. Recommended but not required.

[Triple 1]

Passport is not required to get nexus I don't know about global entry. Recommended but not required.

This would help with work, if I chose to go to one of our Canadian stations. It would also help us meet the photo together in past two years rquirement.

Do you or anyone else know how hard it is for someone from the Ukraine to receive a visa to Canada? I've always been under the impression that they're just as hard as the US is. We may have to go on a vacation to Canada for a week so she can show she's not as high of a risk of not returning home.

[Transborderwife 4,666]

This would help with work, if I chose to go to one of our Canadian stations. It would also help us meet the photo together in past two years rquirement.

Do you or anyone else know how hard it is for someone from the Ukraine to receive a visa to Canada? I've always been under the impression that they're just as hard as the US is. We may have to go on a vacation to Canada for a week so she can show she's not as high of a risk of not returning home.

I wouldn't say it's easy, but likely easier than a visa from the USA. The same requirements would be asked for certain.

[Boiler 45,794]

That Pakistani guy said yesterday it was not easier, I thought Canada was a softer touch?

[Transborderwife 4,666]

That Pakistani guy said yesterday it was not easier, I thought Canada was a softer touch?

From my understanding (parents previously worked in immigrant and refugee services) it is significantly easier

[Boiler 45,794]

Thats what I thought...