Hello,
First I would like to say how helpful this site has been for my husband and I as we try and make sense of such a confusing process. I hope to contribute our experiences in return. I also apologize for the length of this post. I tried to be as concise as possible.
I've read a few posts on this forum with regards to couples/spouses being treated with suspicion by CBSA at the border. My husband (Canadian citizen) and I (US citizen) were recently married after dating for three years. We live six hours away from each other (he is in Canada, I'm in the US) and I travel frequently to visit him in Canada. The first time that I drove across the border to visit for an extended period (4 months), we were turned back around because the officer thought that I packed too much (I brought what I thought was appropriate for 4 months but I'll admit that it bordered on excessive) and did not bring adequate proof of ties to the US (I brought a bank statement showing $100K in checking, proof that I owned a business, proof of health insurance.) The officer asked that I drop some of my things off at my parents' cabin in a nearby state and bring a piece of mail showing my address in Florida, and he would permit me to enter Canada the next night. We did as he asked and I was given a Visitor Record. Since then, when my passport is scanned at the border, it shows that there was an issue.
Let me be clear in that I understand that I am a visitor to Canada and am not entitled to entry. I also understand that CBSA officers are perfectly within their rights to question and search me. I have had many interactions with very polite, very professional CBSA officers and took ZERO issue with being pulled into secondary screening and asked questions.
Unfortunately, I have also had officers scream at me (not exaggerating), tell me that I am lying (I wasn't), keep me at the CBSA office for 2+ hours (several occasions), ridicule me in front of co-workers (and others within ear-shot in the lobby), search my laptops and cell phone (for what, he didn't say), and the list goes on. Encounters with these a$$h01@$, thankfully, are rare. However, I suffer from an anxiety disorder and have begun having panic attacks when I have to cross into Canada.
We are pulling together everything needed to submit an application for spousal sponsorship (outland) but we might be looking at 12+ months until it's approved/official. Is there anything that I can do (temporary resident visa?) in the interim to make crossing the border a less stressful experience?
A few facts about our situation:
1. I am employed full-time (no longer self-employed) but I am able to telecommute from pretty much anywhere. I've told CBSA as much.
2. I do not own or lease a residence. I am the caretaker for one of my parents' properties for all but 3 months out of the year when it is rented for the season. We do not have a lease because I don't pay rent (in exchange for keeping up the property).
3. I am financially sound and would not seek employment or government services in Canada.
4. We are applying for Spousal Sponsorship (Outland) because I cannot stay in Canada while our application is processed. I cannot stay in Canada for longer than one month due to medical and work-related travel requirements.
5. I've never stayed in Canada for longer than five weeks before leaving for the US or another foreign country.
6. A take care to spend more time (>50%) in the US than I do in Canada as is the law (or how it was explained to me by a CBSA officer.)
7. I can't apply for Nexus yet (residency requirement).
Also... Full disclosure, my CBSA record isn't perfect.
1. In three years, I have been issued 9 Visitor Records, 2 of which were 1 day late (1 due to unsafe road conditions preventing me from driving home, 1 because I mixed up the date - completely my fault).
2. The last time that I returned a VR after overstaying by a day, the officer informed me that this was my 3rd strike, which is incorrect. I did fail to return my VR upon departure once when crossing in Windsor very late at night because I missed the exit for the CBSA office. The crossing was under construction and I'd been on the road for 10 hours that day. I did not see the turn off for the office and ended up at US border control still in possession of my VR. However, I called the number on the back and was told to mail it in. I did but apparently no one made note of this in my file. As far as the officer was concerned, I never mailed it in.
It might be that my options are limited due to mistakes made on my part, but I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice that members of this forum are able to offer.
Much thanks in advance!
Zaphottawa
First I would like to say how helpful this site has been for my husband and I as we try and make sense of such a confusing process. I hope to contribute our experiences in return. I also apologize for the length of this post. I tried to be as concise as possible.
I've read a few posts on this forum with regards to couples/spouses being treated with suspicion by CBSA at the border. My husband (Canadian citizen) and I (US citizen) were recently married after dating for three years. We live six hours away from each other (he is in Canada, I'm in the US) and I travel frequently to visit him in Canada. The first time that I drove across the border to visit for an extended period (4 months), we were turned back around because the officer thought that I packed too much (I brought what I thought was appropriate for 4 months but I'll admit that it bordered on excessive) and did not bring adequate proof of ties to the US (I brought a bank statement showing $100K in checking, proof that I owned a business, proof of health insurance.) The officer asked that I drop some of my things off at my parents' cabin in a nearby state and bring a piece of mail showing my address in Florida, and he would permit me to enter Canada the next night. We did as he asked and I was given a Visitor Record. Since then, when my passport is scanned at the border, it shows that there was an issue.
Let me be clear in that I understand that I am a visitor to Canada and am not entitled to entry. I also understand that CBSA officers are perfectly within their rights to question and search me. I have had many interactions with very polite, very professional CBSA officers and took ZERO issue with being pulled into secondary screening and asked questions.
Unfortunately, I have also had officers scream at me (not exaggerating), tell me that I am lying (I wasn't), keep me at the CBSA office for 2+ hours (several occasions), ridicule me in front of co-workers (and others within ear-shot in the lobby), search my laptops and cell phone (for what, he didn't say), and the list goes on. Encounters with these a$$h01@$, thankfully, are rare. However, I suffer from an anxiety disorder and have begun having panic attacks when I have to cross into Canada.
We are pulling together everything needed to submit an application for spousal sponsorship (outland) but we might be looking at 12+ months until it's approved/official. Is there anything that I can do (temporary resident visa?) in the interim to make crossing the border a less stressful experience?
A few facts about our situation:
1. I am employed full-time (no longer self-employed) but I am able to telecommute from pretty much anywhere. I've told CBSA as much.
2. I do not own or lease a residence. I am the caretaker for one of my parents' properties for all but 3 months out of the year when it is rented for the season. We do not have a lease because I don't pay rent (in exchange for keeping up the property).
3. I am financially sound and would not seek employment or government services in Canada.
4. We are applying for Spousal Sponsorship (Outland) because I cannot stay in Canada while our application is processed. I cannot stay in Canada for longer than one month due to medical and work-related travel requirements.
5. I've never stayed in Canada for longer than five weeks before leaving for the US or another foreign country.
6. A take care to spend more time (>50%) in the US than I do in Canada as is the law (or how it was explained to me by a CBSA officer.)
7. I can't apply for Nexus yet (residency requirement).
Also... Full disclosure, my CBSA record isn't perfect.
1. In three years, I have been issued 9 Visitor Records, 2 of which were 1 day late (1 due to unsafe road conditions preventing me from driving home, 1 because I mixed up the date - completely my fault).
2. The last time that I returned a VR after overstaying by a day, the officer informed me that this was my 3rd strike, which is incorrect. I did fail to return my VR upon departure once when crossing in Windsor very late at night because I missed the exit for the CBSA office. The crossing was under construction and I'd been on the road for 10 hours that day. I did not see the turn off for the office and ended up at US border control still in possession of my VR. However, I called the number on the back and was told to mail it in. I did but apparently no one made note of this in my file. As far as the officer was concerned, I never mailed it in.
It might be that my options are limited due to mistakes made on my part, but I would greatly appreciate any suggestions or advice that members of this forum are able to offer.
Much thanks in advance!
Zaphottawa
