Getting married while visiting boyfriend

[ashleygf]

I'm a US citizen, boyfriend is Canadian. We plan on getting engaged in the next couple of months(he's saving for a ring!) and then having me visit him in Vancouver for the summer. I just visited him in November for three weeks and got no hassle from the border guard when I crossed from North Dakota in order to fly out of Winnipeg, but I'm assuming if I want to stay three MONTHS this time they might be more skeptical. Currently I'm on a temporary hiatus from school, unable to work due to illness, and thus will have no real ties that I can think of to prove I intend to return to the States. Combine this with the fact that we want to get married while I visit and I'm pretty scared of getting turned down at the border. I have NO intent of overstaying, I will return at the end of the summer and we'll apply for PR at that time. What can I do to minimize any problems? Thanks for any help! Trying not to freak out here :/

 

[canadianwoman]

Have a return ticket with a confirmed date of return. You are on hiatus from school, but do you have any proof you will be going back, especially if you will be going back after returning from your visit in the summer? Also get some proof of where you are living, if possible.
3 months is not too long a visit, especially in the summer. It should be OK. You can apply right after you get married; if you do that, then want to visit him in Canada, just bring proof you have submitted the application - the fee receipt, any acknowledgement letter from CIC, a copy of the application - and you should have no problem getting in then. Though always say you are just visiting.

 

[ashleygf]

Thank you so much! I've been so sick over this, just the idea that I might get a crabby border guard and be denied entry to go see the man I love...such a terrifying thought! And then that of course leads to thoughts of "what if there's issues with my pr?" I just want to make sure I have every base covered that I can. Trying to figure out, apart from proof I'll be going back to school, assuming I will be, what else I can show as proof of my intent to return. Maybe a letter from my doctor saying I will need to resume treatment after the summer? Or maybe have a volunteer position lined up to recommence.

 

[Rob_TO]

Not sure the price difference, but if you buy a round-trip ticket and fly directly from the US to Vancouver instead of driving across the border to Winnipeg and flying from there... the return international airplane ticket to US showing the date you would be leaving Canada is all the proof you'll need.

If you must drive to Winnipeg first, then i dont think showing an airline ticket back to Winnipeg would be useful or count as proof since it's just a domestic flight.

 

[ashleygf]

Ohhhhhh good point! I can just fly from the states, the price isn't that big a deal. They might be less likely to make a fuss with a girl who'd just flown 1400 miles to get there as well lol