Hello all. My name is Roger. I am a 33yr old Manager of a computer retail store in Ontario Canada. I have no education outside of high school but I have 15yrs experience in the computer support field. I met my now fiance on the inthernet about 4 yrs ago and have travelled to see her a few times and she has also come to see me a few times at one point also bringing along her three great children. I love her...she loves me...we are engaged...and have ALOT of questions that I am hoping you all can help answer. I want to know which way would be easiest for us to be together. I don't care who moves where as long as it's a process that is best for her and the kids.

I will be filling out more information on this page as we go including a "our story" that might help people know us better in order to help us better.

First question is what is the best and fastest way for me to move to be with them and start working to support them? Should we attempt a fiance visa and go from there or get married first and use a marriage visa?

Welcome! You have to choose the path that's right for you, and each has its drawbacks. I suggest you read through the guides, and then we can help you with your more specific questions.

Welcome to VJ!!! We look forward to seeing your posts in the future. There are a lot of knowledgeable people here on VJ and someone can usually answer your questions.

The whole process can be very confusing, that's for sure. Every person's circumstances are different, so it's very difficult to answer your question about which route you should go.

The "Guides" and "FAQ's" sections here on VJ will give you most of the answers you are looking for. Read through them and then try to make an informed decision about which route will be best for you and your fiance and her children.

Best wishes to you both and good luck with the process.

Welcome Roger, best of luck to you.

Welcome to VJ.. Wishing you a successful journey

The quickest would be as a Fiancee. K1.

The one that would allow you to work immediately would be as a spouse, CR1.

Welcome to VJ! First you can start reading the guides. You can either do K-1 now, since you are engaged or you can get married and do CR-1 immediately afterward.

Welcome to VJ and good luck in whatever you decide to do

You said...you dont care who moves where......Does she cares? does she wanna move in Canada? if so I think that would be best...Theres great advantage to live in Canada ...seriously (I'm the one moving in Us due to his company loll)

If you guys find out the best is to be in US..then a k-1 is the appropriate visa (and you can still visit while in process and everything)



Good luck to you both...and congrats on your engagement

We don't care who moves where as long as it is the best decision for the kids and her.

I am curious as to what the advantage would be to living in Canada as opposed to the US? I know the health care is better but my job doesn't have medical/dental coverage and hers does. Seeing as how the kids all are on meds I could think it would be better to go with her job which would give us all benefits.

In that situation ............YUP I'd go for a visa k-1

its the fastest...and you can always visit each other during the process.




* health care was the biggest advantage because in QC we mainly pay nothing or not much for medical assistance or meds but I dont know how it is in ONT...I thought it was the same

* other advantages could be schools...its way cheaper if not free in Canada ( well in QC anyway)


However if shes already pretty well set.....well you good to move in US.



Good luck on your journey

here is a little more indepth on "us"

I live in Canada. She lives in Texas with her 3 children, one whom is special needs. We met online through mutual friends in 2002. We chatted online and eventually started talking on the phone. We first met in person, October 2004, and have considered ourselves a couple every since. We have been able to visit each other 2-4 times a year. Feb 14, 2008 we became engaged. We’re considering on which would be the better move. We would probably wouldn’t have waited so long, but have found the research on immigration to be overwhelming and intimidating. We first considered getting the K1 visa so that I would move to Texas to be with her. The problem with it is that I’m wanting to feel job security when I move. The way I understand it, it would be at least 3 months before obtaining a work authorization. Then, we decided she and the children would move up there. We were told that she could come up on a visitor pass and we could work on immigration while she’s here. We did have several questions with this though. We didn’t know if the kids would be allowed to attend school, how long would the immigration process last, what would happen if the immigration process lasted longer than the visitor pass. We also wonder what the medical exam is like. Especially for the child that is special needs. What belongings can a family take with them and what are the rules to bringing belongs across the border. Is there some sort of medical insurance the kids could be on while they are in Canada. With so many questions, we’ve started considering myself moving to Texas again. Now we are wanting to compare the K1 and K3 visa. Either way, we would like to have a small wedding and be able to give our families enough notice so that they can make travel plans to attend. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Welcome Roger. I think the service centers are picking up speed with their approvals, so perhaps there wont be too much difference in waiting time. But good luck to you no matter which path you choose!

If we do the K1 visa is there a way I can apply for a temporary work permit so I can move there immediately and start working right away while the application is being processed. I'm anxious to be with my girl and want to make sure everything is done right with as little on her shoulders as possible. Also will her income reflect on whether I can move there or not?

Roger -

Sorry, there's no such thing.

You remind me of myself when I first started researching immigration. I was desperately looking for a 'boyfriend visa' so Wes could come here, live with me, find work, and we could live together instead of marrying right away.

This is one of those times in life when you have to throw 'the breadwinner' thing out the window. Here's the real short facts on work with the different visa types -

K1 - probably the quickest visa to reunite the couple, but you cannot work until you've entered the country on that visa, married, filed to adjust your status to permanent resident, and received an EAD (temporary work authorization).

K3 - marry and then file. Takes a bit longer than K1. Enter the US on the visa and file for work authorization immediately. You still have to wait to recieve it, though.

Both of these options - you will probably be in the US a minimum of 90 days before the authorization arrives.

CR1 - marry and then file. Takes the longest of the three visa types. But when you enter the country on that visa, you enter as a permanent resident. Your greencard arrives very soon after entry, and you can begin searching for work then.

In all cases, your fiancee is going to have to show she has enough income and assets to support you. In your case, that's a family of five. How is her personal financial picture?

So to sum it up you are saying that unless she can afford to support me I can't move there and find a job to start supporting her and the kids?

What is the estimate time between first turning in the papers for any visa and time of entry?

Well this is bad news. She is doing well for her and the children...I am not sure what the criteria would be to prove she can support me as well but I am concerned that this might not be possible. That's the whole reason I want to know how I can begin work immediately after moving there. I would marry her tommorrow if I knew that going the route of being a spouse would make it easier for me to move and begin work. I'm starting to think an immigration lawyer might be the best route for us so he can find any loopholes or atleast guide us to a more efficient way of doing things?

The criteria is the US Poverty Guidelines.

I'm not an expert on the Canadian consulates so I'm not sure whether they stick with State Department recommendations that the income be 100% of the guideline or if they hold to the higher standard of 125%. Research in this community amongst others who have traveled through the Canadian consulate will help you glean this information.

For a family of five in 2008, the income level is $24,800.00.

Once stateside, 125% of the Poverty Guidelines is a must.

For a family of five in 2008, the income level adjusted to 125% is $31,000.00.

Income may be supplemented by assets.


http://edr.state.fl.us/population/2008povguidelines.pdf

Do you know if a co signer is a possability also? Amy has both her parents and her brother that would be willing to co sign if need be.

It's called a joint sponsor. Yes it's possible.

You might want to read this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...106814&st=0

Hello and welcome to VJ. I wish you the best of luck in your journey. Tough situation yours. I hope you can find the best way to be together soon.

Hello and Welcome to VJ!!

VJ has a Canada Forum section that you should look into- http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=93

VJ is a board dealing with immigration to the US but there may be some people in the Canadian forum who would know what the process entails in dealing with immigrating to Canada- if you so choose. You may get a better list of the pros and cons.

I'm sure I'm late with my comment, but there is just no way to make this process simple. Impossible.

Woohoo! Well, we decided to go with the K-1 visa and we received the NOA 1 in the mail today!

Congratulations!!!!

Hello and welcome to VJ! Your story sounds very interesting, and if she has co-sponsors, I'm sure there will be no problems. Please check out the Canada Regional Forum where you might find specific questions/answers to Canadian/US issues.

All the best in your visa journey and hoping to hear of a speedy approval!

Congratulations

congrats

Excellent news. NOA1 is the first of many steps - but you're never alone in VJ ---- drop by the Canada forum, where we are insane and loving!!!

Hello and welcome to VJ!

Welcome to VJ