nothing but questions

[reg63 0]

Hi everyone. This is my first post so I apologize if it's too long.

I live in Canada. I met a girl, on-line. Long story short.....we are in love. Don't laugh or scoff...it happens. Sooo, here's the dilema, Where do I start? I am going to move to the states to be with her. That's not really open for discussion. We may move back to Canada in the near future, but for the time being I have to figure out how to be with her. I have no degree. I have been working in the mining exploration field most of my life. I'm a driller, but I have numerous certifications and qualifications. I need to work..for my own pride and for the money. I have no criminal record and I hold a valid passport. There are so many questions I need answered that it's overwhelming me a little. I guess the most important one is...Where do I start?... because I don't have a clue and maybe if I can wrap my brain around the answer to that one, the million other ones will seem less imposing. Any advice would be appreciated...but please don't bother judging me on the whole internet thing because it's a done deal.

[Inky 1,110]

Are you going to marry or just move there?

Fiance(e) visa = K-1

Spousal visa = CR-1

Most work visas require bachelors degrees. You could look into the TN visa its specifically for Canadians.

[R&RM 11]

Hi everyone. This is my first post so I apologize if it's too long.

I live in Canada. I met a girl, on-line. Long story short.....we are in love. Don't laugh or scoff...it happens. Sooo, here's the dilema, Where do I start? I am going to move to the states to be with her. That's not really open for discussion. We may move back to Canada in the near future, but for the time being I have to figure out how to be with her. I have no degree. I have been working in the mining exploration field most of my life. I'm a driller, but I have numerous certifications and qualifications. I need to work..for my own pride and for the money. I have no criminal record and I hold a valid passport. There are so many questions I need answered that it's overwhelming me a little. I guess the most important one is...Where do I start?... because I don't have a clue and maybe if I can wrap my brain around the answer to that one, the million other ones will seem less imposing. Any advice would be appreciated...but please don't bother judging me on the whole internet thing because it's a done deal.

Hi,

Just wanted to reassure you that a lot of us on here met online so no one is going to judge you on that basis since we are most of us aware (from first-hand experience) that it is perfectly possible to meet online and end up with a real life fulfilling relationship. As mentioned above, you need to establish what course of action you want to pursue so you can know what information to seek. There are guides on here for both the process for a fiancee visa and for a spousal visa and they are very thorough in providing information about what you need to do. A fiancee visa is to get married in the US, and a spousal visa is if you are planning to get married in Canada first. Employment is something you will have to figure out later though it is worth noting even at this stage that with a fiancee visa, you will have to get married then seek employment authorization thereafter. It may take 2 to 3 months after marriage to be issued with this work authorization. If you get married first, then you will be entering with on different terms and will be able to work I believe just weeks after arrival. However, the spousal visa is said to take just a bit longer to process than the fiancee one. So, if I were you, I would look at all my options and figure out what works best for your scenario. I see it is not even clear at this stage if you and your girlfriend are engaged or just dating. If you are just dating at this stage and not ready to get married, then I would recommend you follow the employment route suggested though I know nothing of it personally.

And yeah, have definitely seen way longer posts than yours and they still get read and responded to because as you will find here, people are very helpful.

Edited April 5, 2012 by R&RM

[Inky 1,110]

and a spousal visa is if you are planning to get married in Canada first.

A couple can be married anywhere in the world including in the USA and then apply for a spousal petition to get a spousal visa. Plans don't have to be to marry in Canada only.

[Enigma11561 336]

Have you met in person yet? Two reasons for the question. First,how can you fall in love with a person you never met. Just trying to make sure you are on the right track here. And second, if you plan to go the K-1 fiancee route, you MUST have met in person during the last 2 years.

[grrrrreat 109]

Hi everyone. This is my first post so I apologize if it's too long.

I live in Canada. I met a girl, on-line. Long story short.....we are in love. Don't laugh or scoff...it happens. Sooo, here's the dilema, Where do I start? I am going to move to the states to be with her. That's not really open for discussion. We may move back to Canada in the near future, but for the time being I have to figure out how to be with her. I have no degree. I have been working in the mining exploration field most of my life. I'm a driller, but I have numerous certifications and qualifications. I need to work..for my own pride and for the money. I have no criminal record and I hold a valid passport. There are so many questions I need answered that it's overwhelming me a little. I guess the most important one is...Where do I start?... because I don't have a clue and maybe if I can wrap my brain around the answer to that one, the million other ones will seem less imposing. Any advice would be appreciated...but please don't bother judging me on the whole internet thing because it's a done deal.

To be honest, I would put the immigration process out of your head a little while and concentrate on your relationship. You are putting the immigration cart before the relationship horse. For instance, you say you are going to move to the states to be with her, but do you intend to marry her? That is important because spouses and fiancees can qualify for immigrant visas, but people who merely intend to live together or to date cannot. If you are not prepared to marry her yet, you may have to be content with visiting her for now, until your intentions become clearer with regard to marriage. Canadians can enter the United States temporarily without a visa, but generally cannot work here unless they qualify for some kind of visa that allows employment (the tourist visa does not).

There is a chance you could qualify for an employment visa that allows you to work and live in the United States without marrying her, but this process can be complicated and may require that a U.S. company be willing to support your application. So, I would start thinking about whether you want to marry her before you start investigating your immigration options.

[reg63 0]

To be honest, I would put the immigration process out of your head a little while and concentrate on your relationship. You are putting the immigration cart before the relationship horse. For instance, you say you are going to move to the states to be with her, but do you intend to marry her? That is important because spouses and fiancees can qualify for immigrant visas, but people who merely intend to live together or to date cannot. If you are not prepared to marry her yet, you may have to be content with visiting her for now, until your intentions become clearer with regard to marriage. Canadians can enter the United States temporarily without a visa, but generally cannot work here unless they qualify for some kind of visa that allows employment (the tourist visa does not).

There is a chance you could qualify for an employment visa that allows you to work and live in the United States without marrying her, but this process can be complicated and may require that a U.S. company be willing to support your application. So, I would start thinking about whether you want to marry her before you start investigating your immigration options.

[reg63 0]

Thanks everyone for your amazingly quick replies. We have not met..yet. Believe it or not,this gets more complicated. She lives in North Carolina and she's seperated from her husband. There is no chance of reconcilaition (he is living with another woman and they just had a child together) but North Carolina marrige laws are.....primitive(?) Soo..we're not going to meet until her divorce is final in June. I have a whole romantic thing planned..New York, Empire State Building...Breakfast at Tiffany's style. We've been coresponding for a while and truly...I'm going to marry her. I've never been more sure of anything in my life. My issue begins with the what next question. I am going to propose, but should we get married in Canada or the US. She can't move to Canada, immediatly, due to family obligations, but our intention is to eventually move here. I will have to move there, probably for a year or two, and I will have to work. There is no way my pride will allow her to support us. I'm "old school" that way I guess. So I'll need to figure a way out to work in the US, with no degree, and as soon as possible. All legally, of course, as we plan on travelling back and forth the rest of our lives. Judging from the responses, I'm thinking a spousal visa would be the quickest solution. Thanks again everyone and please feel free to add more advice...I could really use it.

[R&RM 11]

Thanks everyone for your amazingly quick replies. We have not met..yet. Believe it or not,this gets more complicated. She lives in North Carolina and she's seperated from her husband. There is no chance of reconcilaition (he is living with another woman and they just had a child together) but North Carolina marrige laws are.....primitive(?) Soo..we're not going to meet until her divorce is final in June. I have a whole romantic thing planned..New York, Empire State Building...Breakfast at Tiffany's style. We've been coresponding for a while and truly...I'm going to marry her. I've never been more sure of anything in my life. My issue begins with the what next question. I am going to propose, but should we get married in Canada or the US. She can't move to Canada, immediatly, due to family obligations, but our intention is to eventually move here. I will have to move there, probably for a year or two, and I will have to work. There is no way my pride will allow her to support us. I'm "old school" that way I guess. So I'll need to figure a way out to work in the US, with no degree, and as soon as possible. All legally, of course, as we plan on travelling back and forth the rest of our lives. Judging from the responses, I'm thinking a spousal visa would be the quickest solution. Thanks again everyone and please feel free to add more advice...I could really use it.

Yeah, I would agree that a spousal visa seems best for your circumstances because you can keep working in Canada (or any other country you are legally able to) while waiting to be with her and then be able to work when you get to the US. It's a long road though so do be prepared for that. I think it is wise to not make any moves until she is legally divorced as you have planned. As others have said, do slow down and allow the relationship time to grow. I think it is perfectly possible to be in love with someone before you even meet them in person because that was the case for me. That said, my fiance then met me after 3 months of online communication and we have since spent a significant amount of real time face-to-face getting to know each other and the things we love and hate about each other and still want to spend the rest of our lives together. Marriage is a serious decision and you should take your time because dynamics in going from online dating to a "regular" relationship can be complex. Anyway, you weren't asking for relationship advice so never mind my rambling just my thoughts.

All the very best to you and your girlfriend whichever road you choose!

Edited April 5, 2012 by R&RM

[Inky 1,110]

Thanks everyone for your amazingly quick replies. We have not met..yet. Believe it or not,this gets more complicated. She lives in North Carolina and she's seperated from her husband. There is no chance of reconcilaition (he is living with another woman and they just had a child together) but North Carolina marrige laws are.....primitive(?) Soo..we're not going to meet until her divorce is final in June. I have a whole romantic thing planned..New York, Empire State Building...Breakfast at Tiffany's style. We've been coresponding for a while and truly...I'm going to marry her. I've never been more sure of anything in my life. My issue begins with the what next question. I am going to propose, but should we get married in Canada or the US. She can't move to Canada, immediatly, due to family obligations, but our intention is to eventually move here. I will have to move there, probably for a year or two, and I will have to work. There is no way my pride will allow her to support us. I'm "old school" that way I guess. So I'll need to figure a way out to work in the US, with no degree, and as soon as possible. All legally, of course, as we plan on travelling back and forth the rest of our lives. Judging from the responses, I'm thinking a spousal visa would be the quickest solution. Thanks again everyone and please feel free to add more advice...I could really use it.

You guys can marry wherever you want to marry, you could even do a destination wedding and then go home and she can apply for your Spousal Petition.

With you moving to the USA on a Spousal visa you would be able to work pretty much right away when you found a job. If you stay in the USA about 3 years you can apply for naturalization and hold dual citizenship with Canada and the USA.

Here is the guide she would need when filing the petition for you http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide1

You can read more about the visas here http://www.visajourn...content/compare

If you guys do intend on moving back to Canada at a few years after you living in the USA you will need to look into her immigration process for going to Canada.

( you may want to stay until you get your US citizenship then go back so in case you want to move to the USA again you don't have to go through the whole visa process again! )

This website is the place you would go for help for her immigration to Canada - http://www.roadtocanada.com/forums/index.php

This link here is for the Canada section of VJ - anything Canada specific or chats or whatever http://www.visajourn...orum/93-canada/

Edited April 5, 2012 by Inky