So sorry for more questions re:cr-1 vrs k-3

[jonesg111 0]

I was officially confused before and now am even more so! I have a friend of mine that works for US Customs at a border crossing in ND so I have been talking to him about this process.

He tells me that the K-3 is the better route for my situation because with the cr-1 I would not be able to leave the US until I have the conditions lifted after 2 years of marriage. I thought that was not the case and the cr-1 was a multiple entry visa?

Other question is that with the cr-1 are you not allowed to enter the US while your case is pending? The reason being is, we have purchased tickets to fly back to Vermont at Christmas time for 10 days to visit her family.

If we file the I-130 in the next few weeks would this be considered as having a case pending and then in December when we go through customs they say to me " Uhh, sorry buddy but you cannot go, sorry you paid for those tickets" ?

What are our options and what is your advice? Thanks again!!

[MrsCat 6]

CR-1 is a multiple entry visa. You can travel back and forth between Canada and the US once it has been approved. That means visiting Canada is ok. I am sure others will tell you about their CR-1 being granted and visiting Canada to see family and friends.

With any pending petition - the US wants to ensure that you're not going to take up residence in the US before they've granted you a visa. This doesn't mean that you cannot visit - rather you need proof of ties that show you're visiting on a vacation and will return to Canada to wait out the rest of the process. If you bought tickets in December, there is always a risk that they could say no. However - return tickets, letter from employer stating you're job attached, mortgage, rent . . . . . will show that you intend to maintain your residence in Canada and not move yet to the US. This for most people is enough to gain entry into the US on a vacation.

From personal experience - since the start of this process I have flown to see my husband on 6 occasions and have never even had a slight problem gaining entry. Its always been fine.

I am sure others who've been around longer will be able to assist with choosing the right one for you.

I still don't have my visa - what do I know

[jonesg111 0]

CR-1 is a multiple entry visa. You can travel back and forth between Canada and the US once it has been approved. That means visiting Canada is ok. I am sure others will tell you about their CR-1 being granted and visiting Canada to see family and friends.

With any pending petition - the US wants to ensure that you're not going to take up residence in the US before they've granted you a visa. This doesn't mean that you cannot visit - rather you need proof of ties that show you're visiting on a vacation and will return to Canada to wait out the rest of the process. If you bought tickets in December, there is always a risk that they could say no. However - return tickets, letter from employer stating you're job attached, mortgage, rent . . . . . will show that you intend to maintain your residence in Canada and not move yet to the US. This for most people is enough to gain entry into the US on a vacation.

From personal experience - since the start of this process I have flown to see my husband on 6 occasions and have never even had a slight problem gaining entry. Its always been fine.

I am sure others who've been around longer will be able to assist with choosing the right one for you.

I still don't have my visa - what do I know

Thanks, thats kind of the idea that I got from reading other posts but sometimes its just more reassuring to me and my wife read it on our own! :-)

[Dakine 26]

I was officially confused before and now am even more so! I have a friend of mine that works for US Customs at a border crossing in ND so I have been talking to him about this process.

He tells me that the K-3 is the better route for my situation because with the cr-1 I would not be able to leave the US until I have the conditions lifted after 2 years of marriage. I thought that was not the case and the cr-1 was a multiple entry visa?

Other question is that with the cr-1 are you not allowed to enter the US while your case is pending? The reason being is, we have purchased tickets to fly back to Vermont at Christmas time for 10 days to visit her family.

If we file the I-130 in the next few weeks would this be considered as having a case pending and then in December when we go through customs they say to me " Uhh, sorry buddy but you cannot go, sorry you paid for those tickets" ?

What are our options and what is your advice? Thanks again!!

"He tells me that the K-3 is the better route for my situation because with the cr-1 I would not be able to leave the US until I have the conditions lifted after 2 years of marriage"

Your friend has his head "where the sun don't shin". CRs get their GC and SS cards in the mail shortly after arriving in US and can come and go nas they please. Work also!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Just another misinformed POE officer,lol I went the cr-1 route. As other have stated cr-1 is a multiple entry visa, come and go as you please for the most part. if your going to be out of the USA for 6 months (i think or is it a year?) then one has to fill out another form.

I traveled MONTHLY to DC from Halifax while my cr-1 was in process. inever had a problem (some do) Ensure you have ties to Canada.

Better visa for you? hard to say. Here lists the + and - of each visa http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

Keep in mind your in Alberta, so if you went the K3 route, you would goto Vancouver for the interview and they seem to be faster at handing out interviews. ALL cr-1 got Montreal. Guess one would have to look at the timeliness for a k3 going through Vancouver, compared to the cr-1 timelines. There is a timeline on VJ someplace,lol believe there is one here in the Cdn forum.

As well i believe the cr-1 costs less than the k3,less paperwork,lol Once you get your cr-1 visa and activate it, you dont have to do anything for nearly 2 years. Ur greencard will expire 2 yrs from the date you activated it at the POE. Expiry date will be on your greencard,so you dont have to memorize it,lol 90 days prior to that expiry date,your eligible to file the I-751 (super easy to fill out) You don't have to file it exactly on 90 days, just can't do it 100 days before, or 1 day after expiry date! You will have to go in for a Biometrics appt, some get selected for an interview at ur local USCIS office, but most don't (I didnt),then that green card is good for 10 yrs.

And keep in mind nothing with immigration goes as planned!! we filed the K3 and cr-1 pretty much at the same time back in 2004. K3 was suppose to be the "faster" visa (we weren't in a hurry,but filed for both anyways) My cr-1 was process much faster than the k3. I had already been living in the USA for 4 months before my K3 was even approved! Best of luck

[Reba 2]

the process for K3 has changed considerably as well, so read the guide thoroughly to figure out which of the 2 is the better visa.

And I must say that your friend at the border has no clue about the CR1 or K3 visa, or the process involved.

[Cdn_Ali 11]

Sounds like your guy at the border is confused. K-3 might be a tad faster but more expensive, and you can't work right away - that's the biggest disadvantage for me. In my opinion, CR-1 is the superior visa and worth waiting for, plus being able to collect EI is a bonus. Especially if it takes a few months to find work.

[jonesg111 0]

Sounds like your guy at the border is confused. K-3 might be a tad faster but more expensive, and you can't work right away - that's the biggest disadvantage for me. In my opinion, CR-1 is the superior visa and worth waiting for, plus being able to collect EI is a bonus. Especially if it takes a few months to find work.

How does that work? Collecting CDN EI while in the US? Hmm sounds interesting since last I checked I had given them $10,000 and got next to nothing back

[MrsCat 6]

Sounds like your guy at the border is confused. K-3 might be a tad faster but more expensive, and you can't work right away - that's the biggest disadvantage for me. In my opinion, CR-1 is the superior visa and worth waiting for, plus being able to collect EI is a bonus. Especially if it takes a few months to find work.

How does that work? Collecting CDN EI while in the US? Hmm sounds interesting since last I checked I had given them $10,000 and got next to nothing back

I was surprised by this too.

http://www1.servicecanada.gc.ca/en/ei/info...nada.shtml#file

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=8