marriage license

[pony1076 0]

Hi folks. I am Canadian and my boyfriend is American. We want me to move to the US to live and we know that we have to get married to make this all work.

Which country is easier to get married in? He has been told that if we got married in Ontario, that it would make it easier to do all the paper work for the US. Also he was told we would be able to go back and forth across the border without too many troubles. Is it true once I go into the US to be with him that I can't leave until all the Visas have gone through ? We just want to things the legal way and hopefully the most effecient way so that we can be together soon as possible so I would be able to work in the US and be able to come back to Canada if need be, without the worry that I couldn't go back to my husband.

Any help or insight into this would be very appreciated.

Thanks

Pony

Edited June 2, 2009 by pony1076

[carvin317 0]

It really all depends on what you want to do. A k1 visa is for people who are engaged and want to get married in the states. In the long run you file you papers wait ususally 6 months + and get permission to get married within 90 days of your POE "point of entry". You would have to stay in Canada during this process. In this process after you get married you will have to adjust your status and get a green card. you can not work until you get a green card.

Than you have k3 which is basically the same thing, but you are already married, but your fiance is petitioning you into the united states. you then have to adjust status as well and wait for your green card to work and all the shin dig.

There is also the CR1 which gives you a green card right when you enter the states after your married. This is the best process cause it is less waiting for work.

[thetreble 19]

Hi folks. I am Canadian and my boyfriend is American. We want me to move to the US to live and we know that we have to get married to make this all work.

Which country is easier to get married in? He has been told that if we got married in Ontario, that it would make it easier to do all the paper work for the US. Also he was told we would be able to go back and forth across the border without too many troubles. Is it true once I go into the US to be with him that I can't leave until all the Visas have gone through ? We just want to things the legal way and hopefully the most effecient way so that we can be together soon as possible so I would be able to work in the US and be able to come back to Canada if need be, without the worry that I couldn't go back to my husband.

Any help or insight into this would be very appreciated.

Thanks

Pony

You don't have to get married to make it all work.

Both countries are easy to get married in, in the sense that you are applying for a marriage license the same way.

It's not easier to do the paper work if you get married in Ontario, I don't know where you heard that.

Your intent is to go to the US to get married and that is against the law.

You have the following options:

a) file for a k-1 fiancee visa and wait until it is all approved and then you can cross into the US and marry

B ) get married in either country of your choice, go back to both of your places of residence and file CR-1 or IR-1

c) get married in either country of your choice, go back to the place you and your spouse live (living apart) and file K-3

You have to do this legally. Read up on the info here at visa journey. If you have any more questions, just ask away...but know that you can't legally do it how you are wanting to do it right now.

Edited June 2, 2009 by thetreble

[Krikit 1,164]

Your intent is to go to the US to get married and that is against the law.

Just to elaborate on the above.... if the intent is to bypass the immigration process by entering the US, marrying, then adjusting status.... then that is illegal. Just marrying here isn't against the law.

Your best bet is to read the guides, then come back for some clarity. Link

Welcome to VJ.

[thetreble 19]

Your intent is to go to the US to get married and that is against the law.

Just to elaborate on the above.... if the intent is to bypass the immigration process by entering the US, marrying, then adjusting status.... then that is illegal. Just marrying here isn't against the law.

Your best bet is to read the guides, then come back for some clarity. Link

Welcome to VJ.

Yeah I was a bit general there. Marrying most places in the world, as far as I know, is not against the law. But you must follow proper immigration procedures both before and after marriage.

[Reba 2]

It will most definitely take you a whole lot longer if you get married in Ontario than if you get married in probably any of the 50 US states! Ontario takes forever to process marriage certificates for some reason, and you can't apply for any marriage based immigration benefit (in either country) without the marriage certificate.

If the plan is to get married first then apply for immigration benefits, then you will have to return to Canada after the wedding for about a year to wait for a CR1 or K3 to be processed.

OR start the K1 fiancee visa process now, and wait almost a year for that to process, then move to the US, get married, apply to adjust status and live happily ever after. Or whatever. Your choice. Read the Guides to decide which route is best for you.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

If you decide to get married in Ontario, obtaining a marriage license in Niagara Falls is quite simple. Its a destination wedding spot for a lot of people around the world, and the process for obtaining a certificate reflects that. However, the catch is that it costs $100 opposed to the $10 or $25 you see in a lot of states.