Crossing the Border To Get Married

[StephsDave]

Hello. If this question has already been asked, I apologize.

I've been in a long distance relationship with a woman in Ottawa since late 2012. In 2013 she came to the U.S. once and I went to visit her in Canada twice. For the past 6 months of our relationship we were discussing me moving to Canada and getting married. Well, in early December 2013 I lost my job and decided this was fate intervening and decided to sell off everything, pack my car and drive to Ottawa to stay the legal minimum of 6 months and in that time we would get married and start the immigration process.

My first mistake was having a car load full of my belongings and the second mistake was to tell the border service agents everything. There was hardly any thought or research put into this and for that I'm paying the price. Needless to say, I was not allowed to enter the country of Canada. Not having a job, permanent residence and telling them I'd be staying to look for work were probably the reasons.

Anyway, we live and learn right?

So, since then I have moved into my parents house in Minnesota and my fiance and I have filed for a marriage license. We should have the license back in a month and then we have 3 months to getting married. That involves me trying to get back into the country. I'd like to stay and start the PR application where she would sponsor me but I'm not sure.

The real question I have is... besides my passport and a car with just a few items, what else as far as documentation should I have with me and what should I tell the border services agents. I know they have me on record and don't want to lie to them. But I also still don't have a job and permanent legal residence.

I really need some help here guys.

Thanks!!

 

[lpc19800]

the chance of you getting rejected again is quite high and i wouldn't risk it.
is there any reason why you can't get married outside canada? you can still get your marriage recognized in Canada and then go through the sponsorship thing.

 

[nervousme]

Hello. If this question has already been asked, I apologize.

I've been in a long distance relationship with a woman in Ottawa since late 2012. In 2013 she came to the U.S. once and I went to visit her in Canada twice. For the past 6 months of our relationship we were discussing me moving to Canada and getting married. Well, in early December 2013 I lost my job and decided this was fate intervening and decided to sell off everything, pack my car and drive to Ottawa to stay the legal minimum of 6 months and in that time we would get married and start the immigration process.

My first mistake was having a car load full of my belongings and the second mistake was to tell the border service agents everything. There was hardly any thought or research put into this and for that I'm paying the price. Needless to say, I was not allowed to enter the country of Canada. Not having a job, permanent residence and telling them I'd be staying to look for work were probably the reasons.

Anyway, we live and learn right?

So, since then I have moved into my parents house in Minnesota and my fiance and I have filed for a marriage license. We should have the license back in a month and then we have 3 months to getting married. That involves me trying to get back into the country. I'd like to stay and start the PR application where she would sponsor me but I'm not sure.

The real question I have is... besides my passport and a car with just a few items, what else as far as documentation should I have with me and what should I tell the border services agents. I know they have me on record and don't want to lie to them. But I also still don't have a job and permanent legal residence.

I really need some help here guys.

Thanks!!

Will be hard for you to come if you tell them you are planning on staying. They will possibly reject you again. You're best option is to file for a work permit. Once here you will need to work and you cannot do so sithout a work permit. Than you can legally stay here and live with your girlfriend / soon to be wife. Once the two of you have lived together for 2 years she can apply to sponsor you for permanent residence.

Other than that you can only come for a visit and you need to prove you have money to support yourself while you are here visiting. If you can't prove that they may reject you.

Good luck

 

[jomz]

Hi, its unfortunate you werent able to come Please post your question in Family Class Sponsorship Section of the forum and there are hundreds of people who can help you overcome this and give you correct information about how best to proceed.

Fortunately nervousme's answer above is not correct, therefore don't loose hope.

Here's the link for Family Class Sponsorship section in which you should just post your original post.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/family-class-sponsorship-b5.0/

 

[nervousme]

he needs to prove to a boarders officer that he is not planning on staying permanently.
Without the proper paper work to stay permanently they can deny him entry into Canada. This is why he got denied the first time. He can say he is coming to visit just to see his girlfriend. Depending on the notes he may be able to come as a visitor. But we don't know what the notes say so I was just giving him ideas of how to come. He wants to tell the truth, he wants to come and he wants to work. I am no expert thou.
If your plan is to come and than return than you should be ok. But if you tell them you plan on coming getting married and are going to apply once your hear. Good luck with that. Just because your married doesn't automatically give you the right to stay. But I believe once your application has been submitted you do have the right to stay. But don't quote me on that. Again I'm not an expert but have sat in as a translator on many interviews for immigration purposes but this was years ago so my info could be inaccurate

 

[Matthew Iwama]

My friend, this is what you need to do:

1) Apply for Family Class Sponsorship immediately

2) Once you have first-stage approval from CPC-M, try to cross the border and tell them the truth and that you want to live with your g/f while your FC application is processed but that you still have grounds to return home if the application is not approved. You have a solid chance of meeting a good officer who will understand that you have taken the right steps rather than just showing up at the border with all your stuff.

PM me if you need a hand

 

[jomz]

My friend, this is what you need to do:

1) Apply for Family Class Sponsorship immediately

2) Once you have first-stage approval from CPC-M, try to cross the border and tell them the truth and that you want to live with your g/f while your FC application is processed but that you still have grounds to return home if the application is not approved. You have a solid chance of meeting a good officer who will understand that you have taken the right steps rather than just showing up at the border with all your stuff.

PM me if you need a hand

1. he has to be married or common-law before he can apply;

2. Under no circumstances can he say to CBSA that he wants to "live" here. At most, he should say he is visiting his wife and they will plan to prepare the sponsorship documents, after which he plans to return to the US and finish off some things while he wait for a decision on his sponsorship. He will likely be let in without any problems. Once here can stay for up to 6 months, before the 6 months are up can apply online to extend his stay.

 

[Leon]

If you want to try to enter Canada again, you should show that you have a place to live and an employer in the US. I do not like the odds of them letting you enter without that. You have already told them that you want to live in Canada with your girlfriend and I am sure they have entered that into their computers.

Why doesn't the girlfriend come visit you and get married in the US?

As for your plans to stay with her in Canada for the duration of the sponsorship processing, if you are allowed in in the first place, it would be possible but you realize that you would not be allowed to work and her supporting you for months while you wait can put quite a strain on your relationship.

As for sponsorship options, if you are in Canada and not planning on leaving Canada at all during the processing, she can apply to sponsor you inland (claiming you live in Canada) but the processing time just to get first stage approval and open work permit is fairly long or about 10 months while if you apply outland (saying you live in the US), you would most likely already have your PR in that time. Outland doesn't have to mean that you must be in the US for the duration, you can visit (if immigration lets you enter).