Getting US visa?

[NickiMinaj 0]

Hi friends, hope this is the right forum.

Ggreat forum here. I am an american citizen currently living in Georgia. I have fallen in love with the most amazing woman on the whole planet and she is canadian. I have actually done the long distance thing once before and swore never to again because it was too hard (and that was with a girl in this country! Little did I know what I would one day get myself into ), then I got a job where I can fly for free and decided not to completely remove the option. Regardless, I don't think I could have stopped talking to this girl. She is truly my soul mate and we're both so in love.

So here lies the issue: I'm also a girl. I would marry her in a second if it meant getting a green card and being able to live together, but with this country's shitty #### DOMA law not yet repealled, that isn't currently an option. I go to visit her about once a month (would like more but hotels are expensive... in fact everything is expensive up there ), and she's came to visit me a few times. I certainly wouldn't mind moving to canada to be with her, except my job is based here and it'd be difficult to transfer. I'm also a giant wimp when it comes to cold weather (indeed as I type this in Atlanta I'm wearing several layers of pajamas and gloves LOL) so I'm not sure if I could handle living up north.

That being said, right now she's still a student and enrolled in university but not attending because her financial aid is on hold. She still has 2 years to go so we have to at least wait for that We've looked at student visas but everything says you have to have money and show proof of your finances. She doesn't have a lot of money. Obviously she would live with me but is this realistically even an option? The plan right now is for her to be done with school as soon as possible but I know it'd be more expensive to go to college in the us than canada for her. Money isn't something that either of us have an excess of at the moment.

So assuming she finishes school there, and that DOMA is still in effect, what is our best option? She wants to be a school teacher so a TN visa isn't an option. She considered going to school for one of the careers for the TN visa but we agreed she should do what she has a passion to do. I think it's very admirable that she wants to be a teacher but they obviously aren't in high demand.... I've tried researching about other visas but it honestly makes my head spin. If someone could list some of the best options for us to narrow it down, it'd be a lot easier. I just want us to have a couple of different possible plans, really.

It all seems so hard and complicated and impossible and makes me want to cry but I love her so much and she says as long as we love each other we will find a way and I believe her. I'm just so impatient and want it now but I'll wait for her as long as I have to. Obviously if it starts to take a ridiculous amount of time I will look into moving to Canada. Can I get a green card through her if we marry in either canada or usa?

Also this is a long shot but the company my mom works for is run by 2 canadians who are now us citizens. If, and this is a big if, I could get them to give her a job/sposor her would that be an option? Would she then be stuck there and not able to seek out a job as a school teacher?

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read/respond to this. I know her and I will be together one day, but I just hate how complicated everything is. Before researching because of her I never had a clue how hard it was to become a US citizen. And I'm sure most of the ignorat people who want to "ship the mexicans back home" don't either, but that's another topic... . Anyway, thanks again for any help you guys can provide. Being with her is the best feeling in the world and the day that becomes permanent will be the best day of my life.

PS. Random question that I've been wondering: does it look bad for me to make so many trips across the boarder? I know it looks suspicious and though I haven't been to secondary questioning yet I have a coworker who has a boyfriend up there and she's been through secondary questioning 3 times. She's learned to say "friend" instead of "boyfriend" lol but she's been there a lot more than me and I know they get suspicious. Customs agents make me so nervous even though I always have intent to return to usa and know I'm not doing anything illegal. I just tell them I am visiting a friend and they ask a few more questions but I always get through. Should I feel nervous? haha I think it's mostly in my head that they're looking at me like some sort of terrorist

[MCMLXXXII 29]

Best bet would be for you to seek employment based immigration to Canada. If you have a college degree or are in a skilled profession, it might prove to be an easier process for you to immigrate there. She could try to come here on an employment based visa to the US but her options on where she can work will be very limited until her green card is completed.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Best bet would be for you to seek employment based immigration to Canada. If you have a college degree or are in a skilled profession, it might prove to be an easier process for you to immigrate there. She could try to come here on an employment based visa to the US but her options on where she can work will be very limited until her green card is completed.

And work based VISAs are few and far between these days unless she has a special skill (ie Rocket scientist/ perhaps something medical) which would qualify under the TN VISA.

I am so sorry that the US isn't very opened minded 'yet'. I hope it will be in the future in terms of same-sex marriages and immigration.

[dukeandduchess 141]

You could try to get her a work or student visa, which would be the only current way.

Canada allows same-sex marriage so you could move to Canada. She could sponsor you under a family visa if you decided to get married:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/sponsor/spouse-apply-who.asp

Edited February 14, 2012 by dukeandduchess

[aaron2020 11,651]

Hi friends, hope this is the right forum.

Ggreat forum here. I am an american citizen currently living in Georgia. I have fallen in love with the most amazing woman on the whole planet and she is canadian. I have actually done the long distance thing once before and swore never to again because it was too hard (and that was with a girl in this country! Little did I know what I would one day get myself into ), then I got a job where I can fly for free and decided not to completely remove the option. Regardless, I don't think I could have stopped talking to this girl. She is truly my soul mate and we're both so in love.

So here lies the issue: I'm also a girl. I would marry her in a second if it meant getting a green card and being able to live together, but with this country's shitty #### DOMA law not yet repealled, that isn't currently an option. I go to visit her about once a month (would like more but hotels are expensive... in fact everything is expensive up there ), and she's came to visit me a few times. I certainly wouldn't mind moving to canada to be with her, except my job is based here and it'd be difficult to transfer. I'm also a giant wimp when it comes to cold weather (indeed as I type this in Atlanta I'm wearing several layers of pajamas and gloves LOL) so I'm not sure if I could handle living up north.

That being said, right now she's still a student and enrolled in university but not attending because her financial aid is on hold. She still has 2 years to go so we have to at least wait for that We've looked at student visas but everything says you have to have money and show proof of your finances. She doesn't have a lot of money. Obviously she would live with me but is this realistically even an option? The plan right now is for her to be done with school as soon as possible but I know it'd be more expensive to go to college in the us than canada for her. Money isn't something that either of us have an excess of at the moment.

So assuming she finishes school there, and that DOMA is still in effect, what is our best option? She wants to be a school teacher so a TN visa isn't an option. She considered going to school for one of the careers for the TN visa but we agreed she should do what she has a passion to do. I think it's very admirable that she wants to be a teacher but they obviously aren't in high demand.... I've tried researching about other visas but it honestly makes my head spin. If someone could list some of the best options for us to narrow it down, it'd be a lot easier. I just want us to have a couple of different possible plans, really.

It all seems so hard and complicated and impossible and makes me want to cry but I love her so much and she says as long as we love each other we will find a way and I believe her. I'm just so impatient and want it now but I'll wait for her as long as I have to. Obviously if it starts to take a ridiculous amount of time I will look into moving to Canada. Can I get a green card through her if we marry in either canada or usa?

Also this is a long shot but the company my mom works for is run by 2 canadians who are now us citizens. If, and this is a big if, I could get them to give her a job/sposor her would that be an option? Only if the employer cannot find a qualified US worker. Your girlfriend cannot take a job that could go to a US resident - no a good idea for the US government to allow a foreign worker to take a US job when there is a qualified US worker who needs a job. The employer would need obtain a Labor Certification and show the lack of a qualified US worker and that is why the employer needs to bring in a foreign worker.

Would she then be stuck there and not able to seek out a job as a school teacher? She's not going to be able to get a job as a school teacher - there are too many unemployed US teachers. It doesn't make sense to let her in to take a job away from an unemployed US teacher. She will be stuck at her job with a work visa.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read/respond to this. I know her and I will be together one day, but I just hate how complicated everything is. Before researching because of her I never had a clue how hard it was to become a US citizen. And I'm sure most of the ignorat people who want to "ship the mexicans back home" don't either, but that's another topic... . Anyway, thanks again for any help you guys can provide. Being with her is the best feeling in the world and the day that becomes permanent will be the best day of my life.

PS. Random question that I've been wondering: does it look bad for me to make so many trips across the boarder? I know it looks suspicious and though I haven't been to secondary questioning yet I have a coworker who has a boyfriend up there and she's been through secondary questioning 3 times. She's learned to say "friend" instead of "boyfriend" lol but she's been there a lot more than me and I know they get suspicious. Customs agents make me so nervous even though I always have intent to return to usa and know I'm not doing anything illegal. I just tell them I am visiting a friend and they ask a few more questions but I always get through. Should I feel nervous? haha I think it's mostly in my head that they're looking at me like some sort of terrorist It's not a problem as long as you have strong ties to the US. You would only have a problem if the Canadians think you have the intent to illegally immigrating to Canada or if you seem to be practically living in Canada (spending more time there than in the US).

Sorry about your situation. DOMA does suck since it precludes her from gaining a family based immigration benefit based on her relationship with you.

A work visa is only going to work if an employer cannot find a qualified US worker. Your girlfriend will need to have a degree and skills in technology, medical, or engineering. A school teacher is simply not going to qualify for a work visa.

Edited February 14, 2012 by aaron2020

[pocheros 101]

This is a little off-topic, but if a same sex couple were married in Canada, one American and one Canadian, would be the Canadian be able to apply for a CR1 visa to move to the USA? I'm just curious... If you can't then that sucks horribly

[dukeandduchess 141]

This is a little off-topic, but if a same sex couple were married in Canada, one American and one Canadian, would be the Canadian be able to apply for a CR1 visa to move to the USA? I'm just curious... If you can't then that sucks horribly

No because the US doesn't recognize same-sex marriage at a federal level. Some states allow it but because immigration is a federal thing it doesn't work that way, unfortunately.

[pocheros 101]

No because the US doesn't recognize same-sex marriage at a federal level. Some states allow it but because immigration is a federal thing it doesn't work that way, unfortunately.

Ugh, that's such ^%&*ing bullcrap!

[Boiler 45,932]

Move to Canada.

[NickiMinaj 0]

Move to Canada.

I do know realistically that this may have to be the eventual answer. Unfortunately it's not an option at the moment. I want a career with this company and after I build up a little seniority I can possibly be transfered to one of the Canadian stations. Even if I do die from the cold

As far as the short term.. I was wondering how likely she would be to get student visa with a decent GPA but not a lot of money? I tried looking it up but I get so many different answers. Looking on school websites is pretty confusing as well... one told me to "Click here for internation students" then said you have to prove US residency to apply. lol what? When/where are student visas rewarded, anyway? At the airport?

Sorry for so many questions and that this topic covers a lot of a lot of different topics. I do appreciate all of the answers very much, thank you.

Ugh, that's such ^%&*ing bullcrap!

Sure as hell is. The only thing that can overturn this is DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act... from 1996) being repealled. Several say it is unconstitutional and that when it finally hits the supreme court there's a good chance it will be overturned.. but I don't know, it's hard to put all your hope and trust in a government full of lying scumbags. Each state that legalizes gay marriage is a step forward but as long as DOMA exists the immigration laws will stay the same. And if one of these nutjob republicans win I'm afraid we're really ######.

Edited February 14, 2012 by NickiMinaj

[Boiler 45,932]

Depends what not a lot of money is. US Education is not cheap.

[SapphireDreams 71]

Another thing too is that you can't just apply to a local school in a random state. They do look at why a person would need a student visa - like for example a Canadian going to Harvard Business School is obviously different from a Canadian wanting to go to a local university in Georgia for education. They look for people who are trying to get student visas to get around an immigration visa.

It's truly unfortunate that they don't allow same sex couples to participate in US immigration. I have a good friend who moved to California to be with his boyfriend, but he was very lucky to have an employer in Canada with a California office that he could transfer to. So it is possible.

I know you keep mentioning that Canada is too cold, but honestly I would move to the North Pole if I had to. I hate the cold too and I'm Canadian, but you really do get used to it. And, if you dress for it, it's really not that bad. I find Americans do a lot of complaining about the cold, but are wearing sneakers and a coat with no hat, gloves, scarves. There's a reason that Sorel boots and Canada Goose parkas are trendy in Canada! You have to dress for it and be prepared!

Canada, specifically Toronto also has a LOT of job opportunities. I would say it's even easier to advance your career there than in the US. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you sound very close minded about living in Canada. I think you'd be really surprised about how much you would like it. It's so much more liberal, the quality of life is amazing and it truly is a great place to live.

[NickiMinaj 0]

I know you keep mentioning that Canada is too cold, but honestly I would move to the North Pole if I had to. I hate the cold too and I'm Canadian, but you really do get used to it. And, if you dress for it, it's really not that bad. I find Americans do a lot of complaining about the cold, but are wearing sneakers and a coat with no hat, gloves, scarves. There's a reason that Sorel boots and Canada Goose parkas are trendy in Canada! You have to dress for it and be prepared!

Canada, specifically Toronto also has a LOT of job opportunities. I would say it's even easier to advance your career there than in the US. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but you sound very close minded about living in Canada. I think you'd be really surprised about how much you would like it. It's so much more liberal, the quality of life is amazing and it truly is a great place to live.

Don't mean to sound that way at all. I have nothing against canada or the people who live there (though I've never been outside of the greater toronto area so my views are perhaps a bit skewed). I have heard canadians say they want to move to california or florida because they can't take the weather there, which is understandable. I want to move to florida or california because I have a hard time handling 30-50 degrees in winter, which is ridiculous. I also hate how early it gets dark there; gives me a bit of seasonal affective disorder. And everything is a lot more expensive there compared to here (you should have seen my girlfriends face when she saw some of the prices here). The vibe is also different there .. more like New York - rush rush rush everywhere. My girl likes the atmosphere better here. At the end of the day they're all things that I could and would get over in the name of love. There's no doubt about that. But this post isn't about me moving to Canada because, as I said, that is always in the backburner as plan B. I'm aware that that's a possibility and thankful that it is because canada is indeed more liberal and progressive than this country. I love that canadian citizens as a whole are more open minded and accepting than the majority of the people you'll find here (cough white trash and old people all over the south and midwest). But again, I am trying to get a career in the company I'm currently with and ideally if moving there is in the plans then I could be transferred and I can't really ask for that at this point.

Anyway. I'd like to thank everyone for their answers so far. If anyone else has any suggestions or input they are more than welcome (ideally not a living here vs. living there debate, however).

[thetreble 19]

You are comparing apples and oranges though.

The cost of living may be more expensive, but the average wage and wage scale is different. Georgia, and this is no offense to you because this goes for most of the Southern States, has a much lower cost of living than a lot of other areas in the US. It may cost you a few more bucks for parking, food, transit, etc. in Toronto, but a school teacher is making 50 or 55K to start out, and in Georgia a starting school teacher's salary is more like 35. So you kind of have to look at it like that.

What it comes down to, and I can tell you this because I've worked at a US university for four years, is that getting a student visa for a Canadian to come to the US, to a state school (because she couldn't afford private) is almost unheard of.

And I don't mean to sound rude or condescending in any way so know that I am saying this with your best interest at heart....but with DOMA and all the other ####### that the LGBT community suffers here in the US, and knowing how much more liberal a society Canada is, don't you think it would be very hard for her to adjust to life in the South? People tend not to be very accepting, especially in some of those bible belt areas. Just a thought.

[SapphireDreams 71]

You are comparing apples and oranges though.

The cost of living may be more expensive, but the average wage and wage scale is different. Georgia, and this is no offense to you because this goes for most of the Southern States, has a much lower cost of living than a lot of other areas in the US. It may cost you a few more bucks for parking, food, transit, etc. in Toronto, but a school teacher is making 50 or 55K to start out, and in Georgia a starting school teacher's salary is more like 35. So you kind of have to look at it like that.

What it comes down to, and I can tell you this because I've worked at a US university for four years, is that getting a student visa for a Canadian to come to the US, to a state school (because she couldn't afford private) is almost unheard of.

And I don't mean to sound rude or condescending in any way so know that I am saying this with your best interest at heart....but with DOMA and all the other ####### that the LGBT community suffers here in the US, and knowing how much more liberal a society Canada is, don't you think it would be very hard for her to adjust to life in the South? People tend not to be very accepting, especially in some of those bible belt areas. Just a thought.

I agree with all of your points and agree that it's just with the OPs best interest at heart.

I don't think we're trying to compare but I do think that you might need to think a bit more outside of the box so to speak. I'm not trying to be negative in any way at all, but having done the same research myself before I got engaged/married (we dated for 6 years long distance, i understand how annoying it is) I just think you are better off being realistic and opening up all your options.

And, sorry but the comparison of the GTA to NYC made me chuckle. I was born and raised in the GTA, started my career there and now live in NYC and I have to say the pace is not very similar. I work in the same industry and I work 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. everyday in NYC (no lunch either) whereas in Canada I worked from 9-5:30, managed a lunch break most days. I preferred working in Canada and was actually progressing in my career MUCH quicker. The career opportunities in the GTA are amazing. I'm just saying don't rule it out. I know you said you are currently in a great job and looking to build your career at a company, but basing a career out of one company is risky too. They could lay you off next month and then what? Of course at the end of the day you need to do what is best for you both professionally and personally, but your reasoning seems a bit superficial. And, again, I'm not trying to sound mean spirited in any way!

Also, just another thing about the low cost of things. Sure, when I used to visit the US I was also amazed at how cheap things were like beauty products, clothes, greeting cards... you name it, it's usually a bit cheaper here, even in NYC BUT and this is a huge BUT, living here makes me realize how great Canadians have it in many other ways. GST cheques? You'd never get anything like those in the US. Healthcare? Obviously it's own can of worms, but even with health insurance, I have to ensure I have enough money to cover our monthly and then any extra 10% overages my insurance doesn't cover. My prescriptions are more here, even with generics and co-pays. I went to Catholic school for free. I could go on and on. Anyways, just wanted to add that in.

Anyways, just my two cents and probably not what you want to hear, so I'll shut up now. I wish you the best of luck!