New here and full of questions...

[lilykouki 0]

Hi all!

New to the forum... met my fiancee in Canada... he is French, but has been living there for over 16 years... We have been seeing eachother and talking via the internet and phone for a year now, and we really want to be together. We have decided that we want to get married and for him to live here, since I already am settled with a house and a steady job and family.

The thing is, he is an interpreter/translator, so it makes sense for him to still work in Canada. Is it possible for us to live both in Canada and the US? How would we do this?

Also, how often can he come to the US to see me without problems? He has a flexible job (for the most part, he is self-employed) and my job is a regular 40 hour week. Is there anything we need to know to avoid problems? He has said that the border crossing can be a humiliating and just generally bad experience.

I'm pretty niave when it comes to these matters... never thought that it would be that much trouble to be with someone you love with only borders of the country standing in your way.

Any insight into what we need to do or any pitfalls to look out for would be appreciated!

Lily

[Cygnet 0]

Lily,

Welcome to VJ!

Matybe your fiance can explore job opportunities in the US (in his field). There must be companies out there who need translators. Or maybe he can still do contract work in Canada but work long distance.

My husband who lives in California thought he needed his documentary film translated in french before sending it off to France. Anyway, he called this company in California who said they can do it. My point is that there may be a way for him to work in the U.S. as a French translator or interpreter.

And here's another idea (call me crazy but...), maybe he can work for the government, too, translating and all.

[lilykouki 0]

Thanks! He is exploring opportunities in the US for sure... that would be ideal... but we will be living in KY, not exactly the need for french interpretation here LOL. Although, he can travel anywhere there is a job. I just am so unclear about what is really legal. Is it legal to work in 2 different countries? What about me? Can I come back and forth to Canada as much as I want? Can we have a small apartment there? He's making pretty good money there, and we are going to need it especially starting out. I swear I need an "Immigration for dummies book" LOL

Thanks so much for your reply and suggestions! So nice to "meet" you!

Lily

[Jasman0717 9]

Welcome to VJ. I suggest you start by reading the guides here, they are very helpful. Good luck

[Reba 2]

if your fiance is self employed and a fiancee in the US, this could make travelling back and forth even more difficult for him.

If you decided to apply for some sort of visa for him and you get married, technically he must move permanently to the US. If he does the back and forth thing, it may work for a short while, but eventually US immigration will just cancel the visa because they'll see he has no intent to move permanently.

You'll have to decide if he'll move to the US permanently, or if you'll move to Canada. You can't really live in both countries unless you both get dual citizenship, which can take several years and requires permanent residency first.

[caviar22 1]

if your fiance is self employed and a fiancee in the US, this could make travelling back and forth even more difficult for him.

If you decided to apply for some sort of visa for him and you get married, technically he must move permanently to the US. If he does the back and forth thing, it may work for a short while, but eventually US immigration will just cancel the visa because they'll see he has no intent to move permanently.

You'll have to decide if he'll move to the US permanently, or if you'll move to Canada. You can't really live in both countries unless you both get dual citizenship, which can take several years and requires permanent residency first.

I disagree. There are many people who live in one country and go back and forth to work. I am doing that.. until next week... Immigration officers have told me this is common because I have asked many times.

I cross over every week... first my permanent address was in Canada and I worked there, now my permanent address is in the US but I still work in Canada with a condo. No problem.

I do not know about travelling back and forth on a fiance visa, but if he can prove he has a home (lease, mortgage...) to go back to, then there should not be problems.

Good luck!!!

[neiks 19]

What is your finacee's immigration status in Canada? Your profile says France. Is he a Citizen, perm resident or on work visa? If he is a perm resident of Canada he probably will have to give that up if when he aquires alien residential status in the US, thus he will not be able to work in Canada anymore. As Reba stated a person cannot be a RESIDENT of both countries. If he is a citizen of Canada he has the right to contine to work in Canada if he chooses. Caviar is a citizen of Canada and a legal resident of the US, thus what she is doing is allowed.

[Reba 2]

you can't travel back and forth on a Fiance visa (K1) it is a single entry visa, valid only for 90 days. A beneficiary of a fiance visa to the US can only enter the US once, and then must marry within 90 days of entry. The beneficiary CANNOT leave the US until/unless they have an Advanced Parole document, or has received and approved AOS/Green Card. This could take months, to years in some districts. In the meantime, if the K1 holder leaves the country, they will not be readmitted and will have to start all over again with a different type of visa.

[lilykouki 0]

He is a permanent resident of Canada... not a citizen... but could apply to be a citizen- he's been there for over 16 years. I wonder if the K3 wouldn't be the way for us to go... Yes, the K1 would be too limiting... he wouldn't have a job here then and wouldn't be able to work in Canada until Advance Parole came thru or Adjustment of Status... doesn't look like the way to go for us...

What do you guys think? K3?

[caviar22 1]

in my humble opinion... and it IS VERY humble, if you apply for a K3 you need to get married first... but he STILL would not be able to find work in the US right away.

If you apply for a CR1, it takes longer but he can travel back and forth during the process and once he moves, he will be able to work.

There are pros and cons for each type of visa. I would suggest you sit down and make a pro/con list for each visa -- using the guides on this site of course -- and then decide form there.

Good luck!!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Just because one is going for a cr-1 visa does not mean that can travel between the USA and Canada while the process is ongoing. You can still be denied entry.

[pri 0]

well he can get a passport within 10 days of applying... now since he is bilingual (french) there are more opportunities in canada then in US.

so if you go with K3 any immigrant visa has to reside for minm 3 or 5yrs for citizenship no matter K3 /K1.. DCF will give you a green card but then you hv to move

[Reba 2]

consider also that applying for his Canadian citizenship could take several months to over a year. A friend of mine recently just got hers after about a year and a half from when her application was submitted.

[lilykouki 0]

So what is the best route to go? The goal is to be married with the ability to go back and forth to Canada to work if desired, even to keep a small apartment there if possible. Of course we want to be married ASAP and to not be separated... but we have to think about his job... he's doing pretty well and the opportunities for working are going to be way better in Canada I'm sure... but I have a decent job here and family ties too.... plus, we really love the weather here... sorry.. but I don't know if I could take those Canadian winters!!

[neiks 19]

Sorry but without him being a citizen of Canada - he will not be able to go back and forth into Canada to work. He can not be a "legal" resident in both the US and Canada at the same time. In order for him to keep his permanent residence status he has to be a bon a fide residence of Canada. When taking of legal residence of another country he would no longer meet the residence requirment to keep his permanent residence status in Canada and would have to forfit it, thus he no longer has the right to enter Canada a work with obtaining a work authorization.