I'm an American citizen (and Canadian citizen), who's lived in Canada 34 out of my 36 years. I'm currently living in Montreal with my fiancée, we'll be married next month here in Canada. She's just a Canadian citizen, not American. We've been together for 2+ years and lived together for 1 1/2 years.
I received an amazing job offer, my dream job, to start in Washington state in September. We want to be able to live together, that's the main priority. She doesn't need to work, or vote, but it'd be a bonus if that were possible. Apparently if I were Canadian-only it'd be pretty easy for the job to give me a visa that allows her to get an attached visa. It seems it should be easier if I'm dual... What are our options?
I already messaged the consulate here in Montreal about Direct Consular Filing of I-130. That could branch out to a CR1 or a K3, either way works. Haven't heard back yet, but it's just been a week. According to their website, they can process it there and it takes 2 months. But someone else told us it may be longer. Either way, that may work out, but is it true that she would have to stay in Canada during the whole processing, which may take longer than 2 months?
Another option that we've looked at is to file I-130 with the USCIS, again for either a CR1 or K3. If we do that, is she allowed to visit me during the processing? We've heard the processing is over 10 months, up to 14. Can she come and go? We could maintain an apartment in Montreal, and she has family in BC.
Is it an option to just not get a visa at first? And we could cross the border and return if ever she's there 6 months, until we figure out what to file for? We just don't want her to get stuck in Canada for months. If she gets stuck in the states, for months that's not great either since her family is in BC. She wouldn't be working... or voting... and this job I'm going for is in the national interest... and of course economic interest. Is there some precedent to be able to come and go through the border in this situation?
Thank you!
She went for her interview in Montreal (4 months after mine, we were a bit delayed on our end getting all the documents together to tell them we were ready). They kept her passport, but put her in administrative processing without requesting any other documents or information. The job here is amazing, the place we found where I'm living is great and it's close to her family in BC. We'd like to establish here and stay. She for sure can't visit during administrative processing, and we can't endure this overall situation longer than 2 or 3 months. Anyone know what we can expect with this 221g administrative processing?