Here is my story. I wanted to share this with everyone who was in the same situation as me. I am the American, my husband is the Canadian. Enjoy!
I flew from California to Montana, where I landed 2 hours from the Alberta border. While I was flying and such, my husband was driving down to Montana where we reserved a hotel, because I would be landing in Montana late. Anyways, he went through the border like a breeze as usual. The US Customs asked him two question: 1) How long was his visit? (2 days) 2) Does he have a job? (yes)
Now going back up to the border was the more scary part. We had this whole "script" for my husband to say. And proofs as well, as in: 1) Marriage Ceritifcate 2) Fees of Application paid 3) Letter from my in law 4) Rough draft of filled out application.
So when we were finally at the border, the window officer asked: 1) (To husband) How long was your visit 2) (To me) How long did I visit Canada the last time. He was about to just shoo us in with no paperwork (Visitor's record, for exempt countries). However my husband remembered me telling him that if we do not receive the Visitor's Record, he should ask to see the Visa Officer, however my husband went on about it hilariously.
He started saying all the scripted words to the window officer going, "Uhhhhh...my wife and I are newly married and I would like..." I was laughing silently interrupting him going, "What my husband is trying to say is we would like to speak to the visa officer to request a Visitor's record. He didn't ask why, he had us park and we went in. The Visa officer was joking around. What a change from the stone faced border officials! Anyways, the officer asked us for our marriage certificate. And that was the only proof, the only questions he asked me was 1) Criminal history 2) If I was bringing anything illegal 3) Did we start our application yet 4) Do I understand the terms of the Visitor's Record (Can not work, Can not go to school, etc) and then he added, "All because you can't work doesn't mean you can't clean the dishes." Haha!
I received a 2 yr Visitor's record. It was such a breeze, they did not even check my luggage or our car. We could have brought some drugs in and we would have been fine lol.
My Tips:
1) Prepare, prepare, prepare. All because I was only asked for my marriage certificate does not mean they won't ask you for anything else. Over prepare.
2) Whoever said your significant other needed to vouch for you and that the "visitor" needed to stay quiet was wrong. I was dreading to jump in when my husband struggled, but it did not affect us negatively.
3) No one asked me for proof of ties. This one is still a debating factor as is this required? I would say no. What is the point of issuing Visitor's records to spouses who are in the process of sponsorship and expecting ties? Some people told me that it's to show them you'll leave at the end of the visa/Visitor's record, however I feel like this is unnecessary. My reason is what is the point when you are already intending to live there. Yes, one of the rules to visit Canada is to have ties to your country, but I think this is swept under the rug.
4) Choose your port of entry wisely. Look at it this way, if you are going through a busy / hard cracking border like B.C you are probably going to run into more a*sh*le officers. Ditto with airports. My husband and I have gone through the same Alberta border before and was let in very easily the first time (before we were married). However things changed once we entered the airports. Edmonton International Airport, from what I read was a hard cracking airport. I've been denied entry there and so has many people that I spoke to. Some may have been let in, some may have not. Hence, (Read #5)
5) Everyones' situation is different and every border agents are different. Research and work off of my story and others, but in the end work with what you have.
I flew from California to Montana, where I landed 2 hours from the Alberta border. While I was flying and such, my husband was driving down to Montana where we reserved a hotel, because I would be landing in Montana late. Anyways, he went through the border like a breeze as usual. The US Customs asked him two question: 1) How long was his visit? (2 days) 2) Does he have a job? (yes)
Now going back up to the border was the more scary part. We had this whole "script" for my husband to say. And proofs as well, as in: 1) Marriage Ceritifcate 2) Fees of Application paid 3) Letter from my in law 4) Rough draft of filled out application.
So when we were finally at the border, the window officer asked: 1) (To husband) How long was your visit 2) (To me) How long did I visit Canada the last time. He was about to just shoo us in with no paperwork (Visitor's record, for exempt countries). However my husband remembered me telling him that if we do not receive the Visitor's Record, he should ask to see the Visa Officer, however my husband went on about it hilariously.
He started saying all the scripted words to the window officer going, "Uhhhhh...my wife and I are newly married and I would like..." I was laughing silently interrupting him going, "What my husband is trying to say is we would like to speak to the visa officer to request a Visitor's record. He didn't ask why, he had us park and we went in. The Visa officer was joking around. What a change from the stone faced border officials! Anyways, the officer asked us for our marriage certificate. And that was the only proof, the only questions he asked me was 1) Criminal history 2) If I was bringing anything illegal 3) Did we start our application yet 4) Do I understand the terms of the Visitor's Record (Can not work, Can not go to school, etc) and then he added, "All because you can't work doesn't mean you can't clean the dishes." Haha!
I received a 2 yr Visitor's record. It was such a breeze, they did not even check my luggage or our car. We could have brought some drugs in and we would have been fine lol.
My Tips:
1) Prepare, prepare, prepare. All because I was only asked for my marriage certificate does not mean they won't ask you for anything else. Over prepare.
2) Whoever said your significant other needed to vouch for you and that the "visitor" needed to stay quiet was wrong. I was dreading to jump in when my husband struggled, but it did not affect us negatively.
3) No one asked me for proof of ties. This one is still a debating factor as is this required? I would say no. What is the point of issuing Visitor's records to spouses who are in the process of sponsorship and expecting ties? Some people told me that it's to show them you'll leave at the end of the visa/Visitor's record, however I feel like this is unnecessary. My reason is what is the point when you are already intending to live there. Yes, one of the rules to visit Canada is to have ties to your country, but I think this is swept under the rug.
4) Choose your port of entry wisely. Look at it this way, if you are going through a busy / hard cracking border like B.C you are probably going to run into more a*sh*le officers. Ditto with airports. My husband and I have gone through the same Alberta border before and was let in very easily the first time (before we were married). However things changed once we entered the airports. Edmonton International Airport, from what I read was a hard cracking airport. I've been denied entry there and so has many people that I spoke to. Some may have been let in, some may have not. Hence, (Read #5)
5) Everyones' situation is different and every border agents are different. Research and work off of my story and others, but in the end work with what you have.
will you be crossing soon?