Should I bring PR papers across border?

[jlewison]

Hi all,
I am visitng my Canadian fiance in a few weeks and we plan to get married during my trip. I am returing home after 9 days and when I get back to the States, we plan on sending our PR forms in. He has sent them to me already and I have filled most of the forms out, and I have my FBI "no record" background check back. We will also be paying our fees before my trip and I will have proof of payment. I was planning on bringing these papers with me, along with copies of our phone bills from the past year and copies of cards that we have sent to each other that we will submit for proof once we send everything in.

I am wondering if I should be bringing these papers along(if you have read my previous posts, you know I am worried about getting turned away at the border!) I just want to be prepared as possible. We were hoping that we could fill these forms out together during my visit. I have read both sides...bring the papers...or mail them and don't bring them...

If I bring these forms, is it going to look like I am trying to stay in Canada(which is NOT the case)...or does it look like I am trying to go about this whole process in the right way(which is the truth?)

So, I am hoping someone out there has been in my same situation and help me out Many thanks

 

[Stumpedmom]

My husband has brought the paperwork in his carry on both times he has come since we got married, and never once got asked about anything along those lines. He also carries his ties to back home such as his phone bills, rent agreement, pay stubs and the like. I would suggest to you that you make sure that you definitely have stuff to prove you are going back and have ties back home.

 

[BeShoo]

I can only tell you our experience. When we arrived at the border, my partner had just left his apartment and "moved back" to his father's place overnight. My Pontiac G5 was stuffed with his clothes and food from his kitchen in every nook and cranny. He had no bank account, no money, no job to go back to. We did have the PR application 90% filled out and accompanied by about 30 pages of pictures documenting our relationship, but due to a mix-up did not have a receipt for the fee.

The IO was not happy that we hadn't paid, and thought he had insufficient ties to the U.S., but decided to give him 3 months anyway with the idea that that would give enough time for the FBI certificate to arrive and we could file before it was time to renew his visitor status. She did ask to see if we had both he sponsor forms and the applicant forms, but she didn't look through them even to see if anything was filled out beyond the first page. She didn't look at our pictures at all either. That's really not the job of the border officer.

You have lots of proof that you'll be returning, so I wouldn't worry about them doubting your ties. I don't see why you shouldn't bring the forms with you. I would probably not use the word "fiance" unless they ask. Boyfriend/girlfriend is probably better. I don't see how the forms are going to make any IO nervous, given all the proof you have that your stay is a short one. You are clearly not trying to do anything illegal.

 

[BeShoo]

I should mention that they asked specifically about whether we had any furniture. We left all that stuff in storage in Florida. I was worried that they might want to inspect the contents of the car, but they didn't. It was drizzling and it would have taken us a lot of time to repack it if they had taken everything out. They asked how long my partner wanted to visit, so he told them 6 months. The things we had brought were appropriate to a 6 month visit.