Hi,
I am the USC, and my Canadian Wife has had Her CR1 Visa packet since June and it is ready to activate. Problem is, I am taking time off right now from my job in the US, and am staying in Canada with my wife for the next few months. I plan on going back to work in the US, and want to bring my wife down there too.

Her Visa package expires in November, and I want to get it activated at the border now. We are in Edmonton, but I don't think we can get to the US immigration people at the airport without a ticket.

If we just go to the nearest border crossing, in this case Coutts/Sweetgrass in Montana, will there be a problem getting the package opened and the visa put in Her Canadian passport and stamped, even though I am not at present at my US address? We would be coming right back into Canada after spending some of those $1 Plus Canadian Loonies shopping!! lol....

Thanks,
Lynnmatic

It shouldn't be a problem. The only thing since you don't even have to be there when she's entered into the system at the POE. The only thing she'd get in the mail at your U.S. address is her actual green card and maybe her SSN (though it seems more often than not that the checkbox option for an automatic SSN doesn't "work"). So if you have an exterior mailbox (rather than a mail slot in your door) you may want to ask a friend to watch out for it for the next few weeks or month after she "crosses". It will come in either a USCIS marked envelope OR a plain white envelope with no USCIS markings on it -- they're inconsistent that way.

There should not be a problem at all!!! Go activate that sucker!!!!
AND..... Since you are in Deadmonton.... how about helping us load our UPack??????

Oh that sounds like work!! lol....I have just come off working 12 hour days and being on call 24/7 for the last month. I think I will stay in front of the tv and watch football.

I called the Sweetgrass, Montana port of entry and spoke to an officer there. He was very nice, but said my wife would not be able to leave the US until we got permission from US Immigration......I think He is under the impression we have been married less than two years and have to get the Conditions removed. We have been married nine years, so that should not apply to Her, should it?

And how could the US keep a Canadian Citizen from re-entering Canada?? That is not up to the US side, in my opinon.

I will call again and speak to someone else before we travel 600 km to the border to get this done.

Thanks for all the good responses!!

Lynnmatic

Doesnt matter if you only had a Cr-1!! Cr-1 or Ir-1 are multiple entry visa's, u can come and go as u wish! When u got the POE the first time they will take ur paperwork, ask a few questions, finger print ya and stamp the visa and ur good to go!! Right on the issued visa it states "Upon endorsement serves as temporary evidence of lawful permanent residence for 1 yr" Others on VJ have done exactly what you want to do. Activate it, then head back to Canada. If its only for a short while its ok!

Sorry to add more confusion....I should have said IR1 Visa is what my wife has. Maybe that is what confused things when I called the POE at Sweetgrass. I will call back and get another opinion.
How long does She have to get back to the US if She returns immediately to Canada?

Thanks so much for the help,

Lynnmatic

K1'ers can not do that as a k1 is a ONE time entry. BUT K3, cr-1 and IR-1 are multiple entry visas! So once they stamp it, ur good to come and go as u please.

On an IR-1, what is the maxiumum time allowed to stay outside of the US, as in coming back to Canada for a while?

just an update.....all went well at the Border yesterday......my wife got Her IR1 visa stamped and we went on down to the nearest Social Security office in Montana, and got Her card applied for. No hitches and no problems!

Thanks for everyone's help here.

Lynnmatic