2012 Canadian Applicants Thread

[Found Frolicking 1]

Thought it would be nice to have a thread for people who applied for any time of visa in 2012 to share their stories and progress!

[Found Frolicking 1]

Shoot, thought I could start it and edit later! That didn't work at all !

Anyway, my husband and I were actually thinking of applying for immigration in the beginning of 2011, but then I was reading a thread by an uninformed individual, who said that the process takes about 2 years, and we'd have to be separated for a giant portion of that. I was simply unwilling to do that.

So we decided to stay in Canada. After our son was born, we realized how nice it'd be to have an extra set of hands to help out with the baby. But all of my family is in California, and my husband has, essentially, no family here. So I started looking into immigration for my husband again, and found out that what I had read before was bogus. Hope I'm not the only one that finds all this immigration nonsense overwhelming! So got our act together within a few weeks of reading that, and mailed in our I-130! We'll be applying for the IR-1. Waiting for NOA2 right now is driving me nuts! I just want it all to be over already. It makes me chuckle to think I came here intending to stay a few months, and now I've been here for 3.5 years and counting!

What're the stories of others? Anyone else that applied in 2012? Or even in 2013 so far?

[Waugh1308 0]

My fiancée and I applied in October. It hasn't been all that long yet, but the uncertainty of it all is overwhelming. I (Canadian citizen) met her at school in pittsburgh and we spent pretty much every day together for the two and half years we dated. It's been now a year a half since I left the US and waiting to be able to move back is very hard!

Here's to hoping we all get good news soon!

[smrowe 12]

My husband and I met professionally and realized soon after we started dating that this was the best relationship we'd ever been in! Filed for IR-2 at the end of July and got routed to Vermont, just before they started farming out applications to the local offices. So, we're at the very end of the queue. It really sucks. The one good thing, though, is that my husband is in the dissertation writing stage of his graduate degree program, so he's using the 6-month tourist visa that he's allowed and writing his dissertation while staying down here with me. We're just hoping to be most of the way through the process by the time the clock runs out, but things aren't looking great these days. He's definitely the more optimistic of the two of us!

[ca_poppy 1]

Shoot, thought I could start it and edit later! That didn't work at all !

Anyway, my husband and I were actually thinking of applying for immigration in the beginning of 2011, but then I was reading a thread by an uninformed individual, who said that the process takes about 2 years, and we'd have to be separated for a giant portion of that. I was simply unwilling to do that.

So we decided to stay in Canada. After our son was born, we realized how nice it'd be to have an extra set of hands to help out with the baby. But all of my family is in California, and my husband has, essentially, no family here. So I started looking into immigration for my husband again, and found out that what I had read before was bogus. Hope I'm not the only one that finds all this immigration nonsense overwhelming! So got our act together within a few weeks of reading that, and mailed in our I-130! We'll be applying for the IR-1. Waiting for NOA2 right now is driving me nuts! I just want it all to be over already. It makes me chuckle to think I came here intending to stay a few months, and now I've been here for 3.5 years and counting!

What're the stories of others? Anyone else that applied in 2012? Or even in 2013 so far?

Ha, we got bad advice from an immigration attorney--we had a consultation right after we got engaged and were told that our options were to file the K-1 or get married and file the K-3. Either way, he would have to enter the US and adjust his status, while not being able to work for a couple of months. We didn't like the sound of that and decided I would move to Canada on a temporary, 1-year visa, we would get married, and try to process my PR while I was there. Turns out trying to get all the ducks in a row for Canadian immigration is harder than we anticipated, and after my tenth or so unproductive phone conversation with CIC (and realizing that we were still a good two months away from being able to send out our application) I googled US immigration for spouse, read up on the CR-1 visa, presented it to my husband, and we mailed our I-130 package two weeks later.

I'm from CA too BTW.

[NikLR 13,227]

Met my husband playing CoD: Modern Warfare 2 on Aug 20, 2011. I Facebook stalked him after a few emails and found out we had the same birthday, Feb 20. Lol. We emailed a lot because at the time he was in the USAF and stationed in Guam. He left there Nov 2011 and moved to CO. By this time after gtalk and emails we decided we just had so much in common and it felt like we both filled a part that was missing. Basically I knew I loved him and that I wanted him around forever. He knew he loved me too. It was so quick but I can't imagine it any slower. It might have been we'd done it all in person but online you spend so much time talking. Lol. I met for the first time in person in CO after Xmas 2011.

After that we knew it wasn't just in our heads. We talked about him moving up here. I am pretty good at research and knew it would take a while, but it would be easier if we were common-law too. He asked me in Jan if I would want to live with him. It was a hard thing for him because he had been married once before and it lasted less than a year. He knew he loved me but he still felt that he wanted to take it slower. A week later I guess that was out the window because he asked me to marry him. Lol!

I have a daughter from a previous relationship and I felt it was important that they meet for a decent amount of time. As he was job searching but also thinking of going to school (probably up here) he came up for a month and a week in Feb 2012. We were able to spend our first birthday together. He fell in love with my daughter, who in time herself has told him she loves him too. As long as she liked him, I never expected more from her. Neither did her and never told her how he felt until she said it first. If she hasn't liked him at all that would have drastically changed my life from how it is now.

We were married by my mom, who is a minister in BC, on May 20, 2012. It was small and simple with some of my family there and none of his. Our best friends couldn't make it. Mine never forgave me and after her wedding in July hasn't talked to me. I don't understand. I didn't get to visit him again until Aug. He finally found a job so we started looking into me moving there. He has a career job with the FAA. Its hard because my daughter wants to stay with her Dad. She's lived with him since we broke up because we both felt it was more stable for her to stay in the same house, with her room and stuff. I have a room for her where I live now but when I first moved out I didn't have a place to live and stayed with friends. She's also almost 10 and we both think she is allowed some choice in this. If she chooses to come live with us in the USA then her father says that's okay too. We both want her to be happy. Its one of the hardest things I've ever done is to make a choice to keep living my life. I spent 9 years on hold because I was too scared to leave.

My hubs and I won't be having any kids. I had decided a while ago I didn't want any more kids and had my tubes tied. He never wanted kids to begin with even though he'd be a fantastic father IMHO. Too scared he'd turn into his dad I guess.

Anyhow that's our story. I've visited him again in Oct and Jan. He has a lot of training to do in the FAA the first year so visiting will be pretty limited the rest of the year. He has to save up his vacation time for when I eventually move too as he only gets 2 weeks a year right now. I got an extra week at Xmas but I've used up that and any paid time off as well. So our birthday this year will be spent with him in OK city and me here. The same with our 1 year anniversary. I hope that by next year this time, we won't ever have to spend those alone again. :-)

Sorry for the novel! LOL. It's the first time I've written it all out for a while. Guess I could have went with the shortened version.

[Found Frolicking 1]

My fiancée and I applied in October. It hasn't been all that long yet, but the uncertainty of it all is overwhelming. I (Canadian citizen) met her at school in pittsburgh and we spent pretty much every day together for the two and half years we dated. It's been now a year a half since I left the US and waiting to be able to move back is very hard!

Here's to hoping we all get good news soon!

Couldn't agree more. It's funny how uncertain and worried we can get when we have nothing to worry about ! When the seed of doubt has been planted, it seems to grow with a mind of its own.

Waiting to be able to move is pretty dreadful. I've never been so annoying about counting down each day, crossing my fingers, and hoping for good news!

Your fiance is in Canada with you right now?

[Found Frolicking 1]

My husband and I met professionally and realized soon after we started dating that this was the best relationship we'd ever been in! Filed for IR-2 at the end of July and got routed to Vermont, just before they started farming out applications to the local offices. So, we're at the very end of the queue. It really sucks. The one good thing, though, is that my husband is in the dissertation writing stage of his graduate degree program, so he's using the 6-month tourist visa that he's allowed and writing his dissertation while staying down here with me. We're just hoping to be most of the way through the process by the time the clock runs out, but things aren't looking great these days. He's definitely the more optimistic of the two of us!

I'm finding the IR applications a bit more annoying than the fiance visas! I heard people with fiance visas can go to Vancouver for their interviews, while we IR applicants are forced to go to Montreal. Which would be fine if we lived closer... but Alberta is definitely not what I'd consider close .

So nice that your husband can stay with you while on his tourist visa! I wish I could sign up my husband for the same thing! What is your plan for once the tourist visa is up? Sorry to hear about the awkward timing of your application! I can't believe you're at the end of the queue. That must feel really frustrating.

I think the problem in our case is that I am the more optimistic one, and since my husband is so doubtful, it makes me worry ! IR-2 is for married for over 2 years, right? Same one we are applying for .

[Found Frolicking 1]

Ha, we got bad advice from an immigration attorney--we had a consultation right after we got engaged and were told that our options were to file the K-1 or get married and file the K-3. Either way, he would have to enter the US and adjust his status, while not being able to work for a couple of months. We didn't like the sound of that and decided I would move to Canada on a temporary, 1-year visa, we would get married, and try to process my PR while I was there. Turns out trying to get all the ducks in a row for Canadian immigration is harder than we anticipated, and after my tenth or so unproductive phone conversation with CIC (and realizing that we were still a good two months away from being able to send out our application) I googled US immigration for spouse, read up on the CR-1 visa, presented it to my husband, and we mailed our I-130 package two weeks later.

I'm from CA too BTW.

Ugh, people giving out inaccurate immigration advise should be shot. It's unbelievable the kinds of messes they cause!

Where in California are you from???

[Waugh1308 0]

Couldn't agree more. It's funny how uncertain and worried we can get when we have nothing to worry about ! When the seed of doubt has been planted, it seems to grow with a mind of its own.

Waiting to be able to move is pretty dreadful. I've never been so annoying about counting down each day, crossing my fingers, and hoping for good news!

Your fiance is in Canada with you right now?

I wish! She lives in pittsburgh, which fortunately is only about a 6 hour drive from my house, so I do at least get to visit once every two months or so.

[NikLR 13,227]

I'm finding the IR applications a bit more annoying than the fiance visas! I heard people with fiance visas can go to Vancouver for their interviews, while we IR applicants are forced to go to Montreal. Which would be fine if we lived closer... but Alberta is definitely not what I'd consider close .

So nice that your husband can stay with you while on his tourist visa! I wish I could sign up my husband for the same thing! What is your plan for once the tourist visa is up? Sorry to hear about the awkward timing of your application! I can't believe you're at the end of the queue. That must feel really frustrating.

I think the problem in our case is that I am the more optimistic one, and since my husband is so doubtful, it makes me worry ! IR-2 is for married for over 2 years, right? Same one we are applying for .

I'm in Alberta as well. Not looking forward to spending a week alone in Montreal. :/

You're on the IR1 visa path. IR2 refers to children/dependants and their visa path coinciding with the Immediate Relative. Under 2 years of marriage is a CR1 and is the 2 year conditional green card.

[smrowe 12]

I'm finding the IR applications a bit more annoying than the fiance visas! I heard people with fiance visas can go to Vancouver for their interviews, while we IR applicants are forced to go to Montreal. Which would be fine if we lived closer... but Alberta is definitely not what I'd consider close .

So nice that your husband can stay with you while on his tourist visa! I wish I could sign up my husband for the same thing! What is your plan for once the tourist visa is up? Sorry to hear about the awkward timing of your application! I can't believe you're at the end of the queue. That must feel really frustrating.

I think the problem in our case is that I am the more optimistic one, and since my husband is so doubtful, it makes me worry ! IR-2 is for married for over 2 years, right? Same one we are applying for .

He needs to go back at the end of the visa period anyway to meet with his committee and then go to Peru for a few months for his research. We're hoping that we'll either make it through the process before he needs to go south or that we'll finish things up once he comes back. He'll leave after about 5 months on the visitor visa so that he could come for a short visit if we need to, but otherwise I'll be the one going up there until the visa process is finalized, I guess.

[ca_poppy 1]

Ugh, people giving out inaccurate immigration advise should be shot. It's unbelievable the kinds of messes they cause!

Where in California are you from???

In a way, I guess it's a good thing, because based on what she said, we didn't end up paying her to actually handle our case and only lost $150. Of course, she also told us there was NO WAY we could get married in the US without the government thinking we were trying to commit immigration fraud--yeah, even if he returned to Canada immediately after--so we filed the marriage license in Ontario, where it takes four effing months to register a marriage. That slowed us down more than anything!

I'm from the Bay Area.

[hikergirl 277]

Me and hubby met many moons ago playing World of Warcraft.

After a few years of knowing each other on-line, we decided to give a relationship a try. From the first visit in person it felt right, like we were made for each other.

After visiting back and forth (airfare expenses sure can add up), we got married in a beautiful ceremony on a beach in GA.

Then we started the immigration process. Had one major hiccup so far. Hoping that it’ll be our only one.

[Buxi&Dusk 6]

Hi everyone!

We met online in chat, did that for over a year, met and the rest is history I'm really looking forward to the day that I just be with him all the time, even though flights can add up we try and see each other at least once every month or 1.5 months. It makes waiting a little bit easier, I always have a next visit to count down too.

Its nice to see lots of people from Alberta, my home province! I'm an Albertan living in Ontario.

Edited February 17, 2013 by DuskEmo