So I think I've screwed up...

[KimandRuss 0]

again, it's all about the POE... she's coming in newly married to a US citizen, to them...she already has intent it's up to you to prove she's not staying. Go visit the Canadian forum here and those fine folks can tell you all about crossing the borders there.

[msu17 0]

Of course she can can come with you for a visit. Whether or not they let her in is completely up to the discretion of the immigration official. Do the typical, what are you here for? Visiting family answers, nothing specific and hopefully they won't probe too much. You'll be going through different lines, so just don't have your fiance go gushing about how she just got married and is visiting as a wife for the first time blah blah blah. Lots of us have visited as fiances after filing the paperwork and haven't been looked at twice, and then there are those of us who have had a ban put on entering the US and those who have been turned away. To me, its worth the risk, but its something you have to weigh. Good luck on the process and congrats on the wedding!

Oh, and make sure to have her bring evidence of a life back in Canada that she plans on returning too. Letter from work, school, lease agreement, bank statement showing she still has a full balance, that sorta stuff.

Edited August 28, 2008 by msu17

[ocelittle 0]

Banned, eh?

That would be terrible.

Thanks again! What a great forum

[Corinthians 7]

Sorry, does anyone know how soon she can visit? She already has a flight booked back with me a few days after the wedding.

Corinthians said:

"You gotta figure that she could come here and stay 'til almost Christmas, go home for a month or whatever to pack things or get papers together and then come back for another 90 days and once that was over,"

Could she really leave with my right after the wedding? The way he put it wasn't that bad at all.

So the tickets are back to Vegas? You never know what the Point of Entry person is gonna do but if your wife says she has friends (or a husband) in the US and wants to travel a bit I don't know why they would stop her. I'm not sure what requirements Canadians have to meet to stay here or how long they can stay...just make sure she can show ties to Canada. Car payments, account balances, leases, etc. I would hope they'd be reasonable especially when they see you are a dual citizen. You never can tell with the government though.

My point is, don't give up or get depressed. It sucks to be apart but if you plan the visits out right, it wont be so bad and before you know it she'll be here permanently.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Welcome to VJ!

I know that it's quite a shock to realize how difficult a process it is to get your love to the U.S.

I'm the Canadian citizen and I was like "holy #######" when I found out.

I think you guys should continue on with the wedding and then file for a spousal visa as soon as you have all your paperwork and marriage certificate and everything ready to file.

The Guides here are fabulous, with example forms and step by step instructions on how to file, there is even a flow chart showing you what to expect.

"How long" is really based from case to case.

Some take 6 to 8 months, others take longer. Spousal visas are longer than the K1 fiance visa but if you two get married in 2 weeks that's definitely out.

She may visit as long as she shows strong strong ties to Canada at the POE showing she's going to go back home after visiting.

A letter from her employer stating she works there and that she is returning on such and such a date. Pay stubs showing she works there. Mortgage/Rent/Car lease agreements showing she still has financial ties to Canada, etc. etc.

I believe she may visit for up to 6 months.

I would enjoy your wedding, you are after all marrying the love of your life, read up on the guides as to what you both need, stay organized and wait patiently.

Even if it's 8 months....in the grand scheme of things...that's just a drop in the bucket.

Best of luck and please join us on the Canadian forum in the regional section!!!

[brown_eyes 0]

Yup.

Her being able to visit you depends on what proof of stability she is able to show. If she lives on her own and has a job her case is much stronger and she's less likely to get through the border with less hassles. It really just boils down to the border officials thinking if she is coming down to live with you which makes things get ugly. I travel often (at least a few days a week) to visit my bf across the border and bring my mortgage and property tax statements and a year's worth of cable/electricity bills just in case they suspect anything fishy going on. So far I haven't been asked to show them but I am ready when they do.

Good luck!

[Krikit 1,164]

Congratulations and welcome to VJ, Ocelittle. A couple of good links for you:

US Customs and Border Protection FAQ - Canadian Visitor

Visitation FAQ's (This link references K-1 beneficiaries but is applicable to all.)

Lots of us have visited during the process with no problem at all. A few have been denied entry for lack of ties, but it did not impact their application.

Best wishes on your upcoming marriage.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Has anybody noticed K3s on Igor's list recently. There have been some fast approvals.

Ocelittle, there's hope for something faster based on these timelines

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profil...l=&id=49787 I-129F approved 37 days

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profil...l=&id=50282 35 days

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profil...l=&id=50073 20 days

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profil...l=&id=52148 20 days

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profil...l=&id=52530 28 days

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profil...l=&id=52640 38 days, already at consulate

Am I reading these wrong??

Edited August 28, 2008 by Nich-Nick

[Gemmie 142]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

How long are the visits that you're able to have? I've been building for this all year so I don't really need more time for belongings and whatnot. It would really be a slow, long wait, considering we've been waiting for this for the last 8 months.

This is a very bad day. I'm actually debating whether or not I should move back to Canada. This job isn't worth the stress that more long distance will put on us.

I know, most of us were ignorant to the situation and all that it required. I think it's because we hear so much of international marriage and the amount of people emigrating that we assume it's easy enough. I found out while I had many deadlines at university so along with finding out how long the process was, it felt like my world had crashed.

I understand how disappointed you must be. We've been together for years. We got engaged a year ago and had been waiting to file ever since due to circumstances. We have just sent our application off, but I won't be moving to be with him for another year. It is what it is, unfortunately. I've come to accept it, and you will too. It's just at the beginning that it's overwhelming and confusing.

Personally, I would go ahead with the wedding and file for the spousal visa. You're lucky that she's from Canada so it's not as difficult to visit as it is for other posters here. For example, Kim's fiancee lives in New Zealand and it's way too far and expensive. I live in the UK which isn't *as* far, though it's not like driving across the ocean for a quick visit.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Congratulations on finding the woman you love!

[Alex & Rachel 78]

No, you are not reading those wrong. They are sometimes quicker than the K-1 visa; just not always.

Over the past few months K-3s at California have been approved at a much quicker rate than K-1s, whereas it is the opposite way round for Vermont. Luck of the draw!

[Big Papa Zone 93]

Sorry, does anyone know how soon she can visit? She already has a flight booked back with me a few days after the wedding.

Corinthians said:

"You gotta figure that she could come here and stay 'til almost Christmas, go home for a month or whatever to pack things or get papers together and then come back for another 90 days and once that was over,"

Could she really leave with my right after the wedding? The way he put it wasn't that bad at all.

Like another poster has said, provided that she isn't "doing a Russ" (sorry Kim ) and spending months on end in the U.S., leaving for a few days and then coming straight back, then there's no issue with her visiting on the VWP. You'll have to go through seperate lines at immigration, so when she goes through she's better off not pointing out that she's travelling with you (her new husband) as that's bound to send up the red flags. Get her to make out she's travelling alone and has simply come to visit you.

I've come and gone with no issues whatsoever during the visa process by sticking to those simple principles. I've never even been asked for any documentation tying me to my home country.

[R de la R 2]

1. Get married, apply, and wait patiently.

[KimandRuss 0]

Like another poster has said, provided that she isn't "doing a Russ" (sorry Kim ) and spending months on end in the U.S., leaving for a few days and then coming straight back, then there's no issue with her visiting on the VWP. You'll have to go through seperate lines at immigration, so when she goes through she's better off not pointing out that she's travelling with you (her new husband) as that's bound to send up the red flags. Get her to make out she's travelling alone and has simply come to visit you.

I've come and gone with no issues whatsoever during the visa process by sticking to those simple principles. I've never even been asked for any documentation tying me to my home country.

Ooooo salt in the wound!

[canadian_wife 1,818]

Sorry, does anyone know how soon she can visit? She already has a flight booked back with me a few days after the wedding.

Corinthians said:

"You gotta figure that she could come here and stay 'til almost Christmas, go home for a month or whatever to pack things or get papers together and then come back for another 90 days and once that was over,"

Could she really leave with my right after the wedding? The way he put it wasn't that bad at all.

Obviously each case will be different. I am Canadian and married to an American applying for immigration status too. After we filed, my lawyer told me to 'stay put' in Canada. You have obviously told the US government that she has immigrant intent by filing the paperwork so, according to our lawyer, it will be difficult for anyone traveling to the US who has already shown immigrant intent. I've already been denied entry twice to the US which made our case even tougher. My last entry was a limited stay of 18 days. But that was due to extenuating circumstances. So I am staying put, like my lawyer told me to, in order to make our remaining process easier.

Good luck

Edited August 28, 2008 by canadian_wife

[trinket 30]

CR-1 visas are also going through fast pace in California, and since you are in LA which comes under CSC, there is a good chance your I-130 will be approved within 3 months or so and then with this guide you can deal with NVC within 1.5 months (new online payment). If your case is simple, that is no clear red flags then IR-1 is better than K-3

You do have some time before you file, so keep reading a whole lot and you will know which way is the best for you.

Best wishes to you and your would be wife for the upcoming nuptial