Question about getting married, US->CAD?

[Woollyhats]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, so please be gentle if I have made a mistake in regards to forum etiquette. I typically only read posts, but today have a question. I have a short summary at the end, if you don't have much time to read over my post.

I am eventually going to marry my partner in the US. I am a Canadian citizen. I would like to get married IN Canada, and apply to sponsor my partner while living apart.

Is he visa exempt? After getting married, I want him to return back to the US, and I will apply to sponsorship him while living apart, in our respective countries. While it is sad we will not be waiting together, the overall process seems easier and faster this way, especially considering he will be able to work when he comes here more easily once approved.

How should we address the actual process of getting married? Is there a visa involved? Again, I would like him to visit when we plan to get married for several weeks, and then return home, to apply while apart, in our respective countries. Is there some special process I must follow to do this?

Has anyone done this? Most advice and guides online are written with the assumption that sponsorship will occur immediately after marriage, with the couple cohabitating, which is my reason for specifically asking this question.

Thread Summary:
I am Canadian. I want to marry my US partner in Canada. I then want him to return home to the US. I then want to sponsor him to come here on a family visa - waiting for the approval while in our respective countries. Is there a visa or some special process we must follow when he comes here to get married, despite my plan for him to return home and to sponsor him while apart?

 

[evdm]

Your situation is similar to my own.

I got married to my now-husband on a visit to Canada and we have been long-distance since the wedding. As a US citizen, your husband is visa-exempt so basically all he has to do is show up at the border and convince the officer that the purpose of his trip is a legitimate reason to be stamped into Canada.

The important thing is to never lie to a CBSA officer. Misrepresentation at any point can jeopardize any future applications with CBSA/IRCC. In my case, I was asked by the officer what the purpose of my visit was, and I said that I was getting married and I had a few meetings at my company's offices in Canada. The officer then asked if I was bringing any gifts or things that weren't declared on the customs form, I said no, and I was on my way. I think it took a grand total of 15 minutes to exit the airport from the moment the plane doors opened.

That's just my experience, and the officer inspecting your partner might have different questions or concerns. Just be prepared to show that the purpose of the visit is what you claim it to be, and that he can show ties back to the US and that he will return.

Perhaps others have different experiences or tips, but what you are proposing is, to my knowledge, in no way not allowed under Canadian Immigration Law and you and your partner should be perfectly fine.

 

[Woollyhats]

Your situation is similar to my own.

I got married to my now-husband on a visit to Canada and we have been long-distance since the wedding. As a US citizen, your husband is visa-exempt so basically all he has to do is show up at the border and convince the officer that the purpose of his trip is a legitimate reason to be stamped into Canada.

The important thing is to never lie to a CBSA officer. Misrepresentation at any point can jeopardize any future applications with CBSA/IRCC. In my case, I was asked by the officer what the purpose of my visit was, and I said that I was getting married and I had a few meetings at my company's offices in Canada. The officer then asked if I was bringing any gifts or things that weren't declared on the customs form, I said no, and I was on my way. I think it took a grand total of 15 minutes to exit the airport from the moment the plane doors opened.

That's just my experience, and the officer inspecting your partner might have different questions or concerns. Just be prepared to show that the purpose of the visit is what you claim it to be, and that he can show ties back to the US and that he will return.

Perhaps others have different experiences or tips, but what you are proposing is, to my knowledge, in no way not allowed under Canadian Immigration Law and you and your partner should be perfectly fine.

Perfect, this is what I thought, but didn't want to make any assumptions... in other words I really really appreciate you replying about this

I suppose when the time comes, we will ensure we have lots of documentation supporting that my partner will return home after the wedding, in case it goes less smoothly. To be honest, border crossings have never given me an issue before, but people like you still give me piece of mind, by helping us to be very prepared.

 

[evdm]

Congratulations on your wedding!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post, so please be gentle if I have made a mistake in regards to forum etiquette. I typically only read posts, but today have a question. I have a short summary at the end, if you don't have much time to read over my post.

I am eventually going to marry my partner in the US. I am a Canadian citizen. I would like to get married IN Canada, and apply to sponsor my partner while living apart.

Is he visa exempt? After getting married, I want him to return back to the US, and I will apply to sponsorship him while living apart, in our respective countries. While it is sad we will not be waiting together, the overall process seems easier and faster this way, especially considering he will be able to work when he comes here more easily once approved.

How should we address the actual process of getting married? Is there a visa involved? Again, I would like him to visit when we plan to get married for several weeks, and then return home, to apply while apart, in our respective countries. Is there some special process I must follow to do this?

Has anyone done this? Most advice and guides online are written with the assumption that sponsorship will occur immediately after marriage, with the couple cohabitating, which is my reason for specifically asking this question.

Thread Summary:
I am Canadian. I want to marry my US partner in Canada. I then want him to return home to the US. I then want to sponsor him to come here on a family visa - waiting for the approval while in our respective countries. Is there a visa or some special process we must follow when he comes here to get married, despite my plan for him to return home and to sponsor him while apart?

Hi

Note that he can stay in Canada as a visitor while an outland PR app processes.

 

[KBH]

Agree with what the others have chimed in, and will also add there is no fiance visa or other process that needs to be followed like there would be if you were to get married in the US.