Canadian Says US Border Guards Demanded Fiancé Visa to Visit Boyfriend

Detailed summary

Canadians report being turned away at the U.S. border while visiting American partners, raising questions over visa rules.

Canadians say they are facing questions about their romantic relationships at the U.S. border, with some claiming they have been refused entry while attempting to visit American partners.

One woman claims U.S. border guards turned her away after just three weekend trips to see her boyfriend this year—and warned she could face a five-year ban unless she obtained a fiancé visa, despite the couple not being engaged.

"They told me if I tried to enter again without a K1 visa I would be barred for 5 years," she wrote in a November 1 Reddit discussion about Canadians being denied entry to the United States. "Mind you were not even engaged," she added.

The woman said she had brought documents showing she lived in Canada, but officers still refused her entry. She also claimed they demanded a return airline ticket, despite her travelling by car.

Other Canadians have described being questioned or turned away while visiting American partners, raising questions about how U.S. immigration rules are being enforced.

The accounts, which have not been independently verified, come amid wider concerns about border enforcement under President Donald Trump, including fears that political comments posted online could affect Canadians' ability to enter the country.

In the November 1 discussion, another Canadian student said she had been refused entry once after making approximately eight trips over 18 months, with visits lasting between one and three weeks.

"I was once advised by a border agent to not tell them I was visiting a boyfriend, just say 'friend,'" she claimed.

In a separate case previously reported by TheTravel, another Canadian woman described being refused entry after repeatedly spending three months with her American boyfriend before returning to Canada for just two or three weeks.

Opening of the article, excerpted from Newsweek. To read the rest, open the article on the publisher's site.