Establishing domicile / physical address

[BadCivilServant 10]

 My USC wife and I have been married since April, 2012 (together since 2011). We both live in Canada (specifically, Niagara Falls, Ontario). Our ambition is to move to Florida. On her I-130 petition for me, under "address in the United States where your relative intends to live," we wrote (or typed) "UNKNOWN" for the street address, "ORLANDO, FLORIDA, 32819." We haven't gotten to the point of the AOS, joint AOS or the visa application itself yet. Still waiting for the NOA2. 

 

I understand the consulate in Montreal is very strict regarding domicile, so it was our plan that, once my application starts moving along, to have her move down to Orlando (her employer would transfer her to their Orlando location) and rent a place. Hopefully we wouldn't be separated for more than a month. Or two. I would U-haul her stuff down there, hopefully convince the customs officer I wasn't intending to immigrate myself, and fly back. Alone. 

 

At what point during the paperwork process  MUST USCIS or NVC have a physical address where we intend to reside in the USA? Since we already put down Orlando, is changing our mind and deciding we want to move to Niagara Falls, N.Y. an option? And move down to Orlando afterwards? 

[NikLR 13,227]

Ds-260 (visa application) must have a US intended address.  Also it's ideal to have one for the I-864 to avoid any domicile issues.  Living (and working?) in the USA by interview, again to avoid domicile issues. 

[BadCivilServant 10]

7 hours ago, NikLR said:

Ds-260 (visa application) must have a US intended address.  Also it's ideal to have one for the I-864 to avoid any domicile issues.  Living (and working?) in the USA by interview, again to avoid domicile issues. 

Thank you. That was what I was afraid of. I guess getting her down there just before the interview won't cut it. When we get word the I-130 gets out of Lincoln and over to the NVC (fingers crossed "soon!") We'll make plans for her to head down to the Sunshine State. Looks like we're talking MONTHS of separation. Not just one or two. 

 

Best wishes. 

[NikLR 13,227]

NVC should take maybe a month tops (EP is generally faster) and the interview is normally about month after CC (case complete) at NVC.  Really she needs a place to live, she doesnt need to be there fulltime. 

[AstroCanada 206]

A couple thoughts.  The NVC process has gone quite quickly for myself and a couple other US/Canadian couples recently; however, some people have had very long processing times recently.  

 

The other thing is that you cannot U-Haul her stuff down there.  She would need to do that as they're likely to be very strict on a Canadian moving lots of furniture down.