Unusual Situation...

[Minah 0]

Hello,

This is a wonderful forum filled with great information. I have been reading through but can't quite find an answer to my particular situation, so thought I would post my question...

I am a Canadian and I met and married my husband (who is American) in a foreign country where we have been living for the past 2 years. We were legally married in the U.S. but had a ceremony in our foreign country for family and friends. We travel to the US often as his business is there. We have now decided that where we are is getting a little unstable and would like to live in the US. We have been married for one year.

I know that the usual way to go about immigrating for me (a Canadian) would be to do it all from Canada, but since I haven't been there in more than 2 years that isn't really an option (I have no job there or place to live). Is there a way that I can start the immigration process from the United States so I can be with my husband? We want to do the right thing, but it is really hard to figure out how to go about it as there seems to be a lot of conflicting information. I know we have a bit of a strange situation so I wondered if anyone knew a way this might be possible.

Thank you in advance!

[alizon 77]

This doesn't sound like a particularly unusual case to me. You have two choices: start your IR-1/CR-1 process from the country where you are currently living or go back to Canada and file from there. There isn't a way for you to legally immigrate to the US without your visa being issued to you first. You can visit the US during the time when your paperwork is being processed, but you can't live there.

Edited August 27, 2012 by alizon

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

File from where you are now. Go fast. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/357465-usc-petitioner-living-abroad/

[Caribbean Pirate 9]

My husband and I are in the same situation. I am USC and he s German and we live in the British Virgin Islands. Aside from the FedEx charges it was easy. Just follow the steps on VJ and ask questions. We are all done except our interview.

Good luck!

[Ryan H 3,818]

OP, you can interview in the country that you and your husband are currently living in. As others have already said, your husband can send the paperwork to USCIS from abroad.