Border crossing...worries and concerns...

[jlewison]

I have a few questions as far as border crossing goes. I had posted my concerns a few days ago about what to say. I am flying in Van BC in the middle of January to marry my fiancee. We have our PR applications already and have started to fill a few things out...I was planning on bringing my forms with me to Canada so my fiancee and I could go through them together...I am wondering if that is a bad idea or a good idea.

I am not planning on lying at the border but I am wondering how much of the truth I should give right off the bat. Should I say I am visiting my fiancee and friends, or just friends? It seems like if I say "fiancee," they will not let me in(I have read forum and forum and am freaked out!) I don;t want to lie(I am not the type to lie about anything.) but I am afraid to tell the truth.

Just an FYI...I am spending 10 days in Canada and have every intention to return home after our wedding and then apply for PR. I have a return ticket home, a letter from my boss stating when she expects me back to work, my last years W2 form, my work schedule for the week that I will be returning to work, paystubs from my last 4 paychecks, a business card with my name and piosition on it, my vacation request off form from work, bank statements showing a few grand in my savings, my 401K statement with my home address, a letter from my fiancee stating that I will be returning home, a letter from my parents saying I am returning home, the title to my car(showing that ,y car is in the states) medical insurance cards...all to prove that I have ties to the states and WILL be coming back after my 10 day visit. I moved back with my parents to save money after we got engaged so I do not have proof that I have rent or a house payment to come back to.

Do you feel as though this might be enough information? Can you think of anything else that would be handy to include? THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH for your help!!

 

[kelKel]

I can completely understand your concern with not being allowed into Canada but you hear of the stories on here when people are refused but so many travel in and out of Canada daily without any further questioning. My boyfriend has travelled in and out of the country many times after telling them he was coming to see me and not once have they asked him anything more than where he was staying, for how long and what he would be doing here. Thank God he was never asked because he never ever brought any proof he'd be returning

I think you have more than enough proof you'll be returning after the 10 days. As for what I would say I would tell them the truth that you're visiting your fiance. I wouldn't lie but that's just me. I'm not 100% sure I would bring the papers for permanent residence with me because if they discovered these they may not believe your intentions to return. Try not to stress so much and be excited for your wedding

 

[jlewison]

Thank you Kelkel, that post put my mind at ease...and you are right, I need to stop stressing and get excited about my upcoming wedding! I have so much faith in my fiancee and I and I just have to remember that when I am at the border. Hope all goes well with your application!

 

[navneetgarg120]

You have stated enough proofs which indicates your intention to return. Just enjoy your wedding and congratulations to you and your fiancee!!!

 

[kelKel]

You'll be fine! Enjoy!

 

[Love_Young]

I wouldn't lie to the border officers but you don't have to flat out say you are visiting your fiance. When they ask what your purpose for visiting is, you could say to visit family and friends. Technically this isn't a lie because she is family and I am sure you are wanting to visit her family and both of your friends. Now if they further ask what family you are visiting then this is when you would state your fiance' and whoever else you plan to see. And as far as evidence goes for proof of financial stability and proof of intentions to return, I think you have a lot. Also do not give them more information then they ask for. So unless they ask for proof of financial support or return ticket, do not hall it out. They will ask for it if or when they want to see it. It is always good to be prepared though.

Good luck with your trip and come back to let us know you made it there safely.

 

[BeShoo]

You have lots of proof by the sound of it and there is a good chance they will not ask for any of it.

They will usually ask who you are visiting and how you came to know this person. Evading the fact that it is your girlfriend will make it seem like you are hiding something. They hate people who are hiding anything and they are trained to spot that. My boyfriend ran into this problem just over a year ago when he came for U.S. Thanksgiving. They really had to push him before he would admit that I was his boyfriend. After that, they were happy. (Although they confiscated his sweet potatoes--no root vegetables across the border.)

As soon as he got into my car at the airport, and we were safely off airport property, he announced to me "Well the cats out of the bag now." Actually, he forgot that I had let it out of the bag 3 months earlier when I went to visit him. It was getting harder and harder to justify to border officials why I kept going to visit some guy in the U.S. for reasons that I would not disclose, so I finally admitted, "Well, he's kind of a boyfriend" in response to the question, "What's he to you?" The response I got back was, "Cool" but was followed by a warning that I couldn't just go and live with him in the U.S. but we had a plan for him to possibly get a job transfer to Canada and the officer seemed happy with that.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Don't bring the PR papers with you unless you have already filed and are carrying a copy as proof. If you want to fill them together then mail what you've done so far about a week before you plan to arrive. As others have said, you have plenty of the right kind of proof to show your intention to return from your visit. HAve a wonderful time.