PDP11

Thanks GretaRSB! That makes sense. And our plans are not urgent so we won’t qualify for DCF. We were planning to wait a few years; however, the IRS recently lost my wife’s passport with her B1/B2 US tourist visa so we are now forced to reapply for that. And, currently in Canada it takes longer to get an appointment for a tourist visa interview at a U.S. Consulate than the entire green card process. So we figure we might just go down the immigration path now since we eventually plan to move to the U.S.

Could someone help clarify how you do a DCF from Canada? I’m a dual US / Canada citizen living with my wife in British Columbia (she’s a Canada PR now). We are starting to look at the green card process. Everything we’ve seen (including the immigrant visa sections of the US Embassy website in Canada) indicates we must file an I-130 via USCIS in the USA. The process takes 2+ years to complete with the final interview in Montreal. Is there another process somewhere?

So, to report back on the final outcome. My spouse (Thai passport holder and Canada PR) went for her B-2 interview at a US Consulate in Canada today. She was asked only two questions. First, where she was going in the USA and for how long. Second, what she did in Canada (homemaker and attending English classes provided by the Canadian government as part of her PR status in Canada). That was it. USA tourist visa approved. Thanks all for your helpful suggestions. Especially, I think advance preparation on possible questions made my wife feel comfortable and prepared.

I think Boiler meant that there are plenty of Canadian PRs that are citizens of visa waiver countries. However, I would say the majority are not.

Fair enough. Although I think the lack of visa waiver for Canadian PRs has more to do with homeland security than overstay concerns. Canada had many PRs that are refugees from countries that the US has a huge concern with. There is a visa waiver in the opposite direction for US Green Card to visit Canada. Basically Canada figures the US had done its homework 🙂

Looks like her chances are not good. Am surprised my ties don’t matter. If she were to get a B2 and then apply for adjustment of status, I would have to prove that I live in the US, will support her, etc. In fact, the consulate in Montreal that processes normal IR1/CR1 in Canada is known to be super strict about this … I would need to have housing, finances, drivers license, etc. in the US and prove that I’m actually living there before getting close to an interview. Agree that citizenship is the ultimate route for her to visit or transit a US airport. But that will require another another 1.5 years to qualify and then going through the two year backlog of citizenship requests in Canada 😞

Thanks Max. So, unfortunately, not a job. She’s in full time English class run by the Canadian government. This is provided free to new Canadian permanent residents. We listed her occupation as student although she’s much older than a “typical” student :-) She has proof of enrollment.

Thanks Mike. Am curious why being a permanent resident of Canada hurts her chances? We live together in Canada and I (the husband) am a dual citizen of Canada and the USA. My ties are now to Canada (I don’t own a home / car in the US, have a US drivers license, etc. ). Her ties are also to Canada. Apart from a Thai passport and bank account, she doesn’t have anything in Thailand. I think there is something critical here I am missing.

Looking for advice on an upcoming visitor interview my Thai spouse has at the US consulate in Vancouver. It finally will happen after about 14 months wait. I am a dual Canada (by birth) / USA (naturalized) citizen. I met my (now) wife while living in Bangkok for a few years. Pre COVID, we had hoped to marry in the US so my USC son (who can’t travel due to his health) could be with us. We applied for a K1. Then COVID hit and it was clear the wait would be multiple years. We officially withdrew the K1 application and married in Thailand. Subsequently, we decided to permanently move to Canada and my wife has PR here (equivalent to the US Green Card). We’ve now been in Canada for around 1.5 years. I own a house / car, am retired but do some consulting. We’ve traveled internationally including a trip to an EU country which required a visa. So, what do you think her odds are? If I were not a USC this would have been easy. But, given that she applied for (but officially retracted) a K1, will it be held against her? And will home ownership, 1.5 years in Canada and lots of direct family living in the same city help? Is there any advice you have on preparing for the interview? Her English is so-so and, as I can’t attend the interview, am worried that she will be put through a shredder by the CO. Also, since the filed application was more than a year ago, do we bring in a corrected application (in particular, noting that she did get an EU visa and travel there)?