Engaged, getting married...can I cross border?

[moonandtheriver]

I'm a US citizen recently engaged to my Canadian boyfriend of 6 years. We are wanting to get married in Canada fall of 2013. I'm currently in Canada visiting and was given paperwork saying I need to be out by a certain date. Sometimes they give me this when I cross and sometimes not. I come visit every summer/partial fall. They usually ask me if I am planning on getting engaged/married when crossing. Next year when I cross, I obviously will be both of those, and I am wondering if there is a chance they won't let me in or have some issue with this. I could prove dates of upcoming wedding, etc with paperwork from reception rentals and the like. Will they be likely to extend me the usual 3 months I ask for when crossing to be able to prepare for the wedding? I assume they will definately give me paperwork to be out by a certain date at that point if they will let me in. We aren't quite sure how people go about the actual getting married part and whats involved with getting across the border. Obviously we are nervous about sending out invites and having people come up for the wedding and then find out Im not allowed in. =)
Thanks for any direction anyone can point me to and any advise or info!

(We have not decided on applying from within or outside of Canada just yet. We are still looking into that.)

 

[JimM]

My wife and I were married in Canada and I had no problem crossing the border for the wedding. We were leaving the day after the ceremony for our honeymoon so I couldn't just say I was going up for a visit as some people will recommend.

I said I was getting married and the border agent asked a few questions about our plans, (who would be moving to who's country, etc). I said I'd be moving and we would be applying outland. She asked why not inland so we could be together and i said outland was quicker from what I heard and going a year or so without an income wasn't viable for me due to child support obligations. The only other question was why was I flying out to SK, but leaving by bus, (my wife doesn't like to fly). She wished me luck and that was that.

So I'd say as long as you're honest, have your return tickets, etc you should be fine

 

[Sweden]

I'm a US citizen recently engaged to my Canadian boyfriend of 6 years. We are wanting to get married in Canada fall of 2013. I'm currently in Canada visiting and was given paperwork saying I need to be out by a certain date. Sometimes they give me this when I cross and sometimes not. I come visit every summer/partial fall. They usually ask me if I am planning on getting engaged/married when crossing. Next year when I cross, I obviously will be both of those, and I am wondering if there is a chance they won't let me in or have some issue with this. I could prove dates of upcoming wedding, etc with paperwork from reception rentals and the like. Will they be likely to extend me the usual 3 months I ask for when crossing to be able to prepare for the wedding? I assume they will definately give me paperwork to be out by a certain date at that point if they will let me in. We aren't quite sure how people go about the actual getting married part and whats involved with getting across the border. Obviously we are nervous about sending out invites and having people come up for the wedding and then find out Im not allowed in. =)
Thanks for any direction anyone can point me to and any advise or info!

(We have not decided on applying from within or outside of Canada just yet. We are still looking into that.)

also - if you are from the US - outland is the way to go. It's much faster, and you are still able to travel while applying. you can live in Canada, no problem for CIC, but you can go back to the US if needed (which you can do if you apply inland).

You might be able to have your PR issued by the outland route in the same amount of time it would take to look at stage 1 for inland. No worth it...

You also retain the right of appeal in outland application - most likely you won't need it as veyr few US/Canada couples are denied, but just in case.

although it is a bit of a different case, it's not far away from what you are experiencing, so you can read here as well http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/hoping-someone-can-help-answer-some-questions-getting-desparate-t113371.0.html and see advices from senior members.
Good luck,
Sweden

 

[moonandtheriver]

I won't have a plane ticket coming in...so I won't have a return ticket to show them. I will be driving as I always do. My dog travels with me I'm hoping thats not too much of an issue. I assume if they are nervous about letting me in that they will give me a time limit and paperwork to be out by a certain date again? I'd be nervous about lying if they asked me point blank about plans to get married. Is that really what some people say you should do? Why?
My fiance is going to stop at the Canadian border on his was back from visiting me later this year and ask some questions too.
Thanks for the info on applying from outside Canada. Its the route we were kinda thinking of anyway, so that helps.

 

[JimM]

I won't have a plane ticket coming in...so I won't have a return ticket to show them. I will be driving as I always do. My dog travels with me I'm hoping thats not too much of an issue. I assume if they are nervous about letting me in that they will give me a time limit and paperwork to be out by a certain date again? I'd be nervous about lying if they asked me point blank about plans to get married. Is that really what some people say you should do? Why?
My fiance is going to stop at the Canadian border on his was back from visiting me later this year and ask some questions too.
Thanks for the info on applying from outside Canada. Its the route we were kinda thinking of anyway, so that helps.

Some people reported that they had problems or even been denied entry because immigration thought they wouldn't leave after the wedding. So some people have suggested answer ing :Just visiting" when asked why they were coming to Canada. Since you have a record of coming into the country and leaving when you said you would you should be ok regardless.

 

[Pigey]

I won't have a plane ticket coming in...so I won't have a return ticket to show them. I will be driving as I always do. My dog travels with me I'm hoping thats not too much of an issue. I assume if they are nervous about letting me in that they will give me a time limit and paperwork to be out by a certain date again? I'd be nervous about lying if they asked me point blank about plans to get married. Is that really what some people say you should do? Why?
My fiance is going to stop at the Canadian border on his was back from visiting me later this year and ask some questions too.
Thanks for the info on applying from outside Canada. Its the route we were kinda thinking of anyway, so that helps.

I'm American married in Canada in December and returned to the States after the wedding. I had my wedding dress in my arms going through customs. I told them I was getting married and would be retuning to the States after the wedding. I did return to Canada in March for a six month visit, which was extended to 12 months at the time of crossing. (Very rare, not to be expected). I have always been completely honest with the folks at the border (I always fly into Calgary) and they have always been very nice. I suggest being totally honest, you`d hate to have something come back to bite you in the rear end.

 

[lunas]

I agree with the comment above. Since the very begining I would always tell them I was visiting my boyfriend/fiance. After I got married, I went back to visit my husband and I was always honest about my intentions. They did ask what plans we had (if we were filing or not) and I told them we were going to opt for outland. Best of everything!!!

 

[ladyjess]

good luck to you!

 

[moonandtheriver]

Thank you everyone this is very helpful!
We are freaked out about the possibility of plunking down a load of money for a wedding and reception ahead of time and having everyone get passports etc and buy plane tickets only to have me turned away at the border.
It looks like applying from outside is the way to go, so i can continue working and it will take a bit less time. I assume theres the possibility I can still visit him and he can still visit me after we get married and are waiting for sponsership and PR? At least thats how it sounds?

 

[JimM]

Thank you everyone this is very helpful!
We are freaked out about the possibility of plunking down a load of money for a wedding and reception ahead of time and having everyone get passports etc and buy plane tickets only to have me turned away at the border.
It looks like applying from outside is the way to go, so i can continue working and it will take a bit less time. I assume theres the possibility I can still visit him and he can still visit me after we get married and are waiting for sponsership and PR? At least thats how it sounds?

Plenty of people have visited their spouses while waiting for their visa. Most of what I've read says its best to wait until after your spouse has been approved to sponsor and to have copies of the approval with you when you go. This should show that you are following the rules and don't intend to overstay. If you've gone that far and payed out all the fees, why screw it up now sorta logic.

 

[Creampop]

We were married in the US... I returned home to do my medical and wait for our marriage certificate in the mail.. 11 days after we were married I crossed into Canada using the receipt for paying the PR fee's and our marriage certificate... we mailed the application 4 days after I arrived in Canada.