Marry in US while visiting??

[lngtimecoming 40]

Hello,

I have searched the site and found conflicting answers to my question. Can I marry my American fiance while visiting the US, then return home to Canada and start paperwork for spouse visa? He seems to think this is allowed.

 

Edited May 16, 2018 by lngtimecoming

[Ontarkie 13,979]

Yes it is allowed. You plan to return to Canada then start the process. What is not allowed is to  plan to enter the US, get married and then stay before your arrival. 

 

Getting married and leave is perfectly legal. 

[geowrian 22,336]

Yup, it's perfectly allowed. You just need to leave the US on time.

[lngtimecoming 40]

Thank you Ontarkie...would I need to tell them at the border that I was intending to marry while I was there or would that just open a big can of worms?

 

[geowrian 22,336]

You don't have to disclose it unless asked, but you do have to be honest with anything they do ask.

[maxxann 12]

4 hours ago, lngtimecoming said:

Thank you Ontarkie...would I need to tell them at the border that I was intending to marry while I was there or would that just open a big can of worms?

 

Our lawyer decided against me coming in to the US with the intention of marrying while on a tourist visa. The very reason what you have asked "to say or not to say during CBP questioning" Our lawyer advised that if you have the intention of marrying & you told the CBP that youre only visiting a friend or touring, it is classified as falsification. Geowrian is right, you would have to be honest when asked but in my opinion, apply for a K1 visa, & once you get the visa, you have 90 days to get married in the US. Consult an immigration lawyer before taking any actions.

[peachouille 200]

45 minutes ago, maxxann said:

Our lawyer decided against me coming in to the US with the intention of marrying while on a tourist visa. The very reason what you have asked "to say or not to say during CBP questioning" Our lawyer advised that if you have the intention of marrying & you told the CBP that youre only visiting a friend or touring, it is classified as falsification. Geowrian is right, you would have to be honest when asked but in my opinion, apply for a K1 visa, & once you get the visa, you have 90 days to get married in the US. Consult an immigration lawyer before taking any actions.

Not true. If they say they're visiting their fiancé, that is the truth.

If the CBP officer asks if they plan on getting married, then they need to say yes. But it's not a lie not to say upfront that the reason for visiting is marriage since it is not the only reason.

 

I did exactly that last summer. I said I was visiting my fiancé, wasn't asked more, got married in the US, went home and filled for CR1. Went back for Christmas and had no problem being admitted with the petition pending and saying I was visiting my husband.

 

Now obviously, there's not guarantee you'll be admitted in the first place, depends on CBP and if they have no doubt that you'll go back home.

Edited May 16, 2018 by peachouille

[maxxann 12]

27 minutes ago, peachouille said:

Not true. If they say they're visiting their fiancé, that is the truth.

If the CBP officer asks if they plan on getting married, then they need to say yes. But it's not a lie not to say upfront that the reason for visiting is marriage since it is not the only reason.

 

I did exactly that last summer. I said I was visiting my fiancé, wasn't asked more, got married in the US, went home and filled for CR1. Went back for Christmas and had no problem being admitted with the petition pending and saying I was visiting my husband.

 

Now obviously, there's not guarantee you'll be admitted in the first place, depends on CBP and if they have no doubt that you'll go back home.

Like I said, she need to tell the truth. In my example if she said she's touring instead, then it's falsification. Depends on the CBP officer. As I have said, in my case our lawyer decided against it & has also recommended I dont travel to the US while my case was being processed, my husband did the travelling. That was all our precautionary measures. It is not mandatory. We just want a smooth processing. 

[NikLR 13,220]

Perfectly fine to marry within the USA and leave.  Pack an appropriate bag. Have a return ticket.  Bring evidence of your ties to Canada.  Disclose as much as required when entering.  I always said I was visiting my husband except for once when we weren't married (I was visiting my boyfriend... lol)  It also would have been truthful to say I was on vacation or visiting friends.  

People have destination weddings in the USA all the time.  Be truthful but concise.  There's never any need to give the CBP your life story or babble nervously. 

[lngtimecoming 40]

I have always said I was visiting a friend when going over to see him....sometimes they ask his name and then how we met where he works his address etc. We have been visiting (mostly me going there) for 16 years now.

[SKB2017 95]

18 hours ago, lngtimecoming said:

Hello,

I have searched the site and found conflicting answers to my question. Can I marry my American fiance while visiting the US, then return home to Canada and start paperwork for spouse visa? He seems to think this is allowed.

 

I did exactly this.  Was suppose to be going to visit my boyfriend for 3 months, he asked me to marry him the day after i got there. We decided to get married a few weeks later.  I stayed a total of 5 1/2 months then came home to Ontario.  We filed our paperwork in January.  Still waiting on our NOA2.

[KeratNY 76]

Be prepared to prove strong ties to Canada so they do not suspect you are coming and then adjusting from inside the US. Otherwise yes you have to be honest but you do not have to volunteer the marriage unless asked. People do elope to the US all the time.

[lngtimecoming 40]

15 minutes ago, KeratNY said:

Be prepared to prove strong ties to Canada so they do not suspect you are coming and then adjusting from inside the US. Otherwise yes you have to be honest but you do not have to volunteer the marriage unless asked. People do elope to the US all the time.

I'm a full time student (graduating in December) would a letter from the school that I am enrolled and due back to class on a certain date help? I also have a part time job that I have been employed at for 15 years, I'm assuming a letter with my next shift listed after vacation along with my job title and years of employment would be helpful?  I don't have a lease for my apartment but I have lived here for years and have utility bills in my name with my address...any other suggestions for proof would be appreciated!

[KeratNY 76]

5 minutes ago, lngtimecoming said:

I'm a full time student (graduating in December) would a letter from the school that I am enrolled and due back to class on a certain date help? I also have a part time job that I have been employed at for 15 years, I'm assuming a letter with my next shift listed after vacation along with my job title and years of employment would be helpful?  I don't have a lease for my apartment but I have lived here for years and have utility bills in my name with my address...any other suggestions for proof would be appreciated!

https://www.us-immigration.com/blog/how-to-show-ties-to-home-country-during-a-visa-interview/

 

 

[NikLR 13,220]

https://help.cbp.gov/ci/fattach/get/73503/0/filename/Status%2Band%2BIntentions-Strong%2BTies.pdf

 

From the CBP website instead of an immigration blog. 

 

If you dont feel comfortable clicking on a pdf try this:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1192/kw/Ties to home country

Edited May 17, 2018 by NikLR