Urgent - Need Help Crossing Border

[scylla]

Sorry - there's one more thing I wanted to mention.

You really need to get a US passport. You can't apply for immigration to Canada with just a passport card. You also cannot apply to extend your visit in Canada with just a passport card. Get an actual passport as soon as you can.

 

[BeShoo]

You want to be able to prove that your connections to the U.S. are stronger than your connections to your boyfriend. Obviously, that is probably hard to do since you are probably quite attached to your boyfriend, too, but they expect that. Any responsibilities or obligations back in the U.S. would be useful, like if you have classes to attend or jury duty to report for or anything that you're expected back for. This is to make sure that you will not overstay.

The main reason they are asking about a job is that they want to make sure you are not tempted to work illegally in Canada to support yourself while you are here. If you can show that you have money in the bank and even that your boyfriend and his parents have agreed to let you stay in their house, provide meals, etc., will help.

If you get an especially sympathetic secondary inspection agent, they might issue you a "Visitor Record" that you need to turn in a certain amount of time after you enter Canada. The only thing is that this is usually stapled into your passport, so I'm not sure it works with a card. Also, if they have a paper passport, they could stamp it with a short expiry date, but I think the card defaults to 6 months automatically.

Essentially, (as long as you're not a criminal or a danger to the public) they need to know where you're going, what you'll be doing there, that you will be able to pay your expenses without working during your visit, and that you will definitely return to the U.S. when the visit is over.

I would definitely try again tomorrow, but make sure you've gathered whatever evidence you can get to satisfy what I wrote in the last paragraph.

 

[triple p]

Crossing the border can be very stressful. It is important to try to locate the documents/information they requested. Since you do not have a job & are in a common-law relationship, they are probably scared your intention is stay in Canada (not just visit). It is always best to answer their questions honestly. Do not give more information than is requested of you..You never know how they could interpret things. Good luck and be strong!

 

[Ponga]

Crossing the border can be very stressful. It is important to try to locate the documents/information they requested. Since you do not have a job & are in a common-law relationship, they are probably scared your intention is stay in Canada (not just visit). It is always best to answer their questions honestly. Do not give more information than is requested of you..You never know how they could interpret things. Good luck and be strong!

The OP doesn't appear to be in a common-law relationship yet, but was probably hoping to start that process by entering Canada.

 

[epmarshall]

Can my boyfriends's family meet me at the border? Will that help any? Also how do i avoid an exclusion order?

 

[keesio]

Can my boyfriends's family meet me at the border? Will that help any? Also how do i avoid an exclusion order?

That will help... a little. But you will still have to show strong ties to the US... something that will convince CBSA that you plan on returning to the US

 

[rhcohen2014]

Can my boyfriends's family meet me at the border? Will that help any? Also how do i avoid an exclusion order?

they can, they have the right to, except CIC may decide not to talk to them at all. When it comes to your entry, you're the only person they care to talk to. It may be helpful to prove you have somewhere to go and will be taken care of, but noone can tell you exactly for sure if it will help. as you know, what happens is all based on the border agent you come across and whether they think you plan to over stay or work illegally if allowed in.

again, noone can tell you for sure HOW to avoid an exclusion order. what's important is to be prepared to show siginificant ties to the US (the list they gave you), and not ask to stay for a significant amount of time. for now you want to keep your visits to up to 4 weeks, and even that may be pushing it. For the general public, it's quite difficult to leave your life and travel for more than the typical vacation time people receive from work. what they are looking for is how long you are in canada compared to how long you are home in the states. if you attempt to cross often and appear to be "living" there (meaning spending more time there than the US), you will most likely be refused. the fact you work for yourself makes you more flexible, so proving you have clients in the us, make money in the usand generally work remotely *may* be helpful.

it is not until you are actually married or commonlaw with a PR application submitted that they lighten up a tiny bit. Now that you are on their radar, be prepared to always be able to show your ties and what your plans are.

Oh and also, make sure to erase your phone/emails/computer documents of any mention of wanting to live in canada long term. they can and will check your messages, emails, documents, etc. if they want to. they have the right to search everything! so keep that in mind when you are communicating with your bf about your visits. you want it to always look like you are making short term plans.

 

[Ponga]

The OP hasn't mentioned anything about being self employed. Did I miss something?

 

[rhcohen2014]

The OP hasn't mentioned anything about being self employed. Did I miss something?

i thought in one of her original posts she mentioned she isn't employed and does some work for herself? did i imagine that?

 

[sammystorm19]

i thought in one of her original posts she mentioned she isn't employed and does some work for herself? did i imagine that?

she mentioned that she is starting an online business

 

[Ponga]

i thought in one of her original posts she mentioned she isn't employed and does some work for herself? did i imagine that?

Hmm...She said that she had been working ON her online business, which I interpreted as `maybe building a website, but not generating any income from it yet'.

 

[impatienthope]

One other option not yet mentioned here is applying to study- a college, a practical job program, perhaps even just one course could help a little to show ties to the U.S. Alternatively if she really wants to be in Canada then apply to study in Canada. It will take some time but the border problems are only going to increase over time.

The border agents are excessively tough on people traveling because of cross border relationships, being married only makes it worse. I understand the pain of those border interviews. Looking back on my experience I would have continued to work in the US and suffered the separation during an outland application to avoid the border interviews.

Apply to some program of study and be rooted to either the US or Canada. Being in a state of transition is unfortunately not acceptable to the border agents, even for the most law abiding upstanding citizens.

Best of luck.

 

[rhcohen2014]

The border agents are excessively tough on people traveling because of cross border relationships, being married only makes it worse.

um, in my experience this is not true. As a US citizen, i was issued an exclusion order when i was dating my now husband. i have been pulled into secondary every time i've crossed since it lifted, and i can tell you from experience as a US visa exempt citizen, it is far easier to cross when you are MARRIED and have a PR application in the system. All they do is confirm the application, and they let you in. When they see there is an application submitted, they are less concern with seeing proof of ties, though it's always recommended to have them just in case.

Kindly share your specific experience as a US visa exempt OUTLAND applicant where your border crossing was WORSE than when you were dating your spouse.

 

[epmarshall]

I'm working on an online business/self-employed thing yes. But it's at that awkward early stage where I'm just seeing profits and need to work to improve it for it be a real income.

But also are exclusion orders really that vague? Could I get one from just trying to reenter with evidence this time?

 

[rhcohen2014]

I'm working on an online business/self-employed thing yes. But it's at that awkward early stage where I'm just seeing profits and need to work to improve it for it be a real income.

But also are exclusion orders really that vague? Could I get one from just trying to reenter with evidence this time?

if you have evidence *probably* not. if you go back with the information they ask for, this shows you are trying to comply to their rules. they like to see that! if they believe you understand you are a visitor, and your home is the US, then there's a chance they will be happy. again, there's no way anyone can tell you for sure since we are not the border agent you will encounter at the border. The only way to know for sure is to show up at the border with all your documentation and ask to visit your bf.