Travelling to US during CR-1 process

[JerryA 1]

Canadian wife - US Citizen husband.

Got married Aug 24, 2010 in US. Wife returned to Canada Aug 29, 2010.

Filed I-130 Sept 12 and received Sept 17, 2010.

Wife lives & works in Canada presently. Plan to do that till CR-1 approval.

Meanwhile, she plans to visit me monthly or bi-monthly for short periods (week to 10 days). Will she have problems entering the country or denied entry? Some posts by people have me worried.

Any experiences so far regarding this matter??? What should me and my wife be careful about when travelling???

[Flames9_RN 358]

answered in ur other post.

[StacyandPeter 2]

You will be fine!

My husband (Canadian) is living in Niagara falls right now and I live an hour and a half across the border in the states. He visits me every single weekend and sometimes during the week.

Things your wife should have in the car when crossing:

Recent paystubs (to show she is still working in Canada)

Lease (if she is renting) or some proof of a canadian address

You just have to prove that you are going to be returning to Canada...most of the time, you don't even get questioned.

good luck with everything!!!!

[Abby62 23]

Wish I was that lucky. Seems every time I cross into the US Border (Detroit) I get the total interrogation. "Where are you going, who owns this vehicle, where do you live, where do you work, what is your position, what do you have in your vehicle, when will you return, any alcohol or tobacco, how much money do you have with you",..etc..just total hassle crossing. And YES, I have a whole binder with tabs that have records of every time I enter the US. Photo copies of my ID. Bank statements, bills, lease agreement, police clearance, letter from employer, pay stubs..etc. I am always polite, look them in the eyes, never give them anymore than what they ask. Have been denied once because I told them I was going to visit my BF at the time and had some personal items with me, got accused of immigrating and then I was frisked, pic taken, finger prints taken and then for 8 months I had to go to secondary inspection every single time I crossed, and that was at least a 1hr to 1 1/2 hr experience..car searched every time. I'm not a criminal, never had a thing on my record, yet I was always treated like one. BUT that's just my experience, hope everyone else has a better one..:-))

[Jill & Jeff 3]

Canadian wife - US Citizen husband.

Got married Aug 24, 2010 in US. Wife returned to Canada Aug 29, 2010.

Filed I-130 Sept 12 and received Sept 17, 2010.

Wife lives & works in Canada presently. Plan to do that till CR-1 approval.

Meanwhile, she plans to visit me monthly or bi-monthly for short periods (week to 10 days). Will she have problems entering the country or denied entry? Some posts by people have me worried.

Any experiences so far regarding this matter??? What should me and my wife be careful about when travelling???

My husband and I have been going back and forth across the border for about 2.5 years now and haven't had any serious problems. Before he had a passport, they used to have him pull over and give him the 20 questions, but still let him through. We had a couple of border guards that gave him a "baby sitting" pass where he had to check back in before he crossed back to Quebec but other than that, it's been easy. Now that he has a passport, they don't even have him pull over anymore.

One thing I noticed, after going back and forth so many times, most of the border guard are familiar with both of us and our situation. I find myself asking a lot of them, "How's your family?" etc etc.

[dvkk16 0]

My husband and I have been going back and forth across the border for about 2.5 years now and haven't had any serious problems. Before he had a passport, they used to have him pull over and give him the 20 questions, but still let him through. We had a couple of border guards that gave him a "baby sitting" pass where he had to check back in before he crossed back to Quebec but other than that, it's been easy. Now that he has a passport, they don't even have him pull over anymore.

One thing I noticed, after going back and forth so many times, most of the border guard are familiar with both of us and our situation. I find myself asking a lot of them, "How's your family?" etc etc.

Wow! What border are you crossing? I've been crossing any where from three to five times per week without any trouble but got a very stern warning on Saturday that i am crossing too much and it looks like I am Living in the U.S. We have filed six months ago and are waitng for our NAO2 but it didn't matter to him. He wasn't mean but just very serious. I was told it could jeporadize the processing of my VISA. That's the part that makes me nervous.

[Jill & Jeff 3]

Wow! What border are you crossing? I've been crossing any where from three to five times per week without any trouble but got a very stern warning on Saturday that i am crossing too much and it looks like I am Living in the U.S. We have filed six months ago and are waitng for our NAO2 but it didn't matter to him. He wasn't mean but just very serious. I was told it could jeporadize the processing of my VISA. That's the part that makes me nervous.

I'm actually the one doing most of the crossing which is probably why it isn't so bad. I go up to Montreal each weekend to spend it with my husband and he only comes down this way about 4-5 times per year for mostly just a weekend at a time. I'm assuming if he was crossing this much he would get the same warning.

[Canadiandggal 49]

I have never really ever had too much trouble at the border over the two past year only once have we been asked to go inside. That was at the rainbow bridge i believe, we havent gone there since lol. usually we go fort erie or lately we use the 1000 island entry. I have been to the states multiple times and for longer periods too. I have never had to show ties to canada .

[FireKari 4]

Wish I was that lucky. Seems every time I cross into the US Border (Detroit) I get the total interrogation. "Where are you going, who owns this vehicle, where do you live, where do you work, what is your position, what do you have in your vehicle, when will you return, any alcohol or tobacco, how much money do you have with you",..etc..just total hassle crossing.

I got the same questions every time I crossed there, even WITHOUT pending immigration.

That is just that border I swear.

When I did have my immigration pending, I had the same questions, plus they asked me a few more, but they never pulled me in to look at my stuff which I brought with me each time, and we used to visit eachother every 6 weeks.

No problems crossing other then just a few mins of questions, which really isn't a big deal, they are 'just' questions.

[OBX 51]

Wish I was that lucky. Seems every time I cross into the US Border (Detroit) I get the total interrogation. "Where are you going, who owns this vehicle, where do you live, where do you work, what is your position, what do you have in your vehicle, when will you return, any alcohol or tobacco, how much money do you have with you",..etc..just total hassle crossing.

I got the same questions every time I crossed there, even WITHOUT pending immigration.

That is just that border I swear.

When I did have my immigration pending, I had the same questions, plus they asked me a few more, but they never pulled me in to look at my stuff which I brought with me each time, and we used to visit eachother every 6 weeks.

No problems crossing other then just a few mins of questions, which really isn't a big deal, they are 'just' questions.

I was thinking the same thing. Those were the routine questions I was asked almost every time I crossed prior to filing.

[Krikit 1,163]

I was told it could jeporadize the processing of my VISA. <br />

A basic denial will not jeopardize your visa.  They were just trying to scare you.  Or, at the very least, the officer does not understand the immigration process.

Edited September 23, 2010 by Krikit