american boyfriend got denied entry

[3iaom]

Hi,
my boyfriend is a US citizen, I'm a temporary resident and hold a worker visa in Canada. none of us are full time employed. we've been together for a year and a half now, this is the 5th time he came to visit me, each time he stays for 1 month or 2 at most.

so this time he's not carrying a lot of money on him, and he said he's staying for a month. the reason they gave him at the border is that he's not employed. but we've always done it the same way, nothing's changed! they didn't give him detailed reasons, we just assume the issue here is his financial situation.

so now he's stuck at a hotel at the niagara falls border. we're devastated, could you please give us some advice? should we provide some financial proof? can he try to cross again just in a couple of days? also he traveled by greyhound, anyone knows the best way to travel to canada from there if he's admitted entrance?

thanks in advance!

 

[scylla]

Sure - he can try again in a few days - but there's no guarantee he will be allowed back in.

It sounds like he has been spending a lot of time in Canada. If he has, then immigration may feel he's starting to effectively live in Canada (which he's not allowed to do) rather than behaving as a visitor.

The issue probably isn't just financial. Immigration wants to see that he has strong ties to the US and has no plans to remain in Canada long term. Strong ties are things like: a job in the US, property in the US, attending school in the US, renting an apartment in the US, running a business in the US, bank statement showing enough money to pay for his visit to Canada, having a return ticket. When he tries crossing again, it would be ideal if he can carry several different pieces of evidence that show he has strong ties to the US. This will increase his chances of being allowed into the country. There's a good chance he's been flagged in the system. So when he crosses again, he should expect to be questioned.

There's really no best way to travel to Canada. No matter how he enters, he'll have to speak with immigration.

 

[3iaom]

thank you so much for the detailed reply! he did show them his return ticket, and all his family is the US. we'lll try to work something out. thanks again for your help!

 

[scylla]

When it comes to family ties, immigration is looking for a spouse or children (immediate family). If your boyfriend doesn't have kids he's leaving behind in the US - then he doesn't have strong family ties from an immigration perspective. Having a job in the US would be ideal. Or attending school full time.

 

[3iaom]

i see. If he showed them a bank statement, what amount of money would be the right amount? How much cash should he be travelling with? can i be his sponsor, not really sure how this works, but if he shows them a copy of my bank statement plus my passport etc?

 

[scylla]

I don't think he needs to have too much cash - just the bank account statement. It really needs to be his - not yours. He needs to show that he has sufficient funds to pay for his trip. I think it would be a good idea to be able to show a couple of thousand dollars for every month he's visiting.

 

[3iaom]

okay. thanks again for the advice, you've been very helpful, i really appreciate it!

 

[unluckyPenny]

My American fiance also got denied. Massena-Cornwall border won't let him in because they think he will stay in. We want to do everything legitly because if he were deported and can't get back that ruins our chance at marriage and a life in Canada, which is all we want. Why are people who cant speak english or french allowed in and given everything, while I just want my fiance here on a 6 month visa and he gets denied. this is total outrageous crap.

I am the one who makes more money between the two of us. I just dropped 1500.00 into his account to see if we can get across this weekend for a visit in Ottawa.

Does anyone know any loops we can use to get the border to agree to him staying on 6 month visa? he doesn't own a house, he rents and he is low income. I will be supporting us and so on when he gets here, which i am fine with, because you can't put a price on love. We are getting married and he will move here, its just the distance and border between us is causing so much hardship right now.

 

[scylla]

CIC will want to see evidence of strong ties to the US and he will need to demonstrate that he has no plans to remain in Canada long term. All he is allowed to do at this time is visit Canada as a tourist. Visiting for six months makes it look like he's trying to live in Canada.

The first recommendation is that he not make his next trip a six month visit. Since he was already refused once, he's flagged in the system. His first attempt at a trip after the refusal should be a short one (weekend or week at most).

He should bring proof of the property he rents (i.e. lease with his name on it), also utility bills in his name, and proof of employment.

 

[unluckyPenny]

CIC will want to see evidence of strong ties to the US and he will need to demonstrate that he has no plans to remain in Canada long term. All he is allowed to do at this time is visit Canada as a tourist. Visiting for six months makes it look like he's trying to live in Canada.

The first recommendation is that he not make his next trip a six month visit. Since he was already refused once, he's flagged in the system. His first attempt at a trip after the refusal should be a short one (weekend or week at most).

He should bring proof of the property he rents (i.e. lease with his name on it), also utility bills in his name, and proof of employment.

 

[unluckyPenny]

Thank you for your reply.

He actually had all of that yesterday when he was denied. I did tell them, I want to use the 6 months visa and in 3 months we will be getting married, so wanted them to allow him in and they said no.

I asked then, what do we need to show you to allow you to let him in for the visits that we have already been doing with each other for 2 months. Its a day or two at a time here and there, and the officer said that he needs ties to Massena. I told him my fiance's ties are in West Virginia, he moved to Massena to be closer to me, which is where he will stay until we get the approval that he can move here.

I really don't want to be the one who is always driving down to see him. US border told me last night they don't care how often I come as long as I go back. And I always go back and so does he - so why is Canada being like this?

So to sum, he has a lease, he has proof of employment (today's pay stub) and his utilities are included so thats all he has. His bank will show $1500 and he will be going back home to work on Tuesday. I am so afraid they will say no again. But what else can we do so that our short visits continue until we get married, and what if they don't let him when have our date set??

 

[scylla]

Unfortunately it was probably a mistake to request a six month stay and tell them you plan to get married in six months. That most likely made it look like his intention for entering Canada was to stay permanently. The officer was right about his ties - what he has in West Virgina can't be considered ties since he's left those far behind. He needs to demonstrate ties to Massena. And all of this isn't specific to Canada. A Canadian would run into the same problems trying this at the US border. Anyway - what's done is done. You can't go back in time.

Given the circumstances, I might wait longer before he attempts another re-enter. Can he develop stronger ties to Massena? Get a job there preferably? Then maybe take short (2-3 day) trips to visit you in Canada once he's been working for a while?

 

[unluckyPenny]

Unfortunately it was probably a mistake to request a six month stay and tell them you plan to get married in six months. That most likely made it look like his intention for entering Canada was to stay permanently. The officer was right about his ties - what he has in West Virgina can't be considered ties since he's left those far behind. He needs to demonstrate ties to Massena. And all of this isn't specific to Canada. A Canadian would run into the same problems trying this at the US border. Anyway - what's done is done. You can't go back in time.

Given the circumstances, I might wait longer before he attempts another re-enter. Can he develop stronger ties to Massena? Get a job there preferably? Then maybe take short (2-3 day) trips to visit you in Canada once he's been working for a while?

 

[unluckyPenny]

HI

He has had a job since April, when he moved there. 3 months now with his current employer. we were ok with our crossings until yesterday, I feel like they profiled him and are now discriminating him for being poor.

 

[scylla]

Was yesterday the first time you mentioned the six month thing? I suspect that's probably what caused concern.

Has he looked into getting a Nexus card?