What do I say at the border?

[Panamai]

Oh, another question. If I apply outland, can I use a Canadian address as my mailing address?

 

[truesmile]

Yes your card will help, so long as you cross where they have a NEXUS lane. Otherwise, in my experience having the card does nothing. The ONLY time I ever had my trunk inspected was where there was no NEXUS lane. Other than that, they have always just waved me through without even a "hello".

Yes, you can. Mind you we completed/submitted the form to authorize the sponsor to be an "authorized representative". I noticed that upon doing so, they no longer ask for the applicant's address (in case that worries you).

 

[tabarnouche]

I've heard that saying your coming for a month or two is just as bad as saying you're staying for 6.. they'll give you the full inspection and ask for documents to back up that you can afford to be doing this and have ties back home to return to. I've heard that stating you're staying for a week raises a lot less questions and almost always ends with a smile and a have a nice trip. Probably ways of figuring out how long you're actually staying but I'd imagine that requires a request of information from one border to the other, as they only monitor your entry into a country, not your departure. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Cvstos]

Be real careful, though. If you say you're staying for a week and then overstay that, I have no idea what would happen. When I said I was staying for ~5 months I got grilled but I had all my documents in order and he let me in for the full 6 months. I had our marriage certificate, a letter of invitation from my wife, photos of us together with stuff in the background that proved timeline, my FBI cert, passport with previous visas for long stays, bank statement, RETURN TICKET (super important), and I'm pretty sure some other stuff too. There are certain things they can turn you down for, and if you prove all those are non-issues it's much harder for them to say no. It's called "Dual Intent" and I'd look it up if I were you. They normally have to give you a specific reason on that list and give you a letter about it. If they pull it off it'll also make moving to Canada MUCH harder. Best to have all those bases covered so they grudgingly let you in. At least, that's been my strategy. Bury them in paperwork and documents shutting off every normal avenue they have for denying me.

 

[Panamai]

Oh, wow, you've got me scared to death now! I'll bring my lease that says I have my apartment until the end of April. I'm not sure what else I can bring. I won't be working anymore at the time. I can't have a return ticket if I'm crossing the border in a car. Should I just say I'm staying for a few weeks? So, the nexus lanes have an actual person there questioning you? What about the Niagara Falls crossing with the toll? Anyone gone that route before? If so, do we both have to pay the toll, or just one of us?

 

[blueangel371115]

That's why this forum is so great. Lots of people sharing info. Lots of different experiences.

As for DL...we'll see how easy it is. Québec is special. Tomorrow I land. Next week I drive to Québec (city) to register for insurance. Then I suppose I'll tackle the license thing. I took my husband's name, and that's an issue here.

Let me know how that goes . I may have the same issue. Hope not. I opened a savings account with CIBC and all I needed was id.

 

[QuebecOkie]

Let me know how that goes . I may have the same issue. Hope not. I opened a savings account with CIBC and all I needed was id.

I'll post about it after I go in. I really want Québec to use my LEGAL NAME, which is my married name, so I'm kind of dreading the process. I have an appointment October 22 to get an official Canadian military family ID card made, which I'll have done in my married name. Hoping with that, and my OK driver's license (has my married name) that I'll be able to use my REAL name. The problem is we were married in April, came to buy our home in May, then moved in July, so I never had time to change my passport. It still shows my maiden name. :-/ So my PR card will, as well.

(Sorry to hijack your thread a bit, Panamai. I don't know much about the border crossing stuff. Only did it the once, and I had a really nice immigration officer who seemed to know what was up and literally winked at me at one point.)

 

[Panamai]

No problem, QuebecOkie. I hope we have a nice immigration officer too.

 

[QuebecOkie]

I hope you do, too!