Where to Marry?

[Sol88 0]

Hello everyone,

Simple Situation: I (US Citizen), want to get a Fiancee Visa for my Canadian Fiancee. I came here because we like to know our options.

I want to know if it is okay to marry in Canada, instead of the US, and if so; How would that work? Or is it a MUST for us to Marry in the USA?

Also, is it even realistic to plan a proxy wedding in a place where neither of us immediately live?

Thank you for your help in advance!

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

If you want to marry in Canada, then you would need to marry there and then file the petition for a CR-1 spousal visa. If you want to use a K-1 fiance(e) visa, you MUST marry in the US within 90 days of entry with the K-1. http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

[BaBamSam 239]

If you get a K-1, you must marry in the US within 90 days on entry on the K-1. You can marry in Canada and then file for a CR-1/IR-1 if you want.

[Sol88 0]

Thank you for the Clarification!

[Holman come down 10]

Remember a marriage ceremony is just kind of a show, the real deal goes down in government offices with paperwork. So if she wants a ceremony for her family to attend in Canada you can do that, but if you are using the fiance visa you just don't do the real marriage paperwork until you get the visa and are both in America. You don't even have to tell family/friends the Canadian wedding wasn't the official deal.

[Sol88 0]

True, however I heard it would be rather difficult because we would have to wait another few months to get permission to go back. Which is very hard to predict and plan things.

[NikLR 13,227]

True, however I heard it would be rather difficult because we would have to wait another few months to get permission to go back. Which is very hard to predict and plan things.

Read the guides to see which is best for you.

We were married in BC by my mother who is a minister, in the town I grew up in. In BC the govt sends you a marriage certificate and it only took about a month to receive even though I live in Alberta. In Alberta, you have to buy the marriage certificate after the marriage is registered. In Ontario it can take months to get it. I've heard of people having it that day when getting married in various places in the USA. You really can't start the CR1 process without a wedding certificate unless it's unobtainable.

Right now CR1 visas are being processed faster than K1 visas unless you're fortunate to get Vermont Service Center for the K1. But that also depends on the location of the US petitioner as well since the files are sent to local offices and some haven't started working on their files yet (Atlanta for example.)

A CR1 allows the spouse to travel and work almost immediately. You still need a SSN. But with a K1 it's a one time use visa, you must be married in the USA, then you apply for the adjustment of status, during which time you can apply for EAD (basically a work permit) and AP (advance parole which allows travel outside the USA while the AOS is being processed.) I wanted to be able to travel and work right away.

However a K1 visa interview can be conducted in either Vancouver or Montreal. CR1/IR1 interviews are ONLY conducted in Montreal. That means a huge travel expenses for people on the western side of Canada. Because I live in Alberta, I would have to pay to travel wherever I go, it was just a fact. . So while the cost is large, it's a constant, thus the K1 would have cost more.

The huge downside to the CR1?? I have yet to live with my husband for more then 36 days. And we've almost been married a year. Granted we didn't start this process when we married because we were still unsure of the direction we wanted to go (him north or me south) and he wasn't working at the time either. We knew that was important for the affidavit of support. But had he not gotten his career when he did, we'd be on the road to Canada website rather than VJ.

Edited March 23, 2013 by NikiR