Canadian Applying for CR1 - Wedding in US - Honeymoon in Caribbean

[Sam & Jen 3]

Hello,

 

I am a Canadian applying for a CR1.  My wife lives in the US.  We were married back in February 2017.  We applied for our CR1 in March 2017 and also received our NOA1 in March.

 

However, we are holding a 'church' wedding (post official marriage) this summer in the USA while our CR1 is being processed.  I realize I can travel from Canada to the USA to participate in the church wedding (I travel with proof of ties to Canada etc.), but me and my wife are then hoping to leave the USA to enjoy a honeymoon in the Caribbean for a week just after the church wedding.  We would then return to the USA and I would then continue back to Canada within a day or so (or immediately) after returning from the Honeymoon.

 

QUESTION:  Is there any problem with me coming into the USA for the wedding for a week or so, and then leaving the USA for another country for a week or so, and then returning to the USA for a day before returning to Canada?  I will carry return tickets to the USA and eventually Canada, and will also carry documents showing my ties to Canada.  The honeymoon country will not require a pre-arranged visa.

 

Just wasn't sure if anything prevented me from leaving the USA for a third country (that is not my citizenship) and returning to the USA while we are in process of the CR1?

 

Any experience/help would be great.

 

Cheers

B & W

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Jojo92122 1,924]

You're already married, so the church wedding is a celebration without anything legal being done.  

 

As long as you have evidence that you will return to Canada and you've been doing it without any problems, you can continue crossing as you have done in the past.

[NikLR 13,227]

~~moved to working and travelling during immigration from IR1/CR1 process and procedures~~

 

Really there's no issue with travelling.  Bring your evidence that you will return to Canada after your trip. 

[Sam & Jen 3]

Thanks people! 

 

Your answers confirmed my hunch ... much appreciated ;)!   Proof of ties and return tickets are the keys to traveling in an out of the USA.

[Sam & Jen 3]

For the benefit of anyone following this thread ... We recently completed our honeymoon in the Caribbean with no problems, while awaiting my CR1 Visa. 

 

I (the beneficiary) flew from Canada to the USA for our 'religious ceremony wedding', then we flew together to the Caribbean (via Miami) for our Honeymoon with no questions asked.

 

While returning to the USA (via Miami) I was asked by Border Patrol why we were in the Caribbean together if I was from Canada.  I told him we were on our honeymoon.  He then wanted to know why I was still living in Canada if we were on our honeymoon.  I told them I was awaiting a CR1 visa and could not yet move to the USA.  He asked how long I had been in the USA prior to leaving for the Caribbean (1 week), how long I had been in the Caribbean (1 week) and how long I was now staying in the USA before returning to Canada (2 days).  He asked if I had return tickets from the USA to Canada (but did not ask to see them) and then said "have a nice day"'!  I had copies of documents proving 'ties to Canada' but was never asked to produce them (eg. copy of my mortgage, investments in Canada, letter from my employer stating I'm still working).

 

Now we'll just keep waiting for our Visa (Nebraska Service Center) ... which seems to  have been delayed due to the increased # of applications during late Fall 2016 and early 2017 (grrrr!).

 

[cantofla 44]

7 hours ago, B & W said:

For the benefit of anyone following this thread ... We recently completed our honeymoon in the Caribbean with no problems, while awaiting my CR1 Visa. 

 

I (the beneficiary) flew from Canada to the USA for our 'religious ceremony wedding', then we flew together to the Caribbean (via Miami) for our Honeymoon with no questions asked.

 

While returning to the USA (via Miami) I was asked by Border Patrol why we were in the Caribbean together if I was from Canada.  I told him we were on our honeymoon.  He then wanted to know why I was still living in Canada if we were on our honeymoon.  I told them I was awaiting a CR1 visa and could not yet move to the USA.  He asked how long I had been in the USA prior to leaving for the Caribbean (1 week), how long I had been in the Caribbean (1 week) and how long I was now staying in the USA before returning to Canada (2 days).  He asked if I had return tickets from the USA to Canada (but did not ask to see them) and then said "have a nice day"'!  I had copies of documents proving 'ties to Canada' but was never asked to produce them (eg. copy of my mortgage, investments in Canada, letter from my employer stating I'm still working).

 

Now we'll just keep waiting for our Visa (Nebraska Service Center) ... which seems to  have been delayed due to the increased # of applications during late Fall 2016 and early 2017 (grrrr!).

 

I am so so happy to hear that you've had such a good experience at the border. You always hear about the negative ones, but never the positive ones, and I think it's important that those are shared too. Good luck to you and your wife, I hope your case gets approved soon so you can move here to be with her