So, my aunt just recently closed the distance with her fiancé. Now, I am used to hanging on here and talking to people who have immigrated one places or another to be with spouses, so there were many things I just thought were common knowledge... such as the fact that you need a VISA to move to the U.S. Even if you are still allowed to visit for 3 more months...
Well... my aunt sold all her things, packed up her few belongings she planned to keep in a U-haul trailer, and headed for the boarder last week... This is an excerpt from the email she sent me about her travel adventures:
So I referred her to visajourney.com as I noticed many people mentioned this website on these forums here... But when I went on there I noticed some things.... She can't apply for her K1 visa from within the U.S. And she will no longer have her apartment as of November! It sounds like she has a real immigration nightmare on her hands, doesn't it? 
Well... my aunt sold all her things, packed up her few belongings she planned to keep in a U-haul trailer, and headed for the boarder last week... This is an excerpt from the email she sent me about her travel adventures:
They took a look at the trailer and said there was no way I was just going for a visit (incidentally I still have my apartmentin Ottawa till the end of November). We needed the proper papers to move there and we didn’t have them since we still have to check on the health care system of both countries, etc. We just wanted to get my personal things across and get married, but looks like, even if we did get married, we still need to fill out the proper papers so I can move there.
I was asked to follow these two guards (one in front, one in back of me) to a small filthy room where they put me facing the wall, hands on the wall, feet away from the wall, legs apart and they frisked me doing a full body search! Then they brought me to another room for fingerprints and a picture taken (I’m pretty sure it isn’t a very good one!). Now, somewhere in the United States of America there's a folder with my picture on it, to be kept as evidence against me.
Was then released and told that before I can ever enter the States again I have to have 6 monthsworth of the following request:
1. Proof of Citizenship
2. Evidence of Employment
3. Evidence of Foreign Residence
4. Evidence of Financial Ability
5. Evidence of Financial Assistance
6. Sufficient Funds
7. Address, Telephone number where I can be reached in the United States
They sent me back to Canada; was told if I lied I would be banned forever from the States.
We had to figure what to do with my stuff so we opted for a Storage locker. THEN it was figuring out what to bring and what to put in storage. It was very hard because I wanted all of it, these where all the possessions I have in the world. No more furniture just these few things. SO we went to the bank to get statements of my financial affairs, where I lived in Ottawa, etc. My passport was proof of citizenship
We got lost in Windsor, going the wrong way but we finally found the border again. As soon as they saw the trailer, we knew we were in trouble and were asked to park and go into the building (again). I got the meanest, nastiest, the mother of all drilling sergeants. They made us wait forever on a cold chair, then this mean and nasty guy and all kinds of stuff (sort of living a part of ‘Alice’s Restaurant’), called me up, he practically yelled at me, said I had none of the papers, NOT TRUE! I showed them my retirement letter, he still didn't believe I worked, said I forged the letter. Showed them aolder cheque for rent (with my address on it), told me that I could have faked the address on the cheque. Nothing I showed him seemed to be accepted. I asked how I could prove I lived in Ottawa (which I officially still do till the end of November); he asked to see a lease (who keeps a lease with them?) I told them the truth, 19 years ago I had a lease but after a few years I had no more lease to sign, I’m on a month to month basis. He said I was lying, he had never heard of that. I don’t get my cheques back since I’ve been 60 because I don’t pay bank fees anymore. But I showed him all the statements for the last 6 months showing that a certain amount was taken off my back account on the 1st of every month, which was my rent, he still gave me a hard time. 3 hours of this drilling had me in tears. He asked me why I was going to the States so often (this was my 3rd time), I told him because I wanted to be with my fiancé and since I’m retired, I could do that. He asked me why I was bringing my TV; I told them that my fiancé loves sports;that is the first thing heaccepted and didn’t question again.
During this time Steve was not allowed to stand with me; he was told in a very cold, cruel voice to "GO SIT DOWN". He couldn't take what they were doing to me but he had no choice it would have made things even worse.
After 3 hours of this type of questionnaire and having me sit down so Sergeant Mean could verify what I told him or gave him, he finally called me back and said that he would let me in the US but only if I agreed to get out at the date he would give me, not one day later. So he gave me 3 months, which means I have to be back in Canada for 6 months because I'm allowed only 6 months in a year to visit. We both agreed and were on our way. Other guards rushed us out as we picked up the car. Steve wanted to check the trailer but we were force to leave immediately.
I was asked to follow these two guards (one in front, one in back of me) to a small filthy room where they put me facing the wall, hands on the wall, feet away from the wall, legs apart and they frisked me doing a full body search! Then they brought me to another room for fingerprints and a picture taken (I’m pretty sure it isn’t a very good one!). Now, somewhere in the United States of America there's a folder with my picture on it, to be kept as evidence against me.
Was then released and told that before I can ever enter the States again I have to have 6 monthsworth of the following request:
1. Proof of Citizenship
2. Evidence of Employment
3. Evidence of Foreign Residence
4. Evidence of Financial Ability
5. Evidence of Financial Assistance
6. Sufficient Funds
7. Address, Telephone number where I can be reached in the United States
They sent me back to Canada; was told if I lied I would be banned forever from the States.
We had to figure what to do with my stuff so we opted for a Storage locker. THEN it was figuring out what to bring and what to put in storage. It was very hard because I wanted all of it, these where all the possessions I have in the world. No more furniture just these few things. SO we went to the bank to get statements of my financial affairs, where I lived in Ottawa, etc. My passport was proof of citizenship
We got lost in Windsor, going the wrong way but we finally found the border again. As soon as they saw the trailer, we knew we were in trouble and were asked to park and go into the building (again). I got the meanest, nastiest, the mother of all drilling sergeants. They made us wait forever on a cold chair, then this mean and nasty guy and all kinds of stuff (sort of living a part of ‘Alice’s Restaurant’), called me up, he practically yelled at me, said I had none of the papers, NOT TRUE! I showed them my retirement letter, he still didn't believe I worked, said I forged the letter. Showed them aolder cheque for rent (with my address on it), told me that I could have faked the address on the cheque. Nothing I showed him seemed to be accepted. I asked how I could prove I lived in Ottawa (which I officially still do till the end of November); he asked to see a lease (who keeps a lease with them?) I told them the truth, 19 years ago I had a lease but after a few years I had no more lease to sign, I’m on a month to month basis. He said I was lying, he had never heard of that. I don’t get my cheques back since I’ve been 60 because I don’t pay bank fees anymore. But I showed him all the statements for the last 6 months showing that a certain amount was taken off my back account on the 1st of every month, which was my rent, he still gave me a hard time. 3 hours of this drilling had me in tears. He asked me why I was going to the States so often (this was my 3rd time), I told him because I wanted to be with my fiancé and since I’m retired, I could do that. He asked me why I was bringing my TV; I told them that my fiancé loves sports;that is the first thing heaccepted and didn’t question again.
During this time Steve was not allowed to stand with me; he was told in a very cold, cruel voice to "GO SIT DOWN". He couldn't take what they were doing to me but he had no choice it would have made things even worse.
After 3 hours of this type of questionnaire and having me sit down so Sergeant Mean could verify what I told him or gave him, he finally called me back and said that he would let me in the US but only if I agreed to get out at the date he would give me, not one day later. So he gave me 3 months, which means I have to be back in Canada for 6 months because I'm allowed only 6 months in a year to visit. We both agreed and were on our way. Other guards rushed us out as we picked up the car. Steve wanted to check the trailer but we were force to leave immediately.
You might hurt her pride a little bit, but isn't that better than her being banned from the US and a future with her SO?
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