Denied Entry Before

[Iamrobot85]

Hey guys,
Long time reader, first time poster. I have found many topics on this site to be very helpful so I thought I would try to lob a question at you.

I am a US citizen married to a Canadian citizen and I want to visit him soon in Canada. Here's where it gets tricky. I was under the mistaken impression, when my husband and I got engaged, that we could get married in Canada and fill out permanent resident status from within Canada. So we decided to go there, and we drove. As my husband and I are a same-sex couple, it would be easier for us to get married in Canada, anyway. So we got to the border and I was denied entry. Because I didn't have a job or "any ties to the US." Well that was early June (it is now August.)
Needless to say that put a huge wrench in our plans but we are dealing. My husband and I have since gotten married in the US. Iowa, to be precise and hired an immigration consultant. We are currently waiting for my to get my FBI certificate before we submit my application but that could take 12 weeks and I wanted to visit him before that. I was thinking about flying so that way I would have a return ticket to show intent to return to the states. Also, the FBI form (and any other forms) for the permanent resident status applications are being and will be sent to my address in the US.

I really would like to visit him but I am very scared that I will get denied entry at the border again. Any thoughts?

Thanks guys!

 

[Leon]

There are no guarantees but having a return ticket will help. Do you also have a job right now so you could get your employer to write a letter for you?

 

[Iamrobot85]

No, I still do not have a job. I recently graduated college and have been looking for a job but it's tough times in my neck of the woods and jobs are scarce.

 

[sbwv09]

You will need to prove that you have a US address, even if it's just a friend or parent. Try to bring a utility bill in your name to a US address. You could also show anything that you have to get back to the US to do (a job interview, even if you cancel it, a medical appointment, jury duty, etc).

 

[Iamrobot85]

I can prove that I have a US address, I have bills in my name to this address and a banking account, too, of course. Should that be sufficient? I will have a return ticket, too, of course, as I will only be staying a week or two.

 

[iarblue]

Coming fromthe US you may not be asked anything at all and just waved through,but its always good to be prepared,you will also need enough money in your bank account to show you can support yourself while you are here.A recent bank statement,but like i said they may not ask you much at all if they do at all.

 

[elkan]

My boyfriend was denied entry into Canada early this year as well. I was also in the vehicle with him. It took us four hours, and then they finally gave him a 90 day Visitor Record. What did he have to do?
-we had to cross back into the US and find an internet cafe to print off his bank statements
The border patrol literally said, "We don't believe you are going to leave Canada, you are an example of someone we shouldn't let in."

Once all was done and they were stamping his passport, she said that whenever he crosses into Canada, he should always have paper work: bank statements, proof of employment or residence, etc...

I have also had to do the same going to visit him when crossing the border. I was almost denied entry into Buffalo to catch a flight out of the airport there, all because I couldn't show my return ticket (I didn't print my ticket) or proof that I was going to be returning to work the following week.

I called my Member of Parliament about it, and she said that Immigration is different from Border Patrol, and sometimes it just depends on who you get at the border! I think you'll be fine, just be armed with the required paperwork.

Good luck!

 

[AllisonVSC]

I was denied entry last June after driving for two days! I got a hotel room for the night in Niagara falls, printed my lease, bank statements and had the business manager at work send my last three pay stubs via email. Went back to the border the next day expecting to be sent straight to immigration and the border guard waived me through no questions asked.