Land crossing into Canada w/girlfriend

[Emancipation 2]

You guys have it made in the shade!

Try going thru bringing in your love one from the Philippines.

No simple drive across the border or short plane flight to see each other.

LONG swim and LONG periods of not seeing each other.

Worth it tho as PINAY RULE!!

Just don't forget how LARGE our countries are... if lets say a CDN lives on the East coast and an USC lives on the west coast.. well that's further than a trip to EUROPE!! It's a big place our two countries..

Don't get me started if someone lives in Southern TX and the other lives in Iqaluit!!!

[john_24 0]

Wow great! You have all been helpful. Aaralyn I see that you had some problems which is exactly what I would want to avoid. I assume if she gets sent back would they let me re-enter Canada?

Also, would CBP give out a visitor visa to her upon entry to the US if we drove through? Or do they not do this?

My fiance (USC) and myself (CDN C) are about to start our K1 Process in Jan. 2008. Currently she lives just outside of Detroit and I live in Windsor. We cross all the time, either in her car or mine. We just say boyfriend/gf for now since we haven't filed any paperwork yet. But for now we still have a folder in the glovebox of our cars with employment letters, copies of our leases to our apartments and a few other things just in case. As it is, most of the CBP officers know us and I've just started to use Nexus now so thankfully I can stop answering the same old questions.

But just have ties to your country and don't answer more than they ask and you'll be fine.

Cheers,

John & Megz

[Gypsyangel 11]

I always get nervous crossing from Canada to visit my USC fiance in the U.S. Awhile back, before we were engaged I was crossing at Pearson and I told the Immigration guy I was going to visit a friend. He got really pissed when he realized it was my b/f and I hadn't said that. He eventually let me in, but it was tense. Of course, the next two times I went through Pearson I got that same friggin guy.

We filed for the 129F in June and I was crossing by myself at the Peace Bridge in July. The immigration officer was nice as could be, but he questioned me for about ten minutes at the booth, while writing stuff down. (If they start writing a note, you're getting pulled over). He asked for my car keys and asked me to pop the trunk (this happens frequently). Gave my back my car keys and told me to turn my hazards on and to head over to the parking area. I asked about my passport, but he was sending it over to the building in an enevelope with the note.

Anyway, for the first time I got sent into secondary. The thing that triggers them is that I'm not working this summer, so they worry about ties to Canada. Having read this site, I knew to bring paperwork showing ties to Canada but he didn't ask for them.

I drove over to the parking lot and went into one of the rooms and waited. After about 20 minutes they called my name and I went through the security door to the officer who had my passport. The first thing they did was fingerprint me and take my picture. Kinda intimidating. This is before asking any questions. Then they started asking all sorts of questions (where are you going, how long have you known your fiance, how did you meet, when are you getting married, why aren't you working, how much money do you have, what is in your car, etc.) He asked to see my drivers licence. Then he asked to see my wallet. Went through everything in my wallet - literally took everything out and looked at everything. Asked to see my purse. Went through everything in my purse.

I had a briefcase with all my papers in it and asked if he wanted to see the papers. He wasn't interested. He typed away. All this took about 20 minutes. Then he hummed and hawed. Then he said the problem was that I didn't really have ties to Canada because I wasn't working. I think he was trying to make me really nervous and he was successful! I told him that I had all my bills, and mortgage info if he wanted to see it, but he wasn't interested. After more humming and hawing, he then said, ok you can go and he gave me back my passport, and told me to make sure I brought evidence of ties to Canada every time I went through the border. So, it all ended up ok.

The interesting thing is that earlier this week my fiance and I were driving to the U.S. through that same border crossing (he had flown up the week before) and we were driving back together. I was kinda nervous. We gave our passports and I braced myself. The immigration officer asked when I was coming back (in a week). She asked Mike if he lived in the U.S. (yes) And that was it. Two questions! I dunno. Maybe the previous guy gave me a good report. Maybe it helps having an American in the car (Mike did take all the credit for getting us through easily. LOL).

It goes to show, you never know. But be prepared. And be honest. What else can you do?

[Krikit 1,165]

Gypsy, I howled when I read about the immigration guy at Pearson. They're mean there.

I think with the officers at the Peace Bridge.... once they see that you've crossed back and forth a few times, they let up on you. They actually call me by my first name now.

[RedSox2004 0]

Hi guys I am happy to report that my girlfriend and I made it across the border with no problems at all. There was a huge line coming into Canada at Lewiston but we went through to the US with no traffic. We were asked what our jobs are and how she would get back if I got mad at her!

Overall a simple experience even though I had prepared for the worst! I assume it will be more complicated once we start paperwork, until then we will continue to do some land crossing and save a few bucks. Thanks for all your help and experiences.