Passing through U.S. border first time since we got married!

[Cindo and Joe 0]

So tomorrow will be the first time passing into the U.S. border with my NEW Canadian wife! We haven't started the CR1 process yet- but we plan on doing so after she returns to Canada.

We have brought a whole folder of documents including:

-return tickets

-copy of Marriage certificate (they made a misspelling on our original and had to send it back, but made a copy) along with reciept of marriage.

-letter from her employer stating her contract

-pay stubs since November '08

-letter from Landlord stating her lease

-bank account (she doesnt have much in there but is connected to a $21,000 loan type thing so if her balance goes below, it will deduct from that and it will be debt she has to pay off later)

-cellphone contract

-passport

-photos of us from the past 8 months on various vacations/ time together

I'm curious as to what will happen when we reach the border- we are traveling via Greyhound from Montreal to Burlington to fly to Los Angeles.

Do we go through together? Does the border official board the bus and we just stay there? Do I do most of the talking? Who holds/presents the marriage certificate to the officials?

Hopefully there are no issues!

Thanks

-Joe

[Sam and Ben 2]

If you are crossing the US border (or Canadian border, for that matter) via Greyhound, everyone will be required to get off the bus with their respective luggage and go into secondary for minor (if you're lucky) questions and inspection of the luggage you plan to cross over with.

I would assume that, since you're travelling together, you will both be approaching the same patrol officer (think bank teller setup, if neither of you have ever been through secondary inspection before), and then if they require any questions directed at one or the other, they may ask the other to have a seat so they can talk privately.

I can't imagine it matters who hands the officer what. A good key point is to only answer what is asked, unless you honestly feel it is a good idea to add more to your answer than what they've requested. I've had officers who couldn't seem to connect point a to point b, so I offered up a fair bit to help them understand that, due to the envelope's worth of information I brought along, I wasn't staying in their country for more than the time I stated (while traveling during the K1 process), and that helped me out. He likely wouldn't have let me cross otherwise.

I imagine in Burlington you'll have to go through something similar again, due to the international flight, though I've no real idea, as I always cross the border here first to get to the airport, and fly domestically within the US.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I really don't have any advice, just wanted to congratulate you on the recent marriage! That's awesome!

[Jamaican JNR 2]

So tomorrow will be the first time passing into the U.S. border with my NEW Canadian wife! We haven't started the CR1 process yet- but we plan on doing so after she returns to Canada.

We have brought a whole folder of documents including:

-return tickets

-copy of Marriage certificate (they made a misspelling on our original and had to send it back, but made a copy) along with reciept of marriage.

-letter from her employer stating her contract

-pay stubs since November '08

-letter from Landlord stating her lease

-bank account (she doesnt have much in there but is connected to a $21,000 loan type thing so if her balance goes below, it will deduct from that and it will be debt she has to pay off later)

-cellphone contract

-passport

-photos of us from the past 8 months on various vacations/ time together

I'm curious as to what will happen when we reach the border- we are traveling via Greyhound from Montreal to Burlington to fly to Los Angeles.

Do we go through together? Does the border official board the bus and we just stay there? Do I do most of the talking? Who holds/presents the marriage certificate to the officials?

Hopefully there are no issues!

Thanks

-Joe

[Jamaican JNR 2]

So tomorrow will be the first time passing into the U.S. border with my NEW Canadian wife! We haven't started the CR1 process yet- but we plan on doing so after she returns to Canada.

We have brought a whole folder of documents including:

-return tickets

-copy of Marriage certificate (they made a misspelling on our original and had to send it back, but made a copy) along with reciept of marriage.

-letter from her employer stating her contract

-pay stubs since November '08

-letter from Landlord stating her lease

-bank account (she doesnt have much in there but is connected to a $21,000 loan type thing so if her balance goes below, it will deduct from that and it will be debt she has to pay off later)

-cellphone contract

-passport

-photos of us from the past 8 months on various vacations/ time together

I'm curious as to what will happen when we reach the border- we are traveling via Greyhound from Montreal to Burlington to fly to Los Angeles.

Do we go through together? Does the border official board the bus and we just stay there? Do I do most of the talking? Who holds/presents the marriage certificate to the officials?

Hopefully there are no issues!

Thanks

-Joe

Trying to find out the question you are asking. Is it that you are a USC and your spouce is a Canadian Citizen and you will be crossing the US border for the first time since you got married and wondering if it will be a problem for your spouce? It should not pose any problems.

[Krikit 1,164]

I imagine in Burlington you'll have to go through something similar again, due to the international flight, though I've no real idea, as I always cross the border here first to get to the airport, and fly domestically within the US.

I think he means Burlington, Vermont.

[Sam and Ben 2]

I imagine in Burlington you'll have to go through something similar again, due to the international flight, though I've no real idea, as I always cross the border here first to get to the airport, and fly domestically within the US.

I think he means Burlington, Vermont.

Ah, my apologies. Shows my ignorance.

I should also specify that my experience was limited to the Windsor-Detroit border; I don't know of any possible differences faced elsewhere.

Edited August 29, 2009 by Sam and Ben