I reentered the US yesterday at DFW airport with my girlfriend. We had traveled together the entire trip and approached the booth together, as we have done in the past. The officer was friendly about it, but said that in the future, since we aren't married, we have to come up separately. But he said this time he wouldn't send one of us back, so as not to "embarrass" us.

Is this a rule/law? I feel like it would be easier for the officer to talk to us both together, since we did the whole trip together, had purchases for the two of us, etc. And two single people traveling would probably make the officer more suspicious, and take longer, especially since we actually did travel as a couple. Is it really that different if you are technically married?

Not sure it's a law, but it's usually you have to be married or in the same family (parent and child for example) to approach together. You probably just got somebody who was a real stickler for the rules.

Might have to be extended (or rather, restricted) to living in same household and same last names too.

We do live together, though I guess that doesn't matter either?

If I had to guess, it could be related to the fact that if you were married, spousal testimonial privilege would apply. As unmarried travelers, if your stories turned out to conflict, one could be compelled to testify against the interests of the other.

Stuff like this happens at YYZ regularly.

- gay married couples are hassled when they approach immigration as a married couple. Seems the USA refuses to recognize Canadian legal marriages.

- a prominent TV personality (I'd have to seek out the names) approached the immigration with her husband. They were asked to handover their marriage licence. Why, because last names differed. Agent would not accept their word that they were married

- in canada you are considered married common law after one (two? I'd have to verify) year of living together. Legally husband and wife. Not good enough at the immigration desk

I think it's really up to the immigration officer (and his/her mood) on this one. I always walk up with my gf when returning to the US. I've never been sent back or told that we needed to come up separately.

Once at SFO upon returning from Asia:

GF and I walk up to booth.
CBP Officer looks at our passports, asks "are you two married?"
Us: No.
CBP Officer (looking at me): Why not, doesn't she ever give you any pressure?
Me: Don't encourage her.
CBP Officer: Ha. Have a good one, welcome home.

Actually, it might:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonl...d_States#Texas

Basically, cohabiting for one night in the state and claiming that you are married makes you married.

I am not a lawyer, but I play one on FT.

I actually ran into this when preclearing in Dublin with my dad. I was returning to the U.S. and he was connecting through JFK on his way back to Canada. Apparently since we required two different declaration forms (even though we had been travelling together) we had to be interviewed separately. Not sure if that is the case everywhere or just at DUB but hopefully firebug will be by to fill us in. Agent was pleasant about it and it really wasn't a big deal (she just asked my dad to hang back and talk to her after she finished up with me).

You are referring to the USCPB preclearance facility at YYZ, right?

The CBSA has a much wider outlook on the subject I believe.

Interesting. I guess it is up to the individual CBP agent.

In Vancouver, going thru US CBP to get on a cruise ship going to Alaska a couple of weeks ago, I sent my GF up first and hung back. The agent asked if we were traveling together, my GF said yes and the agent had me step up. We were asked a couple of questions and were done in just a minute or two.

One year of living together and you're viewed as married; whether you like it or not. Basically the govt decides who's married and not; kinda makes the whole wedding thing pointless.

Yes, but someone's got to convince the ladies.

I filled out one customs form for my dad and myself in March 2010 coming back from Europe and arriving at ORD. My dad was continuing on to GRR and I was heading back to SJC. The CBP officer didn't mention anything, but I wish we had filled out two forms that day. My suitcase was one of the first on the carousel coming off of the A340, and his was the last!

Correct