Please help, so confused.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Hi socket!

Indeed, welcome to the Canada forum.- We filed through Montreal (both living in Edmonton at the time) and I tell you, without these freaks (I mean, my luvly Canucks), I would have gone even more insane than already am.

Ok, back to topic: IF I WERE YOU, I would marry and apply for the IMMIGRANT CR-1 visa, not the K type. Why???? Well, for one, it's cheaper. For seconds, it's an immigrant visa, for thirds, it's just nicer and less hassle. AND the timelines are circa the same!!!!

Stick around, we' put the "fun" in dysfunctional.

Lenina.

[Mephys 2]

Stick around, we' put the "fun" in dysfunctional.

Lenina.

[Autumnchik 6]

To the OP: what kind of wedding were you planning in August 2008? Have there been plans made yet or is that just a tentative date?

Not to be a buzzkill here, but one thing to remember is that, although you don't NEED a visa to marry in the U.S., there is ALWAYS a chance of being denied entry ... and man would that suck when there is a wedding planned.

If you are set on a more formal wedding here in the States as the one and only ceremony, I would suggest filing for the K-1 visa. If the ceremony is not as important, you have more options: file for K-1, have a civil ceremony as soon as you get the visa, then have a more formal wedding later (to allow time for it to come together), or get married now and then file either K-3 or CR-1.

Good luck!

[Socket2 0]

Hello all, and thank you so much for all the valuable information. One of you have offered a great suggestion, and it sounds pretty good to me too.

"This is a process that most Vj members might not mention to you. You can visit each other for now until August 2008. Now during these visits there is no reason for your girl to reveal that she is visiting "Fiancé" that is a no no. If she has a job and can provide job letters and pay stubs and bills etc then let her carry such info on each visit. For myself I was said i was visiting family and friends. Never did they ask about Fiancé so i was not obliged to reveal anything. if they ask tell the truth always. Even if they know that she has a fiancé in the US Her job and other ties to Canada could let her go through but there is always the possibility of denial because the Border agent has sole discretion on deciding who goes. Assuming that you visit each other until you August 08 then at that time you can get married at the court house in the US and then have your traditional wedding whenever if you want. This way it is considered a spontaneous decision to get married and then you can apply for her but she cannot leave until processing is done usually takes no more than 6 months for green card. I was to do this all over again i will do this one."

This raises another question. I was thinking if do court marriage ASAP and start the immigration process, chances are my fiance might have her green card before our planned ceremonial wedding. My concern is, will she face any probelms with US immigration at border, if she goes back to canada now and return back in August 08?

Thanks,

[Flames9_RN 358]

One does NOT need a visa to get married in the USA ( As a cdn), One just cant stay(past 6 months) I like others here on VJ went to the USA, got married and then returned to Canada and commenced the immigration process, too easy!

Can one visit while the paperwork is ongoing? Sure, are you gaurenteed entry into the USA? No. I traveled monthly to DC and never had 1 problem. My Poes were Toronto, Boston or Newark. At that time Halifax didnt have USA immigration, but they do now. My advice on dealing with POE officers: 1) keep your replies short and sweet, dont tell ur life story 2)answer only what they ask. Some times the POE dude would ask "for business or pleasure" my response would be pleasure. He would ask when i was returning, and I would state that. Some times I would say pleasure and returning on such a date. 3) Be confident in ur replies, look them in their eyes and address's them as sir/maam 4) pack light and in case you do get pulled into secondary for further inspection, have no job resumes on ur possession. 5) have ties to Canada, such as letter from employer, pay stubs, utility bill, return ticket, lease agreement, etc 6) Most importantly NEVER LIE!! Not worth it, if you get caught, one can be suspended entry for a long long time. 7) have a plan in case you do get denied entry! Other canucks on VJ have been denied entry, but it didn't do any damage to the visa process. A few were asked at the interview if they had been denied, they responded yes (never lie) and the interviewer stated that it does happen, and that was that! Like I stated I never had a problem, and if I was doing the process again, i would still visit. Why do some people get denied? who knows, some people get very nervous in front of people with authority and to the POE officer, that may arise suspicion?? POE officers are trained to look/hear for certain responses that may lead them to think one is up to no good, thus thats why I say keep ur answers short/sweet! And having visited a few immigration boards, it seems POE officers decipher immigration rules differently! I need more coffee!! best of luck