Can Canadian marry in US before application process?

[Heather&Matt 0]

Great response HeatDeath

I would only add that when he visits you, he should bring strong ties to Canada, such as a lease/mortgage, job letter with an expected return date, utility bills, enrollment in school etc, that shows that he MUST return to Canada

Good luck

You should see the envelope I have with these things, I even included copies of our NOA1 and NOA2 after receiving them. I maybe get asked to give these documents every 6 months or if I provide them to a border guard that is giving me a hard time, which rarely happens.

[CanAmBride 5]

My husband lives in Windsor and I live in Detroit. We got married in Detroit and then filed our I-130. We could not do a K-1 because he owns a business in Windsor and could not be away for more than a few days.

We had no problems getting a marriage license in the US and he when he crossed the border that day, he just said he was visiting his Fiance, which he was!

He crosses every weekend and some week nights to "visit" me while we are waiting for his interview in Montreal. Whenever he crosses, he brings his NOA2 along with ties to Canada such as bank account statements and paperwork from his job. He never has any problems.

I can't wait until he gets his Green Card and can come home every night!!

[Heather&Matt 0]

My husband lives in Windsor and I live in Detroit. We got married in Detroit and then filed our I-130. We could not do a K-1 because he owns a business in Windsor and could not be away for more than a few days.

We had no problems getting a marriage license in the US and he when he crossed the border that day, he just said he was visiting his Fiance, which he was!

He crosses every weekend and some week nights to "visit" me while we are waiting for his interview in Montreal. Whenever he crosses, he brings his NOA2 along with ties to Canada such as bank account statements and paperwork from his job. He never has any problems.

I can't wait until he gets his Green Card and can come home every night!!

Sounds exactly the same as my husband and I, as we live so close to each other.

Your last statement is exactly what we say to each other all the time!

[IndigoSkies 168]

My husband lives in Windsor and I live in Detroit. We got married in Detroit and then filed our I-130. We could not do a K-1 because he owns a business in Windsor and could not be away for more than a few days.

We had no problems getting a marriage license in the US and he when he crossed the border that day, he just said he was visiting his Fiance, which he was!

He crosses every weekend and some week nights to "visit" me while we are waiting for his interview in Montreal. Whenever he crosses, he brings his NOA2 along with ties to Canada such as bank account statements and paperwork from his job. He never has any problems.

I can't wait until he gets his Green Card and can come home every night!!

Do you ever sit on a bench on the American side and he on the Windsor side, near the bridge/university? Do you ever yell to each other romantic words over international! Oh how tragic and a curious plot for a made-for-TV movie.

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

If you are going the CR-1 route, getting married in Canada would be the less risky, more reliable way to go because ....

Hmmm...

I was about to say that you can enter Canada to marry a Canadian (with the intention of returning to the US) easier than your Canadian fiance can enter the US to marry an American (with the intention of returning to Canada), but come to think of it, the situations are pretty symmetrical.

You might have a slightly easier time convincing Canadian border officers that you intend to leave after the wedding because of your collective intention to eventually live in the US, than he would have convincing American border officers that he intends to leave after the wedding, given his intention to eventually return to the US on a spousal visa.

Do you really have to convince Canadian officials that you will go back to the US? Why would anybody prefer to stay in Canada?

[flustered 14]

this is what I did in 2002...flew to Denver from Toronto and got married..flew back to Toronto..sold my belongings quit my job and drove back across the border and headed to Denver..they asked me the purpose of my trip and I said visit..I filed for AOS as soon as I got to Denver...never had a problem..I actually went to the immigration office in Denver and got my Alien card and everything else I need right there on the spot...I am guessing things are different and they don't do that anymore..

Do you really have to convince Canadian officials that you will go back to the US? Why would anybody prefer to stay in Canada?

Can you say free medical??? LOL oh and don't forget the good beer!!!

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Couples cross into the US to get married all the time - people do it in Vegas or at Disney world right? It gets a little more complicated when 1 person is a US citizen because that brings up red flags to the border guard so the suggestions that your fiance bring strong ties of work and responsibilities back home in Canada are right on!

My husband and I chose to go the K1 route 3 years ago and that was best for us...like Arabella said - you wait either way - you can still visit eachoth3r back and forth either way.....I agree with her that the couple months off work isn't such a bad thing while you wait for the EAD if you can afford it - if you go for K1 - you jhave a bit of time to save some spare $$$$.

Whatever you chosee - welcome to VJ and head on over to the Cdn forum - we can be very helpful and have relevant experience to help you guys through your journey.

[Wayne and Claudia 40]

Thanks for all the info everyone!

I hate the idea of being apart for even longer (we have been long-distance for almost a year now) .. but it seems like the CR-1 saves some extra steps in the whole process and wouldn't require him to be here without a job for several months while waiting for work authorization if we go the K-1 route?

Don't forget the union that the two of you will feel knowing that you are one soul. Hell nor high water was going to stop my wife and I from marrying. The process can be a bit longer but in the end we believe it will have been worth it. Just an idea...when the "border crossing" happens have the preliminary CR-1 paperwork done. If questioned that does show the border guard your intentions. "Hey, I am going to pick up my certified wedding certificate so I can come back and mail this and get the ball rolling." Just a thought.

Edited October 13, 2010 by Wayne and Claudia

[texas-gal 3]

I know someone who was married before she applied for her visa. It took almost 2 yrs for her process. She was finally able to come to the US at Thanksgiving last year.

[Heather&Matt 0]

I know someone who was married before she applied for her visa. It took almost 2 yrs for her process. She was finally able to come to the US at Thanksgiving last year.

I was married 4 months before applying for the Visa. The CR-1 visa is for couple's who are already married, as well as children and other relatives of US citizens.

We wil be married over a year before being able to live together.

Edited October 13, 2010 by Heather&Matt

[blonde_diva 0]

I cam to the us to visit my boyfriend- we're both artistic and decided to get married without our family just for us. It was spur of the moment, unplanned, and very fun lol. I stayed in us while we are filing- our lawyer said it was easier for me not to leave.

[BellasCanadian 0]

Don't forget the union that the two of you will feel knowing that you are one soul. Hell nor high water was going to stop my wife and I from marrying. The process can be a bit longer but in the end we believe it will have been worth it. Just an idea...when the "border crossing" happens have the preliminary CR-1 paperwork done. If questioned that does show the border guard your intentions. "Hey, I am going to pick up my certified wedding certificate so I can come back and mail this and get the ball rolling." Just a thought.

I completely agree .. the best things in life are worth fighting for! Great idea on the paperwork too, thanks!