Love is special...and complicated!

[lovelyfairy27 0]

My name is Megan. I met my Canadian fiance over a year ago, started dating last October, and became engaged just a couple months ago! Right now we are going through a bit of a hardship with distance and not having any idea of what we need to do to be together. Zac has become the most important person in my life. Meeting him was one of the most wonderful things that has ever happened to me. He is the sanity in my ever changing world. Right now we are having trouble with figuring out what we should do.

I am a full-time college student, it is my sophomore year and he graduated high school last year and finally got his first job! (I'm so proud of him!) Right now we are trying to figure out whether we should get married and then try to figure out needs to be done, or go for the fiance visa. Both of which we have no knowledge of, despite weeks or trying to figure out this insanely scary stuff. my biggest worry is that he will not be allowed in due to the fact that I am in school and do not have a job since I got laid off.

I joined this site in the hopes that I will find help in trying to figure out what i need to do. I know this is going to take a long while, and wuite a bit of money, but I have hopes that we will get through this with as little bumps possible. So I look forward to what advice I can get, and if there is anything i can help with i will be glad to do so as well. Thanks

[AbbynSheryl 0]

welcome here and good luck with ur visa journey.

keep us posted and do ur time line and any question please ask.

abby n sheryl

[john & jean 37]

If you do not have a job, you will need a cosponsor that meets the income requirements. Start by reading the guides at the top of the page.

Whatever you decide, the info is available on this site.

WELCOME TO VJ!!!!

[meowmeowmeow 1]

welcome! and don't worry, just follow all the guidelines and you guys should be ok. also look for a co-sponsor if you feel that you can't sponsor him on your own and it should be ok

[trailmix 77]

Hi and welcome,

You will want to read the guides at the top, as someone mentioned.

In a nutshell:

Before you get married your option is a K1 visa

After you are married your options are a K3 visa or a CR1 visa.

You may want to visit the Canada forum as well

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=93

Good luck!

[lovelyfairy27 0]

Awesome! Thanks so much! My mother said she would be a cosponsor. I am so glad to hear that I can have a cosponsor for a fiance visa. It made my heart a little lighter to hear it I am so excited to get started. Now i just have to figure out where to start! I don't really want to make a new topic just to ask...but could anyone tell me honestly which one is easier and will let me be with him sooner? if I can't get a reply I will look around some more. but i can't wait to share my adventure with everyone, and hopefully give the wonderful news soon!

[Hoot 0]

Hi,

Welcome to VJ. Basically you have 2 options:

K-1 fiance visa (form I-129F) - go thru visa process - fiance comes to usa - then marry after fiance emigrates - then adjust your status in USA - this is slightly faster then next option - average time 6 to 9 months

CR-1 marriage visa (form I-130) - get married presumably in Canada - then file visa - husband comes to usa - slightly slower - average time 7 to 10 months.

The K-3 is technically a 3rd option if you are married but it essentially obsolete because the CR-1 processes almost as fast as the K-3 but the K-3 has disadvantages.

Step 1 is to meet in person (you have done that)

Step 2 is to perpare your I-129F or I-130 petition and its supporting documents and evidence

Step 3 is to mail the petition (and wait)

Step 4 you will receive NOA1 from the USCIS office processing your petition (maybe 2 to 4 weeks. NOA = notice of action NOA1 is simply an acknowledgement that your petition was received and it starts the clock for your petition.

Step 5 is when USCIS approves your petition - they will email you and send you a NOA2 NOA2 is petition approval

Step 6 is USCIS sends your petition to the National Visa Center (NVC) for final processing. - This is where the K-1 and CR-1 visa processing becomes different. For a K-1 Visa the process is very brief (name/security checks) and the petition can be forwarded to the embassy after 5 or 10 days. From there the embassy will set your interview (some embassys require you to call to set the appointment - you need to check the embassy website for specific country instructions). The CR-1 visa process is a little more extended at NVC. This process takes 2 to 8 weeks to complete. The NVC requires the CR-1 beneficiary to designate an agent, then the visa fees need to be paid then the visa applications need to be submitted, then the affidavit if support needs to be submitted. When the NVC completes the review of the CR-1, the NVC will set your appointment with the embassy.

Step 7 is your interview - really - the interview is where most petitions that are problematic are turned down. The USCIS process is virtually always approved unless there is some kind of technical problem. There are legal reasons for this - USCIS is subject to political pressure - embassy is not. You need to have asignificant proof of a bonifide relationship at the interview.

bStep 8 - visa issued

Step 9 - fiance or hubby enters the USA

For a non-complex case (most cases) you will do far better filing the petition yourself ie no attorney. So long as you are detail oriented you will be fine. The USCIS review/approval and focus is very limited: 1) document both parties met in person - pictures with datew stamps/descriptions 12-20. Passport copy showing entry/exit to fiance's country, plane tickets showing same. 2) evidence of relationship - USCIS does not focus on this - provide some emails/chat sessions - thinner applications often get processed faster (USCIS officers have quotas). 3) documents - your birth certificate copy, his bc copy, marriage certificate copy, etc. Check Canada embassy website for document requirements specific to Canada.

The embassy/interview is where you need to present the bulk of your relationship evidence.

YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT THIS VISAJOURNEY WEBSITE - I have left out many minor details - but now you have a feel for the process. Also, the I-129F / I-130 instructions are very good.

good luck

Dolly n Hoot

[trailmix 77]

Awesome! Thanks so much! My mother said she would be a cosponsor. I am so glad to hear that I can have a cosponsor for a fiance visa. It made my heart a little lighter to hear it I am so excited to get started. Now i just have to figure out where to start! I don't really want to make a new topic just to ask...but could anyone tell me honestly which one is easier and will let me be with him sooner? if I can't get a reply I will look around some more. but i can't wait to share my adventure with everyone, and hopefully give the wonderful news soon!

If your main criteria is to be together as soon as possible, then it depends where he lives. Manitoba and west - interview at the Vancouver consulate for K visas - Vancouver schedules interviews faster than Montreal.

If he lives in Ontario or east of Ontario, he will interview in Montreal, they are slower.

So if it's Ontario and East, you still might want to consider getting married and applying for the CR1 visa.

[MNCouple 3]

Welcome!

This site has been an excellent resource to us and I am sure the VJ'ers here will have some great advice or suggestions for you, should you need any.

Take care and good luck!

[Rings 10]

The advice you will get here will be wonderful and all of these people are wonderful and can help you along the way. We have all started at the beginning at some point so we know how you feel. If I can offer any advices it would be to be very careful and detailed in all of the paperwork that you do. Save conversations, e-mails, letters and all the photos of you two together because you will need them. Also have all your family write letters that validate your relationship. I have about 20 letters from family and friends that said they validate our relationship and they know it to be honest and true. I had all of them get their letters notarized as an extra precaution. The more evidence of a real realationship that you can prove the faster this will go for you. And don't skip a beat...do your homework because if you miss a step or some of the documentation they need then it will cause you painful delays when they send you an REF (Request for information)

You can do this and you will succeed and we will help you *hugs*

[jayzar 1]

welcome to VJ!

[maritoni 3]

Welcome to Vj and may you have a smooth visajourney

[Nagishkaw 510]

Welcome aboard!

[Carlawarla 1]

Welcome to VJ Megan! Make sure you check out the Canada forum as well! Hoping you have a smooth and speedy journey!