Canadian Girlfriend

[dice37 0]

Im dating a Canadian Girl that I am going to marry. Shes currently lives in Manitoba Canada going to school for the next 8 months. She has 3 kids 13, 8, and 6. When they're finished with school by summer i want them to move here to Cincinnati, Ohio with me. She will find a job here when she is finished with school. What steps are there to take for her and her kids to come here by June 2015? Do we have to marry first before she comes? What does she have to do to get out of Canada? Any help would be great thanks

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to What Visa Do I Need Forum~

~Inquiry about family visa processes~

[dice37 0]

Thank you A&B

[*Snowdrop* 604]

You have two choices for an immigration path for her and her children.

One is a fiance visa and you get married in the USA

One is a spousal visa where you get married first (either in the USA or Canada) and then apply for the visa (she waits in Canada for the visa - but she can still visit during process)

To bring the children the first step is to make sure that your wife has permission to take the children out of the country to live in the USA (if they have a living second parent) and if granted - she will want to have proof of that.

The kids' immigration path may decide which visa you want your girlfriend to pursue:

With a K1 fiance visa - they are a K2 derivative (you need only petition for your fiance/wife and list the children on that petition in the relevant blanks)

If you marry and go for the spouse visa then you will need to send in a separate petition for each of your step-children too.

For your timescale at the moment it looks like the fiance visa might be a better option but you still need to move quickly to have everyone here by early summer next year.

Read the guides above to take into account the other issues with each visa type: costs, time scale, how long it takes to get permission to work etc. before you make your decision

Edited September 9, 2014 by *Lynne*