Living in Canada after Consulate Interview

[kryptonite 43]

Hello, I am a Canadian citizen living in Canada and my wife is a US citizen living in the US. Our case is currently with NVC.

 

I live in a border city between Canada and the US so I am able to travel back and fourth quite easily within a matter of minutes (before COVID that is). My wife and I are legally married however, our cultural wedding event is not until May of 2022. At which point, it is our intention to both be in the US where we would live and work. 

 

It is in our culture for my wife and I to live with my parents for a few months after the cultural/religious wedding ceremony. However, my parents are with me in Canada. I know after I attend the interview at the Consulate, I have 6 months to move to the US. Are the legal "rules" that after these 6 months, my wife and I must be in the US with a US residential address? Is there a way for us to be in Canada for those few months before we fully move and settle into the US? Is the living in Canada with my parents for a few months only possible as long as it is within that 6 month timeframe that I have to move to the US? 

 

As I type this, I realize it might be a silly question but, it doesn't hurt to ask. 

 

Hoping you guys could provide some insight!

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

you are trying to get ahead of a long drawn out process

right now it is taking 18 to 24 months to even get to interview for the spouse visa

so,  marry and she can live there as u need

 

and the 6 months to move here is after the medical exam is taken for the interview

u can move anytime within the 6 months 

 

u have loads of time

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

Looking at your timeline, you are yet to Documentarily Qualify (DQ). Once you DQ, it is usually a significant wait to the interview. This wait ranges from 5 months to 12 months. Currently things are looking better at Montreal consulate, and the wait time is around 7-8 months.  So you are likely to interview between May to Aug 2022.

 

Once you interview and get your visa approved you have 6 months from the date of the medicals (done just before interview) to cross the border. During this time you and your wife can stay in Canada. Make sure you cross the border and activate your visa within those 6 months (ideally later the better in your case, but make sure you do it within those 6 months). Once you cross the border you are officially an LPR. But you can still return and live in Canada. Just don't stay longer than another 6 months or US may suspect your intentions to reside permanently in the US. Note that once you are an LPR, you lose your Canadian Healthcare (maybe there is 3 month grace, not exactly sure). So you may need to purchase private health insurance.

 

To wrap up:

 

1. It's going to be while before your visa is issued (likely between May 2022 and Aug 2022

2. Once visa is issued, you have 6 months from date of medicals to cross the border and "activate" your LPR

3. Once you activate your LPR, you can stay away from the US for upto 6 months in a year.

 

Note - You can always also reschedule your interview once you receive the letter, if you need more time, but this is not advisable to do as it can take another several months to get another slot.

 

[kryptonite 43]

@Jeanne Adil Thank you for your response! It does look like that I have a lot of time now.

 

@From_CAN_2_US  Thank you for your response and all of the information. I actually had no idea that it was taking so long for the interviews to be scheduled. I'm glad to hear that things are looking better In Montreal. How did you know what the wait times were over there?

 

Also, we submitted our forms to NVC on CEAC, do you know how long it takes them to review? About a month or so judging from your timeline? 

[Chancy 6,241]

19 minutes ago, kryptonite said:

we submitted our forms to NVC on CEAC, do you know how long it takes them to review?

 

Current estimate is around 2 months.  NVC review timeframe is posted here (updated weekly) -- https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/nvc-timeframes.html

 

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

1 hour ago, kryptonite said:

@Jeanne Adil Thank you for your response! It does look like that I have a lot of time now.

 

@From_CAN_2_US  Thank you for your response and all of the information. I actually had no idea that it was taking so long for the interviews to be scheduled. I'm glad to hear that things are looking better In Montreal. How did you know what the wait times were over there?

 

Also, we submitted our forms to NVC on CEAC, do you know how long it takes them to review? About a month or so judging from your timeline? 

There is a thread for IR1/CR1 applicants waiting to interview at Montreal consulate. We have a spreadsheet where we track the interviews and DQ dates that helps us predict the timeline to some degree. Please feel free to join.

 

Edited November 2, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[kryptonite 43]

Thank you @From_CAN_2_US. I have requested to join the spreadsheet and I will be reviewing it frequently!

 

Thanks again for all the help