Obtaining L2

My fiance recently started work in WA over the summer and has an L1 Visa. I came over to visit him recently from Ontario and did not have a return ticket booked as I was unsure when I would head back home. A recent trip across the border to Vancouver resulted in my being denied entry back into the US on the grounds that my passport contained no specified return date. After hours of pleading my case they let me back in and the border guard suggested to eliminate further hassles my fiance and I should get married sooner rather than later in order for me to obtain my L2. Having combed through the posts I have seen some info on L2's being granted at border crossings. Can anyone tell me the procedure for obtaining the L2? Are there a series of forms to fill out? My fiance has all of his visa documentation and employment info. Taking the advice of the border guard to marry soon, would it be acceptable to get married in WA while I am here? Basically, I just want to know what the next steps are after marriage to secure my ability to travel back and forth from the US and Canada. Any advice?

Getting an L2 is a simple process -- once married (You can marry wherever you want.). You take a copy of his L1 (I-94) and your marriage certificate (the one issued on the spot when you married is good enough for newlyweds) to the border and you get L2 status.


That allows you entry into US, but not work. For work -- after you get your L2 (I-94) you must file an I-765 form to get an EAD, which will run concurrent to hubby's L1. You cannot work until you have the EAD in your hand, which take a couple of months.

Just to clarify, the reason you were not allowed back in as a B-2 tourst had nothing to do with any 'date" in your passport (otherwise, they would simply stamp their own return date), the eareason was that YOU could not initially convince them that you were going to return to canada. You were an overstay risk, given where you crossing, where you suposedly lived, and where your bf lived and his status, and given the apparent lack of any reason to return to Canada.
L-2s have no such requirement to prove they live in Canada.

Thanks for the information. I believe the stamp is what set everything off and when I told them I was visiting they did not believe me as I did not have any documenation to hand at the crossing. I went over to BC to visit an ill relative and did not expect to face the challenges I did. I was able to plea my case and produce some documents I attained once I was sent back to Canada - bank statements, student information, a letter from my doctor stating I was a patient, various passes with my name on them - all of which are particular to Ontario. Anyway, it was not an experience I wish to have again hence the urging of the guard for us to marry. While this is not how we had planned to get married we agree that in order for this not to happen again we will have to do so.

A final note, I also suspect that the current construction at the Peace Arch border is resulting in a higher level of screening - there are no vehicle plate cameras set up and I would have to say that nearly a third of the cars passing through were being pulled over.

-- Mon Nov 01, 2010 11:49 am --

Finally got my L2!!

After discussion with family, friends and the advice of an immigration lawyer my fiance and I decided to get married. We had a civil ceremony at the Seattle Municipal Court and obtained our certified copy of the marriage license. We returned to Ontario and a week later flew back to Seattle. My L2 was issued at Pearson without any hassles. The key documents we needed were: my husband's L1 and all accompanying paperwork; husband's recent pay stubs; licensed copy of marriage certificate.

A stressful process but in the end all was worth it.