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MonicaCO

Hello....just starting the journey from Canada to Colorado

By MonicaCO in What Visa Do I Need - Family Based Immigration

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MonicaCO Contributor

MonicaCO   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hello all,

We are about to start this paperwork journey to let us be together permanently. There are sooooooooooooooo many questions!!!

Our main question is how to decide which path to take......would it be quicker/less painful to marry first and then apply or go the fiance route.

Any advice is appreciated. The forms look so intimidating.

Also, I would love to hear from anyone who has made the journey in the Denver/Boulder area.

With thanks....Monica

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G Walters Community Regular

G Walters   136

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: United Kingdom
 Timeline
Posted

In my opinion it would be better to do the k-1 route. We just did it and were processed though the California center and we were done in approx 4 months. My sig shows the process. If you process through California it should be quick. If you are sent to Texas it is a bit longer. They are slower. But it can take longer if you are married. just my 2 cents.

 

 

Service Center : California Service Center on 2014-03-17Consulate : London, United KingdomI-129F Sent : 2014-03-10I-129F NOA1 : 2014-03-14I-129F NOA2 : 2014-04-07NVC Received :4/21/2014NVC Left :4/23/2014Consulate Received :2014-04-29Packet 3 Received :2014-05-01Packet 3 Sent :2014-05-01Medical Complete: 2014-05-07Packet 4 Received :2014-5-31Interview Date :2014-06-06Visa Issued: 2014-06-10Visa Package Received: 2014-06-13Arrival at POE Seattle: 2014-6-13

Married 07/07/2014

AOS Timeline
AOS package mailed 08/08/2014 (Chicago Lockbox)
NOA date 8/13/2014
Biometrics done 09/14/2014
INTERVIEW DATE!!!! 10/31/2014
Approval e-mail 10/31/2014
Card production e-mail 12/27/2011
GREEN CARD ARRIVED 11/08/201

Employment Authorization Document
CIS Office : Chicago National Office
Filing Method : Mail
Filing Instance : First
Date Filed : 2014-08-04
NOA Date : 2014-08-13
RFE(s) :
Bio. Appt. : 2014-09-04
Approved Date : 2014-09-25
Date Card Received : 2014-10-03

ADVANCED Parole
CIS Office : Chicago National Office
Filing Method : Mail
Filing Instance :First
Date Filed : 2014-08-04
NOA Date : 2014-08-13
RFE(s) :
Date Received : 2014-10-03


ROC Timeline
ROC package mailed to CSC 10/13/2016
NOA1 date 10/17/2016
Biometrics date 12/8/2016

Interview: None
Card production ordered: 03/27/2018
10-YEAR GREEN CARD ARRIVED

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,287

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

Welcome to the forum! I'm moving your thread from "Introducing Our Members" to the "What Visa Do I Need?" forum, where questions similar to yours are discussed. Good luck!

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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kashewmoo Contributor

kashewmoo   9

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Last week I immigrated on a CR-1 visa to the Boulder area, so hello! :) I'm originally from Victoria, BC.

There are pros and cons to both journeys. It does seem to be a mixed bag whether or not a K-1 visa is quicker than the CR-1 - it can depend on the service center, how prompt you are in getting paperwork filed, etc. For us, we had already decided to get married before we were eligible for immigration benefits (we're a DOMA case), but looking back on it we would make the same decision once more. It took almost eleven months from filing to our POE, but I've been able to look for work immediately, and take care of things like switching my car to Colorado plates, bank accounts, insurance, etc, without the waiting period of the AOS.

What province are you from? That can also play a role, as well, since CR-1s are processed only in Montreal, whereas K-1s are processed in both Vancouver and Montreal.

r5wgm6.png

07/30/05 - Met online via LiveJournal, and instantly become best friends, 03/23/06 - Met in person in Seattle, WA for the first time, 11/03/07 - Officially become a couple

09/03/09 - Move to Boulder, CO to attend school, 05/06/11 - Become engaaaaged, 05/21/11 - Unhappily return to Canada after expiration of F-1
06/26/13 - Finally DOMA Section 3 falls ♡, 07/05/13 - Married in Victoria, BC
07/24/13 - I-130 package sent to wife for final signatures
07/28/13 - I-130 mailed!
08/05/13 - NOA1, routed to NBC

01/21/14 - Petition transferred to CSC

02/05/14 - I-130 approved (187 days from NOA1)

02/18/14 - NVC received case file

03/21/14 - Case # assigned

03/25/14 - Received case/invoice number, gave emails, sent OPTIN email for EP

03/26/14 - AOS bill invoiced, and paid

03/28/14 - AOS bill shown as paid, IV bill invoiced, and paid

03/29/14 - Emailed AOS package

03/31/14 - IV bill shown as paid

04/01/14 - DS260 available and submitted, emailed IV package

04/07/14 - Resent OPTIN email by NVC operator advisory, but still no autoreply

04/15/14 - Received email confirmation of EP enrollment, resent IV/AOS packages via email just to be certain

04/22/14 - DS-260 reviewed, false checklist for AOS/IV documents going to be sent out

04/23/14 - Checklist received via email, discarded

04/25/14 - Call to NVC dictates IV package under review, advised to resend AOS package, emails it once more (recieved autoreply), literally moments after hitting send an email is received responding to the original 3/29th email that the AOS package is under review

04/28/14 - AOS approved, false checklist asking for IV package

05/01/14 - IV under review email received, CASE COMPLETE! :]

05/07/14 - Received email confirming case complete

05/16/14 - Received P4 letter with interview date

06/16/14 - Medical exam in Surrey, BC

06/23/14 - Interview date! Approved! CEAC status changes to "Issued!"

06/26/14 - Visa received

07/08/14 - POE at Peace Arch Crossing in Blaine, WA, and a 25 hour road trip home to Colorado!

06/13/16 - Mailed the I-175 to CA!

06/16/16 - Received notification that the package was delivered successfully

06/21/16 - NOA1 (on wifey's birthday~)

06/25/16 - NOA for biometrics appointment

07/14/16 - Biometrics date

Process from start to finish (before ROC):

10 months, 3 weeks, 5 days!

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MonicaCO Contributor

MonicaCO   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Hello GWalters and Kashewmoo...thanks for the replies and advice.

Kashewmoo.....I have noticed your posts while I have been lurking and that you are in Boulder where I am. Would you like to PM me so that we can chat and perhaps meet up? I am from Ontario so I would definitely use the Montreal consulate.

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,227

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

If you're going through Montreal I rather recommend the CR1 route unless you really dont want to wait for marriage to start the .

I'm also in CO. Just outside of Denver.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
mrsloki Newbie

mrsloki   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

We are beginning our journey a little backwards, and it's really complicated.

We're from Surrey, BC and will be driving to LA next week and starting the process.

What are you doing for medical while in the US? are both you and your SO Canadians?

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MonicaCO Contributor

MonicaCO   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Hello and thanks for your comments everyone. I would love to meet anyone who has already done the "journey" in Colorado.

We have decided to go the CR1 route and marry first. I am still here in Boulder visiting right now and we will technically marry and file the paperwork before I go back to Canada in September. Then, we will go ahead with our "wedding celebration" next October as we planned.

As for healthcare, I purchased travel insurance before I left Canada for this visit. I am not sure what I will do once I get the VISA and move here.

Any advice on the whole process is greatly appreciated. Thanks/.

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,227

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

We are beginning our journey a little backwards, and it's really complicated.

We're from Surrey, BC and will be driving to LA next week and starting the process.

What are you doing for medical while in the US? are both you and your SO Canadians?

You can't enter the USA to live without a proper visa.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,227

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

LPR can use Obamacare if you need to go that route. Also you can find work that gives benefits. Many people end up with a lower paying job (pretty much a given though moving down in many areas) that offers good benefits quickly.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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