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Hello from Canada

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Extrix Rookie

Extrix   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I found this site after traversing quite a few immigration websites.

I figured I'd register and tell me story to see if anyone is interested. :P

Back in June of 2009 I met a girl, Emily on a chat website and became very interested in her. Over the months we developed a close relationship and eventually started dating. She is 23 and I am 21.

After a few months of talking non-stop I had decided to meet her for the first time. She lives in Utah. I applied for a passport and saved up some money for a ticket. I flew to see her for the first time and it went great. No issues going across the border and we got along just fine. :) We've been flying back and forth to see each other since then and we are deciding to take the next step into marriage finally.

I have been contemplating her moving to Canada or myself moving to America. I don't have a lot of family ties here and she is very family oriented with everyone living in close proximity to her, so I figured that it would be better for my to move there even though the economy and all that. I would do anything for her (and her family) and I am willing to do this as well. I just recently stayed there for 5 months with her and her family on a ... tourist(?) visa... pretty much where I just went through the border without applying for anything. I finally had to come back since my time was almost up and I was running out of money. It has been pretty hard however I have been trying to find a job and am trying to look into what to do next in order for me to legally live in the US with her and be married to her.

This forum seemed VERY helpful in these regards as most other sites have been very confusing and I dont have enough money at this point to visit an immigration lawyer or anything like that.

Anyone that can point me in the direction of what to do to have a legal marriage to her in the US would be great, and also how I can get to her as quick as possible legally.

I was reading on some people's signatures that before they got their greencard and what not they were able to get into the States still without being able to work, however they were able to live with their spouse. Is this true?

Also, my girlfriend doesn't have a fulltime steady job so will that be an issue? Both her parents work so could that be used somehow?

Thanks for reading and I hope to make some friends here and hopefully get some clear answers on what to do!

Cheers,

Christopher

keysjangle Rising Star

keysjangle   145

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Hey :)

I'm also from Canada, 21 and have a similar situation as you.

The route I'll be going is CR-1 (basics, marry in the U.S. and then stay separate during most of the process. You can visit back and forth but you need really solid evidence that you have ties back to Canada just in case you are asked). With that Visa, once you get your green card you can work essentially right away once you cross into the U.S. (you'll get your SSN mailed to you after arrival). It's costly, and takes close to a year to go through, but it seems like the best route.

VJ has a lot of good info in their guides and wiki sections on every aspect. Also, check out the USCIS webiste as well for any updates to fees, forms, instructions, etc. You can also check out the Canada sub-forum for any more specific questions.

Resources:

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

USCIS Page on Consular Processing: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=62280a5659083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=62280a5659083210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

USCIS Poverty Guidelines: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-864p.pdf

Edited by Gervl

USCIS

Jul 15/11 - Sent I-130 Package from Honolulu

Jul 18/11 - I-130 package received & signed for in Chicago
Jul 19/11 - Priority Date
Jul 21/11 - NOA1/USCIS Acceptance Confirmation received
Jul 29/11 - Received I-797C hard copy
Aug 4/11 - Touched
Feb 16/12 - NOA2 Approval (212 days since Priority Date)


NVC

Feb 28/12 - NVC Case Number, BIN & IIN Assigned, Optin E-mail for EP Sent

Mar 2/12 - DS-261 Submitted
Mar 5/12 - Electronic Processing Opt-in Accepted, AOS Invoiced & Paid
Mar 7/12 - NVC receive IV electronic package, AOS shows "Paid", AOS Package Sent
Mar 9/12 - IV Bill Invoiced & Paid
Mar 12/12 - AOS fee shows as "Not Paid - Rejected": Human error. AOS re-paid.
Mar 13/12 - IV is "Paid." Will have to be re-paid post imminent "Rejected" status. NVC e-mail "Checklist Cover Letter" asking for my $$$
Mar 14/12 - IV is "Rejected - Not Paid", Re-paid, AOS is "Paid"
Mar 16/12 - IV is "Paid", DS-260 submitted & Package sent
Mar 19/12 - IV Package Received
Mar 20/12 - Case Complete E-mail Received (21 days at NVC)


Final Steps

Apr 10/12 - Interview date assigned: May 9 @ 8:30AM

May 1/12 - Medical Date
May 9/12 - Interview result: Approved!
Jun 22/12 - POE
Jul 23/12 - SSN assigned
Aug 10/12 - Green card in hand

ROC

Mar 25/14 - ROC sent to CSC

Mar 28/14 - Package delivered to CSC

Apr 1/14 - Check cashed

Apr 3/14 - Received NOA1, Receipt Date: 3/28

Jun 15/14 - Move to San Diego

Jun 23/14 - RFE / Package sent: Aug 6, ETA Aug 8

Aug 22/14 - New Card in Production

  • 2 weeks later...
Mithmeoi Community Regular

Mithmeoi   29

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Belgium
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

CR-1 is how my hubby and I went. He was able to work within three weeks of arriving. We married here in the states and then went back to his country to do a DCF. But you can get married and file without her living in Canada and file for the CR-1 from the states, it takes a little longer than DCF though, but is less expensive than the K-1 (fiance visa) and you get you get your greencard within a few weeks of arriving. :)

Her parents can co-sponsor! I didn't have a fulltime job when I filed for my husband, and they had no issues with a co-sponsor. So as Gervl said read up on the guides and Good luck!!

Edited by Mithmeoi

belgium-flag.gift4518.gifunitedstates.gif

 

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