Need sound advice

[Simply_Human 0]

Hello every one, as you can see this is my first post here.

I am a Canadian citizen and my wife is an American Born Citizen. We got married 8 months ago, and since then I have filed her papers for permanent residency in Canada, that is in progress, I see it being another 6-7 months until it gets completed. Until then, she lives with me; I support the two of us.

I used to think that the Canadian process was tough until I started researching the American Process. Now I know what it feels like being lost in a labyrinth.

So here is my situation, I want to move down to Virginia, USA which is where my wife was born and raised.

She still has all her addresses pointing to her parent’s home. But unfortunately has been out of work for the past 11 months or so.

What is the best way to go about for us to be able to live together in VA as soon as possible.

I am open to all suggestions, if we have to live apart while she works there and my process goes through, I will take that open mindedly.

I see every ones signature and it shows a lengthy list of forms filled out at various dates. It makes it seem like it is impossible.

So here are my questions,

1) What is the best route? Live outside of USA and file, live separately and file, some how move in to USA and file?

2) What forums do I need to fill out?

3) Can I get a job In VA and use that to leverage my immigration application?

4) How long does it typically take a newly married Canadian/US couple?

5) How much income does she need to have to show that she can support me in the US?

6) I have a lot of family there as well, but all are distant cousins, all willing to sponsor me, does that help?

7) How much is the average cost for the whole process?

8) Should I pay the extra money and get a lawyer? Is this process really that complicated in the US?

9) Do I need to give up my Canadian Citizenship when I get approved as a US immigrant?

10) Can I still keep my Canadian Health insurance and come back to Canada if I have a serious illness?

11) I want to make sure that I am working at all time because my wife cannot support the two of us and I don't want to be a burden on her parents or any one else. So keep that in mind so I am not left in USA waiting to be allowed to work, (like my wife is here in Canada).

And the list goes on. But I will hold off on some questions to make it less confusing.

I did the same at our Canadian website while filing for my wife’s papers and people were extremely helpful, also the process was simple and the application names were in words and not in numbers.

Any help will be greatly appreciated. and once I again I appologize for the wave of questions.

[Simply_Human 0]

Sorry guys, upon further investigation, I realized that this website has some Guides, I will start reading them,

But if your bored and have the time, please dont feel shy, and give me your advice

Thanks.

[Married_my_love 0]

First want to know - on your wife's Cdn application, did you file it when she was in US, and then she came to "visit" you? (ie' outside applicant?) or did she come there and then you filed as "inside". Just wondering as if you filed "outside" you might get that residency much faster....

I filed Canadian as outside, and drove over the border to live with my husband while we waited for my residency. Things didn't work out for me there and as SOON as I had the residency card, we drove to Toronto and I filed DCF for him to come back to US. Because I had moved out of US and became a Cdn resident, I had to get my brother to sponsor us.

1) What is the best route? Live outside of USA and file, live separately and file, some how move in to USA and file?

DCF if possible. As soon as wife has residency in Canada, file DCF. Please confirm with Embassy that they still allow Canadian PR person to file the DCF with less than 1 year residency. (I filed it with 2 days residency, not kidding)

2) What forums do I need to fill out?

see guide

3) Can I get a job In VA and use that to leverage my immigration application?

No leverage; and will cause extra hassles

4) How long does it typically take a newly married Canadian/US couple?

Same as it takes any couple, see the guides for timelines. You'll want to request your Cdn marriage license if you haven't done so that adds LOTS of time to the process!! They are slow (we had to get an Ombudsman to step in after waiting and waiting for mine)

5) How much income does she need to have to show that she can support me in the US?

If she is living in Canada and doesn't have established job, this is a moot point. You'll need a sponsor

6) I have a lot of family there as well, but all are distant cousins, all willing to sponsor me, does that help?

Yes, ask them pretty-please to sponsor you in

7) How much is the average cost for the whole process?

I haven't file in a while but we are still paying off, it all adds up, photos, bio, medical, applications, blah blah blah

8) Should I pay the extra money and get a lawyer? Is this process really that complicated in the US?

Not in my opinion, unless there's something funky about your case. If it is straightforward you can do it yourself!!

9) Do I need to give up my Canadian Citizenship when I get approved as a US immigrant?

No. You'll be a resident in US. Re: Citizenship, I just found out that even though you will denounce Canada, Canada will still love you.

10) Can I still keep my Canadian Health insurance and come back to Canada if I have a serious illness?

This is questionable. You'd want to post this on the Canada board. If you are not a resident in Canada, but are a Citizen, can you get health care?

11) I want to make sure that I am working at all time because my wife cannot support the two of us and I don't want to be a burden on her parents or any one else. So keep that in mind so I am not left in USA waiting to be allowed to work, (like my wife is here in Canada).

You will have a bit of time here while you wait for your social sec# to be able to work. My husband and I came back in Dec 1 2005 and he wasn't able to work until about February due to Social Sec office losing his #.

[Married_my_love 0]

1) What is the best route? Live outside of USA and file, live separately and file, some how move in to USA and file?

DCF if possible. As soon as wife has residency in Canada, file DCF. Please confirm with Embassy that they still allow Canadian PR person to file the DCF with less than 1 year residency. (I filed it with 2 days residency, not kidding)

EDITED to add: I just poked around on the DCF board and see that they've changed the requirement since we filed; the US citizen has to live in Canada for a minimum of 6 months. So this means your wife gets her residency, and 6 months after that date you can file for DCF.

Edited April 6, 2009 by Married_my_love