Married and CR-1

[abaron4769 0]

My Husband and I are just starting out our journey. I have read so many different things that I am overwhelmed and lost as to where to start. He is in austin texas and I came back to canada, (apparently a good thing I did from reading some of the forums) now we are going to be filing a for cr-1. How expensive is this process? where do the interviews take place? and how long do these usually take?

I am very scared that I am going to be denied and not able to be with the love of my life

any help would be much appreciated.

[Smoochies2011 19]

hi you can go to the uscis official website, anyways go on here there r a lot of helpful links!! i already filled my I-130 and I did it all by myself its not that hard as long as ur careful and do it step by step

good luck on your journey it's all about patient

and don't think about getting ur visa denied be positive if you kno you are together because you love him and he loves you then no worried we all know USCIS offices can be a pain but if you show them you r nervous they will take advantage of you

[Inky 1,111]

Interview happens in Montreal Quebec. 9-12 months for the process from start to finish.

Its very expensive, after the spousal visa you get a green card. Depending on how long you have been married under 2 years you get the conditional card which you then have to pay to upgrade to the PR card. Then you can apply for US citizen ship later on which is also expensive.

cost and info can be found here http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

The immigration medicals in Canada can go up to $300 Canadian dollars depending where you go for it, Toronto / Montreal / Vancouver.

Check out the Canada regional forums for Canada chat and specific information on interviews and moving etc. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/

adding -

There is also a $165 USD fee to USCIS for getting the green card issued before you leave Canada to move to the USA.

Edited May 30, 2013 by Inky

[abaron4769 0]

i know this sounds stupid but I am in the middle of everywhere in winnipeg manitoba. So I have to travel to all these places just to get a medical exam?

[NikLR 13,227]

I think all the panel physicians are written on the vj consulate information for Montreal. I recently updated it. I'm from Alberta and decided to stay the week in Montreal, the alternative is flying here twice... BTW you travel to one place, not all of them. You just need one medical and you cannot get it done until an interview date is given so its far in the future.

Edited May 30, 2013 by NikiR

[hikergirl 277]

There are a few more little costs that add up as well.

For example for me & my kid: I had to get a copy of my long form birth certificate (with parents names on it) - AB was $30, police clearance certificate (approx $40), needles to update my daughter’s and my vaccinations (check with your local public health nurse or your family doctor - MB Health may cover them if you need them) & the cost of mailing documents back and forth between me and my husband.

Not all of the expenses are required up front, so you can save up money while you are waiting for the next step in the process.

It is a daunting process however it is completely doable without a lawyer in the majority of cases and it’ll save you a lot of money by following the guides (top of page - guides link) and forums here and doing it yourself.

[NikLR 13,227]

Definitely follow the guides and especially the wiki for Montreal Beneficiaries. As Canadians (or Canadian PR) we save time by doing online forms and being able to optin for electronic processing which means emailing scanned documents vs physical mail. Pretty handy stuff.

I wish the interview was closer and the medical could have been done in Alberta but, I can't complain honestly and here I am, waiting in Montreal for my interview on Monday. I am glad I came. It is a pretty city. I'm about to go out and do some photography!

[abaron4769 0]

well i hope that your interview goes well. please keep me posted and let me know what happens also how scary it is hahah.

I guess I will take it as it comes and try and relax. could be worse i suppose

well i hope that your interview goes well. please keep me posted and let me know what happens also how scary it is hahah.

I guess I will take it as it comes and try and relax. could be worse i suppose

[NikLR 13,227]

I'm not worried. At least not now. I will when I'm there I'm sure.