Beginning of our Journey

[JaniceM 0]

Hello everyone,

I'm a long time reader, first time poster of VJ.

My husband and I got married on Sept. 25th 2010.

He's American, I'm Canadian. Our plan is for me to move to the US.

I plan on helping him assemble all the paperwork as I do paperwork for a living. =)

From the help here i've been getting a lot of information on what to do and where to go from here.

We are just beginning the process of getting everything together, and I was hoping I could get some advice from you all on how you started your process just so I can double/triple check that we have everything we need.

Thank you and thank you for such a helpful site.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Welcome to VJ and congrats on the recent marriage!

When we were getting ready to file the initial petition, we got together in person and spent a good day filling out all the paperwork and putting everything together, and it was done and ready to go. I think doing it together and helping each other is a great idea. Best of luck on a speedy and painless journey!

[Jadenjewel 9]

Hi,

Welcome to the group :thumbs:Its nice when both of you do it together! both of us dislike paper work so doing it together made the process less painful.

http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 is the guide instructions for the CR1 which is what you'll need:yes: Ask questions as you go if your not sure on something...

all the best!

[JaniceM 0]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I'll be sure to ask qustions as I'm rather paranoid about us doing something wrong and mess up the process.

It's great to know we have a place like this to seek help from people who truely know what you're going through.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Welcome to VJ. Take a look at the "example forms" tab at the top of the page for any help filling out the paperwork

Good luck

[Neal851 3]

Welcome to VJ. Take a look at the "example forms" tab at the top of the page for any help filling out the paperwork

Good luck

Plus you can get more information in Guides tab above and also you will find many articles in VJ Wiki section which is on the top. Welcome to VJ and a very good luck to ur Journey.

[charity1214 3]

Hello everyone,

I'm a long time reader, first time poster of VJ.

My husband and I got married on Sept. 25th 2010.

He's American, I'm Canadian. Our plan is for me to move to the US.

I plan on helping him assemble all the paperwork as I do paperwork for a living. =)

From the help here i've been getting a lot of information on what to do and where to go from here.

We are just beginning the process of getting everything together, and I was hoping I could get some advice from you all on how you started your process just so I can double/triple check that we have everything we need.

Thank you and thank you for such a helpful site.

Welcome welcome welcome!! Sounds like we'll be going through this journey together as well! I was married on Sept. 19 and we are sending out our I-130 packet today (crossing fingers)! This site is a great place to get all the answers to your questions and find all the forms and info you need! Best of luck and feel free to message me with any questions!

~Charity

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Thanks for the warm welcome.

I'll be sure to ask qustions as I'm rather paranoid about us doing something wrong and mess up the process.

It's great to know we have a place like this to seek help from people who truely know what you're going through.

You're in good company - we're all a little paranoid Welcome!

[warlord 72]

My advice as you probably will know reading this board for a long time, is to get mentally prepared. Lots of processes, lots of confusion on the forms and lots and lots of waiting. So don't get frustrated with the many things that will pop up, most people on here will be able to help out with questions etc. all through the process (and even down to citizenship if desired way down the road). The process can be very mentally draining, so get mentally ready with the hubby and that way you shouldn't get too overwhelmed...

[TimandJoyce 1]

Welcome welcome welcome!! Sounds like we'll be going through this journey together as well! I was married on Sept. 19 and we are sending out our I-130 packet today (crossing fingers)! This site is a great place to get all the answers to your questions and find all the forms and info you need! Best of luck and feel free to message me with any questions!

~Charity

Cool!! That's the date we got married; but in 2009.

Welcome to VJ, Janice. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. Many have gone the path your about to partake of, which is a very good thing, as you can learn so much from everyone's experience, (good and bad). The key thing is to read LOTS. I was a K-1 and I read so many posts from different people from when they started the process, to the NOA2 to the interview. That way, I had some good ideas as to what to expect. I knew how to get things in order, I knew how much $$$ I was to need in this entire journey. That's a biggie. You'll be going to Montreal as a CR-1, so find out how much the visa is, how much your medical will be, how much the police report, perhaps the cost of getting there, hotels, etc. I agree with Warlord about preparing yourself mentally too.

[OBX 51]

Welcome and good luck.

You will find that VJ is a great resource and a wonderful source of support throughout this long and often frustrating journey.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Welcome to VJ. Read the guides at the top of the CR-1 forum and re-read them,lol No 1 cares more about ur case than you, so take the time to read the guides and ask questions----AND do a search on VJ. Search feature isnt superb, but their is a 99.99999% chance, that question has been asked before. Weekends on VJ tend to be rather slow! The paperwork probably won't harm ya--its the waiting that can be a killer!! 2 people can start at same time--but finish differently! Just a frustrating experience, one just has to suck it up, and soldier on!! You could be in a 8th world country living in a hut, so it could be worse,lol

[JaniceM 0]

Thank you all. Right now we're more excited and eager than paniced, i'm sure there will be plenty of time for that part later.

I did have a couple of pre questions to ask.

I live in Nova Scotia and have been reading that later in the process I will be interviewed, however the closest place is in Montrel to do this.

That's quite a trek on our already strained budget, does anyone know of any goverment help or have you all done this part out of pocket?

Also, have any of you found that with us being Canadian the process seemed to go smoother when compared to other countries?

For our case we have no past criminal records, the only time i've traveled was to visit my husband when we were still dating, neither of us have been married before, neither of us have or have had kids, or own properity. I don't know if that makes my case less or more complicated.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Immigration is rather expensive. You'll find out as you go along that there are many expenses that come up that you did not necessarily plan on. Unfortunately all of these costs are an out of pocket expense to you and your husband. In addition to all the filling fees, there are costs associated with obtaining documents you may not have or have misplaced (ie. long form birth certificate), getting a criminal records check, etc. There is also the cost of the medical, which I believe was $275 when I did it almost 2 years ago. Then there are the costs of travel that you need to contend with.

The process does tend to be easier for beneficiary's from low fraud countries like Canada. But unfortunately ease doesn't equal speed. If you compare Canadian timelines to many other countries around the world, ours are often longer because Montreal is crazy slow.

Your situation sounds a lot like ours was, and there were no complications whatsoever

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Yep - it's expensive and there's no way around it. I really suggest your read ahead to future steps in the process to ensure you're planning and saving enough $$$$.

Immigration does care whether you own property, have children, been married once (or 5 times) or anything else - it's just a process you have to go through. With fewer dependents, sure...it will be less hassle putting together paperwork and getting together birth certificates and other documentation.

We've spent about $4000 for my daughter and myself between K1, Adjustment of Status and Removal of conditions I'd say. Medical fees for us both, getting birth certs from the province, husband's birth cert, his previous divorce papers, police certs and traveling expenses to the interview etc.

Happily - we only have citizenship for both of us left and that's rough $6-700 per.