Wife and I reside in Canada

[EMMEH 0]

Hi everyone, just wanted to seek some advice on the forum regarding me and my wifes situation.

 

We married recently after a year of dating and knowing eachother for about 3 years. We are committed to move to the US permanently. We are both canadian born and raised but i have US citizenship Via my mom as a report of birth abroad. I want to start the process for applying for my wifes green card but I just wanted to know a few things in regards to our process.

 

Ideally we would like to continue to live in Canada together until she receives the green card and is able to work in the US, we would like to avoid as much as possible any period of time spent apart where im in the US and shes still in Canada or where we both enter the US but she is ineligible to work while waiting for her green card.

 

Just wondering how feasible it is for us to continue living in Canada as we wait for the green card process or if I will need to find employment and a residence before they will consider approving the green card?

 

Our case should be pretty straight forward in that we are both canadian citizens living in canada while i hold US citizenship, neither of us have prior criminal records, we have no children, I am capable of providing the amount necessary to sponsor her and anything else that could be a snare in the process. 

 

Any advice or suggestions on the timeline would be much appreciated!

[TBoneTX 45,649]

Thread is moved from the K-3 Process forum to the CR-1 Process forum.

[pushbrk 12,999]

4 hours ago, EMMEH said:

Hi everyone, just wanted to seek some advice on the forum regarding me and my wifes situation.

 

We married recently after a year of dating and knowing eachother for about 3 years. We are committed to move to the US permanently. We are both canadian born and raised but i have US citizenship Via my mom as a report of birth abroad. I want to start the process for applying for my wifes green card but I just wanted to know a few things in regards to our process.

 

Ideally we would like to continue to live in Canada together until she receives the green card and is able to work in the US, we would like to avoid as much as possible any period of time spent apart where im in the US and shes still in Canada or where we both enter the US but she is ineligible to work while waiting for her green card.

 

Just wondering how feasible it is for us to continue living in Canada as we wait for the green card process or if I will need to find employment and a residence before they will consider approving the green card?

 

Our case should be pretty straight forward in that we are both canadian citizens living in canada while i hold US citizenship, neither of us have prior criminal records, we have no children, I am capable of providing the amount necessary to sponsor her and anything else that could be a snare in the process. 

 

Any advice or suggestions on the timeline would be much appreciated!

You'll need to have US income or substantial liquid assets to qualify as sponsor.  You'll also need to show evidence you intend to establish or re-establish domicile in the USA.  This comes in about a year after filing, at the NVC stage.

 

[EMMEH 0]

On 11/12/2024 at 11:10 PM, pushbrk said:

You'll need to have US income or substantial liquid assets to qualify as sponsor.  You'll also need to show evidence you intend to establish or re-establish domicile in the USA.  This comes in about a year after filing, at the NVC stage.

 

Her dad has property in the US and lives there for the 180 days a year that he is able to, he has substantial liquid assets, would it make sense to include him as a sponsor and use his property as evidence to re-establish domicile in the USA?

[pushbrk 12,999]

6 minutes ago, EMMEH said:

Her dad has property in the US and lives there for the 180 days a year that he is able to, he has substantial liquid assets, would it make sense to include him as a sponsor and use his property as evidence to re-establish domicile in the USA?

No.  I think you mean he visits as a snowbird, but does not  have a green card.  Only Citizens or green card holders can be joint sponsors.

[EMMEH 0]

1 minute ago, pushbrk said:

No.  I think you mean he visits as a snowbird, but does not  have a green card.  Only Citizens or green card holders can be joint sponsors.

That makes sense, currently i make around 70,000 a year net in CAD, would i need to establish a job in the US before we can move forward with the NVC process? 

[pushbrk 12,999]

Just now, EMMEH said:

That makes sense, currently i make around 70,000 a year net in CAD, would i need to establish a job in the US before we can move forward with the NVC process? 

Yes, or find a qualified joint sponsor.

[EMMEH 0]

2 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Yes, or find a qualified joint sponsor.

Our plan was to hopefully reside in Canada until she has been cleared to work in the US, then both move there and find work/domicile. Is that feasible at this point or will i need to move there first, find employment and domicile before they consider allowing her in to work? any estimate on how long we would have to be apart while i'm establishing domicile and employment before she gets approved for the green card and is able to work?

Just now, EMMEH said:

Our plan was to hopefully reside in Canada until she has been cleared to work in the US, then both move there and find work/domicile. Is that feasible at this point or will i need to move there first, find employment and domicile before they consider allowing her in to work? any estimate on how long we would have to be apart while i'm establishing domicile and employment before she gets approved for the green card and is able to work?

also what would you consider substantial liquid assets?

 

[pushbrk 12,999]

5 minutes ago, EMMEH said:

Our plan was to hopefully reside in Canada until she has been cleared to work in the US, then both move there and find work/domicile. Is that feasible at this point or will i need to move there first, find employment and domicile before they consider allowing her in to work? any estimate on how long we would have to be apart while i'm establishing domicile and employment before she gets approved for the green card and is able to work?

also what would you consider substantial liquid assets?

 

Time to become an A-Student of the I-864 instructions.  You need a qualified sponsor for your immigrant spouse.  

 

Substantial liquid assets would be well over 3 times the income requirement.  You must also show you have owned those assets for a year or so, instead of it being a temporary loan from an otherwise unqualified or unwilling sponsor.  Not really reading your mind, unless I am. 😉

[EMMEH 0]

4 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Time to become an A-Student of the I-864 instructions.  You need a qualified sponsor for your immigrant spouse.  

 

Substantial liquid assets would be well over 3 times the income requirement.  You must also show you have owned those assets for a year or so, instead of it being a temporary loan from an otherwise unqualified or unwilling sponsor.  Not really reading your mind, unless I am. 😉

Im seeing that i would need to prove that i can provide 125% of the federal poverty guideline, which as of 2024 it's saying is roughly 21000 USD, by the time we reach the NVC process my wife and I plan on having 50,000 USD (actually planning by saving specific amounts per month and are already roughly at 20,000 USD) to have a down payment on a house when we arrive in the US. 50,000 USD surely should be enough if they are asking for 125% of 21000 right?

[Ontarkie 14,310]

You will want to hop over to the Canada forum and read the FAQ topic pinned in the Canada forum. 

 

Montreal is notorious for being strict with domicile. You may need to be in the US for a little before your wife's interview. 

 

 

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/

 

Edited December 11 by Ontarkie
fixed link

[pushbrk 12,999]

22 minutes ago, EMMEH said:

Im seeing that i would need to prove that i can provide 125% of the federal poverty guideline, which as of 2024 it's saying is roughly 21000 USD, by the time we reach the NVC process my wife and I plan on having 50,000 USD (actually planning by saving specific amounts per month and are already roughly at 20,000 USD) to have a down payment on a house when we arrive in the US. 50,000 USD surely should be enough if they are asking for 125% of 21000 right?

No.  Three times the income requirement, and well over it.  Think in terms of 100k plus.  They know you will burn through a lot of savings for the move.  Study those instructions.  It's critical you understand.  Drop the "surely...." attitude.  It is what it is.