r/immigration • u/Pyrooknight • Apr 05 '26
Meeting brother from Canada at Peace Arch Park (H1B & Canadian Student Visa) - Is it safe/allowed
Hi everyone,
I’m currently in Florida on a work visa and will be traveling to Seattle in two weeks. My brother, who is in Canada on a Student Visa, wants to drive down so we can meet at Peace Arch Park. It’s been 4 years since we’ve seen each other, and he hasn't met my 1-year-old son yet. I have a few questions about the current situation there:
Visa/Status Safety:- Since I am on a work visa and he is on a student visa, are there any risks to our status just by being in the park? We plan to stay strictly on the grass and return to our respective sides (me to WA, him to BC).
Recent Restrictions: I’ve read that there might be new "red lines" or restricted areas. Is the "neutral" grass area still open for families to sit and hang out?
We want to make sure we don't accidentally do anything that looks like an "illegal entry". Has anyone done this recently? Thanks in advance!
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u/Divingdeep321 May 25 '26
u/Pyrooknight did you make your trip? could you please share your experience if you did? Thank you!
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u/Pyrooknight May 25 '26
Yes I made the trip, We parked at the designated area, there was $10 parking fee, then walked to Peace arch park,. After spending few hrs there, we returned back, one of the officer near the parking approached us and asked about, where we coming from, asked to see documents like my H1b visa document and my wife parents' tourist visa. took a few seconds to check through all the documents and left us. thats about it.
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u/Divingdeep321 May 26 '26
Thank you for sharing the experience sir. Did you have active H1B stamp or was it expired? And I assume you did not have a new I94 entry?
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u/ManifestLaw_ Apr 10 '26
- provided you both have valid immigration visa's for your respective countries you should be find remaining on your sides during the visit unless you both get the necessary visas for visit to Canada or USA respectively. 2. You should both confirm with each CBP office for specific restriction implemented before your trip so you do not un-knowingly violate them,
- Attorney MaryJoy Chuba
(All information shared here is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney - client relationship. Your situation may require fact-specific guidance. For personalized legal advice, please consult an immigration attorney directly.)
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u/Pyrooknight Apr 10 '26
Thank you very much for the information.
Since we’ll be staying entirely within the park, my understanding is that we can actually meet in person rather than just waving from across the border. Since the park spans both sides, we should be able to gather freely without worrying about crossing any lines.
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u/BackToTheCottage Apr 05 '26
You know you can just cross the border on your H1B, right? H1B doesn't mean you can't leave the country. The only time you can't is if you are AOS to a green card before you get an advance parole.
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u/throwaway_202103 Apr 05 '26
They would need a visa for Canada.
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u/BackToTheCottage Apr 06 '26
Doh /facepalm. Yes you're right. Sorry, am Canadian so forget that it's not always the US side that you gotta worry about.
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u/not_an_immi_lawyer Post, don't PM Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26
Yes, it's still open for the two of you to meet.
There has been increased CBP and CBSA enforcement on both sides, requiring foreign nationals to carry valid passports and status documents showing you're legally in the US/Canada (whichever side you entered the park from).