Can I still visit my spouse during CR-1 process?

[Spencer F 0]

I am a Canadian citizen and my fiance and I are considering going the route of cr-1 visa. I am wondering if anyone can tell me whether I am still permitted to visit her while the visa is pending? A Google search advised me 

 

"It's possible to visit your spouse in the United States while your marriage-based green card application is pending. ... First, you would need to convince an immigration officer that you plan to stay only for a short time and would leave the United States before your tourist visa expire"

 

Is this the case for a Canadian citizen as well? Is it easy to convince an immigration officer of my intent to return? If anyone has some insight on this or first hand experience I would be so appreciative. Thank you so much 

 

-Spencer 

 

[Quarknase 1,072]

You can visit - just be prepared to show your intent to return after your stay. You probably have many, many border crossings already on your back, and if you have a home/job etc that requires you to go back to Canada I don't foresee big issues. Many have done so.

Of course nobody (except USC, US Nationals...) is ever guaranteed entry, but especially "border couples" have done this successfully, plenty.

Edited July 30, 2020 by Quarknase

[Cdnusagurl 22]

You should be fine as long as you have proof that you have ties to your home country still and aren't looking to come into the country and stay illegally. My husband is coming to visit me this fall from Canada. I can't wait!

[Sofitalian 134]

I've visited my husband using my Canadian passport for many times while I was in the IR-1 process. 

 

I've seen a document showing a guideline for a list of things you can provide to show the Immigration Officer at border if being questioned. I can't find the link but have a printout. Here are a few things that I would bring with me every time:

 

- Evidence of employment (recent pay stubs, employee ID, letter from employer, etc.)

- Proof of foreign residence (recent rent receipts, copy of lease/mortgage, utility bills, etc.)

- Evidence of Financial Support (bank statements, savings and checking account statements, income tax return forms, etc.)

- Evidence of Educational Ties (valid school identification, letter from school officials on school letterhead)

- Utility bills (recent phone, gas, electric/hydro, bills, etc.)

- Confirmed return date (airline tickets, train/bus tickets, date specific)

- Sufficient funds for intended trip

- Contact name of family member, friend, or individual who you, the passengers, is/are travelling to see in the U.S.

- Address and/or tel number where you can be reached in the U.S.

 

Every time I was only asked:

- Where do you live?

- What do you do there?

- What's the purpose of your trip?

- How long will you stay?

 

If you're ever questioned about whether you plan to overstay, you can say you're in the Consular Processing for Immigration visa, and provide some of the above documents to support your intention of going back to Canada after the trip.

 

 

[Spencer F 0]

Thank you all so much for the information. It was all exactly what I was hoping to hear and will help us out a lot 😊😊

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from Progress Reports to Process & Procedures.