Canadian marrying American....Which ways the best?

[Rezandy 0]

If you get married in Canada especially Montreal she will not get your last name.

I would do option 2.

I even think they process k1 faster.

Actually what mstangie posted is accurate.

But I guess it's more fun to ridicule someone who probably has english as a a second language and is quite new to these boards.

I'm from BC, does this mean that she won't get my last name? I don't understand why she wouldn't?? But I'm new to all of this, I have no clue.

[trailmix 77]

If you get married in Canada especially Montreal she will not get your last name.

I would do option 2.

I even think they process k1 faster.

Actually what mstangie posted is accurate.

But I guess it's more fun to ridicule someone who probably has english as a a second language and is quite new to these boards.

I'm from BC, does this mean that she won't get my last name? I don't understand why she wouldn't?? But I'm new to all of this, I have no clue.

I believe what mstangie was trying to say is that if you get married in Quebec your wife can't take your last name.

But you don't - so that is not your case at all. It's up to the two of you in your situation.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Oh trailmix, always saving the day and keeping the peace.

So, given the fact you live in BC and you want to move to the US as soon as possible the K-1 seems better suited to you, as long as not being able to work and travel for the first couple months is not a major problem. Going through Vancouver will speed up your processing time by quite a bit, compared to the long waiting list Montreal currently has. We did the K-1 and are very happy we made that decision, despite the AOS process we had to go through later. It may be expensive, but its not very long or complicated for most.

[Holliday 4]

Although it has been established not to be relevant here, because the OP lives in B.C., I just thought I'd point out that name change rule only applies to women who live in Quebec, regardless of where she gets married. So even if an American citizen gets married in Quebec, she can change her name. She wouldn't be changing her name in Quebec anyway since she doesn't live there. She would just have to follow whatever rules apply in the state she lives in, which is usually just the marriage certificate. Also related, but not relevant here, if a married woman from Quebec moves to Ontario or something, she is allowed to change her name at that point.

[Rezandy 0]

Oh trailmix, always saving the day and keeping the peace.

So, given the fact you live in BC and you want to move to the US as soon as possible the K-1 seems better suited to you, as long as not being able to work and travel for the first couple months is not a major problem. Going through Vancouver will speed up your processing time by quite a bit, compared to the long waiting list Montreal currently has. We did the K-1 and are very happy we made that decision, despite the AOS process we had to go through later. It may be expensive, but its not very long or complicated for most.

So, if we do decide to go the K-1 route, how can she prove that she can support me while I am there for the 3-6 mo? Are there guidelines on this? She is an undergraduate student right now and graduates in May (she's college-student broke). She will then move on to graduate school, and she doesn't have time to hold a job.

[trailmix 77]

No, initially she will have to complete the I-134 a link to instructions for that form are here:

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-134instr.pdf

When you file for Adjustment of Status, after you arrive and get married, she will have to fill out an I-864 and prove that she has income of, at the very least 125% of the poverty guidelines for 2 people, for 2009 that amount is $18,212 annually.

You are going to need a joint sponsor if she does not have this income.