Us/Canada Border Crossing for Wedding advice

[faith-gr]

Hello!

My fiance and I are discussing how to handle border crossing for our wedding next summer. She is American and I am Canadian, and she will be driving across the border with her family for our wedding. We want to be completely honest with the agents at the border, but are nervous they will not allow her to cross due to her disability. She's in a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy. Though her disability does not affect her mind, it has affected her body. I would hate to plan our wedding, spend money on their trip only to have them turned away because the agents at the border didn't believe she wouldn't be going home again afterwards.

Can anyone offer us any advice as to what to say when they are crossing? To make matters a little more complicated, although her Father works, she herself currently does not because of the difficulties finding work due to insurance costs. So other than the fact that her Father and the rest of her family would need to go back, there is no reason specifically for her to go home again. She will go home, she needs to as we want to apply outland for immigration once we're married, but we're not sure how to ensure border officials will believe that. And unfortunately it's too difficult for her to fly- which would have provided her with a return ticket.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

 

[simpsol22]

Congrats!! First thing...in case you don't know....she can live in Canada and apply using outland forms. She needs to stop by the border on her next visit and obtain a visitor record. Be completely honest...state you are getting married, she'll be crossing more often and then you'll be applying for spousal sponsorship. It's actually quite easy for us Americans being in Canada. The visitor record is kind of like a visa....but US is exempt from visas.

I got my first visitor record before I was living in Canada. I had a nexus card and since i crossed so often it looked like i was living here, even though i wasn't. I was told to get the visitor record to show I wanted to be in compliance and build trust. The visitor record will allow her to stay until it expires....but it can be renewed.

Just make sure she has some kind of proof of relationship with her, just in case. For my husband and I, he got questioned the most going into the states---thinking he was moving there....for me, i never got questioned saying I was going to apply for spousal sponsorship in canada....agents were always very friendly.

 

[faith-gr]

Thank you! For the advice and the congrats lol!

Because of her disability and our financial state, it's me that travels to see her and I can't afford to go very often. I'm trying to hold onto all of my trip records in my emails, am screen capping facebook posts, have 18 months of phone records (hopefully will have a lot more if I can afford to have a lawyer petition Rogers for them)... but yeah, I don't make a lot of money and it's difficult for her to travel.

We've been told by a number of people that we should get married, have her go home and then apply because it's faster. I'm just learning about all of the things that we need and what we can and can't do. Can you please explain a little bit more about the visitor records and about the possibilities of her staying in Canada while applying outland? I'm honestly pretty confused about the whole process.

And where at the border does she get the visitor record?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

We've been told by a number of people that we should get married, have her go home and then apply because it's faster. I'm just learning about all of the things that we need and what we can and can't do. Can you please explain a little bit more about the visitor records and about the possibilities of her staying in Canada while applying outland? I'm honestly pretty confused about the whole process.

And where at the border does she get the visitor record?

Her disability shouldn't have any effect on her entry into Canada. I would ensure that she has adequate travel insurance to cover her condition.

She needs to be honest about why she is entering. There is nothing wrong with coming to Canada to get married.

You guys can get married and apply outland for PR while she is in Canada as a visitor. There is nothing wrong with her being in Canada while an outland app processes. She can apply online to extend her stay as a visitor prior to her status expiring.

Don't try to get a visitor record at the border. She will most likely be granted the standard 6 months and can then apply online to extend her stay later.

 

[Roadtorusso]

I too had problems entering the US - they actually cancelled my Nexus card because of it, even though I was honest every time I crossed. However, every time my husband comes to Canada to visit me, even for our wedding, he was honest and they never gave him any trouble. So, honesty is definitely the best bet!

Congrats and Good luck!

 

[danawhitaker]

Hello!

My fiance and I are discussing how to handle border crossing for our wedding next summer. She is American and I am Canadian, and she will be driving across the border with her family for our wedding. We want to be completely honest with the agents at the border, but are nervous they will not allow her to cross due to her disability. She's in a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy. Though her disability does not affect her mind, it has affected her body. I would hate to plan our wedding, spend money on their trip only to have them turned away because the agents at the border didn't believe she wouldn't be going home again afterwards.

Can anyone offer us any advice as to what to say when they are crossing? To make matters a little more complicated, although her Father works, she herself currently does not because of the difficulties finding work due to insurance costs. So other than the fact that her Father and the rest of her family would need to go back, there is no reason specifically for her to go home again. She will go home, she needs to as we want to apply outland for immigration once we're married, but we're not sure how to ensure border officials will believe that. And unfortunately it's too difficult for her to fly- which would have provided her with a return ticket.

Any help would be very much appreciated!

I crossed the border to get married in Canada last July. We were up front that we were getting married, didn't get too many questions, aside from the guard querying us about what we were thinking about immigration after the wedding and we said we knew we'd be applying outland and he seemed satisfied with what we were saying. He asked how long we'd be staying and we said a month, and there was no issue with that either. He did not ask to see our return tickets, though I had those with me. Quick crossing overall, no issues. This was at Port Huron.

 

[BonManush]

I flew to New York from Toronto to get married. I didn't wanna take chances at the border. I flew a week ahead of ceremony in case we needed to change the plans. My whole family later drove across to attend. I had no issue at all at the airport on either sides when I told them I was going to get married. Neither did my family have issues at the border.

I know in OP's case, flying isn't an option. But just being straight forward should help. Also, being American definitely helps. Just don't make huge plans or have her come over in advance if possible.

She doesn't need to leave Canada for you to apply outland unless she needs to get her affairs in order.

 

[Ponga]

Congrats!! First thing...in case you don't know....she can live in Canada and apply using outland forms.

She can [likely] remain in Canada as a visitor, but she cannot (and should not) use the term `live', or `living' in Canada when talking with CBSA...because she can't, until her PR is approved.

 

[simpsol22]

She can [likely] remain in Canada as a visitor, but she cannot (and should not) use the term `live', or `living' in Canada when talking with CBSA...because she can't, until her PR is approved.

Good to know....I guess it depends on the CBSA agent. I was able to move here with all of my belongings, even before applying via spousal sponsorship.

 

[danawhitaker]

Good to know....I guess it depends on the CBSA agent. I was able to move here with all of my belongings, even before applying via spousal sponsorship.

Out of curiosity, how much stuff did you bring?

 

[simpsol22]

Out of curiosity, how much stuff did you bring?

A 16 foot Uhaul---with all of my belongings. probably not advised, i'm learning. I lucked out I suppose.

 

[canadianwoman]

You were lucky they let you in. In any case, before an American gets a PR, they are just visiting in Canada. They should definitely not say they are going to live in Canada, or are moving there, until they get the visa they need to do so.
That said, Americans are usually let in to visit with no problems.
To the OP: your fiancee should bring proof of ties to the USA with her, just in case. If she is covered by her parents' health insurance, for example, this could be used as proof.