Arriving as a visitor to get married - what to tell border officials

[maple15]

Hi everyone

I'm an Australian getting married to a Canadian citizen in August. Like others, I have the same concerns about arriving as a visitor to get married and then apply for PR. I intend to tell border officials the true purpose of my visit and I will emphasise that I am just visiting, returning home at Christmas.

Can anyone help with my following questions?

1. Would a return ticket to leave 5 months after arriving in Canada be suspicious to border officials?
2. I plan to purchase a separate return ticket (i.e - i.e. a return ticket with a different airline). Would this also raise suspicions?
3. Can you pay your PR application fees 3 months early, as evidence that you are doing the right thing and applying for PR? I'm arriving in July and our marriage is not until August and I think it will take at least a month for the official marriage certificate to be posted to us. (We are relying on the marriage certificate to apply for PR)

Thanks so much.

 

[taffy7]

My husband came from the U.K to get married here in Canada . The y asked him the purpose of his visit ,his reply visiting. The next time he flew he he said to visit his wife. We also paid the fees 4 months before we sent our application ,but that was after we got married. He did have a return ticket.

The only thing i would suggest is that you have a return ticket and if you decide to stay just get a refund.

Don't turn up with every thing you own , and leave those good bye cards at home and have them mailed to you here in Canada. If you pay the fee now bring that receipt with you and if asked you can show them that you know what to do and doing it the right way. Don't give them any more information than they ask. No point in digging a hole for yourself.

 

[maple15]

Thanks so much! It's reassuring to hear other people's experience.

I will have to say I am there to visit my fiance for my wedding as I will have a wedding dress in my luggage. We are having a proper wedding, so I have but no option to travel with my dress.

I'll think about paying the fees early - has anyone else paid their fees early?

 

[kerryannbailey]

They don't really go through your luggage like that unless there's something weird on the scanner when your bag goes through that could be a risk. The IO won't say aha but you have a wedding dress in your bag! The reason for your coming to Canada is to visit. They won'task you if you're here to get married. You don't need to volunteer that Info. A lot of people paid fees early to have as proof if they need it. They rarely do Need it.

 

[vermanaman]

They don't really go through your luggage like that unless there's something weird on the scanner when your bag goes through that could be a risk. The IO won't say aha but you have a wedding dress in your bag! The reason for your coming to Canada is to visit. They won'task you if you're here to get married. You don't need to volunteer that Info. A lot of people paid fees early to have as proof if they need it. They rarely do Need it.

Wrong.

CBSA will open your luggage and check every item to ensure the true purpose of your visit. A number of spouses have been stopped and returned due to this. Please watch the Canada border services TV show - its on youtube. This will give you an idea.

As for the entry - you should be as close to true nature of the visit as possible....remember if they find out otherwise - they will send you back...if you have paid for your wedding services - that money goes to waste.

That said, 5 months is too much...if you truly want to represent yourself as a visitor - try one month + have enough money + proof of ties back home ( car/bank/job/apartment rental/ family etc)
Also have a return ticket - you can always change it later.
Do not bring goodbye letters/ family photos/ wedding dress/ wedding ring / or more clothes than you will need for one month.

I read your post - BUY THE WEDDING DRESS IN canada. And remember - this is only if you are representing yourself as a true visitor ( with no plans of applying for PR).

If you do admit right from start that the purpose is wedding - you can bring whatever you like + you must still prove you will return back after wedding/or apply for PR.

 

[kerryannbailey]

Wrong.

CBSA will open your luggage and check every item to ensure the true purpose of your visit. A number of spouses have been stopped and returned due to this. Please watch the Canada border services TV show - its on youtube. This will give you an idea.

As for the entry - you should be as close to true nature of the visit as possible....remember if they find out otherwise - they will send you back...if you have paid for your wedding services - that money goes to waste.

That said, 5 months is too much...if you truly want to represent yourself as a visitor - try one month + have enough money + proof of ties back home ( car/bank/job/apartment rental/ family etc)
Also have a return ticket - you can always change it later.
Do not bring goodbye letters/ family photos/ wedding dress/ wedding ring / or more clothes than you will need for one month.

I read your post - BUY THE WEDDING DRESS IN canada. And remember - this is only if you are representing yourself as a true visitor ( with no plans of applying for PR).

If you do admit right from start that the purpose is wedding - you can bring whatever you like + you must still prove you will return back after wedding/or apply for PR.

From my OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I've come here a lot of times with a lot of crap that had nothing to do with the reason of just visiting. Whenever they do open my bag there's a nice note inside on the top of my stuff to say they opened it and went through it. Tell her to be careful but I'm not entirely wrong.

 

[Amalthea]

I came up to BC to get married, but I drove. I had my wedding dress in my suitcase. I don't suggest lying to border officials, but you don't need to give them anymore info than they ask for. Just keep your answers very short and very simple. They always ask me where I work, and once I name my employers they send me on my way. It's a combination of things that come together, they will use the whole picture, to try and determine if you're going to live or work illegally in Canada. If you show up with tons of luggage, quit your jobs, and drained your accts, and told everyone in your phone you're "moving" to Canada, it's gonna look a lot different than if you're just visiting with 1 suitcase to get married, with a return ticket in 4 weeks, and are still employed in your home country.

Try to show strong ties.

I have faith you'll get through just fine. Nothing wrong with wanting to get married in Canada.

 

[susana]

Tell the thruth ! It is not illegal to come to Canada to get married. Make sure you have a return ticket .

 

[maple15]

Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated. I have watched the TV program, border security, so I know what happens to people who lie.

I won't be arriving with more than 2 small suitcases, no goodbye letter etc. And I will have a return ticket as my future husband and I want to come to Oz for Christmas.

I don't have a job to return to, but I will take proof of money in Australian accounts, and my fiance is in the military. Maybe this will help.

I have applied for an IEC (the 24 month work visa for under 30s), but I don't think this will be processed until I am in Canada (they are really slow this year).

So, seems like the verdict is keep my answers brief, but be honest when asked. eg. "here to visit my fiance". Should I mention I have applied for an IEC? (if asked about what i intend to do whilst I'm in Canada?)

 

[Applechunks]

Tell the thruth ! It is not illegal to come to Canada to get married. Make sure you have a return ticket .

Exactly! Don't lie. I completely disagree with everyone who is telling you to say you are "visiting a friend". None of this may ever be found out but you don't want to be the one that is!!
It would just take one observant officer to note on your PR the dates that you came to "visit a friend" and ended up married in a really short time span....Red Flag!!

Also, if you haven't already joined we have a facebook group for Aussies (and kiwis) coming to Canada.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/730074400442960/

 

[innosense]

Hi there

I came to Canada specifically to get married. And I did exactly a month later. It will not be looked at as a red flag. You can explain in your relationship development answer why you chose to get married here. I was very nervous too. I simply said I came here to visit my friend. I did not have a return ticket. But if they ask you specific questions tell the truth. All the best !

 

[Applechunks]

Hi there

I came to Canada specifically to get married. And I did exactly a month later. It will not be looked at as a red flag. You can explain in your relationship development answer why you chose to get married here. I was very nervous too. I simply said I came here to visit my friend. I did not have a return ticket. But if they ask you specific questions tell the truth. All the best !

So did I, but my point was that I didn't lie about it. I always said I was there to get married or visit my fiancé, never "just a friend". It can be a red flag if you lie and say that you are just visiting a friend and then they look at the math and it appears that you have gotten married very quickly-as per my response.

 

[innosense]

So did I, but my point was that I didn't lie about it. I always said I was there to get married or visit my fiancé, never "just a friend". It can be a red flag if you lie and say that you are just visiting a friend and then they look at the math and it appears that you have gotten married very quickly-as per my response.

They are not recording your answers anywhere. You need to worry about cross-checking only if you get pulled into secondary and they ask specific questions and then you lie. For a one minute rendezvous with the officer, no need to sweat so much. As I said if questioned specifically you can give specific answers.

 

[Applechunks]

They are not recording your answers anywhere. You need to worry about cross-checking only if you get pulled into secondary and they ask specific questions and then you lie. For a one minute rendezvous with the officer, no need to sweat so much. As I said if questioned specifically you can give specific answers.

No need to sweat at all if you don't lie.

 

[d_j_heckford]

Totally agree with you guys. Stop lying and trying to be sneaky. My british wife married in Canada, no problems, and returned to the UK months after. Stop being deceiving and obey the rules. If you are honest and upfront, they will be more compassionate with you then if you lie. If caught lying... your ass is back on the plane.