K1 from Canada

[JennandJames 19]

4 minutes ago, karice said:

Hi! My process was pretty quick (you can view my timeline on my profile). I’m originally from Alberta as well. I found it easier to go to Montreal a week before my interview and get the medical done there, because it was significantly cheaper than planning a separate trip to surrey. 

 Thank You so much! We are planning on starting in June.  I appreciate the feedback. You have made me feel better about this process. 

[karice 29]

1 minute ago, JennandJames said:

 Thank You so much! We are planning on starting in June.  I appreciate the feedback. You have made me feel better about this process. 

It’s a long process, but worth it in the end

[JFH 12,190]

14 hours ago, JennandJames said:

 I'm planning to go back to school in the fall of 2019, so I will stop working.  I feel that I will have to wait to go back to meet the income requirement of the cr1.

So, you’re starting the K-1 in June this year which means he will receive his visa probably in summer of 2019. You are then going to stop working just when he arrives and he cannot work for several months AND you have a very expensive AOS bill to pay. In order to get his green card (that’s the AOS process after the K-1) you need to show that you are making 125% of the poverty level for a household of 2 (assuming you have no dependents). How do you plan to do that if you won’t be working and he cannot work? What are you going to eat? You can use a joint sponsor (and you probably will have to) just as you can for a CR-1. If you’re worried about the financial requirements for a CR-1 then the K-1 is not right for you - it’s the same requirement for AOS except you will have an additional mouth to feed who cannot work at all. 

 

I know it’s very confusing but believe us who have been through it that the K-1 is not the best choice for you. Much better that you have a quick courthouse wedding when he visits you (lots of us have done that - including me) and then he goes back to Canada while the CR-1 is processing. When his visa is issued, he can come here and start working right away. And you have no AOS process or fees to worry about. 

 

I don’t understand your comment “we really want to do the K-1”. Exactly what part of being unable to work for several months and having to spend more money on fees is so attractive?  

Edited February 17, 2018 by JFH

[Crazy Cat 41,850]

I really don't understand why someone whose fiance is in Canada would want to go with a K-1 rather than a CR-1. 

[JFH 12,190]

7 minutes ago, missileman said:

I really don't understand why someone whose fiance is in Canada would want to go with a K-1 rather than a CR-1. 

Completely agree. The same applies to VWP countries. I’m constantly amazed at the number of K-1s I see from the UK.

 

OP, another thing to consider is you say he has a good job. Now, I don’t know anything about his field of work but if it’s anything like mine, the longer you are out of it the harder it is to get back in and almost impossible to get back into it at the same level you left. He has obviously worked and/or studied hard to get where he is. It would be a shame to have to go back several steps. That’s one of the many reasons why we did the CR-1. I spent 7 years doing 2 degrees at university and have worked my way up in my field for the last 18 years. If I had dropped out of the workforce for several months I would be lucky to get back in at a junior level. Also, being able to work right away when you arrive helps with structure and routine. He will settle easier and make friends. Have a look through all the posts on this site where K-1 people  who had previously had careers in their home countries go through depression here when they can’t work. 

[JennandJames 19]

I obviously can't stop working until he can work and has a job, I'm not a moron.  I have a friend that runs a shop and will give him a job when he needs one.  I can't start my marriage out by living a part from my husband for a year.  We will figure it out,  I know couples that have been in worse financial situations.  We discussed it and decided that the k1 will be for us.  I have been talking to someone that has gone through this from Canada and she wad super organized and got her visa in about 6 months.  I'm just going to send as much as I can and be as organized as I can and pray that God will help us to do what is right for us. 

[Naes 12,205]

6 minutes ago, JennandJames said:

I obviously can't stop working until he can work and has a job, I'm not a moron.  I have a friend that runs a shop and will give him a job when he needs one.  I can't start my marriage out by living a part from my husband for a year.  We will figure it out,  I know couples that have been in worse financial situations.  We discussed it and decided that the k1 will be for us.  I have been talking to someone that has gone through this from Canada and she wad super organized and got her visa in about 6 months.  I'm just going to send as much as I can and be as organized as I can and pray that God will help us to do what is right for us. 

Just one thing about the visa process.

The length of process has nothing to do with someone being organized or not (maybe can avoid an rfe but that's it and that barely affects the length anyway)

 

 

i don't know why people seem to think that being organized is the reason behind getting it fast..

 

also do not forget you not quitting your job is not just related to him getting a job, it is also about you sponsoring him.

 

Can veterans tell me if the petitioner needs to be employed at the time of AOS interview if it is to happen? - I know it is a 50-50 for k1.

Edited February 17, 2018 by Naes

[Crazy Cat 41,850]

3 minutes ago, JennandJames said:

I obviously can't stop working until he can work and has a job, I'm not a moron.  I have a friend that runs a shop and will give him a job when he needs one.  I can't start my marriage out by living a part from my husband for a year.  We will figure it out,  I know couples that have been in worse financial situations.  We discussed it and decided that the k1 will be for us.  I have been talking to someone that has gone through this from Canada and she wad super organized and got her visa in about 6 months.  I'm just going to send as much as I can and be as organized as I can and pray that God will help us to do what is right for us. 

Good Luck.  It is your choice, but if you think you'll have the K-1 complete in 6 months, you're dreaming.  I fully expect that you will join the ranks of those K-1 people who later say "I wish we had gone the CR-1 route".  There are a LOT of them here.......

 

I wish all the best for you and your family.......

 

[JFH 12,190]

Although being organized helps, the process takes as long as USCIS takes to approve the petition. Have a look at current timelines and many are waiting 9 months or more for approval. And that’s just stage 1. Yes, two years ago people were getting through the K-1 process in 4 to 6 months. But those days are over. 

 

I find it odd that people in very untraditional relationships (meeting online, long-distance dating, trans border couples) feel that they can’t live apart for the first year of marriage. Although I wouldn’t have done it if I had any other option, it was a small price to pay (and I continued to visit regularly throughout) for a much more stable life once I arrived here. Also, being apart is being apart. It was no easier or harder on us whether we were married or not. Once we’d reached that stage in our relationship that we wanted to be together forever the marriage certificate didn’t make the distance any worse. We felt just the same before we married as we did afterwards. You don’t miss someone more just because you have a marriage certificate. 

 

Looks like you will will be delaying going back to school until sometime in 2020 if you are going to wait until he can work. 

[pajobra 1,395]

We went the K-1 route last March and I got to the US in October but that was the start of it getting longer and longer. Regardless of the fact that I am here I wish we had gone the CR1 route. Why? Because then I could work. Right now its anyone's guess how long the EAD will take to get. I expect to get it at the earliest April. So lets see I came at the end of October and by the time I get my EAD at the earliest is 6 months later. I am going crazy not working and now my husband has health issues and is missing a lot  of work. We are now wishing we had just done the CR1 route in the end especially when coming from Canada.

Edited February 17, 2018 by pajobra

[caliliving 606]

7 hours ago, missileman said:

I really don't understand why someone whose fiance is in Canada would want to go with a K-1 rather than a CR-1. 

Same! My friend did cr1 and it was best...no way did she or her family want her to move to the states without a visa! She also visited or he came to her (1hr away). Also Canadians make really good money and the money is helpful. I do not see any benefit for the k1 unless the Canadian does not work and the American is loaded. But even still not being able to visit for months is not worth it. 

[Lemonslice 4,841]

7 hours ago, JennandJames said:

I obviously can't stop working until he can work and has a job, I'm not a moron.  I have a friend that runs a shop and will give him a job when he needs one.  I can't start my marriage out by living a part from my husband for a year.  We will figure it out,  I know couples that have been in worse financial situations.  We discussed it and decided that the k1 will be for us.  I have been talking to someone that has gone through this from Canada and she wad super organized and got her visa in about 6 months.  I'm just going to send as much as I can and be as organized as I can and pray that God will help us to do what is right for us. 

Montreal interviews take about two months to be scheduled, and that is after the petition being approved.  You can search the Canada forum for recent timelines.  Being able to work and travel is not just about money - but good for you if your spouse is comfortable being unable to work, study, travel, drive (depends on the state) and start "living" here for months.  My husband and myself both have the means to support each other, together, or separately - however being stuck at home for an unknown duration was not an option.  

 

Also, unfortunately, or fortunately, prayers and God have nothing to do with the speed of the process.  

Edited February 17, 2018 by Lemonslice

[Kerri1972 3]

On 16/02/2018 at 10:06 PM, JennandJames said:

Hello, 

How long did your process take? Where did you have to go for your medical exam? He is from Alberta and so he has to go to Surrey. We really want to do the K1 and we have discussed that we will have enough saved so that he won't need to work for 3 or 4 months.  He is a mechanic and makes a good living. Thank you in advance!

I'm from Canada and did the k1. We applied in April 2017 and had our interview on Valentine's day 2018. I did my medical in Montreal 

[Mrsjackson 300]

On 2/17/2018 at 4:42 AM, missileman said:

I really don't understand why someone whose fiance is in Canada would want to go with a K-1 rather than a CR-1. 

Circumstances differ, and some people's situations actually are best suited to the K1 even from Canada believe it or not. In my case I have a baby with my American fiance (I'm from Canada). Since I'll be staying home with our child upon arrival in the US anyway, we just wanted the fastest option (which at the time of filing was the K1, as they were being processed in 3-5 months). So if you are not planning on working right away and the K1 processing times are on the lower end of the spectrum then it would be the better option. I now kind of wish we went the CR1 route but you can't predict these things.