just starting out - getting my ducks in a row

[andylans 0]

Hi all,

I've been reading the board for some time trying to figure out what I need. My wife became a PR in Canada 3 years ago and now we have decided to move to the US.

I will be Direct Filling in Halifax NS. What do I need to start this process?

Any help is greatly appreciated. My bookmarks and printed files are becoming overwhelming is there a list somewhere?

Thanks

Andy

[Mononoke28 135]

You can find the guide on how to file for DCF in the GUIDES found at the top of the page.

Diana

[kaffy 2]

Start here: http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/i...sa_relative.asp

And for details on submitting your I-130 at Halifax: http://halifax.usconsulate.gov/content/con...immigrant_visas

Edited March 16, 2009 by kaffy

[WROCLAW 0]

good luck

[andylans 0]

Thanks for the help.

Now another quick question- Because of timing, potential second child, job search and so on. How long does a Visa stay active before I can land in the US and once I've landed do I have to stay for a required amount of time before I can return to Canada? Just thinking of trying to tie up all the loose ends before residing in the US.

Thanks,

[txladykat 1]

The visa is good for 6 months. Once you have your green card, you are free to travel. I think it takes about a month to get the green card after arriving in the US, assuming you checked the option to have it automatically sent to you.

[elsoar 3]

The visa is good for 6 months. Once you have your green card, you are free to travel. I think it takes about a month to get the green card after arriving in the US, assuming you checked the option to have it automatically sent to you.

I think it's important to mention that your wife will need to re-establish (or demonstrate) her domicile in the US in order to have the affidavit of support for you approved (see the thread on Proving domicle when not living in the U.S., Even if you have never lived in the U.S.). She must be legally domiciled in the US at the time you immigrate, and must provide proof of this at your immigrant visa interview in Montreal. Also, you probably know that Canadian PR can be maintained while the PR is living outside Canada if they are living with their spouse sponsor - it is not like that in the US. See the USCIS website on Maintaining PR. So in other words, in accordance with my understanding, you can't get a US Green Card and then move back to Canada have a baby to take advantage of the cheaper health care or whatnot while still maintaining your US PR without filing additional paperwork. But if you want to land in the US and then return to Canada to pack up your house that should be perfectly fine. After the immigrant visa interview, you get your XpressPost envelope sent to you with the immigrant visa paperwork to bring to the border and you have 6 months before that will expire. You have to land within that time. When you land at the POE, you'll get a stamp in your passport that will allow you to enter and leave the country until you get your green card.

I got my Canadian PR about three years ago too and am now immigrating my Canadian spouse sponsor to the US, just like your situation - we looked into filing earlier, but found you can't really do to the US immigration before you actually intend to settle there, which is too bad in my opinion as it causes a good deal of stress trying to get the timing right (eg, not applying too far in advance of your move, but then worrying that the visa will come in time!).

Elly

Edited April 7, 2009 by elsoar