LynnSunshine

Great, thanks for the info. We're already a step ahead with one thing at least... with the checking account. We've had a US based bank account since 2018.

Sure, if we had loads of money to throw around. If I could afford movers I wouldn't be doing this process myself at all – I would hire an immigration lawyer.

Really? It's necessary to be rude? QUIT assuming that I haven't read instructions. Just because I have read them does NOT mean I understand them. Isn't that what this forum is for, to get help with understanding the very complicated US immigration process? You are the exact reason why I was scared to post on here. I have read A LOT of information about the immigration process. I immigrated my husband to Canada in 2010, I have been through the hard work and reading countless instructions. US immigration forms are horrible and confusing. Try being kind next time.

Yes, that's about the only thing he's been doing. He hasn't been voting. In fact, he's never voted in any US elections (facepalm). I just can't imagine living apart for 4-6 months while we wait for all of this. There is no such thing as downsizing here when it comes to rent, not in my area anyway. Rental prices and real estate both went through the roof here. So even if I downsized this two bedroom to a 1 bedroom, I wouldn't be able to find anything cheaper. I will reluctantly have to live with my parents, which is in itself a risk to my mental health but it may be my only option. Thank you for your input, very helpful

I assumed that he would have to be at the interview too. If he doesn't then great. When I immigrated my husband to Canada, it was a requirement for to be with him at the border. So I assumed it would be the same for me to move down there? Besides all that, there's no way I'm going to drive all that way with two dogs without someone with me, and flying isn't an option.

Hello I'm overwhelmed by this entire process. My husband (USC sponsor/applicant) and I (Canadian, beneficiary) have been living in Canada together since 2010. I sponsored him to come live in Canada because it was a much simpler process than the other way around. But we're not happy here. The US has more options for tolerable weather, and my career. I was stupid to think that the I-130 was the hard part. We applied online. The good news is that it was approved in less than a year. The NVC sent me an email last October "Introduction to Document Collection". I see that I need to fill out form I-864 Affidavit of Support, to provide proof of domicile and US income. I'm just baffled that we have to proof we plan to establish domicile... like, why would we go to all this trouble just to stay in Canada? We don't have anyone we can use as a joint sponsor. We have liquid assets that are cashable (we'll have to cash in TSFA's regardless as you can only hold TSFA if you have Canadian residency), so my plan is to cash it out and transfer funds to our US based bank account. But I have seen some scary comments on here and other forums saying that Montreal is notorious for not approving visa's for those using assets as proof of income. I also saw a comment somewhere that you have to have 5x the annual poverty-line income if using assets as proof of income -- but isn't it supposed to be 3 x? We don't have kids. Potentially my husband could move down there, get a job and a place for us. But I don't know any employer who would be okay with him taking the time off he'd need for a consular interview and again later to move me and the dogs down to the USA. Does anyone have any advice to offer? Timeline: I don't understand most of the timeline codes on this forum. October 2022: I-130 submitted online September 2023: I-130 approved and notified via email and by physical mail September 2023: NVC emailed us that they are ready to collect documents from us "Introduction to Document Collection" September 2023 to Feb 2023: frozen in fear after seeing all the complex steps that we have to take to complete this process Feb 5 2023: paid NVC filing fee and AOS fee Currently: trying to figure out how to properly fill out I-864 and provide proof of income and domicile while living in Canada