Driving across the US boarder as a visitor to apply for inland

[Kelsey369]

Hello,

My girlfriend and I plan to get married this year and apply for a spouse visa. She’s from the states and I’m a citizen of Canada. Our plan was originally to apply for an Outland and an OWP, then I fly down to her and we drive up/move her belongings but then I read somewhere OWP’s are only available for inland applications so I’m wondering; because she can legally stay in Canada as a visitor for 6 months, is there any reason the boarder would refuse her entry regarding the fact that she has all her belongings with her/looks like she’s moving? It’s not as if she has furniture or anything, it would just be her clothes and essentials. I just know I’ve read a couple threads from people saying they came across the boarder as a visitor to see their spouse but because it looked like they were officially moving, they had some trouble/were denied entry.

 

[kcward7]

Hello,

My girlfriend and I plan to get married this year and apply for a spouse visa. She’s from the states and I’m a citizen of Canada. Our plan was originally to apply for an Outland and an OWP, then I fly down to her and we drive up/move her belongings but then I read somewhere OWP’s are only available for inland applications so I’m wondering; because she can legally stay in Canada as a visitor for 6 months, is there any reason the boarder would refuse her entry regarding the fact that she has all her belongings with her/looks like she’s moving? It’s not as if she has furniture or anything, it would just be her clothes and essentials. I just know I’ve read a couple threads from people saying they came across the boarder as a visitor to see their spouse but because it looked like they were officially moving, they had some trouble/were denied entry.

You're already making the cardinal mistake. Show up with all her possessions and you're getting yourself in hot water. She cannot give any impression that she is moving here. She is only allowed to come as a visitor - if they get the impression she is moving they are much more likely to deny her entry. She needs to be able to demonstrate ties to home country if asked. Showing up with a U Haul full of stuff will hinder, not help.

In addition, it's important to consider that US outland apps are generally processed very quickly. The majority of US applicants lean towards applying outland because of this.

 

[Kelsey369]

You're already making the cardinal mistake. Show up with all her possessions and you're getting yourself in hot water. She cannot give any impression that she is moving here. She is only allowed to come as a visitor - if they get the impression she is moving they are much more likely to deny her entry. She needs to be able to demonstrate ties to home country if asked. Showing up with a U Haul full of stuff will hinder, not help.

In addition, it's important to consider that US outland apps are generally processed very quickly. The majority of US applicants lean towards applying outland because of this.

Darn. I guess I figured that since she could be a visitor for 6 months that having the majority of her stuff wouldn’t impact us negatively. We aren’t planning on packing anything more than what can fit in her truck but I guess even still it might look like she has no ties to her country.

I thought I saw somewhere that visas usually take 12 months to process. Are US Outland apps considerably quicker than that? It would just really suck to have to spend our first year as a married couple apart since we’d finally be together but If that’s how it has to be then that’s how it has to be.

 

[kcward7]

Darn. I guess I figured that since she could be a visitor for 6 months that having the majority of her stuff wouldn’t impact us negatively. We aren’t planning on packing anything more than what can fit in her truck but I guess even still it might look like she has no ties to her country.

I thought I saw somewhere that visas usually take 12 months to process. Are US Outland apps considerably quicker than that? It would just really suck to have to spend our first year as a married couple apart since we’d finally be together but If that’s how it has to be then that’s how it has to be.

The target for both inland and outland is 12 months. Outland are typically processed faster, particularly US outland. However, there's no guarantee that would be the case. You'd have to assess the pros and cons of each, but it is not at all uncommon for US outland apps to be processed in 4-6 months.

 

[Krissh2179]

Hello,

My girlfriend and I plan to get married this year and apply for a spouse visa. She’s from the states and I’m a citizen of Canada. Our plan was originally to apply for an Outland and an OWP, then I fly down to her and we drive up/move her belongings but then I read somewhere OWP’s are only available for inland applications so I’m wondering; because she can legally stay in Canada as a visitor for 6 months, is there any reason the boarder would refuse her entry regarding the fact that she has all her belongings with her/looks like she’s moving? It’s not as if she has furniture or anything, it would just be her clothes and essentials. I just know I’ve read a couple threads from people saying they came across the boarder as a visitor to see their spouse but because it looked like they were officially moving, they had some trouble/were denied entry.

If you guys really cant stay apart, once you get your sponsor approval, she can come to Canada on a dual intent which is basically letting them know that you are visiting but also have a PR application going on. Granting entry is totally upto them.

 

[JamesBarnes]

Darn. I guess I figured that since she could be a visitor for 6 months that having the majority of her stuff wouldn’t impact us negatively. We aren’t planning on packing anything more than what can fit in her truck but I guess even still it might look like she has no ties to her country.

I thought I saw somewhere that visas usually take 12 months to process. Are US Outland apps considerably quicker than that? It would just really suck to have to spend our first year as a married couple apart since we’d finally be together but If that’s how it has to be then that’s how it has to be.

As kcward7 said, it will raise some major red flags. As a UK citizen who has entered Canada three times now, I got some experience of border control both by land and air. My advice, if you really want to go for inland is, as Krissh2179 advised wait for sponsor approval so she can enter via dual intent or don't give the impression that your girlfriend is going to be staying in Canada at the border.

That being said, I'm not advising you to lie. If, for whatever reason, you are subjected to questioning by the border guards DO NOT LIE the best advice I have ever been given by the lovely people on the forum is only volunteer the information that you are asked

Turning up with even a truck full of stuff has the very real possibility that you will be subjected to secondary questioning as to the real reason for your girlfriend coming across the border and potential refusal if they think she will overstay the six months. I don't advocate deception but if you really want to do it this way then pack the bare minimum of stuff for example one suitcase full.

Good luck!