I've probably looked at countless topics posted about this particular issue but I thought I'd register and share my own experience and see if anyone can give me some advice.
I am currently an American girl in a relationship with a student in Canada that is working on his PR. I had previously attempted to visit him last April and was denied at the border for reasons that were completely understandable (I was leaving behind an apartment, no money in the bank, had a lot of stuff with me, no return ticket). I basically ticked off all the "don't let this girl in the country" marks. My fault, I take full responsibility. What's worse is that I actually have a previous overstay on my record from when I was 18 years old (I am 26 now) and one refusal at the border when I was 16. I recognize I made a lot of mistakes as a teen in a previous relationship with a Canadian but unfortunately I can't change the past.
Since then, I've settled in the US near my family, got a job and have saved up a reasonable amount of money in the bank. My boyfriend has visited me 4 times in the US since for an amount of time that equals about 2 months. But now he has a full time job and it is hard for him to find a time to visit me. He is also currently working on his PR and once his goes through, we will get married and start working on a spousal application for me.
My question is, is it even worth it to attempt to go there and visit him? I would have no intent of living there with him and just being able to visit for one week between these long months of long distance would be amazing. But, I am very worried about going there and being denied at the border. I considered applying for a visitor's visa but I read that it was pretty useless for an American citizen and I'll go through all the steps anyways and I realize my chances of being pulled into secondary is nearly 100%. Everything I read says I need strong ties, but I do live with my family (ie no lease) and my job is an online one. Of course, I would only be bringing a reasonable amount of clothes and would also have a return ticket, but I feel like these ties aren't strong enough.
Anyways, thanks if you managed to read this to the end. Any advice to settle this in my head either way would be great. Like I said, I don't have problems waiting for the PR that could take well over a year to finish but being able to visit in between these long periods of waiting would be great too.
I am currently an American girl in a relationship with a student in Canada that is working on his PR. I had previously attempted to visit him last April and was denied at the border for reasons that were completely understandable (I was leaving behind an apartment, no money in the bank, had a lot of stuff with me, no return ticket). I basically ticked off all the "don't let this girl in the country" marks. My fault, I take full responsibility. What's worse is that I actually have a previous overstay on my record from when I was 18 years old (I am 26 now) and one refusal at the border when I was 16. I recognize I made a lot of mistakes as a teen in a previous relationship with a Canadian but unfortunately I can't change the past.
Since then, I've settled in the US near my family, got a job and have saved up a reasonable amount of money in the bank. My boyfriend has visited me 4 times in the US since for an amount of time that equals about 2 months. But now he has a full time job and it is hard for him to find a time to visit me. He is also currently working on his PR and once his goes through, we will get married and start working on a spousal application for me.
My question is, is it even worth it to attempt to go there and visit him? I would have no intent of living there with him and just being able to visit for one week between these long months of long distance would be amazing. But, I am very worried about going there and being denied at the border. I considered applying for a visitor's visa but I read that it was pretty useless for an American citizen and I'll go through all the steps anyways and I realize my chances of being pulled into secondary is nearly 100%. Everything I read says I need strong ties, but I do live with my family (ie no lease) and my job is an online one. Of course, I would only be bringing a reasonable amount of clothes and would also have a return ticket, but I feel like these ties aren't strong enough.
Anyways, thanks if you managed to read this to the end. Any advice to settle this in my head either way would be great. Like I said, I don't have problems waiting for the PR that could take well over a year to finish but being able to visit in between these long periods of waiting would be great too.
