Canadian Mom - American Daughter and I-130

[Cindy & Greg 0]

I live in Canada (CS) my husband lives in USA (USC). My daughter (not his bio) was born in Canada but is USC through birth because my ex (never married) is a USC. We are starting the I-130 and mailing it next week.

Question:

1. We have to list all dependants. So I list my daughter and I've put int he cover letter a note about yes, she is listed there but she does not require sponsorship as she is a USC through birth. I also planned to include copy of her US Certficaite of Live Birth and US Passport.

I'm wondering if I should even go there, or jsut wait for USCIS to ask me about it? My thoughts were that if I explained it up front there would be no RFE regarding it. Now though I am thinking that they may look at this and think, oh she was with a USC before and it didn't work out and now she is trying to get to USA with another USC.

None of which is true - but I worry about apperances.

What do you think? Explain it up front, or just list her as beneficiary's dependant and let them ask the questions?

PS Since we are married now, but my husband has not officially adopted my daugther (yet).....is she considered his dependent and are we a family of 3 for purposes of the I-184 (when we get to that point)?

Thanks for the help, we are just starting. =)

[Krikit 1,164]

Hi Cindy. Welcome to VJ.

Does the I-130 require you to submit a G-325a Biographic Information for the child? If it does then the citizenship information will be noted there. If not, I would definitely include a copy of the certificate of live birth and passport. You can note it in your covering letter.

What visa are you applying for? It may be better to ask these questions in the corresponding forum.

[Cindy & Greg 0]

Hi Cindy. Welcome to VJ.

Does the I-130 require you to submit a G-325a Biographic Information for the child? If it does then the citizenship information will be noted there. If not, I would definitely include a copy of the certificate of live birth and passport. You can note it in your covering letter.

What visa are you applying for? It may be better to ask these questions in the corresponding forum.

Thanks for the welcome. Still finding my away around.

The I-130 just says to submit a G-325A for the husband and the wife. Nothing is requested for the child.

We are applying for a CR1 (I guess). Wife of USC living outside the US. I will do all my processing here and we will probably not persue the K3 Visa or work permit, etc. I hear processing is about the same, and I'd prefer to go to the interview here in Canada, than somewhere in the US. We have waited this long, we can wait a bit longer.

As my application stands, I have noted it in the cover letter, and inserted the Certificate of Live Birth and Passport for the child. I want to be as up front as possible and not be seen to be hiding anything, so that was my rational, for including it, even though it's not requested anywhere. I'll send it this way unless someone on here advises to definately not do it from experience by the end of this weekend. The package is being sent on it's way Sunday.

[Flames9_RN 358]

the interview for a k3 would be in Canada as well--Vancouver or Montreal (depends where u live in Canada). All cr-1'ers ALL goto Montreal for interview! The Cr-1 comes with "work authorization" Welcome to VJ

[Cindy & Greg 0]

the interview for a k3 would be in Canada as well--Vancouver or Montreal (depends where u live in Canada). All cr-1'ers ALL goto Montreal for interview! The Cr-1 comes with "work authorization" Welcome to VJ

Seriously? I'll have to go to Montreal for the interview?!? I live in Calgary. SIGH.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yep for the CR-1! If ya went the K3 route, since your in Alberta, you would goto Vancouver for the interview. I dont really keep up with the time frames, but at 1 time (probably still is) Vancouver used to be a lot faster at handing out the k1, k3 interviews than Montreal. Keep in mind, there are differences in the K3 and cr-1 visa, so one should educate themselves on those differences. This link compares the + and - of the visas: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

Cr-1 is a superior visa, and it costs less than the k3. But the k3 "SHOULD" be faster, but not always the case. back in 2004 we did the cr-1 and k3 at the same time. Theoretically the k3 should have been completed first, but nope! I was already living in the USA when I got the NOA stating the k3 had been approved. Look over that link and see what fits you better. Is getting to the USA faster more important(which th ek3 might not be faster!!), or being able to work asap more important????? and less paperwork with the CR-1, so less frustration,lol

[Cindy & Greg 0]

Yep for the CR-1! If ya went the K3 route, since your in Alberta, you would goto Vancouver for the interview. I dont really keep up with the time frames, but at 1 time (probably still is) Vancouver used to be a lot faster at handing out the k1, k3 interviews than Montreal. Keep in mind, there are differences in the K3 and cr-1 visa, so one should educate themselves on those differences. This link compares the + and - of the visas: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

Cr-1 is a superior visa, and it costs less than the k3. But the k3 "SHOULD" be faster, but not always the case. back in 2004 we did the cr-1 and k3 at the same time. Theoretically the k3 should have been completed first, but nope! I was already living in the USA when I got the NOA stating the k3 had been approved. Look over that link and see what fits you better. Is getting to the USA faster more important(which th ek3 might not be faster!!), or being able to work asap more important????? and less paperwork with the CR-1, so less frustration,lol

I'm all about the less frustration, less paperwork (= less to get wrong/lost/checked), less money route. I can't go to the US and not work. We have a child to support and living in Los Angeles will be expensive. So, I'd rather be able to go there and work right away, then go there and *HOPE* my K3 is finished in 2-3 months. From what I've been seeing, average time seems to be about 6-7 months for the CR1. We can wait for the sure thing, rather than gamble and spend extra money on the K3. The 6-7 months I've seen seems to be for countries like Asia, Russia, India - the Canadian applications seem to be processed a little faster, and being that we are already married, should be smother than the fiance route. Thanks for all the info, I'm anxious to submit the application and get started. I miss my love. <3

[trailmix 77]

Hi Cindy,

I'm from Calgary too!

The CR1/IR1 generally takes around 10-11 months from submitting the I-130 to the interview day in Montreal. You might find the CR1/IR1 Montreal timeline to interview table helpful:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t&p=2585970

I agree that the CR1 is the better visa, good luck for a speedy process!

Edited January 23, 2009 by trailmix

[Flames9_RN 358]

if working is a must, then the CR-1 (married less than 2 yrs, IR-1,married for 2 yrs or more) is the only way to go!! Someone here on the Canada forum has started a CR-1 "group" so one can track how long it is taking

and look at that, that damn mouse posted the link to it,lol

Edited January 23, 2009 by flames9

[trailmix 77]

if working is a must, then the CR-1 (married less than 2 yrs, IR-1,married for 2 yrs or more) is the only way to go!! Someone here on the Canada forum has started a CR-1 "group" so one can track how long it is taking

Or you can just have a look at the timeline thread

Oh and you might find the VJ Canada Wiki page helpful too:

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada

if working is a must, then the CR-1 (married less than 2 yrs, IR-1,married for 2 yrs or more) is the only way to go!! Someone here on the Canada forum has started a CR-1 "group" so one can track how long it is taking

and look at that, that damn mouse posted the link to it,lol

Edited January 23, 2009 by trailmix

[Bern. 3]

On a random note, hello fellow Calgarians <3!