Stressed Out

[A & C 22]

Hello Everyone,

So as my topic title states I am fairly stressed out. I have been reading about all this Visa stuff for quite a while and I am still utterly confused. (Moderators feel free to move this to its proper location, if it isn't correct. Was not sure where to post). I am from Canada and my other half is from the USA. And I am struggling as to what Visa would be better for us to do. Should he file for a K1 Fiance Visa so we can get married down there and technically be together right away? Or should we get married sooner (either in Canada or the US) and apply for a marriage visa. I am seeing alot of pros and cons to both. And quite frankly I am a little terrified and I am a bit of a perfectionist and I like everything to run smoothly (haha don't we all though). I mean to be honest the faster the better, because really...I just want to be with him I mean I guess my biggest question is: If you get married first and apply for a marriage visa after, how soon should the paper work start being filed? Does it take about the same time to process a marriage visa compared to the K1 Visa? And is it easier to get denied? And as for all the paper work and forms you have to send in for either of the visas, I look at all of them and I really have no clue as to what part he does and what parts I have to do. For example there are a lot of forms related to the K1 Visa, do all of those get sent in right away? Again, I am so confused Also one other question... For the Affidavit of Support, I realize he has to prove he can support me, can I also send my own information that I technically can support myself. Recently through my bank that I am with here in Canada I decided it might be a good idea to open up a US bank account. So I have both. Can I send in papers/info as well showing them this when we start filing for the actual Visa? And after a super long post I have one last question. Our plan is to buy a house, but we aren't sure if we will have one before we would like to start filing for the visa, is this going to be a problem? Because I see that you have to state an address of where you intend to live when in the US? Can we put his parents address down and change it later? Or would it be best to actually have a house and a permanent address before filing? Any help on all of this would be much appreciated. I realize I wrote a ton of ####### here. But I come on here everyday and try and wrap my mind around all of this stuff and today I just decided I couldn't hold back any longer and would post and see if any of you could maybe clear some of this up for me. Thanks so much

C

[SweetnessAndBhass 0]

Just follow the Guides here

[Larysa 0]

So, I don't know much about the timing for the K3 ( which is if your already married) compared to the K1 ( which is for a fiance). I believe the K1 may be faster but I don't know for sure. Umm as for how to file and all. It's fairly easy to do and follow. If you have specific questions feel free to PM me. I did the whole K1 petition on my own since my fiance was in Ireland and just had him read and sign the stuff. As for what forms go where the guides are pretty clear cut as to what goes where and for either the petitioner or beneficiary.http://www.visajourney.com/content/k1guide

As for our address for where he would live once in the U.S, we just put my parents house because for the time being that is where we will live and my father is our co sponsor.

I hope this helped a little bit. Again if you have any specific questions you want answered, don't hesitate!

Good Luck

[mandyu1 5]

hello and welcome

As the others have stated the guides on here are very resourceful, they will tell you exactly what needs to be filed and when. There is also a flow chart to show you what happens at each step along the way. Now to answer your first question, typically a k1 is faster to do than a CR-1, but only for a few months maybe. The pros of the k1 is faster processing, while the pros of the CR-1 is that when your husband arrives he will receive his greencard soon after he enters the USA, whereas with the K1 you have to file for AOS after you are married and wait to get the greencard. Also, with a CR-1 he can travel in and out of the country immediately, and the K1 you must wait until you receive your greencard or apply for advance parole authorizing you to re-enter the country, because a K1 is only good for entry into the US for 1 time. Also, with a CR-1 he can begin work, and with a fiance he has to wait until he receives permission to work.

As for being denied, I think your chances are the same whether you apply for a fiance or spouse visa, just make sure you have all supporting evidence of your relationship. And the address you put down of where you will be living at is not set in stone, sure you can change it down the road if you need to, but if you have an address you can use temporarily then use that.

I recommend you read the guides and browse some of the forums, the more you know the less stressful it will be. This is a great site with a lot of very knowledgeable people that will help you along the way...Good Luck!!!!

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Take a look at the comparason guide

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

The K-3 is no longer an option for married couples so completly disregard that one. You can file for the K-1 tomorrow if you like. The spousal visa can be filed as soon as you have your marriage certificate. This can take a while to obtain in certain Canadian provinces (Ontario takes 8 weeks to get the marriage cert.)

Your finaces will not be dealt with at USCIS so you have plenty of time to sort all that out, don't send more to USCIS than necessary as you will just need to complete an updated form at the correct time. No, your income will not work for the support, he needs to show he can support you. And no, you don't need to have an permenant address to file, you can always update the address at the interview if you decide to change it later on

what part of Canada are you from? Eastern Canada will interview in Montreal (a very slow consulate) for K visas, Vancouver for Western Canada. All spousal visas go through Montreal

Good luck

[A & C 22]

Thank you all for the helpful replies. I have already read all the forms several times over. And I will probably read them a few more times, and then a few more times when we start filing I know that my income will not work for the support and that he has to prove he can support me, which is fine. I was just wondering if it would help at all. I am from Western Canada (a ferry ride away from Vancouver).

C

[canadian_wife 1,823]

It would only help if you are counting assests towards the support, then you'd need 3 times the poverty level.

I say go for the K-1 then. You'll get through heaps faster in Vancouver with a K visa than you will with a spousal visa through Montreal

Good luck

[A & C 22]

Thank you again for all your help. I definitely think the K1 is what we shall file for. And have a quiet wedding on a beach in Maui, Hawaii