Married in States, how to declare marriage in Canada?

[PursuitOfHappiness]

Hi Everyone!

I got married last December 2012 in states and already sent my sponsorship stuff this May and been approved as a sponsor so now I'm waiting for the second part. I'm Canadian and my wife is American. I'm back in Canada while she finishes grad school in December.

My wedding reception is end of the year in states where my wife lives. My question is, what do I need to do when we are coming back together. We will flying to Buffalo and driving back from there. Do I just show them my documents where it states I have been approved as a Sponsor?

Also, because I submitted my sponsorship package, do I need to separately declare my marriage in Canada? If so, how should I do it? Will my sponsorship packaged be declined since I have not yet done so?

Thank you for all your help guys! Reception is so close that I don't want anything to go wrong

 

[Rob_TO]

Also, because I submitted my sponsorship package, do I need to separately declare my marriage in Canada? If so, how should I do it? Will my sponsorship packaged be declined since I have not yet done so?

The only one you MUST declare the marriage to, is the Canada Revenue Agency. You can do this via the CRA "my account" website, and usually they don't even ask for the marriage certificate as they just take you at your word.

For any other places that may be interested that you're married (perhaps your bank, insurance company, employer etc), then just showing them a copy of your USA marriage certificate is good enough. There is no need to get anything from Canada as a legal marriage performed anywhere in the world is also legal in Canada.

 

[PursuitOfHappiness]

Thank you Rob!

Phew! That's a relief.

Would you be able to let me know what I need to bring with me while crossing the border with my wife? Any specific documents? tips?

Thank you!

 

[Rob_TO]

Would you be able to let me know what I need to bring with me while crossing the border with my wife? Any specific documents? tips?

All i know is until she is a PR, she can only visit as a tourist in Canada. Do not use the terms "living" or "moving" or anything like that when talking to the immigration/border officers.

Other than that I don't really have any experience crossing the US border with PR in process, so others will need to advise.