When would be best to file the I-129F application? & Questions

[rainbow-skies 130]

Hello everyone,

 

I am new to the VisaJourney community. My partner (US citizen) and I (Canadian Citizen) are considering going to K1 route as we plan to get me to Fl, USA early 2022 (e.g. February or March), do a private ceremony (for the sake of the 90 days) and then have more time once we are settled to plan a bigger wedding/event shortly after.

 

1) We were wondering, to roughly be able to travel there and wed by Feb/March 2022, when should we file our I-129F application?

 

2) The I-129F form requests for the details of both the petitioner's and beneficiary's  parents (Parent 1 & 2). If one of our parents is separated and estranged, do we still need to include them  - or is it acceptable to just list one parent (basically complete only Parent 1 and not Parent 2) ?

 

3) Does anyone know if the Toronto Consulate office (my local office) holds the interview? or will I have to anticipate travelling to Montreal?

 

These are our initial questions right now, as we are still in the preliminary stages of beginning this journey together. 

 

We thank everyone in advance for your help!

 

Regards,

 

Melissa

 

 

 

[Crazy Cat 42,215]

Have you considered a CR-1 instead of a K-1?

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US   
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

  

CR-1
    Slightly slower arrival in the US 

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
  �

 

[Boiler 46,033]

You have 2 years, K1 has many many issues.

[geowrian 22,338]

List all known parents.

All K-1 and immigrant visa cases in Canada are handled by Montreal.

Edited February 27, 2020 by geowrian

[NikLR 13,232]

1 hour ago, rainbow-skies said:

Hello everyone,

 

I am new to the VisaJourney community. My partner (US citizen) and I (Canadian Citizen) are considering going to K1 route as we plan to get me to Fl, USA early 2022 (e.g. February or March), do a private ceremony (for the sake of the 90 days) and then have more time once we are settled to plan a bigger wedding/event shortly after.

 

1) We were wondering, to roughly be able to travel there and wed by Feb/March 2022, when should we file our I-129F application?

 

2) The I-129F form requests for the details of both the petitioner's and beneficiary's  parents (Parent 1 & 2). If one of our parents is separated and estranged, do we still need to include them  - or is it acceptable to just list one parent (basically complete only Parent 1 and not Parent 2) ?

 

3) Does anyone know if the Toronto Consulate office (my local office) holds the interview? or will I have to anticipate travelling to Montreal?

 

These are our initial questions right now, as we are still in the preliminary stages of beginning this journey together. 

 

We thank everyone in advance for your help!

 

Regards,

 

Melissa

 

 

 

1) yes

2) no, list your parents unless they're unknown.  It doesn't matter if they're estranged or if you've never spent a day of your life with them. 

3) no Montreal does all of Canada immigrant interviews. 

[rainbow-skies 130]

35 minutes ago, missileman said:

Have you considered a CR-1 instead of a K-1?

 

Every couple has their own priorities, and each couple must decide which visa is better for their situation.

K-1
    Slightly faster arrival in the US   
    More expensive than CR-1    
    Requires Adjustment of Status after marriage (expensive and requires a lot of paperwork)    
    Spouse can not leave the US until she/he receives approved Advance Parole (approx 5-6 months)    
    Spouse can not work until she/he receives EAD (approx 5-6 months)    
    Some people have had problems with driver licenses, Social Security cards, leases, bank account during this period    
    Spouse will not receive Green Card for many months after Adjustment of Status is filed.

  

CR-1
    Slightly slower arrival in the US 

    Less expensive than K-1    
    No Adjustment of Status(I-485, I-131, I-765) required.    
    Spouse can immediately travel outside the US    
    Spouse is authorized to work immediately upon arrival.    
    Spouse receives Social Security Card and Green Card within 2 or 3 weeks after entering the US    
    Opening a bank account, getting a driver's license, etc. are very easily accomplished with GC, SS card, and passport.

    Spouse has legal permanent Resident status IMMEDIATELY upon entry to US.
  �

 

Thank you for your quick and thorough response. We have not considered CR-1, but I do appreciate your breakdown as it is very insightful. Just based on that overview I think it might work out better, just because I am a Registered Nurse here and would want to seek employment as soon as possible after we settle.

 

Do you have any checklists/websites/resources that you would recommend we look at if we decide to go this route? Thank you kindly!

[rainbow-skies 130]

2 minutes ago, geowrian said:

List all known parents.

All K-1 and immigrant visa cases in Canada are handled by Montreal.

Thank you ! Good to know.

 

Regards,

 

Melissa

[rainbow-skies 130]

3 minutes ago, NikLR said:

1) yes

2) no, list your parents unless they're unknown.  It doesn't matter if they're estranged or if you've never spent a day of your life with them. 

3) no Montreal does all of Canada immigrant interviews. 

Thank you ! This is very helpful.

 

Regards,

 

Melissa

[NikLR 13,232]

14 minutes ago, rainbow-skies said:

Thank you for your quick and thorough response. We have not considered CR-1, but I do appreciate your breakdown as it is very insightful. Just based on that overview I think it might work out better, just because I am a Registered Nurse here and would want to seek employment as soon as possible after we settle.

 

Do you have any checklists/websites/resources that you would recommend we look at if we decide to go this route? Thank you kindly!

visajourney has plenty of checklists in our guides.

 

The main thing is you need to be married first and it takes longer, so about 18months or so.  But you'd spend 6 months not working if you did the K1 route. 

[rainbow-skies 130]

14 minutes ago, NikLR said:

visajourney has plenty of checklists in our guides.

 

The main thing is you need to be married first and it takes longer, so about 18months or so.  But you'd spend 6 months not working if you did the K1 route. 

Okay, good to know. Because I do not think we want to get married right away. 2022 would be the earliest, but I would want to reside with her immediately after. Thank you for the information though and guidance. This is all new to us and we aren't looking to make any decisions just yet, but we are trying to allocate as much information and resources as we can thus far.

 

Thanks!

 

Melissa

[rainbow-skies 130]

Now that I am looking into it, I do have one more question if someone can help.

 

If we decide to go the CR1 route, how does getting married work? I can't seem to find any information on it. 

But can I ( Canadian citizen) simply go to my US-Citizen partner's state and get married? Or do i need to fill out forms or applications in advance? I am more concerned/worried with the marriage-before- CR1 application process.

 

Thanks

[Boiler 46,033]

You can marry whilst visiting, Las Vegas baby!

 

Maybe you can marry as well  in Cada, that I do not know.

[Crazy Cat 42,215]

3 minutes ago, rainbow-skies said:

Now that I am looking into it, I do have one more question if someone can help.

 

If we decide to go the CR1 route, how does getting married work? I can't seem to find any information on it. 

But can I ( Canadian citizen) simply go to my US-Citizen partner's state and get married? Or do i need to fill out forms or applications in advance? I am more concerned/worried with the marriage-before- CR1 application process.

 

Thanks

Every state controls its own marriage laws.  Just google marriage and the applicable state.  Many people get married in Las Vegas.  In fact, there is VJ member , @Loren Y, who offers free marriage services in Las Vegas for our members......

Edited February 27, 2020 by missileman

[NikLR 13,232]

40 minutes ago, missileman said:

Every state controls its own marriage laws.  Just google marriage and the applicable state.  Many people get married in Las Vegas.  In fact, there is VJ member , @Loren Y, who offers free marriage services in Las Vegas for our members......

Or you can Marry in Canada.  Just takes longer than many US places. In Colorado you can marry yourselves, you don't even need an officiant.

But if you live in BC my mom is also an officiant and did my wedding. 

[rainbow-skies 130]

9 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Or you can Marry in Canada.  Just takes longer than many US places. In Colorado you can marry yourselves, you don't even need an officiant.

But if you live in BC my mom is also an officiant and did my wedding. 

It is a bit hard for my partner to travel here just due to some health-reasons, so we would marry in the US. We would prefer Florida which is where she resides and I would essentially be moving there once this whole process is complete. However, I looked in to Florida and they require both spouses to provide SSN #s - which she is good in that area being a US Citizen, but I on the other don't have one.

 

So I think for this reason, we may just have to continue with the K1, and as soon as I am approved and land in the US - i apply for the SSN (unless there's a way I can apply in advance)