bmc

I travelled across with my nexus while waiting for my passport & visa to arrive. We had a wedding to attend, so I went to cross aware they could deny me but they didn't; it was a normal exchange, no additional questions.

Yes, you have to go to the Nexus office/enrollment center and have them input it for you.

You don't need an appointment - you should be able to just walk in and tell them you need to update your status.

You can still use it! You just have to show both when you go through.

So stop reading other stuff! Seriously. Just relax and continue as you have been!

The horror stories definitely are uncommon, especially in our area. It's common for the border officials to have cross border daters coming through.

Unless your partner has a police record, quit worrying if she is already being permitted to cross regularly, you are fine.

A lot of times the people with those stories have other issues they aren't mentioning.

There's also a difference between crossing to marry with the intent to stay illegally and crossing to marry with the intent to legally immigrate. Think of it like a destination wedding.

You will find that in your journey, because you read this site that you wil sometimes know more about the process than the officials you interact with and it will be annoying.

Just to toss another story into the mix....

I'm in Windsor ON, hubby is just outside of Kalamazoo MI, so we only have 150 miles between us (about two hours). I have two daughters from my prior marriage. Agreeing to move to the US I still need to cross back into Canada on a regular basis, to be able to bring my girls back for time with their father and to visit friends and family. Because of this, the K1 option was not viable, though it would have got us under the same rook living together sooner.

We are coming to the end of our CR1 process and in hindsight, it's been fairly straightforward. I also have a Nexus card (as do my girls) and it's been a huge time saver for us!! Only once has a border guard given me a hard time (but still let me through). Anytime we cross I make sure I am only bringing what I need for that trip (usually just a weekend) and I carry with me proof of ties to Canada as well as copies of all our paperwork. ***knock wood*** it's not been an additional hassle!!

I think ((please don't quote me on this)) I think the CR1 was a little cheaper than K1 but it's been awhile since I compared the two.....

Overall, best wishes!!!!

Aw, SCA love! I just did my Pennsic pre-reg.

kitsulli, Yes, we are definitely fortunate with the close proximity. Audiobooks are my favourite for the drive! It makes it so much easier.

I visited very regularly and we just kept track of how many days per month/year I was there so that we did not cause trouble for ourselves. He would come here to balance out the time spent evenly and it worked out nicely for us.

We had no major issues during the process - just make sure to always have the paperwork with you when you travel - it's the best proof that you are doing things properly. I was only ever pulled in to secondary for the random Nexus compliance exams and never for my frequency of crossing or questionable ties (and I lived with my parents for awhile - no lease for proof!)

When I went over for our wedding weekend and following honeymoon, I said I was going to visit my fiancée as I always did and it was a quick conversation and pass through. We choose to get married in Buffalo because it was so much cheaper and where we were eventually going to make our life together.

After we were married and I started saying "going to visit my husband" as the purpose of my trip, there was never an increase in hassle (on average; you still get the grumps) but I was asked a few times if we had started the immigration process and then sometimes I would show the NOA1 and subsequent letters and that was enough for them. I feel like as along as you have established a routine of visiting and not taking advantage, you are fine. I never lied about anything crossing (sometimes I arrived in tears because the guard was just outright mean) but was never refused entry.

Nexus you can apply for online through GOES (Global... something Enrollment something) it's $50 for 5 years and is wonderful especially in the summer when the traffic on the bridges increases. One of the border officers suggested to me to apply one time I was crossing and in the interview process in the office, the officer laughed when I said I was tired of getting stuck in the lines when I went to visit my boyfriend. I'm sure they see a lot of us in the border town areas!

Sorry, this was long. Hope it helps!

I moved to Buffalo last year from St. Catharines.

We did the IR-1/CR-1 route.

Dated for 3 years before getting married and I travelled back and forth extensively (Nexus became my best friend), we had our wedding in Buffalo.

I had a few grumps in the booths crossing the border, but the majority of my crossings and lengthy stays were never an issue.

By the time we finished our immigration process, we had already been married for 2 years, so I received my 10 yr GC.

I still work in Canada and drive in to Niagara on the Lake 5 days/week.

Definitely read extensively in to the pros and cons of the K-1/CR-1 routes - the employment issue was a deal breaker for us choosing the K-1 route.

You can ask to keep it! If you get a nice person.

They will clip the corner for whatever reason.

You can also return it to the MTO for a refund on whatever time is left.

Also - if you are a PR and they put "temporary resident" on the card and ask you to return when you receive your GC to remove it, they are going to charge you a replacement fee. It's ridiculous. But evidently, it doesn't matter so much about that small notation since the license has it's own expiration date and you always carry your GC regardless.

I had also read somewhere that someone had suggested you can report your ON one as lost, pay the $20 for a new one, keep that one and exchange the other one for your NYS one.

I moved from Ontario to NYS.

All I ended up doing was signing a release with my new doctor in the USA who requested the records from Ontario and they sent them over without a charge.

There Is definitely more transparency and access in the USA system... I have access to my records through an online patient portal and my doctor replies to emails and messages regularly!

Yes, you can cross with just your nexus while the passport is being processed. I went for the weekend between my interview and receiving my passport back from Loomis without an issue.

I have a Canadian account with Scotiabank and can use the Bank of America ATMs to withdraw cash from it. There's a bit of a fee, but for the convenience it isn't a large amount. Depending on your location it may be an option for you too.

Yes, I have been checking my junk/spam folder. Nothing! I don't even see a waybill number on usvisa-info.com.

Probably Remembrance Day/Veterans Day screwed me up!

That's why I tried to change my interview date, but I was unable to do so.

I've sent at least four emails to the Montreal Consulate. Nothing so far.

I just called them up and talked to someone. She told me it could take up to a MONTH!

I asked to talk to her supervisor, but she refused and hung up!

I HATE and HATE and HATE babysitting everyone (USCIS, NVC, and Consulate)!

That's ridiculous! It can't possibly take that long.

I have my fingers crossed for you!

It's horribly frustrating to know more about bureaucratic processes than those actually processing it for you. The woman at the DMV was very confused by my visa and I had to explain it to her several times before she got her supervisor who then said exactly the same thing I had already said.

You're almost done!

Have you been checking your junk and spam folder too?

I had my interview on October 24th and received an email from Loomis at 9pm on the 27th.

Let's just say yours is delayed because of Veteran's Day and your email will appear today!

It really is!!

I had to give up use of my nexus card to change it into my married name as well. Feeling the pain of the long lines on my home from work now while I wait for the new one!

They need all of your travel documents under the same name. If you're traveling with your maiden name in your passport, your tickets will also need to be in that name.

And to change it on your passport is a pain - you have to re-apply and pay the full fee, not just renew.

Happy to help!!

Look on Expedia, booking.com and trip advisor to compare prices. We stayed at the Embassy suites for $180/night, it included 2 happy hour drinks and breakfast. Parking was $26/day . Food was good tho! Only a 7 minute walk to the Embassy. Uphill tho!

Did the receptionist email you a tracking number? If not, I would call because they emailed me a number 2 days after my appointment.

I have a question - I'm doing my POE tomorrow and have to go back to work on Saturday. I travel with my nexus pass between bridges and I'm not sure how my first trip back will be.

I know I'll need to contact the Nexus office to add on my visa, but just wondered how it goes. Do I have to make an appointment or can I just stop by?

And! Once you renew, can you use the old one until the new one arrives?

Confirmed. Many people on the forum do it as well. I've already talked to my employer about it as well.

You might want a hotel so you don't have to be up extremely early. You could leave your belongings at the hotel or in your car if you drive.

My husband was allowed to come inside and sit in the waiting area, they only asked to see his passport.

You could make it a fun weekend with your fiancé and get a hotel and do some sight seeing afterwards. There's also a Starbucks a short block away if they don't allow your fiancé in with you.

Definitely get your Nexus card! It's invaluable. My process took over a year and if I had to sit in those land border lines every weekend I visited we never would have made it.

That's my plan, Flames- ASAP to get my card and SSN!

I'm keeping my job in Ontario.

Just got my Loomis email that my passport has arrived! Going to pick it up Wednesday and hopefully do POE Thursday after work and the move furniture on Sunday.

I used copies from the public health office and had no issues at his office.

So I had my interview this morning at 9am and I just wanted to post a note that the initial processor wanted my spouse's birth certificate even though it wasn't listed on the interview letter.

I did not have it and she said it would be okay, that it was "new", but I was very panicked!

I was approved (hooray!) and have to thank everyone on here for the invaluable tips and info provided. There are so many gaps in the info process, without this site I don't know how people get through!

So if you're having an interview soon and can bring your spouse's birth certificate, definitely do, just in case.

Anyone with an interview on October 24th in Montreal?

Would anyone know if this is still accurate?

I haven't yet had my interview (October) but will be keeping my job in Canada when I am able to move to the US. Being able to use maternity benefits would be wonderful.

For anyone who maintained their job in Canada and travelled daily, I wonder if I could ask you some additional questions.
thanks kindly!