TN and Marriage

[RaxDFW]

I have read previous posts about marrying a US citizen on TN. They have been very informative. I would love your feedback on the scenarios below:

I am currently on a 3 year TN in US, and soon to be engaged

Are there other options besides getting married in the US. for ex. -- If i got married/wedding back in Canada to a US Citizen and the very next day I go back to the US... Does the CBP know i was married if the question was not asked of me at the border?

Would you still need to re marry in the US??

or What if you got married on a cruise ship???

What is the risk factor/effect on TN?

and how long does it take to get the AP?

Thank you so much

 

[nelsona]

A legal marriage anywhere will be considered valid (canada, ship, Gilligan's Island...) no need for the wedding to be in uS.

The problem with marriage to a US citizen living in US (this applies to fiances as well) is that the presumption of immig intent is so overwhelming that no officer will knowingly admit you on TN or any other non-immigrant status (other than H1 or L1). That is the very reason that fiances and spouses outside US (including Cdns) have to get K1 or K3 visa to enter.

The risk for any TN spouse or fiance is that if found out at the border, you will be denied entry and told to apply (from outside) for k1 or k3. This will take a couple of months. So your job would be in jeopardy.

So, even travelling together, married or not, is risky. So no rings, no giggling and cooing together in the immig line at the airport. Even you were if allowed to enter, by pleading with the officer, it would NOT be in TN status. So your job would be in jeopardy.

The advice is ALWAYS to marry and honeymoon in US, submitting your I-131 etc paperwork the day after wedding, and staying put in US until AP and EAD are issued.

 

[Bill_S]

If you have a 3 year TN, no need to risk getting married outside the US. Get married in the US, honeymoon in the US, and file for AOS.

CBP won't know you are married. But if they ask you, you'll have to tell the truth, and you could find yourself stuck in Canada waiting for a spousal visa to be approved. There were reports of this happening on Grasmick's old board.

 

[simsd]

We have said this once before and a thousand times -don't travel! don't travel ! don't travel!

Get it? So please don't start telling us how you have plans to have a wedding in Canada blah, blah, blah. Get married in Texas and stay there.