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Canadian Spousal Visas

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

take some time and read the k3 and cr-1 forum guides!! Its pretty straight forward

ur in victoria. if you do the k3 , ur interview is in vancouver. manitoba and west goto van, rest of canada goto Montreal

if you go the cr-1 route, it will be in Montreal! ALL cr-1 go through Montreal.

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
take some time and read the k3 and cr-1 forum guides!! Its pretty straight forward

ur in victoria. if you do the k3 , ur interview is in vancouver. manitoba and west goto van, rest of canada goto Montreal

if you go the cr-1 route, it will be in Montreal! ALL cr-1 go through Montreal.

i am getting conflicting answers (not complaining at all though,,just confused,,,,,) One says all immigration goes through Montreal...and the Fiance visa goes through Vancouver....that i basically file one of everything and depending on which gets approved first is going to determine where we go?? that the k3 and cr1 have both the same forms but one goes faster so i might end up in montreal....

why is immigration so confusing???

April 8, 2007- Met on-line playing World of Warcraft...Me a troll he a Tauren

10/11/2008 Married in Lakewood Washington

USCIS

12/08/2008 CR-1/I-130 mailed

12/19/2008 NOA1

03/09/2009 NOA2

03/09/2009 I-130 approved

NVC

03/19/2009 NVC case # generated

09/25/2009 Completed at NVC

01/11/2010 Interview Assigned..flight and hotel booked same day.

01/20/2010 Medical in Vancouver....no issues reported

02/05/2010 Interview in Montreal..APPROVED..with a few tears at the end!!

02/11/2010 POE...Peace Arch or PAC

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

They aren't the same forms. I-130 for your CR-1 visa is an immigrant visa and will go through Montreal. I-129 is for your K3 and is a non-immigrant visa and will go through Vancouver.

Depending on which gets processed first, you could be in Vancouver or Montreal.

USCIS
August 12, 2008 - petition sent
August 16, 2008 - NOA-1
February 10, 2009 - NOA-2
178 DAYS FROM NOA-1


NVC
February 13, 2009 - NVC case number assigned
March 12, 2009 - Case Complete
25 DAY TRIP THROUGH NVC


Medical
May 4, 2009


Interview
May, 26, 2009


POE - June 20, 2009 Toronto - Atlanta, GA

Removal of Conditions
Filed - April 14, 2011
Biometrics - June 2, 2011 (early)
Approval - November 9, 2011
209 DAY TRIP TO REMOVE CONDITIONS

Citizenship

April 29, 2013 - NOA1 for petition received

September 10, 2013 Interview - decision could not be made.

April 15, 2014 APPROVED. Wait for oath ceremony

Waited...

September 29, 2015 - sent letter to senator.

October 16, 2015 - US Citizen

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
nothing dumb about your questions.

K-3 is actually almost twice as much as the CR-1 after all the work permits and adjustments of status are done. CR-1 takes longer but it is cheaper.

Yes, all immigrant visas go through montreal.

You can visit, but you have to bring substantial ties to Canada to show that you intend to go back there. Traveling to the US as a visitor and then filing immigration paperwork is illegal.

again......twice as much, but the flight from Vancouver return to montreal and hotel, plus his flight from seattle return could very well equal that difference correct???

When going for the interview in Montreal your husband does not have to attend.

I am going to Montreal Nov.5 and got a flight from Vancouver via west jet for 500 return including taxes.

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Filed: Other Timeline
i am getting conflicting answers (not complaining at all though,,just confused,,,,,) One says all immigration goes through Montreal...and the Fiance visa goes through Vancouver....that i basically file one of everything and depending on which gets approved first is going to determine where we go?? that the k3 and cr1 have both the same forms but one goes faster so i might end up in montreal....

why is immigration so confusing???

not conflicting, just confusing. The CR1 is an immigrant visa. All immigrant visas for Canada are processed thru the US consulate in Montreal.

The K visas are non-immigrant visas. The country is divided in half for processing of those. If you live in the west, you go to Vancouver, if you live in the east, you go to Montreal.

If you want the immigrant visa (green card basically) then you will be interviewed in Montreal. If you want the K3, then you will be interviewed in Vancouver.

The costs for the K3 are considerably higher than the CR1, even when you factor in the trip to Montreal.

divorced - April 2010 moved back to Ontario May 2010 and surrendered green card

PLEASE DO NOT PRIVATE MESSAGE ME OR EMAIL ME. I HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT CURRENT US IMMIGRATION PROCEDURES!!!!!

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Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

Hi and welcome to VJ!

I was living on Vancouver Island when I married my US spouse living in Tacoma WA. We went the K-3 route for two reasons...the cost of flights to Montreal (our interview was going to occur in the summer and flights to Montreal were very expensive) and the fact that K3 is a multiple entry visa and with the CR1 you cannot come and go back and forth between Canada and the US while you are Adjusting Status after you get here (you can apply for "advanced parole" but that takes time to process). I have an aging mother, kids and grandkids back in Canada and would not risk putting my status in jeopardy if my family needed me during the AOS after I arrived in the US. Also, I was ok with not working for a couple of months after I got here on the K3. For us it was pretty clear that the K3 was the way to go.

Spend some time with the guides and forums here and figure out which way is the best for your particular situation. Everyone's circumstances are a bit different.

God bless and we hope your journey to be with your spouse is smooth and fast! All the best...

Annie & Tim

N-400 Citizenship

Sept. 13, 2011 N-400 sent to Phoenix Lockbox

Sept. 20, 2011 Check cashed

Sept. 23, 2011 NOA rec'd for N-400

Oct. 17, 2011 Biometrics appointment

Nov. 29, 2011 Interview - PASSED! 3yr anniversary not until 12/09/11

Dec. 13, 2011 Status update received "Oath Scheduled"

Dec. 15, 2011 Letter received with Oath date

Dec. 27, 2011 OATH! US Citizen

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Hi and welcome to VJ!

I was living on Vancouver Island when I married my US spouse living in Tacoma WA. We went the K-3 route for two reasons...the cost of flights to Montreal (our interview was going to occur in the summer and flights to Montreal were very expensive) and the fact that K3 is a multiple entry visa and with the CR1 you cannot come and go back and forth between Canada and the US while you are Adjusting Status after you get here (you can apply for "advanced parole" but that takes time to process). I have an aging mother, kids and grandkids back in Canada and would not risk putting my status in jeopardy if my family needed me during the AOS after I arrived in the US. Also, I was ok with not working for a couple of months after I got here on the K3. For us it was pretty clear that the K3 was the way to go.

Spend some time with the guides and forums here and figure out which way is the best for your particular situation. Everyone's circumstances are a bit different.

God bless and we hope your journey to be with your spouse is smooth and fast! All the best...

Annie & Tim

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!! CR-1 is a MULTIPLE entry visa. There is NO ADJUSTING OF STATUS with a cr-1 (or Ir-1)

Yes please, spend some time in the guide lines,lol Your thinking of the K1, NOT the cr-1

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
Hi and welcome to VJ!

I was living on Vancouver Island when I married my US spouse living in Tacoma WA. We went the K-3 route for two reasons...the cost of flights to Montreal (our interview was going to occur in the summer and flights to Montreal were very expensive) and the fact that K3 is a multiple entry visa and with the CR1 you cannot come and go back and forth between Canada and the US while you are Adjusting Status after you get here (you can apply for "advanced parole" but that takes time to process). I have an aging mother, kids and grandkids back in Canada and would not risk putting my status in jeopardy if my family needed me during the AOS after I arrived in the US. Also, I was ok with not working for a couple of months after I got here on the K3. For us it was pretty clear that the K3 was the way to go.

Spend some time with the guides and forums here and figure out which way is the best for your particular situation. Everyone's circumstances are a bit different.

God bless and we hope your journey to be with your spouse is smooth and fast! All the best...

Annie & Tim

CR1 is an immigrant visa. You don't have to AOS from CR1. Are you thinking of K1?

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
just got married october 11th and need to file 130 any canadians currently filing spousal visas?? Really could use all the help we can get as we sure do not want to mess this up..I returned to Canada and plan on visiting him as often as possible........

again...any help or adive would be appreciated

Congrats on your marriage! I see you are a fellow WOW player. Hubby and I pass our time playing WOW.... it's been one of the things that has helped us keep our sanity through all of this.

Cerruna

Lvl 60

Night Elf Hunter

Edited by Amy and Adrian

CR1/CR2 Husband/Stepchildren

  1. Married 2/29/2008
  2. NOA1/Case at CSC 6/4/2008
  3. Last updated online/USCIS 6/5/2008
  4. Touch/NOA2 7/25/2008 Husband approved- kids pending
  5. Touch 7/27/2008
  6. Touch 7/28/2008
  7. NOA2 hard copy received 8/1/2008
  8. RFE for kids received in mail 8/2/2008
  9. Touch 9/2/2008
  10. NOA2 received for kids 9/5/2008
  11. Paid AOS 9/25/08 Online
  12. Over-nighted I-864 packet 10/1/08 to NVC
  13. I-864 received 10/2/08
  14. Paid IV 10/7/08 Online
  15. IV in system as paid 10/8/08
  16. AOS/I-864 in system 10/15/08
  17. Overnighted DS-230's to NVC 10/17/08 (Friday- but won't be there until Monday)
  18. NVC received DS-230 packets 10/20/08
  19. RFE's received DS-230 and I-864 10/27/08
  20. Overnighted corrected information to NVC 10/29/08
  21. NVC received corrected DS-230 and I-864 10/30/08
  22. Case complete at NVC !!! 11/6/08 (received notification via email)
  23. Interview scheduled for 1/16/09 in MTL- hoping to schedule the medical early in the same week
  24. 1/16/09- CR-1/APPROVED !!
  25. 1/23/09- Visas arrived !!
  26. Coming home forever- January 30 2009 !

canam_flag.jpg

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

The biggest deciding factor for Adrian and I in deciding which Visa to apply for was the fact that the CR-I will allow him to work right away once he gets here. We have 5 children between us and trying to make it on just my income until he could adjust status and work on the K-1 was not an option.

The process for either visa takes pretty much the same time nowadays-- K-1 used to be faster but the CR-1 timeline is pretty comparable now. CR-1 is less expensive and is really the superior Visa. When you enter the US you have your greencard and are considered a permanent resident of the US. The big drawback is having to go all the way to Montreal for the interview. All CR-1 Visas in Canada go through Montreal.

Adrian has visited me here in Ohio but that was before we got married and had no trouble at the border. I go to Canada every 8-10 weeks to visit and haven't had any trouble at the border since we've gotten married. I've just been honest and tell the guard that I'm going to see my Canadian husband. Neither of us have stayed for more than two weeks though.

CR1/CR2 Husband/Stepchildren

  1. Married 2/29/2008
  2. NOA1/Case at CSC 6/4/2008
  3. Last updated online/USCIS 6/5/2008
  4. Touch/NOA2 7/25/2008 Husband approved- kids pending
  5. Touch 7/27/2008
  6. Touch 7/28/2008
  7. NOA2 hard copy received 8/1/2008
  8. RFE for kids received in mail 8/2/2008
  9. Touch 9/2/2008
  10. NOA2 received for kids 9/5/2008
  11. Paid AOS 9/25/08 Online
  12. Over-nighted I-864 packet 10/1/08 to NVC
  13. I-864 received 10/2/08
  14. Paid IV 10/7/08 Online
  15. IV in system as paid 10/8/08
  16. AOS/I-864 in system 10/15/08
  17. Overnighted DS-230's to NVC 10/17/08 (Friday- but won't be there until Monday)
  18. NVC received DS-230 packets 10/20/08
  19. RFE's received DS-230 and I-864 10/27/08
  20. Overnighted corrected information to NVC 10/29/08
  21. NVC received corrected DS-230 and I-864 10/30/08
  22. Case complete at NVC !!! 11/6/08 (received notification via email)
  23. Interview scheduled for 1/16/09 in MTL- hoping to schedule the medical early in the same week
  24. 1/16/09- CR-1/APPROVED !!
  25. 1/23/09- Visas arrived !!
  26. Coming home forever- January 30 2009 !

canam_flag.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

Amy....

Is your application taking longer because of the kids as well??? Did you have to file an I-129f as well?? Zan and I have no kids immigrating with us as mine are moved out and he never had any......

April 8, 2007- Met on-line playing World of Warcraft...Me a troll he a Tauren

10/11/2008 Married in Lakewood Washington

USCIS

12/08/2008 CR-1/I-130 mailed

12/19/2008 NOA1

03/09/2009 NOA2

03/09/2009 I-130 approved

NVC

03/19/2009 NVC case # generated

09/25/2009 Completed at NVC

01/11/2010 Interview Assigned..flight and hotel booked same day.

01/20/2010 Medical in Vancouver....no issues reported

02/05/2010 Interview in Montreal..APPROVED..with a few tears at the end!!

02/11/2010 POE...Peace Arch or PAC

thm_thm_php8UO03s.jpg

event.png

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Filed: Country: Canada
Timeline

Due to the changes in the AOS process and how Immigrant visas are being processed, it esentially made the K-3 a waste of time and money. If you're already married, don't bother with the K-3. It won't get you to the US any faster and it costs 3 times as much as the CR-1.

Knowledge itself is power - Sir Francis Bacon

I have gone fishing... you can find me by going here http://**removed due to TOS**

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We chose the CR-1 as I can work when I get there. As to the cost for the airfare to Montreal, I have been saving my Safeway Airmiles and am also a gold member - hopefully I will be able to use those airmiles to fly to Montreal when the time comes. I always shop when it is spend $ 100 get a 100 airmiles, it doesn't take long to accumulate the miles.

Good luck on your journey and congrats on your marriage.

Janet

Met online playing pinochle in late Feb or March 2001

Married in San Luis Obispo - July 18, 2008

Sent application CR-1/IR-1 on August 26, 2008 to Chicago lock box

September 4, 2008 - Touch #1

Approval email sent January 5, 2009 after 4 months and 2 days

NVC Journey Begins....

NVC Case officially in AVR - January 13, 2009

DS-3032 / AOS Bill Generated - January 16, 2009

AOS Bill snail mailed - January 24, 2009

Emailed DS-3032 - January 26, 2009

DS-3032 emailed read in NH January 30, 2009

DS-3032 accepted at NVC 0n February 2, 2009 via email

AOS Bill Shows as PAID - February 3, 2009

I-864 Package Generated - March 21, 2009

Mailed I-864 Package - March21, 2009

IV Bill Generated - February 3, 2009

Paid IV Bill - March 6, 2009 - snail mail

IV Bill Show as PAID - March 21, 2009

Mailed IV Package - March 21, 2009

REF - April 1, 2009 - Transfered to a supervisor

Case Completed at NVC - April 7, 2009

Medical completed May 27/09 in Vancouver

Interview Date - June 22 - SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

POE -Vancouver @ YVR- June 28

Permanent resident card received July 20,2009

Social Security Card arrived August 2, 2009

April 2011 started ROC - May 27 biometrics - July 30 received 10 year green card!

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