Canadian girlfriend now pregnant but how do we start our family together in the USA?

[Baby Daddy? 0]

Hello all,

I've been reading around a bit and have found some similar situations but ours seems to really take the cake.

OK, here goes-

My Canadian girlfriend and I have been together for over a year. She is a flight attendant and I am a freelance sound engineer and musician. She makes significantly more money than I do, especially on paper, and she has great health insurance and one year paid maternity, while I have no insurance and my income is under the poverty line. Despite that, we still managed to rent a place together in California and we split the cost of everything 50/50. We are here together when she is not flying for her Canadian airline, which is roughly half of each month. We've always talked about marriage but have yet to petition for fiance status or the like, and we JUST NOW found out that she is pregnant and we are trying to figure out if we can have this child. But the story gets a little more interesting. I am not allowed across the Canadian border without a $200 temp resident permit (per visit) because of some trouble I got into a couple years before I met and fell for the lovely Canadian. I can apply for criminal rehab 2 years from now and get a permanent permit but i guess that isn't an option now (or is it? maybe exceptions are made?). We want more than anything to be together through the prenatal visits, etc, and of course the delivery. It seems to me that she should do this in Canada with me visiting for doctor visits as we cannot afford to have the baby here in the US without financial support from family, which is an option too i guess...

This is the part where I ask for help. PLEASE HELP! All I really know right now is that I need to make more money and get paperwork moving asap if we are going to be make this all work but I don't know where to start other than petitioning for a K-1 with a co-sponsor..?

Thanks in advance for any and all advise!

Oh and sorry if I posted this topic in the wrong area.. such a newbie

Edited January 30, 2012 by Lucas Needs HELP

[canadian_wife 1,823]

Well, it sounds like you are not close to a petiting with talking about having a baby in 1 year maternity in Canada.

Now what sort of 'trouble' did you get in to?

Can your 'freelance' work be done from another country? As in can you pay your $200 and stay in Canada for 6 months?

How can she maintain her health insurance with a residence in California?

Good luck

[Tim/Mav 305]

Well, it sounds like you are not close to a petiting with talking about having a baby in 1 year maternity in Canada.

Now what sort of 'trouble' did you get in to?

Can your 'freelance' work be done from another country? As in can you pay your $200 and stay in Canada for 6 months?

How can she maintain her health insurance with a residence in California?

Good luck

Agreed. And what do you mean: "Were trying to figure out if we can have this Child". I think thats already happened has'nt it.

Canada is very Strick I know. You may consider talking to an Attorney and see if you need a Wavior/Or/Whatever.

When you use the Words "Go to Criminal Rehab for 2 years indicates you did'nt follow guildlines of your probation but that maynot be true as your information is incomplete.

DO YOU WANT TO TELL US SO WE CAN HELP. We need to know what your up against besides a child on the way.

Edited January 30, 2012 by Tim/Mav

[Baby Daddy? 0]

okay yeah lots of unclear stuff in there. very sorry about that.

- One year paid maternity leave is a benefit of hers. I only brought that up because it is something we have that to look forward to in regards to financial support. She doesn't have to be in Canada to collect that benefit (as i understand it).

- She is only "visiting" here in California when she is not working. Her permanent residence is still in Canada because her "base" for flying is there. She has a Canadian address and stays there when she is not here and she maintains her health insurance by staying with her employer throughout the pregnancy and maternity leave.

- The "trouble" i referred to is a driving under the influence infraction. I have since fulfilled my obligations to the state, quit drinking and all that. "Criminal rehabilitation" is what Canada requires before issuing a permanent residency permit. its not like it sounds though. i don't have to be admitted anywhere. they just want to know that 5 years have passed and that i have fulfilled my legal obligations and have undergone personal changes so they need not fear me making the same mistake in Canada. Driving infractions of that nature are considered a felony there.

- I do not know the maximum length of the temp residency permit but i will definitely ask the consulate that question. I will also ask if I can legally work there.

Hope that clears some things up!

[Baby Daddy? 0]

As for petitioning for the fiance visa, I thought we could maybe begin that process now so we have the option of having the kiddo here if we suddenly find ourselves with the financial means to do so.

[Tim/Mav 305]

As for petitioning for the fiance visa, I thought we could maybe begin that process now so we have the option of having the kiddo here if we suddenly find ourselves with the financial means to do so.

Good Luck with everything. But I would persue the child being covered under her HealthCare there. You have to go with whats happening now and not a guess.

I was refused Passport Entrance into Canada for painting a bridge in Vancouver. For a 20 year old DUI. They are strick.

I wish you luck. It will work out. I would get prepared to move ASAP and legally enter Canada. DAD!!!!

[Baby Daddy? 0]

thank you very much for the advice tim/mav!

At this point it seems like I'm right where i started before i started this thread. I'm just hoping someone at the Canadian consulate's office here in Los Angeles can clear some things up over the phone today..

[MissDinaDee 8]

Have you thought of seeking some sort of pardon for your record or a waiver. I am not sure what is available as a US citizen going to Canada but I do know that lots of people have overstayed in the US and completed additional paperwork for a waiver to counteract.

I did a quick google search and found the following website... It may help start looking into your options:

American Pardons

Note: I have no experience with this company but they seemed to have a lot of information regarding options that may pertain to you! Good luck!!

Just a thought!

MrsJ

[canadian_wife 1,823]

How far along is she?

Our process took 10 months so you really shouldn't expect any shorter than that. Possibly if you go through Vancouver. Where is your girlfriend's residence in Canada?

So what are you exactly looking to do? You seem to be talking in circles but unsure of what you are really asking

Good luck

[Baby Daddy? 0]

Her first visit to the doctor is tomorrow. She is based in Ontario.

My thoughts are as follows now:

-Visit the Canadian Consulate office and find out what my options are for travel into Canada using either the temp or perm res permit or even a pardon/waiver as to enable, at the very least, my ability to be with her during the 3rd t/m and delivery.

-Definitely rely on her health care during and after the pregnancy.

-Pursue the CR-1 route: get married here while she is across for work on her D-1 (flight crew) visa and have her file when she gets back. Hoping multiple entries into either country won't be impeded in any way thanks to the crew visa while undergoing the CR-1/AP process.

-Move her and the kiddo here after the AP or green card is granted, which will probably open a whole new can of worms when trying to make our baby legal here..(?)

[canadian_wife 1,823]

You know as soon as she moves to the US on a K-1 or spousal visa she'll lose her Canadian health care right? Consider that a given. Do you have insurance for her and the child?

Good luck

[Inky 1,111]

Her first visit to the doctor is tomorrow. She is based in Ontario.

My thoughts are as follows now:

-Visit the Canadian Consulate office and find out what my options are for travel into Canada using either the temp or perm res permit or even a pardon/waiver as to enable, at the very least, my ability to be with her during the 3rd t/m and delivery.

-Definitely rely on her health care during and after the pregnancy.

-Pursue the CR-1 route: get married here while she is across for work on her D-1 (flight crew) visa and have her file when she gets back. Hoping multiple entries into either country won't be impeded in any way thanks to the crew visa while undergoing the CR-1/AP process.

-Move her and the kiddo here after the AP or green card is granted, which will probably open a whole new can of worms when trying to make our baby legal here..(?)

The US citizen has to file the CR-1 the Canadian cant file that.

She cant move until she has the CR-1 visa and the green card is mailed on entry to the USA. The baby if born in Canada has to enter the USA on a US passport - a CRBA will need to be filed for the baby and a US passport filed for.

[Baby Daddy? 0]

Thanks for clearing up the insurance, CR-1 & CRBA issues a bit.

Pursuing the route I talked about most recently, the time to move back to the states is after our baby is born and my (then) wife has the green card in hand, and when I have a job lined up with health care to support the whole family. Ideally of course.

Very sorry if this is coming off as me talking in circles, but that's pretty much it! This is a brand new challenge and I'm basically trying to understand every option we have. Thanks to you all, and this forum, I at least know that I'm making progress!

[Inky 1,111]

Thanks for clearing up the insurance, CR-1 & CRBA issues a bit.

Pursuing the route I talked about most recently, the time to move back to the states is after our baby is born and my (then) wife has the green card in hand, and when I have a job lined up with health care to support the whole family. Ideally of course.

Very sorry if this is coming off as me talking in circles, but that's pretty much it! This is a brand new challenge and I'm basically trying to understand every option we have. Thanks to you all, and this forum, I at least know that I'm making progress!

Most people talk in circles at first because its such a HUGE thing and quite a lot involved in it as you see ! There is a section on here specifically for Canada as well so if you have specific canada questions etc you can post any in there as well. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/

You can also find lots of information specific to moving from Canada to USA and interview stuff etc in there.

[thelastpetitioner 218]

I honestly don't suggest k-1 unless you have faith in your relationship. K-1 adds a LOT of pressure and stress, as any immigrant or borderline immigrant visa does. You'll be held in the dark and can take anywhere from two months to 12 months to get it done.

Another thing, only apply for k-1 if you plan on getting married

ANOTHER thing, I would read into the medical stuff if I were you. Your gf is pregnant, which means no chest x-ray. I honestly have no idea how that would play out, but it's something you need to be aware of.

Good luck