So my wedding and honeymoon are fast approaching and I'm a little concerned about our return from the honeymoon. My fiance is the US citizen and we're getting married in the US. We are leaving for our honeymoon to Mexico a few days later, departing and returning to the US. Now I do cross every weekend and never get hassled when I say I'm visiting my fiance and I do have a nexus card. Now I've never flown internationally departing the US but I do know that upon return they have different lines for different people. There will be a line for US citizens/residents (my fiance) then the 'everyone else' line which is for me.

Now my question is upon return to the US should he come in my line with me since we are travelling together or should we go in separate lines? I always carry paperwork (pay stub, work id card, bills, income tax stmnt, etc) to show that I live in Canada and I'm not trying to illegally immigrate. I'm wondering if anyone else has gotten married in the US, honeymooned from there and returned with or without problems. My fiance would definately answer the 'how do you know each other' question with 'she's my wife' since he won't lie when questioned by customs and I'm sure if they 'detain' or 'deport' me, thinking I'm trying to stay illegally, it will definately make for a great post on here LOL since he is a touch outspoken.

Just wanted to know if anyone's done this and if it was good, bad or ugly.

Um...I hate to break this to you but you can't leave the country once you enter on a K1. The K1 is a one time only entry. Once you get married you can then file AOS/EAD/AP. AP is for Advanced Parole...leaving and re-entering the States while your AOS is pending. If you leave the States without AP or the Green Card, it will be considered abandoning your AOS status and you'll have to return to Canada and file for a K3.

Might want to read the Guides...

Before you get your greencard, I BELIEVE you need to get special permission to leave the country for emergencies and such. Honestly, leaving the country at that point probably isn't a smart idea. My fiance and I want to have an international honeymoon, but we are just going to stay in the US - Either Hawaii or Califonia, because we aren't willing to ruin our chances of being together after leaving the country for a week or two.

I wrote my message same time Karen did, but ya, what she said

Another thing is that we are assuming you are doing a K1, but maybe you plan on doing a K3 anyways, so maybe thats ok?

As per KC

I'm not entering the US on a K1. I'm entering as a visitor. I'm filing for CR1 after we get married since I'm close enough to visit when I want We didn't want to file any other way since neither one of us wanted me 'trapped and unable to work' LOL

P.S. I've read all the guides at least half a dozen times and I sit here and read this board everyday. Just felt the need to put that out there

Since you didn't have that listed (which visa you were filing for) no one had a clue and were merely basing our answers on the word "fiancé". Glad to know you've read all the guides. You might find whatever answers you need on the IR1/CR1 forum.

Haven't filled in what I've filed for cause I haven't filed for anything yet So figured until I do it should stay blank since I'm not waiting on anything but my wedding. No biggie

My understanding is this (please correct if wrong):
1. You are entering the US as a visitor with the intention of getting married.
2. You and your husband-to-be will be leaving the USA together to travel to Mexico for your honeymoon, after your wedding.
3. After the honeymoon in Mexico, you and your fiance/husband will be returning to the USA, you again as a visitor.
4. You will be returning to Canada from the USA after an unspecified length of time staying in the USA as a visitor.

Is this the situation you are seeking advice for?
-Eli-

Only mind reader here is cutenbergy!! lol

That would be it Eli. I was just curious if anyone else has done this and whether or not they had problems. I know the customs person is either gonna wave me through or read the riot act depending on their mood since I will have evidence of my return to canada, etc. So was just asking if anyone out there had done what we're doing and to share their story. That's all.

We got married in Jamaica. We both flew out of Minneapolis together - I crossed land border to the US. Got married and flew back to to US and cleared US Customs in Memphis. I don't remember there being two lines. You will both fill out your declaration separtely - yours with your Canadian address him is US. Your passport will probably still be in your maiden name, too. We had no problems what so ever with customs but I was prepared to with my explanation and that I was fully aware of the CR-1 which we where applying for when I returned back to Canada. I had more questions with the airline check in wanting to see my "greencard". I had to explain that I didn't need a "greencard" to fly into the US as I was Canadian citizen and just flying into the US and then returning to Canada. They were confused but anyways.

Bless you neiks!!! I feel a bit better knowing that someone did it and lived LOL If I could fine the thumbs up emoticon you'd get it LOL May the immigration fairy grant your rescheduled interview soon

As concerned as I am about you entering the US as a visitor to get married, I know your questions are about returning to the US as a visitor from your honeymoon. I expect you will be pulled into Secondary Processing. All I can say is make sure you have all the evidence you usually carry with you on your visits, and have evidence that you are definitely returning to Canada, be it a flight schedule or note from an employer, etc. If you are making a connecting flight from Mexico to the US and then to Canada, it seems to me you'd have a much better chance of being allowed in as a visitor then you would if you are staying on in the USA for a few days before returning to Canada. I wish you the best of luck with your travels and your future immigration experience!
-Eli-

I do NOT read minds .......I read lips......lemme give ya a lesson buddy......

<shoots a beer cap at Flames>

I don't think she was planning on getting married in the US. Where you? I assumed you are getting married in Canada, then traveling to a US airport (hear Detroit has some great deals )and flying to Mexico??? Am I mistaken?


I didn't take any evidence with me. I guess being in the "biz" I know what they want to know and was fully prepared to tell it like it was. If they need confirmation of my employment I would have them call the Port I work at, plus they could alway call the US port opposite of the one I work at and I'm sure they would vouch for me.

I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to take along a letter from your employer and a lease or bank statement but personally I don't see how they are totally fool proof as they can always be forged if someone is trying to pull a fast one on you. In my experience the "best" evidence is your true story that your not going to get caught in a lie with.

Besides, thousands of Canadians drive across the land border to Minneapolis, Detroit, etc to catch a cheaper flight somewhere and on their return back to the US, Customs hardly "bats an eye" at them. I'm sure someone will post and say that wasn't their case and had a hard time but that would be an exception rather than the norm. Less than 10% of people get pulled into secondary.

I believe its always best to have proof of ties to canada when one is entering the USA! There have been a few VJ'ers from Canada that got questioned, brought into secondary and they belive what saved their butt was the ties to canada!!
1 can goto the USa and get married, we did that. Did I mention that tio the POE officer, no!! Did he directly ask me if I was getting married this trip? no, so i did not lie,lol Always tell the truth, but dont blah blah blah!! Answer their questions with confidence, in the eye, but dont tell ur life story! lol

good advice