Crossing with pending i-130

[ReadIcculus 103]

Hi all! My husband has flights for Thursday 2/13- Monday 2/18 to come visit for Valentine's. We're planning on attending a concert here in Atlanta. He's a bit concerned as this will be his first border crossing since we filed, although he's crossed on a monthly basis to come visit for the past 2.5 years we've been together. He'll be at Windsor. He's torn over what to say when asked about his plans. Going to Atlanta for the weekend for a concert? To visit family and friends? He's concerned if he offers up that he's going to visit his wife that he'll get trouble. 

 

He has a letter from his employer, evidence of the return flights, and a copy of our NOA-1. 

 

Thoughts? Advice? Much appreciated! 

[DGF 730]

I have a similar travel history as your husband (~3-4 years of crossing around every 4-6 weeks) and now that we are married I cross every other weekend and haven't had an issue yet. Fingers crossed it stays that way! I always tell them I'm going to visit my husband. Sometimes they ask me who is moving where and I tell them I am moving to the US as soon as my visa is approved. They've always been satisfied with that answer and I've even had them comment on how long the process takes! 

 

He should be honest with them that he is going to see you. It's a bad idea to hide what the intent of the trip is, or to be intentionally vague about it because that could raise suspicions, especially if they find out through further questions that he will be spending the whole trip with you.

 

Oh, and maybe this is just me being an anxious person, but the concern about crossing the border never goes away, even after plenty of successful crossings! 😛 

[ReadIcculus 103]

@DGF are you in the car? If so, do you typically get pulled in when you tell them that, or do they let you through immediately? 

[Ontarkie 14,228]

He has a pattern of crossing and leaving so that is a good thing. He can say he's going to a concert with his wife. 

[DGF 730]

30 minutes ago, ReadIcculus said:

@DGF are you in the car? If so, do you typically get pulled in when you tell them that, or do they let you through immediately? 

I primarily take Amtrak. We clear customs in Canada before boarding the train. I know that it is possible to be taken into secondary at the station as I've seen it happen and I've been pulled into it on my way back into Canada for bag searches, but I've never been sent to secondary on my way into the US. I drove down once with my parents and we were not taken into secondary that time either. I also had my train substituted with a bus one time and we all had to get off and clear customs when we got to the border and again I was not taken into secondary  (Sorry to be repetitive, just trying to cover all the different types of crossings in which everything was fine!)

 

Also, I forgot to mention that I do have Nexus. I didn't use it for the first few months I was taking the train (before we were married my husband lived further and I used to fly) because I didn't know that it was accepted at the Amtrak station, but my results have been the same traveling on both Nexus and my passport. 

[AstroCanada 206]

4 hours ago, ReadIcculus said:

He has a letter from his employer, evidence of the return flights, and a copy of our NOA-1. 

 

Thoughts? Advice? Much appreciated! 

95% of the time they won't ask.  The return flight evidence alone is probably enough proof for 95% of the cases where they do.  The letter from the employer takes care of any remaining doubt.

 

Enjoy Valentine's Day and the concert!

[NikLR 13,227]

Always stated i was visiting my husband and didn't have any issues.  I flew btw.  

[MeghanK 629]

You'll be fine, tell the whole truth. The letter from your employer is great, if you have a rental agreement or own a home, documentation like that helps too. Anything proving ties to home. But more likely than not they won't ask you for anything. Crossing from Canada is easy peezy. 

[ReadIcculus 103]

He made it across with zero problems! Said it was as easy as ever 😍😍 What a relief!!