Need of help!

[Missmatalini 6]

I apologize if there is somewhere else to find this information, I'm on somewhat of a time crunch and as most of you probably know government sites just don't give understandable information (or maybe I'm just stupid)

Long story short

My husband is a Canadian Citizen, we got married in Canada in October of 2013, I am 19 and he will be 21 in August.

I moved to Canada and began processing my application to become a permanent resident of Canada, we've hit a brick wall because my processing time hit 2 1/2 years and I don't have that kind of time to sit around without school or work because of a random visa office change.. That along with things just really not going well in Canada with family and finances, so we have decided to go back to the States and have the support of my family.

We've been looking into the K-3 Visa, I obviously have been unemployed for almost 11 months now as we have been living together in Canada and so my parents have agreed to cosign our afidavit of support because I won't have had a job long enough or "proof" of being above poverty level.

I'm pretty well versed in the logistics of Canadian immigration but know absolutely NOTHING about U.S immigration.

How long does it usually take to process and grant a K-3 visa? (Our consulat would be in Vancouver I believe as we are in B.C) I can't find processing times anywhere, we're very concerned about being separated for Christmas and New years (We've obviously done long distance before, for almost 1 1/2 years with only seeing each other 3 times so if we can avoid it being super long obviously I would prefer that, ultimately I guess I don't have much control though)

After everything is said and done, how much does it cost for medicals, the visa processing fees, ect. ?

Any other information or insight would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[NikLR 13,227]

K3 are very rare. You can try but be prepared for it being in Montreal. K3 really only ever save at the NVC stage but cost twice as much as an IR1 visa.

You can visit each other of course.

Have you looked at he guides yet.

Processing is about a year from petition filing to interview.

[Missmatalini 6]

Well that's just great. . . I don't know how easy it's going to be doing a year apart. Obviously it's do-able. . . but financially living in 2 different places, I wouldn't have a car and we can't afford another car. . . ugh this is giving me a headache.

Visiting obviously is expensive, we aren't making loads of money right now and so I don't know how we are going to afford any of this now.

I'm not sure which guides you're talking about. Link?

Thanks for your response!

[NikLR 13,227]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

You don't have to live apart for the whole time. File now and see if you can find a joint sponsor (someone who makes above the poverty guidelines as per the I-864P) instead of having to go back to the USA for a year.

My husband and I were married May 20, 2012 and lived apart until after my interview in June 2013. We didn't file until Sept 2012 either. Just skyped constantly and visited every 3 months.

[Missmatalini 6]

my parents have agreed to joint sponsor, so if they do that, does that mean I could stay in Canada with my husband until his visa (K3 or IR1/CR1) is approved?

My visitor extension expires in September and so I was planning on going back to the USA with my husband because my family is having a bigger wedding "vow renewal" for us in October, is him entering the US going to be an issue if we have an application going? We are living rent free at a relatives right now so the only ties he has to Canada is bank accounts, our car and his job.

I was hoping getting into the USA would be easier. . . . I was obviously wrong.

[NikLR 13,227]

pretty much yes! there is the issue of domicile but you could move back maybe a month early and it wouldn't be an issue.

Entering the USA generally isn't an issue. I always said "I'm visiting my husband." They normally asked where I worked, when i was coming back etc.. I brought proof of all the above .

It is shorter, not easier to get into the USA.

[Missmatalini 6]

Thanks so much for responding and helping me!

So, I think we are going to just skip the K-3. . . . and just do the IR1/CR1. . . . I just need to find them..

We're probably just going to extend my visitor status until around January/February and hope that by then it will have been granted. Then I'll head back into the states.

[NikLR 13,227]

I'm surprised it's taken you so long in Canada. It took a manager of mine 2 years total, but that was from moving before the wedding to PR status. He was sent a work visa after about 6 months I think. They had a lawyer helping them though.

The US immigration shouldn't need a lawyer and because you've been married longer than 2 years, he'll be granted the 10 year green card.

Edited May 2, 2014 by NLR

[Lakehouse 293]

Get this initial petition form in as soon as you can:

http://www.uscis.gov/i-130

Study the guides above, specifically:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

Hopefully the process will gain speed compared to last year's backlog of petitions and you'll get through it all in less than a year, but it's rather unpredictable. Be prepared that you'll need to establish proof that you intend to resume living in the US - can search 'proof of domicile' in the search bar and read the threads and advice here on VJ, although you won't need that proof until you're at the NVC (National Visa Center) stage ie the 2nd stage.

First just worry about getting through USCIS with the I-130 petition.

Good luck!!

[NikLR 13,227]

Pray for the I-130 to end up in California or Vermont.

And don't have a US address anywhere on the form.

Also you can use "to be determined" for where your spouse will live.

[TBoneTX 45,090]

*** Thread moved from K-3 Process forum to CR-1 Process forum -- OP appears set on pursuing the IR-1 visa. ***