Living but not working in USA

[cdnchick 0]

This is my first post, please forgive me if I've posted in the wrong forum.

A quick question: I have searched through the US immigration site and didn't find an answer.

I am a Canadian married to a US citizen. We live across the border literally a half hour drive from one another.

I would like to know if it's possible for me lto legally live there daily, but not work as I have a great job here.

He has a few legal issues he has to clear up before I can sponsor him to Canada. It would be much easier and financially correct to live in one house and not pay two rents, etc.

Any info as what and where to do this would be greatly appreciated.

Edited August 17, 2008 by cdnchick

[Abby-Ron 8]

If you are in Canada and you want to live in the US, then you must have legal status to live in the US, otherwise your permanent residence will always be Canada. If its the other way around; you sponsoring him to Canada, then you would have to seek help in Canada as this forum deals with USA visas.

[cdnchick 0]

I understand that, thanks!

We plan to move back to Canada permanently once I do sponsor him but that will probably be a few years.

Do I need to have a green card or are there special visa's for someone like my situation?

I have no idea, sorry for the silly quetions.

If you are in Canada and you want to live in the US, then you must have legal status to live in the US, otherwise your permanent residence will always be Canada. If its the other way around; you sponsoring him to Canada, then you would have to seek help in Canada as this forum deals with USA visas.

[Abby-Ron 8]

I understand that, thanks!

We plan to move back to Canada permanently once I do sponsor him but that will probably be a few years.

Do I need to have a green card or are there special visa's for someone like my situation?

I have no idea, sorry for the silly quetions.

If you are in Canada and you want to live in the US, then you must have legal status to live in the US, otherwise your permanent residence will always be Canada. If its the other way around; you sponsoring him to Canada, then you would have to seek help in Canada as this forum deals with USA visas.

You need a green card if you want to live permanently in the US. To obtain this, you need to get a K3 visa sponsorship or CR1 visa sponsorship, both of which are spousal visas to enter the US as "conditionally to live permanently in the US", until you have been granted a green card.

[Sherri and Matt 1]

I live in a border town in Maine, so I know a lot of people from Canada. I know couples through work that are in your situation, one lives here, one there, but only a short drive away. They can only stay together a certain number of days a week. One couple have children that go to school here in the States, and mom is the USC. Dad stays here at night with them some days a week and they go across and stay with him the other days. I think the split is 4 days here and 3 there, and if he stayed longer regularly, it would be a huge problem. I am not sure of the number of days per week, I just know for sure that he can't just stay here, and she can't stay there, they have to go back and forth.

You should check with immigration, if you guys are 30 minutes apart and visit regularly, you could even ask at the border, I am sure they know the limits.

[Reba 2]

Canadians can legally stay in the US up to 6 months per calendar year, however, if you're going back and forth on a daily or bi-daily basis, eventually the border officials are going to deny you entry (the above mentioned couple are really pushing the limits I'm sure!).

Best bet is to petition and apply for a CR1 visa. It'll take about a year to finish up, so during that time you'll have to continue with the two residences, but after that, you'll be legall to live in the US, and you can commute to your job in Canada without difficulty. What will become difficult is filing your taxes, but you'll have to ask at a tax forum about that. We just do immigration.

[filirican 3]

good luck on that one!

[cdnchick 0]

Thank you all! I want to do this the right way so I will look at the CR1 visa first. I had no idea where to start or even if this was possible.

I'm not too worried about it. It will happen when the times right I guess.

I will be looking into the proper visa no less. I'll let you know what immigration suggests.

hanneyperez, your comment really doesn't make sense. Do you know something I should know?