US Customs at Toronto airport

[PfcsBaby 0]

Hi,

I posted this same question in my other thread, but I figured I'd get a quicker response with a new topic. I'll be leaving for Atlanta Georgia tomorrow and I'll be headed to the Toronto airport in the morning. I had a bad experience last time there and was sent for secondary questioning and was stuck there 3 hours. Then they approved me to go through and gave me 10 minutes to get to my gate. I have read on here that people said they were visiting thier boyfriend/girlfriend instead of their fiance. What exactly should I say to them? I don't want to get stuck there again. I'll be traveling with my 4 year old son and I'd hate for him to have to sit through that again. I have all the papers showing I have ties to Canada and will be coming back and I'm also going to bring the papers showing I'm waiting for a K-1 visa(just in case). Any help would be appreciated!!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I posted this same question in my other thread, but I figured I'd get a quicker response with a new topic. I'll be leaving for Atlanta Georgia tomorrow and I'll be headed to the Toronto airport in the morning. I had a bad experience last time there and was sent for secondary questioning and was stuck there 3 hours. Then they approved me to go through and gave me 10 minutes to get to my gate. I have read on here that people said they were visiting thier boyfriend/girlfriend instead of their fiance. What exactly should I say to them? I don't want to get stuck there again. I'll be traveling with my 4 year old son and I'd hate for him to have to sit through that again. I have all the papers showing I have ties to Canada and will be coming back and I'm also going to bring the papers showing I'm waiting for a K-1 visa(just in case). Any help would be appreciated!!

Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. You are visiting your fiance, and they KNOW you are applying for a K-1 visa, so don't lie to the border person/officer/dude/dudette. I know it might be a hassle but better honest than chucked for dishonesty

Good luck, and have a lovely trip!!!

Peace, L.

[L_n_O 3]

just say what comes naturally...

sometimes I say Bf, sometimes I say fiance.

[raymaga 25]

I always said "boyfriend" when I crossed the border into the U.S. from Canada (by car). They sometimes asked me if I had heard of the "Fiance Visa", and I replied that yes, we had applied for it, and were awaiting our approval.

I always took ties to Canada with me and was never refused entry.

Good luck.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Do you have a letter of permission from your son's father for him to leave Canada? That is the only thing I can see that you might need in addition to what you have.

Be prepared for hot weather! There are no thunderstorms in the forecast at any rate, so there shouldn't be any delays with your flight. Safe travel.

[misa 2]

Also bring your entire immigration case file. You have proof that your case is at the consulate and you're waiting for an interview... pretty good odds you're coming back!

And definitely be honest... since you've been sent to secondary before you don't want to misrepresent anything.

[Misty1979 0]

I was given some trouble there once before as well after I told the officer I was visiting my friend who I had met over the internet. The internet word seemed to be what got me sent into secondary, but he asked, so I just answered honestly

I will be crossing the border tomorrow as well (on the Clipper into Seattle), but I do find that honesty seems to be the best policy, so that is what I'm sticking with. Would hate to get a ban or something because I lied to a CBP officer.

Tell the truth, bring your evidence of ties to Canada, and you'll be fine:)

[PfcsBaby 0]

Only thing I have from my sons father is a letter he sent me back in October 2003 from the South Dakota state pen LOL. Hes not on the birth certificate and I never had any problems with that before going though customs. I'm bringing everything I can possibly think of, including all my plane tickets from past visits there. I think the only reason why they sent me for secondary was because of the visit before last which was last summer. I was there for 2 months before I came back. Had to stay there because my future mother in law was ill and was looking to have surgey done. Thankfully she didn't. It was after we found out no surgey I got tickets to come home. I'm prepared for the hot weather. As I type this, my fiance is getting his A/C fixed up to where its pumping out 35'F cold air LOL. Hes got a little Celica with 4 vents in the front and with this better air, my son wont get hot in the back.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Then it sounds like you are good to go:-)! Yeah, air conditioning is a must right now - although the temperatures are going back down into the low 70s overnight again so there is a respite. Enjoy your visit - Atlanta is a wonderful city and Georgia is a beautiful state. I have been here 3 years now and just love it:-).

[neiks 19]

If they ask who you are visiting my, advice to you is to call your fiance, "your fiance" and not "a boyfriend". By saying boyfriend instead of fiance it sounds like you are indeed trying to hide something. This will only cause more problems if you get sent to secondary and it comes out that you are indeed engaged. Be upfront and truthful. I know it would raise big red flags to me if someone said boyfriend then I later found out it was a fiance. I would consider it lying and suspect that you were trying to pull something over on me. Just my two cents from being in the biz.

Edited August 15, 2007 by neiks

[Marilyn. 340]

answer the questions honestly ... but just answer what is asked of you... you don't have to give them info they don't ask for...

[Caladan 19]

Just be honest and brief. When C. traveled and when I did, we both said 'fiance' and tagged on something like 'while I'm on vacation' or 'for the next two weeks before the semester starts' or 'For New Year's.' Of course, I don't know what went on in the officer's head, but I think emphasizing the return trip helped indicate that we had no immigrant intent on this visit.

[mwinburn 0]

Then it sounds like you are good to go:-)! Yeah, air conditioning is a must right now - although the temperatures are going back down into the low 70s overnight again so there is a respite. Enjoy your visit - Atlanta is a wonderful city and Georgia is a beautiful state. I have been here 3 years now and just love it:-).

It's been a little warm lately, but it feels like the worst of it passed a few days ago. But then again, I've lived here for 30 years, so it doesn't bother me as much Now those people from Florida? They are crazy! Way too hot there for me.

Honestly, even though I've lived here my entire life, I prefer the weather in Canada. I know I must have looked like a dork my first visit there taking pictures of snow

[misa 2]

If they ask who you are visiting my, advice to you is to call your fiance, "your fiance" and not "a boyfriend". By saying boyfriend instead of fiance it sounds like you are indeed trying to hide something. This will only cause more problems if you get sent to secondary and it comes out that you are indeed engaged. Be upfront and truthful. I know it would raise big red flags to me if someone said boyfriend then I later found out it was a fiance. I would consider it lying and suspect that you were trying to pull something over on me. Just my two cents from being in the biz.

This is exactly why I stopped saying "family" and started saying "husband" and it never caused a problem. I did started being COMPLETELY upfront after reading a post by Zyggy about misrepresentation and red flags.

[Misty1979 0]

If they ask who you are visiting my, advice to you is to call your fiance, "your fiance" and not "a boyfriend". By saying boyfriend instead of fiance it sounds like you are indeed trying to hide something. This will only cause more problems if you get sent to secondary and it comes out that you are indeed engaged. Be upfront and truthful. I know it would raise big red flags to me if someone said boyfriend then I later found out it was a fiance. I would consider it lying and suspect that you were trying to pull something over on me. Just my two cents from being in the biz.

This is exactly why I stopped saying "family" and started saying "husband" and it never caused a problem. I did started being COMPLETELY upfront after reading a post by Zyggy about misrepresentation and red flags.

Sooo with that being said, tomorrow when they ask me if I'm visiting friends or family (that is what they normally ask me), should I say family, or just skip right to it and say husband?