New to VJ, Canadian seeking info...

[digoman 0]

Hello, all. Glad to find a place to share and receive information.

I am a dual citizen, Canada/USA. I have lived in Canada all my life, and my wife has for the majority of hers. We were recently married and both live in Calgary. Today I filed our I-130 (hope I am in the right forum!). It was "approved" (as expected, they of course want the filing fee regardless of outcome I imagine!) and we were told our application would be sent to Montreal for processing.

Along with simply wanting to interact with others who are currently, or have recently, gone through this process, I am trying to find out a realistic timeframe in which my wife and I can expect to wait for the entire process to be complete. Also any hints, tips, tricks, etc

Short background on our situation: I have recently been laid off. Rather than locate another employer in Calgary, my wife (who grew up in Miami for a few years) have decided to leave the Canadian winters behind and move to sunny Florida - an area we have both spent time in, as well as an area we can both secure and continue our careers. Due to the fact I need to be working asap, and that we need to sell our home and essentially cut all ties to Canada, we are wondering how long the process may take for my wife to receive her Green Card. I have read anywhere between 3 months and a year plus - needless to say, I am optimistic on the shorter timeframe That being said, I would welcome any realistic information from couples who have applied via an Embassy in Canada (with processing in Montreal).

We have no interest in being apart for an extended period, so if possible I would like to wait in Canada with my beautiful bride until she can enter the US as a permanent resident (not sure if my terminology is correct, here). Also interested to know with any certainty of she can still enter the US with her Canadian passport as a visitor. We also have been advised her interview needs to take place in Montreal - is there any validity to this?

Any and all comments are genuinely appreciated and welcomed.

Dan & Gina

[Martine&Dana 0]

Hi

Our story is not like your, but maybe you'll have an idea. Btw sorry, I'm french so my english writing is sometime bad...

My husband is from Connecticut, I'm from Montreal. We got married in Montreal nov 28th 2009. We filed for I-130 on dec 19th and got out NOA1 on dec 29th 2009, our NOA2 on may 4th 2010. Our files have been transfer to NVC and pay all fees and send all the paperworks they need and we are waiting for approuval. What I read for interview in Montreal it's between 3 to 5 months waiting. We expected at worst I'll be living with my husband in oct 2010. Hope it help for figure how long it take, but every case is different, it could be longer or could be shorter, just be patient.

Martine and Dana

[OBX 51]

Welcome to VJ!

Have a look at this thread which will give you an idea of interview wait times for Montreal.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/94768-ir1-cr1-montreal-timeline-to-interview/page__pid__3955711__st__2955entry3955711

Take a look through the Canada regional forum...you will find lots of "Canada specific" info there.

Edited May 27, 2010 by OBX