"sponsorship"

[CC1* 0]

If I'm a Canadian Citizen married to a US Citizen who is a permanent resident of Canada, but we winter in the US and I want her to "sponsor" me to make crossing the border easier, do I have to go through the whole K-3 process or is there an easier way to have this done? The guard at the border said she should, "Sign me up," the last time we crossed. I know there is the Nexus, but that wouldn't be something she could do...

[Inky 1,111]

If I'm a Canadian Citizen married to a US Citizen who is a permanent resident of Canada, but we winter in the US and I want her to "sponsor" me to make crossing the border easier, do I have to go through the whole K-3 process or is there an easier way to have this done? The guard at the border said she should, "Sign me up," the last time we crossed. I know there is the Nexus, but that wouldn't be something she could do...

K-3 is no longer an option. A spousal visa or green card is not a travel permit and is extremely expensive and will be / can be taken away from you for abusing it as a travel card and not a permanent resident card as it is intended to be used. As a Canadian citizen you yourself can sign up to get a nexus travel card. http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/nexus/menu-eng.html

If you apply for a green card and then only use it for traveling you will be caught and it will be even harder for you to travel between the places. Only apply for a green card if you intend on living in the USA.

[Cathi 5,771]

the option would be a spouse visa CR1/IR1, and in order to qualify for this your main residence must be in the US, you cannot travel outside the US for more than 6 months a year without losing your permanent residence status. The K-3 is not a stand alone visa, it is used to make the wait for a cr1/ir1 less and filed in conjunction with an i-130 for the cr1/ir1 , and rarely if ever are they issued. The K-3 was used a while back when the wait for the cr1/ir1 was very long, but now the timeline for the cr1/ir1 and the k-3 are almost identical making the k-3 obsolete. I suggest you read the guides at the top of the page. But really if your main residence is Canada, you are not eligible anyway as you LIVE in Canada.

Edited March 19, 2013 by mimolicious

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

** Moving from K1 fiance visa to general immigration ****

How miuch time do you plan on spending in the USA each year?

[CC1* 0]

** Moving from K1 fiance visa to general immigration ****

How miuch time do you plan on spending in the USA each year?

We spend approximately 165 days in the US each year.

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

K3 is obsolete as mentioned above; the spousal visa in use is the IR-1, but it does not suit you as it leads to a greencard upon entry, and to keep that, you need to spend the majority of your time every year inside the USA. You really don;t need any visa, as Canadians can stay in the USA for up to 6 months a year without a visa, as long as you do not work, which you don't seem to want to do.

[CC1* 0]

Very good. We are retired, and only vacation here during the winter months. Thanks for everyone's help!!