Time to get married!

[Spencer F 0]

My fiancé and I have committed to going the route of a CR-1 visa and are now trying to plan our wedding quickly so that we can get the ball rolling. The current plan is to fly into the USA and apply for a marriage license, Sign it and after a required three day waiting period we will have a small ceremony in her yard with a pastor and her kids and a few local friends to bear witness. I will then return to Canada to start my 14 day quarantine and we can start the CR-1 process. We do have a concern about me entering the country with the intent of marriage. I do have to be truthful about my intentions when I am at the airport going through customs. And when I tell them I am intending to enter the country to marry my fiance and return to Canada are they going to believe me? Or is it likely they will refuse my entry? Does anyone happen to have any knowledge or experience on this subject? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 

 

-Spencer 

[Bbking2 93]

Why don't you guys get married in Canada, then start the process. Without a 90 day marriage visa in the states you taking a risk... We went through the same thought process

[Crazy Cat 39,215]

20 minutes ago, Bobnrob said:

Why don't you guys get married in Canada, then start the process. Without a 90 day marriage visa in the states you taking a risk... We went through the same thought process

What risk?       Many, many people come to the US to marry every year.....then return to their home countries.

Edited August 5, 2020 by Lucky Cat

[Crazy Cat 39,215]

12 minutes ago, Spencer F said:

My fiancé and I have committed to going the route of a CR-1 visa and are now trying to plan our wedding quickly so that we can get the ball rolling. The current plan is to fly into the USA and apply for a marriage license, Sign it and after a required three day waiting period we will have a small ceremony in her yard with a pastor and her kids and a few local friends to bear witness. I will then return to Canada to start my 14 day quarantine and we can start the CR-1 process. We do have a concern about me entering the country with the intent of marriage. I do have to be truthful about my intentions when I am at the airport going through customs. And when I tell them I am intending to enter the country to marry my fiance and return to Canada are they going to believe me? Or is it likely they will refuse my entry? Does anyone happen to have any knowledge or experience on this subject? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 

 

-Spencer 

Good plan......Just be prepared to show the CBP officer evidence of your intent to return to Canada at the end of your visit.  Every entry is at the discretion of CBP.  Good luck.

[Ptitchou 117]

1 hour ago, Bobnrob said:

Why don't you guys get married in Canada, then start the process. Without a 90 day marriage visa in the states you taking a risk... We went through the same thought process

The Canadian government is not allowing fiances into the country under the travel ban exemptions.

 

Last year I went to visit my partner in the US to get married. I had a return ticket for 10 days' stay. As I went through on Nexus, I did not need to disclose that I was getting married but had I been asked the purpose of my visit, I would've simply said that I was visiting my partner for 10 days and been sure to have evidence of my ties to Canada and intention to return. Don't offer more than you're asked. 

 

Going to the US to get married is not illegal. Intended to get married and then stay to adjust status is considered fraud, so just be sure you've got proof of return and you'll be fine. 

 

Congrats!

Edited August 5, 2020 by Ptitchou

[Bbking2 93]

32 minutes ago, Ptitchou said:

The Canadian government is not allowing fiances into the country under the travel ban exemptions.

 

Last year I went to visit my partner in the US to get married. I had a return ticket for 10 days' stay. As I went through on Nexus, I did not need to disclose that I was getting married but had I been asked the purpose of my visit, I would've simply said that I was visiting my partner for 10 days and been sure to have evidence of my ties to Canada and intention to return. Don't offer more than you're asked. 

 

Going to the US to get married is not illegal. Intended to get married and then stay to adjust status is considered fraud, so just be sure you've got proof of return and you'll be fine. 

 

Congrats!

Ok thanks.. My misunderstanding. 

[pushbrk 12,105]

A generic truthful answer as to the purpose of your visit is all that is needed.  Don't lie, ever, but attending a wedding, even your own as part of a "visit" is no more required to be disclosed than a visit to a public library.  If asked a direct probing question about your visit answer it.  You probably will get such questions because they'll want to understand why the visit is so important you are willing to go through quarantine upon your return.

[U2k 34]

6 hours ago, Ptitchou said:

The Canadian government is not allowing fiances into the country under the travel ban exemptions.

Thats not correct. Thats what they say on the news and on the borders website, reality is quite different. My USA fiance visited me in Canada 4 times since covid( crossed by land border). Its true he had to quarantine. He is also Nexus member, and i do believe that helps... When they ask for purpose of visit he says I need to see my fiance. Done. Good luck.

[LilyJ 1,258]

My husband and I did exactly what you are planning when we got married in 2018. He came here, got married with me, and returned back to Denmark afterwards. When he arrived and was asked the purpose of his trip? "I'm here for 2 months to marry my fiancee" "Congratulations sir enjoy your stay". Coming from Canada I can't see you having an issue. Just be honest about your trip. There's nothing illegal about coming to the US to marry as long as you return back to Canada to go through the visa process the right way

[SalishSea 16,769]

10 hours ago, Bobnrob said:

Why don't you guys get married in Canada, then start the process. Without a 90 day marriage visa in the states you taking a risk... We went through the same thought process

This is not correct.

[betzzymathew 20]

If CBP probes further, be explicit that you are not intending AOS. Sometimes knowing the rules and stating the true intention is what is required. 

Personally if I were you, I would do the same thing. 

 

Heads up, we married in British Columbia and the marriage license took 3 months to arrive without which we couldn't file for CR1. Just make sure which state you are marrying has a quick turn around time for delivering marriage certificate (especially in the pandemic times)

[JFH 12,189]

11 hours ago, Spencer F said:

And when I tell them I am intending to enter the country to marry my fiance and return to Canada are they going to believe me?

They believed me - and I had my wedding dress with me - and many others on here. But remember you don’t have to provide information that isn’t asked. If they ask you if you are going to be getting married then you must be truthful. But if they don’t ask, you don’t need to tell. 

Edited August 6, 2020 by JFH

[JacobP 185]

56 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

This is not correct.

I'd like to point out that Canada can also give you the same kind of trouble the US gives, as they also don't like the idea of people coming in and staying. I've been grilled by the CBSA a few times, never been in secondary, but more than my fiance ever has by CBP.

[SalishSea 16,769]

3 minutes ago, JacobP said:

I'd like to point out that Canada can also give you the same kind of trouble the US gives, as they also don't like the idea of people coming in and staying. I've been grilled by the CBSA a few times, never been in secondary, but more than my fiance ever has by CBP.

Oh, I know.  My husband is a kiwi, and would always fly directly to YVR from Auckland and we would drive down from BC.  The Canadian border control at the airport always harangued him far more than the CBP at the land crossing into Washington State.   I thought it was strange.

[JFH 12,189]

Also agree that Canada is more “troublesome” at the border than the US. I once got a bargain ticket to Vancouver from London and took the bus to WA and then back the same way. Going back into Canada for a few hours to get to the airport was so much hassle. The agent wanted to know when and where I met my boyfriend (and he was at the time) and when I told her the country where we met she rolled her eyes and sighed and said “but whereabouts? A bar? Work? Through friends?” and it all seemed very unnecessary as I was on the airport bus, showed her the ticket on the flight that was leaving in a matter of hours and my husband is not Canadian and with his criminal record can’t even go across the border to go shopping. 

Edited August 6, 2020 by JFH