Not quite ready to marry

[jothkem 0]

Hello. My boyfriend moved from North Carolina to Alberta, Canada on a work visa. He is a US citizen and now a Permanent Resident of Canada. We have decided that we would prefer to be back with his family. We have been together for a few years, but aren't quite at the marrying stage yet. Is there any way that I could go with him? Could him and his family sponsor me? Are there any reputable websites for finding a job that is looking for foreign workers in a specific city or state? Thank you all for your time.

[Canerican 242]

Your two options are:

1. Get married and file the CR-1 (Spouse) visa. This takes about a year and your boyfriend would have to move back to the USA as he needs to prove domocile in the USA. This process will take about a year. When you enter the USA your I-551 stamp, once you get an SSN, will authorize you to work and your stamp with authorize you to live in the USA until you get your actual Green Card. This way allows to work and travel immediately.

2. Don't get married and do the K-1 (Fiance(e))visa. This also takes about a year and all the same applies as CR-1. Only difference is that when you get to the USA you have to marry within 90 days of entry and then complete AOS (Adjustment of Status). You will not be able to work or travel right away. It will take about 3 months from your AOS app to get work and travel authorization.

Look at guides for more info about forms, etc for each visa.

Good Luck

[Unidentified 2,930]

Getting a work visa in the US is not easy.

[Boiler 46,325]

Do you qualify for the TN?

[Merrytooth 5,748]

Canada TN visa

http://www.canadiansinusa.com/Working-in-the-US/tn-visa.html

[Penguin_ie 5,997]

***** Moving from K1 fiance visa to What Visa Do I Need forum as Op has not decided on a visa path yet ******

[andy78 178]

Another option that you may or may not want to explore: If you are a Canadian citizen, you can visit the US for up to six months. This can be done as long as your stay in the US is temporary, and as long as Canada is your primary residence. If a job happens to find you while you are in the US and you become interested in working and living in the US, you can then proceed with the TN visa route. See the link below for guidelines and information on temporary visits by Canadian citizens.

This option may work for you if you want to spend a few months in the US with your boyfriend, and explore your options in the US, as long as you are prepared to return to Canada if things don't work out the way you hope they will. I particularly wanted to point out this part from the link:

"There is no set period of time Canadians must wait to reenter the U.S. after the end of their stay, but if it appears to the CBP Officer that the person applying for entry is spending more time over-all in the U.S. than in Canada, it will be up to the traveler to prove to the officer that they are not de-facto U.S. residents. One of the ways to do this is demonstrate significant ties to their home country, including proof of employment, residency, etc. (See list attached.)"

Link:

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/619/~/visiting-the-u.s.---documents-required-for-canadian-citizens-%2F-residents-%2F

[jothkem 0]

Thank you all so much. I will research these options!

[NikLR 13,232]

Keep in mind if all you want to do is visit, you may need to show proof of your ties to Canada. Just because its easier for us to cross thr border doesn't mean its a guaranteed thing. A CBP officer can still turn you away if they think you're planning on living in the US vs actually visiting.

[lucybelle 453]

Your two options are:

1. Get married and file the CR-1 (Spouse) visa. This takes about a year and your boyfriend would have to move back to the USA as he needs to prove domocile in the USA. This process will take about a year. When you enter the USA your I-551 stamp, once you get an SSN, will authorize you to work and your stamp with authorize you to live in the USA until you get your actual Green Card. This way allows to work and travel immediately.

Bold statement is not true. Many US citizens, including myself, petitioned their spouses from abroad. In fact, right before I applied lots of USCs were getting an "auto-expedite" for applying while abroad. I unfortunately missed that train.

But anyways, the point is the USC can absolutely live abroad. You have to have proof of "re-domicile" which is totally doable. And it can get messy with the sponsor section. You either a) need a job whose salary will continue in the USA, b) need assets, c) get a co-sponsor.

[NikLR 13,232]

Canada is different.

[IcezMan_IcezLady 582]

Bold statement is not true. Many US citizens, including myself, petitioned their spouses from abroad. In fact, right before I applied lots of USCs were getting an "auto-expedite" for applying while abroad. I unfortunately missed that train.

But anyways, the point is the USC can absolutely live abroad. You have to have proof of "re-domicile" which is totally doable. And it can get messy with the sponsor section. You either a) need a job whose salary will continue in the USA, b) need assets, c) get a co-sponsor.

The whole of the bold statement cannot be false. CR-1 indeed takes about a year but the boyfriend doesn't have to move back to prove domicile if he already meets the domicile requirement

[Transborderwife 4,666]

Bold statement is not true. Many US citizens, including myself, petitioned their spouses from abroad. In fact, right before I applied lots of USCs were getting an "auto-expedite" for applying while abroad. I unfortunately missed that train.

But anyways, the point is the USC can absolutely live abroad. You have to have proof of "re-domicile" which is totally doable. And it can get messy with the sponsor section. You either a) need a job whose salary will continue in the USA, b) need assets, c) get a co-sponsor.

Canada is VERY different domicile is key

[blest.but.strest 50]

Getting a work visa in the US is not easy.

It is actually quite easy for professional Canadians to get work visas in the US, especially TN status.

[Eric & Idalia 56]

Bold statement is not true. Many US citizens, including myself, petitioned their spouses from abroad. In fact, right before I applied lots of USCs were getting an "auto-expedite" for applying while abroad. I unfortunately missed that train.

But anyways, the point is the USC can absolutely live abroad. You have to have proof of "re-domicile" which is totally doable. And it can get messy with the sponsor section. You either a) need a job whose salary will continue in the USA, b) need assets, c) get a co-sponsor.

Proving domicile or intention to re domicile in the USA is one thing. But at least with the CR1 visa, the USA citizen has to move back to USA before the beneficiary or at the same time.