US citizen going to be engaged to Canadian citizen

[sethmichael22 0]

Hi all-

My first visa journey post! Seems as though everyone is very helpful on here from everything I have read.

Second, I know everyone has similar requests like this I am about to give, but I decided I needed some advice anyways.

I am an american citizen, living in Syracuse, NY. I am dating a Canadian citizen, and she lives in Toronto. It's about a 3 and a half hour trip, not far at all! We met on a dating web site back in the beginning of October, '09, so it has been about 5 months now. We are really beginning to discuss next steps for our future. We are talking marriage and kids, which is AWESOME! I get excited thinking about it.

In my mind of course, since I had always thought I would marry an American, I was thinking it'd be great to get engaged this summer, and marry next summer. HOWEVER, planning a wedding in this scenario, it's a horse of a different color! Looks as though if we got engaged this summer, she would already need a fiance visa approved and then we would have 3 months to marry, and that's only if the fiance visa was already approved, which from what I am reading, sounds like it will take much longer, than by the summertime. I'm doing my best to rely on God to open these doors, but it's very easy for me to worry about it also

She and I are both 27, no criminal records whatsoever, clean bills of health etc...

What are my options??

I will listen to any and everyone who has experience with things.

[Calypso 464]

Welcome to VJ!

Read this first.

Disregard K3. It's dead. You can choose between CR-1 and K1.

[sethmichael22 0]

Welcome to VJ!

Read this first.

Disregard K3. It's dead. You can choose between CR-1 and K1.

Thanks! Looks like the K1 is my best way to go. Pricey things to get, aren't they?!?!

Am I better then to file for this now if we do want to get engaged and married this year?

[Calypso 464]

Thanks! Looks like the K1 is my best way to go. Pricey things to get, aren't they?!?!

Am I better then to file for this now if we do want to get engaged and married this year?

You better do.

I heard that Embassies in Canada are kinda slow.

See the flowchart here so you'll get a better idea of how it really should be for K1.

[sethmichael22 0]

You better do.

I heard that Embassies in Canada are kinda slow.

See the flowchart here so you'll get a better idea of how it really should be for K1.

In my scenario, is it worth me contacting an immigration lawyer to help with things?

Want to make sure I go by the books on this!

[Calypso 464]

In my scenario, is it worth me contacting an immigration lawyer to help with things?

Want to make sure I go by the books on this!

Most of us think otherwise. If you want to speed things up, a lawyer has no power to do that.

Let's say you file your petition (I-129F) in early March. The USCIS will approve it between May and August. The approved petition will be sent to the NVC where it stays for one day, a few days, a few weeks, or a few months. It all depends if the NVC would put the case under additional processing with or without rhyme or reason. After the NVC is done with your case, they will send it to the U.S. Embassy in Montreal or Vancouver where your fiancee will apply for the K1 Visa.

See real timelines here from Canadian applicants:

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=66017

http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=66813

[Danu 19]

As long as you read the guides you should be able to do it all just fine without a lawyer, we did As for the wedding thing, one thing we did/are doing is got married to fulfill the requirements of the visa and then we're doing our bigger white wedding next fall, because I wanted a fall wedding. This way if you apply now and get it for the end of the year, you could always do a civil like we did and have the actual ceremony/reception for your friends and family next summer like you were hoping!

By the way don't hesitate to stop by the Canadian regional forum on here as well, theres lots of us that went through something similar!

[sethmichael22 0]

As long as you read the guides you should be able to do it all just fine without a lawyer, we did As for the wedding thing, one thing we did/are doing is got married to fulfill the requirements of the visa and then we're doing our bigger white wedding next fall, because I wanted a fall wedding. This way if you apply now and get it for the end of the year, you could always do a civil like we did and have the actual ceremony/reception for your friends and family next summer like you were hoping!

By the way don't hesitate to stop by the Canadian regional forum on here as well, theres lots of us that went through something similar!

AWESOME!! thanks for the tips guys....you are all way too encouraging

[MeggyMo 4]

Hey there!

Similar situation for me I am the Canadian and my fiance and I did hire a lawyer.

As the days go on we are finding that this was not worth the money. Visa journey is a fantastic website.

Everyone is super helpful and the guides are fantastic. Way more helpful than lawyer in my opinion.

Especially since you say there aren't any special circumstances in your case.

Good luck!