First post... Canadian/American, police checks, etc.

[Melyssa 0]

I'm new here, but I have SO many questions. I've been researching this stuff for awhile, but sometimes, I still get a little confused. I'm really eager to hear/read about all of your experiences.

My fiancé is an American citizen and I'm a Canadian citizen. We agreed about a month ago that it was time to get married, so we finally started doing some serious research on the visa, so I can come to the States and marry him, and live there with him. He filled in the I-129 petition and the G-325A forms, and I just filled mine in and they're going to be mailed to him today by express post.

I'm curious what your experiences have been with visiting after the petition has been received by the USCIS? Reason being, I have a flight to the States on March 17, but we want to send the petition as soon as possible. If he sends the petition as soon as he receives my signed forms, and they receive and approve it before March 17, will this cause any problems for me entering the U.S.? He talked with someone from the 1-800 number on the form, from USCIS, and he said it would be fine as long as I went back to Canada for the interview...but I seem to be hearing mixed messages (ie., some people say it will cause problems for me to visit...others say it won't.) Thoughts?

Also, for those of you who got or are obtaining a police check, how long did it take to obtain? I contacted the RCMP and they said that currently for a fingerprint based police check the processing time is in excess of 120 days. Which I think means I should get it as soon as possible, because it sounds like it will take almost as much time to get the police check as it will the visa! Any fellow Canadian/American K1 couples out there? I'd love to talk with you through email, AIM, msn, googletalk, LiveJournal, whatever!

[raymaga 25]

Hi and welcome to VJ!!!

I am a Canadian citizen that came to the U.S. with a K-1 Visa to marry a U.S. citizen (a few years ago).

I don't know where in Canada you live, but when I got my RCMP police check done (in British Columbia), they did it while I waited. It was done by computer without fingerprints being done. We did the same thing for my K-2 daughter's police check a year later and got the certificate while we waited.

I visited my fiance (husband now) several times after we filed our I-129F with no problems. I went through by car, not plane. I was asked for proof of ties to Canada to prove that I intended to return to Canada after my "visit" to the U.S. They wanted such things as lease/mortgage papers, my most recent pay stub, etc. You can also provide a letter from your employer stating when they expect you back at work or a letter from your school, etc.

There is never any guarantee that you will be allowed to enter the U.S., but with proof of ties to Canada, your chances are greatly increased. The biggest thing to remember is not to lie when asked any questions. Do not volunteer any more information than asked for, and be truthful in your answers.

If you have any further questions and want to msn me, my msn address is raymaga@msn.com

Good luck for a speedy approval.

Rayma

[misa 2]

Re: Police check. Depends on where you live. I got mine done and ready for pickup in 5 days through The Commissionaires. You don't need fingerprints unless you've been previously charged with any crimes, just a Canada wide name/background check.

Edited February 28, 2007 by misa

[together2love 0]

Welcome to VJ! As the others have posted, bringing along ties to Canada increases your chance that you will not have a problem getting over the border for your in-the-mean-time visit. Also, getting the police name/background check didn't take long for me. . . while I waited within 10 minutes of getting to the RCMP location. But, if you had a previous criminal offense then this will require you to get fingerprints done, which may take longer. And if you have lived anywhere else in the world for more than 6 months you also need to get a police certificate from that country too.

[Melyssa 0]

OH! That's good to hear, that I don't need the fingerprint based search! BTW, I am from Ontario.