Any options for me to live in the states?

[DJK 0]

So basically, I fell in love with a girl in the states, and I'm Canadian. I work in the service industry and only have high school education. I basically just want to be able to live in the states, with or without a work visa. Any options for me? Best I can find without marrying her is staying for a year. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Unless you already have a job lined up with a company willing to sponsor you, a work visa is not what you are looking for.

A student visa?

If you are looking to move to the US, a K-1 fiance visa may be what you need.

You only want to stay for a year?

Also, Canadians can visit the US for up to 180 in a single trip, thought about that? but you cannot 'live' or work there

GOod luck

[DJK 0]

How long does it take for a K-1 to get approved, since that seems to be our only option, and on what grounds do they get denied?

Also, I've seen a few different numbers on how long a Canadian can stay in the states on passport only. Is it 3 months or six month?

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Like I said, it is 180 days. Not 3 months, not 6 months

However, entrance and duration of stay up decided by the CBP at the time of crossing

K-1 - look at 8 - 12 months from petition to approval, espeically if you'll interview in Montreal. Vancouver is your other choice for those west of Ontario

Good luck

[DJK 0]

So I would have to be engaged to her at the beginning of that approval process, then whenever it got approved, I could live in the states for three months and by then we would have to be married. I live very close to Vancouver, do you know anything about the wait time there?

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Look at 8-10 months for the complete process

Not 3 months, 90 days (yes, here is a difference).

You'd be engaged the entire time you wait for the fiance visa. You MUST marry within the US

Good luck

[DJK 0]

And aside from the 180 days I can stay on my passport, no way I could stay with her while I waited for the visa to be approved?

Also, in what ways can I be declined if I am engaged to her?

[canadian_wife 1,791]

Unless you have a visa which allows you to stay in the US for longer than 180 days, then no

but 180 days is the best any toursit can get

Good luck

[Inky 1,110]

And aside from the 180 days I can stay on my passport, no way I could stay with her while I waited for the visa to be approved?

Also, in what ways can I be declined if I am engaged to her?

If you dont have enough proof they will RFE for more. - extending the process longer.

If you have criminal records it can cause problems depending on what the criminal records are.

Take a look at the guide for k-1 in the guide section, they also have a k-1 timeline. You can also go to the canadian section of the forums to find more canadian specific information.