Travelling to US prior to initiating CR1 process

[sdhiman 0]

Hello

I have a quick question about travelling to US before initiating the CR1 process. I got married in March 2009 in Toronto, still waiting for the marriage certificate and hence to start the CR1 process. My husband is a USC and I plan to visit him coming long weekend. I am a PR card holder in Canada and working as well. I have travelled to US quite a few times prior to getting married for both business and personal reasons and never had any issues.

When the custom officer asks me the reason for visit, is it OK to say that I am visiting my husband? What documentation apart from my pay stubs, letter from employer stating I am a permanent employee and expected to be back at work Tuesday, my home phone bills, can I take with me to prove my ties to Canada?

Thanks

[July09Bride 1]

Hello

I have a quick question about travelling to US before initiating the CR1 process. I got married in March 2009 in Toronto, still waiting for the marriage certificate and hence to start the CR1 process. My husband is a USC and I plan to visit him coming long weekend. I am a PR card holder in Canada and working as well. I have travelled to US quite a few times prior to getting married for both business and personal reasons and never had any issues.

When the custom officer asks me the reason for visit, is it OK to say that I am visiting my husband? What documentation apart from my pay stubs, letter from employer stating I am a permanent employee and expected to be back at work Tuesday, my home phone bills, can I take with me to prove my ties to Canada?

Thanks

There is a chance you could be turned away at the border... BUT, as long as you make sure you have proof (solid) proof that you will be returning to Canada when you say you will be, you should be okay. I do't think your paystubs will do much, other than prove you have (past tense) been paid to work at that company. But, a recently written letter from your supervisor stating that you are a permanent employee with complete expectations to be returning to work after the holiday weekend, perhaps (recent) mortgage information, ANYTHING you can get your hands on to prove reason to return (perhaps a "contract" of sorts for a pet-sitter, house-sitter, etc.)... you should be okay.

Good luck with your travels! OH!!! One more thing, if you have started your paperwork, bring copies of that. That way, they know that YOU know the proper procedure for immigration and that you wouldn't do anything to compromise the process you have already started.

[trailmix 77]

Hello

I have a quick question about travelling to US before initiating the CR1 process. I got married in March 2009 in Toronto, still waiting for the marriage certificate and hence to start the CR1 process. My husband is a USC and I plan to visit him coming long weekend. I am a PR card holder in Canada and working as well. I have travelled to US quite a few times prior to getting married for both business and personal reasons and never had any issues.

When the custom officer asks me the reason for visit, is it OK to say that I am visiting my husband? What documentation apart from my pay stubs, letter from employer stating I am a permanent employee and expected to be back at work Tuesday, my home phone bills, can I take with me to prove my ties to Canada?

Thanks

Hi sdhiman and welcome!

[rexalite 0]

I do't think your paystubs will do much, other than prove you have (past tense) been paid to work at that company.

Actually pay stubs can be useful if your job is wellpaying. WHen they are saying "ties" to Canada, what they really mean a lot of the time is money! If you have a salaried professional position, that holds more weight than if you have a minimum wage service job. So if you've got a high salary, bring those paystubs for sure. So an apartment lease, or mortgage papers, or anything showing property ownership really helps. If you are flying, a round-trip ticket goes a long way. If you are driving, try and cross in a nice looking car. If your car is not worth very much, you could borrow a car from someone, and get them to write a note saying they expect their car back! The biggest thing is to stay calm, recognize that the CBP is just trying to do their job, and intimidation is one of the very few tools open to them to weed out people who are trying to thwart the immigration law. That way you won't take anything personally, and you can explain that you are applying for a CR visa, and you know you have to be out of the country while that processes.

Good luck ,and congrats on your marriage!

[sdw 10]

When I cross I say I am going to visit my husband and don't have a hard time. Be sure to have your proof of ties to Canada. Tell the truth. I cross a few times a month. They may ask about who is moving where and such.

They may also ask question to see if you understand the process, I have had that happen as well.

Edited May 11, 2009 by sdw

[sdhiman 0]

Thank you so much everyone. I am planning to take as much documentation as I can possibly find and hopefully wont have any issues. I have another question pertaining to this. The company I work for have an office in Chicago and I will possibly have to go there sometime this summer for a week or so. Do you think just because I have started my CR1 process by that time, my business travel will be impacted as well?

[trailmix 77]

Thank you so much everyone. I am planning to take as much documentation as I can possibly find and hopefully wont have any issues. I have another question pertaining to this. The company I work for have an office in Chicago and I will possibly have to go there sometime this summer for a week or so. Do you think just because I have started my CR1 process by that time, my business travel will be impacted as well?

Bottom line is - they do not know you are married to a U.S. citizen - unless you tell them.

Now, what I am saying, is that in terms of your business travel - why would it even be mentioned? Unless you say, I am visiting for business and to visit my Husband - even then - the same stuff applies - bring proof of ties, bring proof that this is business travel.

WHen they are saying "ties" to Canada, what they really mean a lot of the time is money! If you have a salaried professional position, that holds more weight than if you have a minimum wage service job. So if you've got a high salary, bring those paystubs for sure. So an apartment lease, or mortgage papers, or anything showing property ownership really helps. If you are flying, a round-trip ticket goes a long way. If you are driving, try and cross in a nice looking car. If your car is not worth very much, you could borrow a car from someone, and get them to write a note saying they expect their car back! The biggest thing is to stay calm, recognize that the CBP is just trying to do their job, and intimidation is one of the very few tools open to them to weed out people who are trying to thwart the immigration law. That way you won't take anything personally, and you can explain that you are applying for a CR visa, and you know you have to be out of the country while that processes.

Good luck ,and congrats on your marriage!

What? - I would venture to say a big pay cheque and new car has exactly zero impact on the border guard admitting entry to a country or not.

Edited May 11, 2009 by trailmix

[sdhiman 0]

Well...I have my ticket booked for this weekend. I'll come back and post my experience and Thanka again to all who replied.

Edited May 11, 2009 by sdhiman

[Hugglebuggles 60]

What? - I would venture to say a big pay cheque and new car has exactly zero impact on the border guard admitting entry to a country or not.

Yeah I drive a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire with a giant dent in the side covered up with giant band-aid stickers... I've driven it across a million times visiting my boyfriend, and then my fiance. I was never once asked for prof of ties to Canada either! To add, I work at Tim Hortons (But I had a letter from my University regarding my full time enrollment with me to be safe)

Anyways, welcome sdhiman and good luck! I wouldn't expect any problems.

[sdw 10]

What? - I would venture to say a big pay cheque and new car has exactly zero impact on the border guard admitting entry to a country or not.

Yeah I drive a 1995 Pontiac Sunfire with a giant dent in the side covered up with giant band-aid stickers... I've driven it across a million times visiting my boyfriend, and then my fiance. I was never once asked for prof of ties to Canada either! To add, I work at Tim Hortons (But I had a letter from my University regarding my full time enrollment with me to be safe)

Anyways, welcome sdhiman and good luck! I wouldn't expect any problems.

I have to agree what you drive has nothing to do with it. I have a 95 saturn.

[sdhiman 0]

Just wanted to let you guys know that I had no issues whatsoever at the border. The officer was very nice, didnt ask anything apart from what my husband does for living. Maybe I was just lucky and gave me a 6 month visa when I was only going for the weekend.

Thank You everyone!!