K1 Work Visa Permit at Dulles

[gap1 21]

Pretty much all jobs here (including waiting tables) require a SSN. Under the table jobs are pretty difficult to find unless you know a business owner willing to break the law. A majority of illegal immigrants that get away with it have fake social security cards. I don't think you'd have much luck, not to mention it's quite a risk to take with a green card in the works.

I wouldn't see it as "sponging off your wife". If you can't work, you can't work. Part of being married is that you're a team and support each other when necessary. My fiance doesn't like the idea of me having to pay rent while he waits for work authorization either, but we're balancing it out by him paying for the majority of the visa fees now. It all evens out in the end. I'd rather be able to see him on a daily basis and pay a little extra (I'm already paying full rent and bills by myself now anyway) than wait even longer simply to save money.

[Yellowhead 12]

Not sure that's the best advice.

There are many reasons to go the K1 route when Cdn - head over to the Canadian forum and you'll see why - not everyone wants to get married and then live apart during the VISA process - some of us preferred to do the waiting upfront while engaged and then move and marry. My husband and I both had teenagers and are well established in our careers so for me to take 4-5 months off and be the homemaker at a very busy time in our lives was just fine.

Not being able to travel to Canada for the 3 months was not the end of the world....little tough, but not bad.

It's really about preference and nothing more

We have chosen the K-1 route as K-1 interviews can be conducted at the Vancouver consulate. I live in Victoria, BC and it would be about a $1000+ flight to Montreal for the interview if we married prior. In addition, I am finishing my undergrad in Victoria and we have until May before I can move to California anyway (almost the exact time estimate for the K-1 process). California is far enough that I doubt I will need to travel back to Canada before the AOS is approved once I am in the US, so no worries there. We plan to do a casual city hall wedding for starters when I come to California and then do a formal event about a year later - pretty standard as far as I see with people in the same boat. Planning a wedding and compiling immigration documentation at the same time doesn't seem like the best match for us (especially with me in school!)

We will be living with my fiance's parents to start so we can get on our feet while I am unable to work and once I start working after receiving the Green card and EAD we will get our own place. So overall, the K-1 process isn't necessarily the harder situation for us. We have done a year of distance thus far with no issues, so waiting is something we have become good at.

As far as I know, the K-1 process doesn't prohibit travel prior to the visa being issued. Can someone verify this? I am under the impression that the travel restrictions occur after entering the USA on the visa only. We would like to visit prior to the process being completed.

If there are any members who have done the process with Canada somewhat recently and have moved to the USA (bringing a vehicle, belongings etc.) that would be willing to give me an overview of the process, feel free to get in touch. I can send along my email address. I appreciate all the help I have been getting from this forum. Thanks

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Post proposing illegal activity in violation of TOS and immigration regulations has been removed along with post quoting same. The rest of the post quoting removed material is returned below:

Udella&Wiz: Recommending that someone does something illegal is not really acceptable, what you choose to do yourself is your business of course.

If you cannot legally work and you're trying to immigrate here - do you really think it's a good idea to push it? If USCIS found out, you'd be in huge trouble and you'd risk being deported - not smart

Please remember that any sort of recommendation or support of illegal activity is a violation of TOS and will be removed from this site. Any repeat posts of such material by the poster will result in an account suspension.

Edited August 30, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Max1gk 68]

Kathryn,

in this case I apologize and please feel free to remove any of my posts that are inconvenient for the forum ethos; I have to admit I've been saying that out of frustration...thanks to the other members for their replies,you people have gone through all this and I appreciate a lot your comments; I will see if I can find a better,LEGAL and smarter solution.

Regards

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Kathryn,

in this case I apologize and please feel free to remove any of my posts that are inconvenient for the forum ethos; I have to admit I've been saying that out of frustration...thanks to the other members for their replies,you people have gone through all this and I appreciate a lot your comments; I will see if I can find a better,LEGAL and smarter solution.

Regards

Thank you . Yeah, that frustration gets to all of us at some time or another. I kept reminding myself 'that which does not break us, makes us stronger' and then would go off and have my own versions of hissy fits snarking away at some unknown/uncaring immigration official in my mind with all of the most sarcastic things I could think of to say. We understand frustrations here, and that is one the reasons this site is so useful. It can help us regain some perspective or understanding that we can use to manouever our way through the immigration minefields.

The other 'saying' that you might find helpful is to remember 'Short term pain for long term gain". Good luck to you .

Edited August 31, 2010 by Kathryn41