This really looks like it will be a "journey"

[Reeena 0]

So I am an American military member marrying a Canadian service member in March. We just had a baby in October.

I didnt even know I had to do all of this until I looked up info on getting my fiance a social security card.

I have been reading through this site but am still lost on where to begin. Do we fill out the I-130 first and go from there?

Forgot to mention we live in Ontario. I figured we could take the papers to the consulate in Toronto.

I can not believe how difficult this whole process seems to be.

Not to mention I have been fighting with passport Canada to get the baby a passport (first guarantor) did not pass the background check so had to resubmit and now they seem to not know whats going on with our application...

I just thought we would get married and live happily ever after...haha

When looking at this form I-130 they ask all kinds of questions we cant really answer right now, like where will we live in the states... Well we might not even live in the states, it all depends on where the US military sends us...

[Emancipation 2]

Welcome!!! So glad you found us!! I was a fiance when I started my journey, so i don't have a lot to offer for advice, but I wanted to say welcome aboard!!

I know there are others here who will be more than willing (and who will be able I might add) to shed some light!!

GOV paperwork sucks.. I don't think you'll find any arguements out of the bunch of us!

[Delicia 1]

So I am an American military member marrying a Canadian service member in March. We just had a baby in October.

I didnt even know I had to do all of this until I looked up info on getting my fiance a social security card.

I have been reading through this site but am still lost on where to begin. Do we fill out the I-130 first and go from there?

Forgot to mention we live in Ontario. I figured we could take the papers to the consulate in Toronto.

I can not believe how difficult this whole process seems to be.

Not to mention I have been fighting with passport Canada to get the baby a passport (first guarantor) did not pass the background check so had to resubmit and now they seem to not know whats going on with our application...

I just thought we would get married and live happily ever after...haha

When looking at this form I-130 they ask all kinds of questions we cant really answer right now, like where will we live in the states... Well we might not even live in the states, it all depends on where the US military sends us...

Welcome to VJ!

First off, I thought there was special instructions for military members, but that may be for Naturalization purposes. You might want to check the USCIS website for that.

A couple thoughts on your post though. The U.S. Consulate in Toronto does not process any immigration paperwork; you will have to go through Montreal as you are in Ontario.

Since you are a USC, why not report the baby's birth with the Toronto Consulate and get a U.S. passport?

Secondly, the I-130 is for filing after you get married, if you plan on doing the K-3 or CR-1 option.

Edited January 14, 2008 by Delicia

[Reeena 0]

Welcome to VJ!

First off, I thought there was special instructions for military members, but that may be for Naturalization purposes. You might want to check the USCIS website for that.

A couple thoughts on your post though. The U.S. Consulate in Toronto does not process any immigration paperwork; you will have to go through Montreal as you are in Ontario.

Since you are a USC, why not report the baby's birth with the Toronto Consulate and get a U.S. passport?

As far as the babys passport, we thought it would be easier to just do the Canadian passport since we have not completed the paper work for the "report of birth abroad" but if they do not figure out whats going on with the passport in the next few weeks I will tell them to send me back the BC and we will apply for a US passport... initally we were going to get married in California and wanted to make sure we had the passport in time, but now we are getting married in Newfoundland, so we dont need the passport right away.

[Reeena 0]

Our wedding date is in March... so I figured it would be easier to apply for everthing after we were married... esp after reading all these long timelines... I'm not sure what the K3 or CR 1 option is.

I just know that we will never get things together to get it done before we marry. I can barely handle planning the wedding right now, haha.

Thanks for the info on having to go to Montreal also.

[Delicia 1]

I had another thought. Since you are living in Canada (with status as a military member) perhaps filing Direct Consular Filing (DCF) would be available. It has the shortest wait time, so definitely check out that option in the guides.

[trailmix 77]

Our wedding date is in March... so I figured it would be easier to apply for everthing after we were married... esp after reading all these long timelines... I'm not sure what the K3 or CR 1 option is.

I just know that we will never get things together to get it done before we marry. I can barely handle planning the wedding right now, haha.

Thanks for the info on having to go to Montreal also.

Hi and welcome,

The K3 visa is a non immigrant visa. What this means is that you file for your spouse and then when you move to the States (or a U.S. Mililtary post - which is also considered U.S. residency) you file for an Adjustment of Status.

The CR1 is an immigrant visa. This means you will submit all the paperwork before your interview in Montreal and the non-U.S. spouse will have the option to work immediately. (Those are the two in a nutshell, check out the Guides tab at the top of the page for more info).

If you decide to file a CR1 - if you are eligible to go the Direct Consular filing route, you can file your initial I-130 at the Toronto Consulate - it is the interview that will take place in Montreal. See amcits for further information: http://www.amcits.com/toronto.asp

USCIS also has a special number for U.S. Military Personnel: Information for Members of the Military and Their Families

Edited January 14, 2008 by trailmix

[Reeena 0]

Thanks Trailmix

I'm going to call the number from the USCIS site and go from there.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Hi Reeena

I just wanted to say welcome!!!

I was much like you when we began. I figured I could just move to the states and live there... Not so easy!

It's a long and drawn out process. Hopefully you guys will be able to be together for most of the process instead of apart.

We filed for a K1 visa because we aren't married yet. Only about 6 or so months to go (hopefully!) until I can be with Nick!

I wish you all the luck and Congratulations on the baby!!!!

~Laura

[Reeena 0]

Hi Reeena

I just wanted to say welcome!!!

I was much like you when we began. I figured I could just move to the states and live there... Not so easy!

It's a long and drawn out process. Hopefully you guys will be able to be together for most of the process instead of apart.

We filed for a K1 visa because we aren't married yet. Only about 6 or so months to go (hopefully!) until I can be with Nick!

I wish you all the luck and Congratulations on the baby!!!!

~Laura

Thanks Laura, we actually live together here in North Bay. I'm stationed here in North Bay until April 2009, so hopfully we can get this all done by then so we wont have to be apart at all.

Best of luck with your visa!

Rena

[BH45 0]

North Bay...not to far from my neck of the north, as in Cochrane.

Welcome to VJ. I have found these good ppl very helpful when needing direction during this process. Keep asking questions and you'll get answers.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Welcome to VJ. I was in the Canadian Armed Forces for nearly 15 yrs--All 3 branches--Army, Navy and finished off flying on the CP 140 Aurora (P3C) (Airborne electronics Sensor operator AES op) Lots of great info on here. Since your (USA citizen) is residing in Canada, you can go the direct filing route (DCF) I'm assuming the Cdn part of your duo is releasing (retiring) from the Canadian Armed Forces? I was actually still in the Air Force when i had my CR-1 interview and received the visa ( was out 2 weeks later) but there was 1 member (cuteneberg) I believe that was still in at the time of the interview and Mtl consulate held on to the visa (after a successful interview) until he was actually out of the Forces! Not a huge ordeal, but took them by surprise and delayed him moving down to the USA by a few weeks. Not sure whats up with that?

Best of luck with the journey!! I used to talk to "operators" a fair bit from North bay when I was in the Navy, setting up the "link" when we went out to sea. maybe you have a clue what I'm talking about, maybe you don't,lol Cheers

[samaci 0]

Hi and welcome Reeena... Just a thought.. My husband is US Military too. Until you found out where you might be stationed, do you have any family mbr's (parents or siblings) that you could use thier address in the US? I know alot of people use thier parents address at first. Alot of your mail would be sent there (immigration forms and instructions) and I don't believe they will send them to a PO Box.

[Reeena 0]

Hey Flames9

I know exactly what you are talking about! lol

Not sure if you ever got to see the "hole" in North Bay... but we no longer working down there, we moved to a new state of the art building a year ago or so. Yep we still fight with the "link" most of the time its up...but really depends on who is working, lol.

I guess things havent changed too much since you were in the Forces.

We will be waiting until after we get married to start the first step in this... till then I am enjoying (to some extent) reading everyones stories. I am amazed at how long this whole thing takes.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I saw pictures of the hole,but never been there!! Must have been inthe late 90's before I transferred to the Air Force. I think it was either HMCS Algonquin, we had two fellows from North bAy come on a 1 or 2 week sail with us. They worked the "link" among other things in N. Bay and they were sick the whole 2 weeks! lol Felt sorry for them!!

Ya the process takes a bit of time. Back in 2004 it took me 6 months from start to finish, and now its like a year!! At one time DCF when it first started in Canada (only been a yr or two now) was very quick, but then I believe due to some law (think adam walsh law???) it too slowed down!! But normally the DCF option should be the fastest route.