Thanks for your input about "secondary" and as I said in a previous post, my fiancee and I have NO plans to get married on this trip...or any other trip in the immediate future. Chances are, we'll have to use the K1, even though it's not the best for us. We'd much prefer the IR1/CR1.

And this raises yet ANOTHER question. How does anyone get to use a K3 or IR1/CR1? I mean, you need to be married BEFORE the fact, right? Well, I've done some research and it seems to me, that in order to get married within the United States, you need a social security number. What I've read is that in order to get an SSN, my fiancee would need to be here via the K1.

So how do people get married in the U.S. without the use of a K1?

Once again, we don't wish to break any laws. So if the K1 is the only way to do it, then...well, that's that. But if there is another way, we'd really appreciate knowing!

You dont need a SSN to get married.... I did not get my SSN until months after I got married... we just told the town hall that I did not have one and they took a note of my passport number...

If you want to do CR1 then why not get married on your trip to Canada... instead of in the US....

Kezzie

I am an officer with Canada Border Service (Canada Customs). Here is my professional opinion.

First of all - relax! Everyday hundreds of people enter Canada to visit their fiances. The scenario usually does not go like this"

CBSO - What is the purpose of your trip?
Traveller - To visit my fiance.
CBSO - No, you can't do that - go home!

This is usually how the scenario goes:
CBSO - What is the purpose of your trip?
Traveller - To visit my fiance
CBSO - When are you getting married? Where are you getting married? Where do you plan to live after getting married? How you meet? How long have you know each other? Have you looked into the immigration proceess into the US or Canada? etc etc etc.

What do you do in the US? Do you have sufficent means (money) to support yourself for the duration of your stay in Canada? Do you have a residence in the US? Do you have a return ticket to the US? ETC ETC ETC............

And any other question s the officer may ask to satisfy that you are indeed a bon a fide visitor. You may also be selected for a secondary to ensure that you aren't packing "everything and the kitchen sick" as well.

If everything looks good, you answer the questions truthfully - you have satisfied the officer.

Have a nice visit with your fiance!

Okay, thanks, Neiks. That actually makes me feel quite a bit better.

If things go like that, then I really have nothing to worry about! Besides, I've spoken to my fiancee about this, and we both firmly decided that not only is "telling the truth" the best policy, but that we need to relax and remain calm when heading to the U.S. or Canada. Acting anxious will just get us noticed more and probably pulled aside.

So perhaps the best policy is just to be honest, relax and bring documentation that we're each headed back to our home countries after we spend a week with each other and our families.

Exactly!