Bringing Canadian Spouse to Live in States

[capegirl 0]

So overwhelmed and would appreciate guidance. I'm sure this has been covered but right now my head is spinning.

I am an American living in Canada with my Canadian spouse and dual citizen children. We've been married ten years. I would like to move back to the states.

Where do I start with paperwork? We would be filing from Canada...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[amykathleen2005 441]

You would probably want Direct Consular Filing.

See this link for all the info!

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

[Saylin 1,605]

You would probably want Direct Consular Filing.

See this link for all the info!

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

Unfortunately, DCF is no longer an option for those in Canada.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1ac900c262197210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

[Saylin 1,605]

So overwhelmed and would appreciate guidance. I'm sure this has been covered but right now my head is spinning.

I am an American living in Canada with my Canadian spouse and dual citizen children. We've been married ten years. I would like to move back to the states.

Where do I start with paperwork? We would be filing from Canada...

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

You'd start with filing an I-130 to USCIS. Here's a guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1

On the forms, make sure you use your address in Canada. There's a fast track at USCIS if you use an address from abroad. You'll get approved within a few weeks instead of a few months.

Once you get to NVC, I suggest reading the wiki I wrote, linked in my signature below.

[amykathleen2005 441]

Unfortunately, DCF is no longer an option for those in Canada.

http://www.uscis.gov...000082ca60aRCRD

Opps sorry for the misinformation. I shall read up on this!

[Saylin 1,605]

Opps sorry for the misinformation. I shall read up on this!

Unfortunately, they removed quite a number of countries eligible for DCF last August 15. Although, there is still a fast track at USCIS if you use an address from abroad. There have been a lot of cases getting approved in a few short weeks when the petitioner has a foreign address.

[capegirl 0]

"Reminders for Petitioners Abroad Who are Filing the Form I-130: Petitioners residing in countries without USCIS offices file their Form I-130, Petition for an Alien Relative, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) lockbox facility in Chicago." So is this correct? I would be mailing the form to Chicago? As well as a $420 fee?

Are there any additional fees? For some reason I recently read that the Green Card costs up to $2000.... (head spinning).

I'm not too worried about being rejected as we have been married for ten years, have two children and a home in Canada together. But getting the paperwork right, and getting the right answers is boggling!

[Saylin 1,605]

"Reminders for Petitioners Abroad Who are Filing the Form I-130: Petitioners residing in countries without USCIS offices file their Form I-130, Petition for an Alien Relative, with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) lockbox facility in Chicago." So is this correct? I would be mailing the form to Chicago? As well as a $420 fee?

Are there any additional fees? For some reason I recently read that the Green Card costs up to $2000.... (head spinning).

I'm not too worried about being rejected as we have been married for ten years, have two children and a home in Canada together. But getting the paperwork right, and getting the right answers is boggling!

Yup, you send the petition to Chicago. And yes, the I-130 fee is currently $420.

There will be additional fees later on, but not $2000! Once your petition is approved and arrives at NVC, there are two more fees: $88 (AOS) and $230 (IV). There will also be a medical fee which varies by location, but mine cost $230. And that's it for fees!