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Coming through US/CAN land crossing - after wedding / before app submitted

T

tom_from_sk

Star Member
Oct 24, 2014
109
2
Hello!

It is now 2 months from the date that my fiance and I will be coming across the border after we get married in the US. I have been working on trying to line up as much as possible and figure out the details the last couple months.

My fiance has resigned from her teaching position effective this summer and will store her things at her parents house, while we wait for the application to go through. We will visit them more than once every six months, so we aren't concerned about renewing her visitor visa.

Once we get married, we will drive back to my home in Canada, she will take her immigration medical (in Canada) and then send off her Outland Application. We have already submitted the FBI background check (last week).

One thing I want to advice on is for other US applicants, what have you done to show proof of things in the US?

She may or may not sell her car before the wedding, but we will NOT be driving it to Canada for the time being. She will be storing her belongings at her parents house, which is very close to where she lives and the wedding will be.

How would others try to prove that she has 'ties' to the US? Any ideas ... in the case of no job/house down there? I plan to show documents of the upcoming medical exam, pre-printed CIC Outland application to show that we are working on it and will be submitting it within a few weeks, etc.

She is planning to pack 2 suit cases for her visit and leave the rest of her stuff in the US.

All and any advice is appreciated.

Thank you!
 
Personally, I find this very risky - you've gotten married, your wife has quit her job, she wants to sell her car, etc etc. Nothing about that is shouting "I'll return to the US if I have to!" to a border guard. Especially if you're crossing the Peace Arch - they're tough on people. Can't speak for anywhere else.

I'd recommend having letters written by her family in the States that say they'll let her stay with them should she be denied entry to Canada or if her PR application doesn't get approved.

You could also go one step further and pay the PR application fee if you're planning to file your app soon. Bring the receipt with you to the border to show that you've truly got intent to sponsor her. Just don't lose the receipt because you'll need it for your application.
 
Thank you for your reply.

In response to your questions/comments:

1) We will be crossing at a rural BC or Alberta crossing.
2) We plan to visit the US quite often, as her family only lives 5 hours from where I do (and for trips as well)
3) Would it be better to have a signed rental agreement with her parents (that is kind of grey...)? I don't think her parents want to charge us for keeping her stuff there while we wait for the process to go through.
4) We can keep the car until after we have submitted the app and paid the fee if it might help...
5) We would likely file within a month or so of getting to Canada... Is that too long to pay the fee up front? I did not know you could pay the fee in advance of completing/submitting the application?
 
I also have plane tickets purchased for 2 separate trips leaving Canada within the first 6 months (Europe and Asia) so that could be additional proof she will be won't be overstaying her visit
 
I'd keep the car for a while. The tickets out of Canada are good proof. Make sure she says she is just visiting.
 
I'm not saying you will encounter the same as I but I was able was able to cross into Canada to stay with my husband after we married.

We also crossed at a land border and I had our marriage license (not an official one since those take time to receive but the non official one given to us after our wedding). CBSA gave me a 3 month visitor record and told me that I had 3 months to submit my application for permanent residency. They told me to come back when my VR expired and show proof my application had been submitted and I would be granted an extension on my VR - which I did.

Good luck!
 
I think it would be best to keep the car as well, and maybe a letter from her parents also.

My husband has had no problems crossing the land border into Canada to come and visit me. He has an apartment and truck lease and brings those and his lost current pay stub in case he is asked but so far he hasn't been asked to show any.

When I cross the land border to visit him I bring current pay stubs as I'm living at home currently and I haven't been asked to show anything either.
 
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