Choosing and some questions...

[Christy J 0]

Hi, new here. This website is full of amazing information.

My boyfriend is American (Florida) and I'm Canadian (Ontario). We've decided we're ready to take our relationship to the next level.

We've been researching like crazy and are still having a hard time deciding what to do. We've agreed on me moving to the US.

I'd just like some opinions, what worked best for you, etc.

We were looking at me going there soon and us getting married and then filing the I-130, but I've seen a lot of comments on marriage fraud and how we might get in trouble because I went over there with the intent of getting married...

So, I suppose the fiance visa is a better option?

I'm so confused

Also, if I was to go visit now and we filed for the fiance visa... can we do that while I'm visiting and then I come back to Canada?

Am I allowed to re-enter the states during the process or am I stuck in Canada?

Can HE visit me in Canada during the process?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Hi and welcome to VJ.

The best option is probably the fiancee visa. Yes, you can visit him during the process and he can visit you during the process. Yes, you can start the process while you are visiting him in the US, then complete it in Canada. You won't be able to live in the US until you get the visa, but you will be able to visit. You will need to bring along 'proof' of your ties to Canada (letters from employer, lease, financial/familial commitments in Canada, etc) to reassure border authorities when you cross that you don't intend to avoid immigration laws and move to the US with the intent to remain and adjust status before you get your visa.

It would be a very bad idea to enter the US with the intent of getting married and remaining in the US. That is considered visa fraud and carries with it some very harsh repercussions.

We did the fiance visa route and agree that it was a good route for us to go. We will be celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary this June.

Good luck to you.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Kathryn41

[Christy J 0]

Thank you so much My brain was all jumbled up trying to sort all this stuff out.

[Sprailenes 47]

If you go there with the intent to marry and reside than it's frowned upon. You can go down there and marry but you have to come back and then file.

You can visit each other during the waiting period, but when you cross over to the states just make sure to bring your proof of ties to Canada.

[JillA 2]

Welcome to VJ! You will find lots of helpful info here. I also did the fiancee visa, it worked best for us and I visited many times to the US while the case was pending. Good luck whatever you choose!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

When we were deciding on what route to take I found this very helpful: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

Its just a comparison of the different options (K-1, K-3, CR-1/IR-1) and the pros and cons of each. For a lot of people, the decision of where and when you want to get married makes the decision a lot easier.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

If you go there with the intent to marry and reside than it's frowned upon.

Trust me, don't do this.

I tried, thinking it was okay, but I got denied at the border and didn't get into the US.

And here I am taking the K-1 route.

Make sure you do a ton of research before you do anything, so you don't get in trouble at the border.

Edited April 9, 2009 by Rhiann

[Flames9_RN 358]

Howdy! You can got the USA get married, THEN return to canada! And you can still visit!

REad this: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

Everyone situation is different. The least hassle of all the visas is probably the cr-1, but it takes the longest! Read over the guides on VJ and enjoy

[Krikit 1,164]

Welcome to VJ, Christy.

[carslo 0]

Welcome to VJ everyone here is amazingly helpful, and the guides will see you through the applications process no matter which one you chose.

We opted for the CR-1. It is the most economical and gives you the ability to work and travel right away once you have your interview in Montreal. We had a few delays along the way, but I am optimistic that it will be completed in less than a year.

Good luck in your journey!

Janet

[ashenflowers 5]

Hello!! Welcome

I'm new too, and over the past couple months had been debating back and forth over what route to take. I'm also from Ontario, and my b/f lives in California. We thought about me just going there, getting married, and filing for AOS, but after some great feedback here, and some further research, we are going the K-1 route. As people have already said, going there without a visa with the intent to marry and stay is totally illegal and visa fraud, and you really have to think about whether it's worth the risk of being deported! All in all, in the future, once you ARE there and settled, I think it'd be much nicer knowing you did things the 'right' way.

Good luck to you, whatever you choose Keep us updated on how things go! It sounds like your time lines and my time lines are quite similar (though we'll be processed at different centres). I'm hoping to be able to move around Christmas time, or shortly before or after (to avoid the insanity of traveling at Christmas. lol) *crosses fingers*

[Earmuffs 1]

K-1 FTW

[Flames9_RN 358]

Hello!! Welcome

I'm new too, and over the past couple months had been debating back and forth over what route to take. I'm also from Ontario, and my b/f lives in California. We thought about me just going there, getting married, and filing for AOS, but after some great feedback here, and some further research, we are going the K-1 route. As people have already said, going there without a visa with the intent to marry and stay is totally illegal and visa fraud, and you really have to think about whether it's worth the risk of being deported! All in all, in the future, once you ARE there and settled, I think it'd be much nicer knowing you did things the 'right' way.

Good luck to you, whatever you choose Keep us updated on how things go! It sounds like your time lines and my time lines are quite similar (though we'll be processed at different centres). I'm hoping to be able to move around Christmas time, or shortly before or after (to avoid the insanity of traveling at Christmas. lol) *crosses fingers*

Going to the USA and getting married if fine, as long as u head back to canada when ur time is up

[ashenflowers 5]

Hello!! Welcome

I'm new too, and over the past couple months had been debating back and forth over what route to take. I'm also from Ontario, and my b/f lives in California. We thought about me just going there, getting married, and filing for AOS, but after some great feedback here, and some further research, we are going the K-1 route. As people have already said, going there without a visa with the intent to marry and stay is totally illegal and visa fraud, and you really have to think about whether it's worth the risk of being deported! All in all, in the future, once you ARE there and settled, I think it'd be much nicer knowing you did things the 'right' way.

Good luck to you, whatever you choose Keep us updated on how things go! It sounds like your time lines and my time lines are quite similar (though we'll be processed at different centres). I'm hoping to be able to move around Christmas time, or shortly before or after (to avoid the insanity of traveling at Christmas. lol) *crosses fingers*

Going to the USA and getting married if fine, as long as u head back to canada when ur time is up

True, but it seemed pointless to drop everything in Canada to go to the US and get married only to not be able to stay anyway... either way you have to leave the US and be in Canada at some point, so with the K1 you can start the paperwork process right away if you're not already married. That was my theory at least. Get this ball rolling... lol We can visit each other in the mean time

[Flames9_RN 358]

On a visit, we got married and started the paperwork. We visited each other monthly, so wasn't a big deal. And still saw each other monthly while the paperwork was going through. And the Cr-1 in the long run is a far less hassle,lol But we were not in a hurry. Immigration back in 2004 was much quicker, only 6 months for the Cr-1. but if I had to do it over again now, I would still go the CR-1 route. Not as if I was living in a 3rd world country starving,lol and we got to see each other monthly. And I loved my job in the Air Force. Each thier own, one just has to make an informed decision on what works best for you.