HELP! Where to start?

[tbrisner 0]

Hello

My girlfriend (canadian)and I (american) have been trying to figure out the fastest way to get her to the US and for her to be able to work. It appears that marrying her and doing the CR 1 would be that option correct? So would we have to be married in Canada or the US? Also is there any services that you would recommend because I am totally lost in this whole process. Thanks

[Darnell 8,478]

hey - welcome to VJ !

grab a pc, click the word 'Guides' and study a bit.

as to 'where to marry' - it doesn't matter.

[cocolucho 35]

Hello

My girlfriend (canadian)and I (american) have been trying to figure out the fastest way to get her to the US and for her to be able to work. It appears that marrying her and doing the CR 1 would be that option correct? So would we have to be married in Canada or the US? Also is there any services that you would recommend because I am totally lost in this whole process. Thanks

I think it all depends on which one is your (both of you) biggest priority.

1. The K1 visa route is the fastest way to get your fiance here. The problem is that she won't be able to work immediately once she enters the US. After you guys get married here she will have to do file for Adjustment of status and apply to AP (advanced parole) and EAD (employment cards) while she waits for her green card to be processed. She could get her EAD card within 90 days from AOS and start working then.

2. Do the CR1 and as soon as she enters the US she will be able to work, but it is a longer process from USCIS to NVC to the embassy interview. Since you are in CA your process through USCIS may be quicker as your case will likely be processed by CSC, but still have to go through NVC like everyone else and then the interview at the embassy if doing the CR1 route.

As Darnell suggested, read the guide. This is a do it yourself type of site. If you dont have any red flags about your situation then you dont need a lawyer and you could do it yourself.

Good luck and if you have any questions just ask away :-)

Edited March 5, 2015 by cocolucho

[tbrisner 0]

Lol no red flags. Where do I find the guides and any suggestions when it comes to them. I feel so lost

[Darnell 8,478]

are you on a PC? If no, well, that was the first bit.

get on a PC then visit this website again,

and click 'Guides' . Train yer eyeballs up and you'll see that word.

Go Get Em,. and Good Luck !

[mallafri76 1,012]

Here's a link to the US governments information about the spouse visa. Has links to forms etc:

http://travel.state.gov/content/visas/english/immigrate/types/family/immediate-relative.html

[mrs thb 331]

welcome and good luck in advance.

read the guides as Darnell mentioned.....top left hand part of the vj home page....4th tab from the left "guides". start reading and re-read.

one can spend days, months and even years on VJ learning the immigration ropes.

k1 might have perks (quicker in process) but slower to get green card. the ir1/cr1 can be slower but you get the gc quicker. its all based upon choice. the wait time is never guaranteed.

another good read is http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/ which can be found in the general discussion area under regional discussions. this link is for canadians, you should find it interesting too.

[spousevisaUSA 1]

Hi,

My husband and I are on the home stretch of visa process. His interview is in April and let's hope that's the end of it!

Because it's been such a confusing process, I've put together a blog of my experience that provides step-by-step information on the spouse visa process. Hopefully our experience and some of our mistakes can help others! You can check it out here: https://spousevisausa.wordpress.com

Hope that helps and good luck!

[nosmit01 13]

Also check out the visaprocess app:

- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=visa.process.ir1.cr1&hl=en

- https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/visaprocess-ir1-cr1/id960466011?ls=1&mt=8

[CowBoE 429]

Hello

My girlfriend (canadian)and I (american) have been trying to figure out the fastest way to get her to the US and for her to be able to work. It appears that marrying her and doing the CR 1 would be that option correct? So would we have to be married in Canada or the US? Also is there any services that you would recommend because I am totally lost in this whole process. Thanks

Wooo Hooo ... adding another (motivated) US tax payer soon!!

K1 fiancee visa should be quicker to get her to US,

but spouse visa should be quicker for her to be able to work in US.

Good luck!

[tbrisner 0]

Thank you all for the help to start this journey! It's been a huge asset to start this process. Just to be 100% clear it doesn't matter if we get married in the us or Canada correct? It won't effect the Cr1 visa

[tbrisner 0]

I can't say thank you enough for the help. It's been such a stress reliver. So glad I found VJ

[KierenHby 899]

You are correct, it doesn't matter where you get married.

(I got married in India and once I returned back to the States, we are working on my wife's CR-1 visa).

Read the Guides above, they are very handy.

And welcome to VJ!

[spousewaitingvisa 39]

Wooo Hooo ... adding another (motivated) US tax payer soon!!

K1 fiancee visa should be quicker to get her to US,

but spouse visa should be quicker for her to be able to work in US.

Good luck!

Actually, Fiancee visa (K1) and spouse visa (K3) are non-immigrant visas. K1 is for foreign fiancee who must enter US and stay within 90 days. K3 is for married foreign spouse. It is valid for two years generally, but it does depend on the reciprocity agreement the US has with the country of origin. For the UK, it is two years for K3

For K1 and K3 spouses, they cannot work in the US until they apply for work permits (Employment Authorization document) while adjusting status to permanent/temporary status or just apply for work permits alone. That's true that it should be quicker to get non-immigrant visas, but they cannot start working in the US right away.

CR-1 and IR-1 visas are immigrant visas -- foreign married spouse can work right away after entering the US as US conditional resident/US permanent resident and getting her/his new SSN.

[ChristinaG 91]

My husband and I married in the US only because we picked a city that was half-way between us.... and it was actually a lot cheaper for our quickie nuptials Marrying in Canada or the US does not matter.... We chose to go the Spousal Visa route so that I would have the ability to work right away and be able to criss-cross the border (I have two children that will come back to Canada for time with their father and family...)

I am a bit of a research nut and I understand the overwhelming confusion you feel at the beginning. Luckily this is a really awesome forum with info about every single step along the way!!

One thing you can start doing is putting together your "proof of relationship". Photos of you two together and with family, trips you've taken together, letters/cards mailed to each other, etc...... the options for 'proof' is quite extensive!

Read through the Guides, re-read them, and again..... Read through the USCIS forms and research anything you're not sure about (or ask here....)

And above all - BE PATIENT! This can be a long process and waiting for paperwork to be reviewed can drive people nuts!!

Best wishes!!!