A few more questions on getting married.

[rgburress 0]

Excellent, thank you everyone for the reply's, that means we can technically live together for 6 months before she even gets the visa and we will just be apart while we have here get the visa and interview done. This is great news, why do more people not talk about or consider this option? I haven't read much about it anywhere. Also on a add on to this, could she stay for 180 days while we await a fiances visa? That way we could stay 6 months together then another 3 when the k1 goes through, obviously still having to return home for the interview and what not. just to make sure were not rushing things on marriage.

You don't see many people talk about it because for most people it's not practical. How can you have strong ties to your home country, and yet be able to leave those ties behind for six months at a time? When the alien presents themselves to the CBP, provides the evidence of strong ties to their home country, and then asks for a 6 month stay, it's going to sound to them like the alien is cutting those ties as of now. They may not grant her permission to stay for 6 months, and might even deny her entry entirely if they suspect she isn't going to leave when she's supposed to. It's entirely at their discretion.

If you think there's any chance at all that you might be rushing things on marriage, then you probably shouldn't file the petition for the K1 visa yet. This is a long and expensive process. You shouldn't begin this journey unless you're sure you'll be saying "I do" at the end of the road.

I have no doubt that I want to marry her, I just don't want to be forced to marry to have her here, I do love her with all my heart and soul, I just think it would be nice to be able to stay together for some time and not have to be forced to jump into marriage to be with her. the laws are so stupid although I do understand the purpose of them.

[BermyCat 1]

Excellent, thank you everyone for the reply's, that means we can technically live together for 6 months before she even gets the visa and we will just be apart while we have here get the visa and interview done. This is great news, why do more people not talk about or consider this option? I haven't read much about it anywhere. Also on a add on to this, could she stay for 180 days while we await a fiances visa? That way we could stay 6 months together then another 3 when the k1 goes through, obviously still having to return home for the interview and what not. just to make sure were not rushing things on marriage.

This is quite similiar to what Phil and I did. We applied for K-1 visa in May 2008. While it was processing, I visited for three months and then again for one month. I was able to work remotely and made sure that insurance policy would cover me on my extended visits. We did marry right away once I entered on the K-1 visa. Putting the marriage and AOS application off would have caused too many hassles, especially with health insurance.

Make sure you've thought about all the potential problems with extended absences from Canada. Consider your finances and health insurance at the very least. I added my father to my Bermuda bank account to make it easy for me to get extra money wired to me. There are a lot of details to consider but your plan is certainly doable.

~ Catherine