Just curious...does anyone ever file to immigrate both directions at the same time?

[StormHeraldEDM 5]

I know this board centers around immigrants coming from abroad to the US, but I am curious - has anyone ever filed for both directions?

After a lot of deep conversation, my husband and I ended up filing two separate immigration petitions. We compiled and filed the complete packet (for my daughter and myself) to apply for permanent residency in Canada. And shortly after, compiled and filed the paperwork to apply for my husband to come to the US.

At this point, we want to be together. Neither of us had the resources or wherewithal to go one of the normal listed routes (student visa, temp work visa, etc), so this was what we decided upon. Which ever comes through first, that will be the direction will move in.

I've done quite a bit of trolling immigration forums, etc, online....and I have not seen many references to other couples doing the same thing. Is this an oddity? Or are most people simply dead-set on coming one direction or another?

-Stormy

[JoannaV 174]

I'd guess it's rare because doing such a thing is going to cost more money and take more effort. Also, for most people there will be enough other factors involved to help them decide on one way. Some countries are easier to immigrate to than others. Also, with some couples one person will be more firmly established than the other, whether with regards to job security, income, home ownership, family, etcetc.

In my case, I was a penniless student with no fixed abode (well I exaggerate a little haha) whereas my husband had a job, cars, military obligations, etc. Also, at the time I was under 21 and the UK wasn't allowing under 21s to be involved in marital immigration...

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Most people decide one way or the other. At what stage do you pick one over the other? Do you wait to see if they're both approved? Have you decided what you'll do if they ARE both approved (I assume they will be). It shouldn't be a decision based around which bureaucracy moves quicker but instead who is able and willing to move. It's better to first decide where you want to go.

I suppose it's a good idea because if one doesn't work then you're not delayed by how long that took to apply for the other one, and as long as you have a plan for when they're both approved then doesn't matter hey Make sure you also look into how to cancel each visa (so that you don't have a visa floating out there).

[StormHeraldEDM 5]

We actually have decided which was we'd like to go - it would be better if he came to the US. HOWEVER, that being said....

I've moved around a lot. My income was unstable up till this year. I have a couple of other private issues that will adversely affect his application for US immigration.

On the other hand....I really don't care to move to Canada, but our petition to head north is more likely to be granted, based off my husband's stability (still living in same house he was born in)and the fact I already have my Alberta nursing license, and they're still actively recruiting RNs wherever they can find them.

If they both get approved, we'll cross that bridge at the time it happens. But for now...don't want to be like the HR director at my work, who has been married for 4 years and been trying to get her hubby here for the last 3 of them...and just now filing to head to the UK instead, rather than continuing to live apart.

-Stormy

[hikergirl 277]

It is a bit of an oddity due to the money factor. I know the process to go south from Canada isn't cheap and I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap for you to head north either.

As for your boss' husband, he must have had some issues as to why he couldn't easily get to the US (criminal history is my first thought). Unless your husband has issues there shouldn't be issues for you guys and I believe the process takes about 10months.

Your moving around isn't really an issue. Your income however could be. If believe you need to show you are making above the poverty line ($18,530 for the 3 of you) or get a co-sponsor.

Best wishes!

[VanessaTony 3,567]

We actually have decided which was we'd like to go - it would be better if he came to the US. HOWEVER, that being said....

I've moved around a lot. My income was unstable up till this year. I have a couple of other private issues that will adversely affect his application for US immigration.

On the other hand....I really don't care to move to Canada, but our petition to head north is more likely to be granted, based off my husband's stability (still living in same house he was born in)and the fact I already have my Alberta nursing license, and they're still actively recruiting RNs wherever they can find them.

If they both get approved, we'll cross that bridge at the time it happens. But for now...don't want to be like the HR director at my work, who has been married for 4 years and been trying to get her hubby here for the last 3 of them...and just now filing to head to the UK instead, rather than continuing to live apart.

-Stormy

Are you SURE your "private issues" will affect him? The only two I can think of is domestic violence charges, or sexual abuse charges (so Adam Walsh Act). Usually it's the beneficiaries issues that are the main factor. So your private issues are more likely to affect your ability to move to Canada, rather than him to US.

Your husbands stability isn't really relevant either. My husband was living in Houston temporarily (they didn't know OR care that it wasn't his lifetime home). He simply needed to have a clean criminal history (check) and income sufficient to support our household size ($18,387 for a 2 person household - check). It didn't matter that his income HAD been unstable (going to school fulltime) it mattered that his CURRENT income was sufficient.

As for your HR director.. trying for 3 years means their case has severe issues. It took 6 months for me to get a visa to move from Australia. Australia is low fraud just like Canada and your bosses UK... it is only hard if your case has issues. Such as relationship doesn't seem real, not enough incomes and a few others. You'll be surprised how easy it is.