Help with sponsoring Canadian Citizen to US?

[sunfernape 0]

Hi everyone, I would like to sponsor my girlfriend who is a Canadian to the US to live/work. Would the easiest way to do this be using the k-1 visa? Have her come here and we get married, or should we get married first and apply for a different visa. She currently does not need a visa to come to the US because she holds a Canadian passport. We are currently not married. Also, for the affidavit of support, can I get a co-sponsor if I do not make enough money?

I would like to have this process to be streamlined as smoothly as possible, any help would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.

[TBoneTX 45,309]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the "What Visa Do I Need" forum -- OP is weighing options. ***

[Phillip Kazuto 28]

Hi welcome to the forum .

To begin with , K1 visa is rather expensive than the IR1. K1 will take more or less 6 months. On the other hand , IR1 will take much much longer time i'd say more or less a year.

I'd advise you to go with IR1 route , it's cheaper and since she has Canadian passports she can visit you while case is being processed.

If you go with K1 , sure it will be a lot faster but she will have to do Adjustment of Status to get green card , oppose to IR1 which she will be automatically a permanent resident once she get her visa issued and she will have to do the Advance Parole in order to travel abroad without green card ( I'm not so sure about this one ) .

To sum up , if she can get into us through Canadian passport then go with IR1 , it's cheaper and time doesn't matter if she can always visit you ( 2-3 times during the visa process ).

[Phillip Kazuto 28]

P.S you can get co sponsor. Just make sure that the total income is sufficient to the requirement in form I-864P

[sunfernape 0]

Hi welcome to the forum .

To begin with , K1 visa is rather expensive than the IR1. K1 will take more or less 6 months. On the other hand , IR1 will take much much longer time i'd say more or less a year.

I'd advise you to go with IR1 route , it's cheaper and since she has Canadian passports she can visit you while case is being processed.

If you go with K1 , sure it will be a lot faster but she will have to do Adjustment of Status to get green card , oppose to IR1 which she will be automatically a permanent resident once she get her visa issued and she will have to do the Advance Parole in order to travel abroad without green card ( I'm not so sure about this one ) .

To sum up , if she can get into us through Canadian passport then go with IR1 , it's cheaper and time doesn't matter if she can always visit you ( 2-3 times during the visa process ).

I am currently on a study permit in Canada, will that affect the process? If she is approved for the IR1, does she have work authorization in the US automatically or is that a separate process? Thanks

[Phillip Kazuto 28]

I am currently on a study permit in Canada, will that affect the process? If she is approved for the IR1, does she have work authorization in the US automatically or is that a separate process? Thanks

You must show that you're tied to US , show that US is your country of domicile in order to file the peittion.

Once she get IR1 visa as soon as she arrive in US she will eligible for work automatically but only when she receive green card social card..etc ( the wait time is around 1 month to get all of them )

[Boiler 45,525]

You need to show a US domicile.

If you go the spousal route she will be work authorised on entry.

[sunfernape 0]

Thanks everyone for your help. I am a US citizen so I can show domicile. Should we wait a certain time after we get married to apply for IR1? Or can we get married and apply right away, will any problems arise if they see that we have only been married recently? Just to clarify, she is able/authorized to work in both US/Canada if approved for IR1?

[Phillip Kazuto 28]

Thanks everyone for your help. I am a US citizen so I can show domicile. Should we wait a certain time after we get married to apply for IR1? Or can we get married and apply right away, will any problems arise if they see that we have only been married recently? Just to clarify, she is able/authorized to work in both US/Canada if approved for IR1?

There will be no problem at all for the thing you mentioned above just make sure you can gather marriage cert. then proceed to file.

Yes she will be able to work in both US/Canada ( Dual Citizenship )

[sunfernape 0]

There will be no problem at all for the thing you mentioned above just make sure you can gather marriage cert. then proceed to file.

Yes she will be able to work in both US/Canada ( Dual Citizenship )

Thank you. I just thought that if we got married today, and applied tomorrow, they would find it suspicious that we are applying so soon. Does it matter how long we've know eachother? Sorry for all the questions

[sunfernape 0]

And I don't want them to deny me for that

[Phillip Kazuto 28]

Like i said it will cause no problem , don't overthink it as you know after you file it , it will take a long time for them to approve it. ( Most people i know generally file it as soon as they get marriage cert just to save precious time )

[NikLR 13,227]

You must show that you're tied to US , show that US is your country of domicile in order to file the peittion.

Once she get IR1 visa as soon as she arrive in US she will eligible for work automatically but only when she receive green card social card..etc ( the wait time is around 1 month to get all of them )

Not for the petition you do not. For the eventual visa you do however.