US Citizen who is also a Permanent Resident of Canada

[baconchips 0]

I am a US citizen and my spouse who I would like to sponsor is a Canadian Citizen. I should also note that I am also a permanent resident in Canada as well. I am currently living and working in Canada.

Since I have gone through the Canadian Sponsorship to become a permanent resident, the process is a little different but a bit familiar to me. My father who resides in the states is very sick, so I must be there to take care of him indefinitely. Because I cannot be without my husband, I am considering sponsoring him there.

What would be the best route for me?

I can file the CR-1 and wait for the process to be complete, but time is of the essence as my father may not have long. How much time would filing a K-3 speed up?

[Boiler 43,432]

K3 is most likely to be administratively closed.

Takes about a year.

[NikLR 13,220]

K3 takes about equal time and like boiler has noted, will most likely be closed and the IR1 path the only option. This is due to USCIS and NVC policy.

[ChristinaG 91]

I'm very sorry to hear about your father!!

Sadly, many (most?) of us have looked for that magic form that allows us to be with our spouses a whole lot faster, and here we sit and wait... .

On the bright side, as a Canadian citizen, your hubby can come into the US often. Travel back and forth is typically really easy. I highly recommend you both applying for the Nexus card!! It really makes travel easy

He will need to carry proof of ties back to Canada (mortgage/lease...letter from employer... lots to be found within these forums....) and he should only carry with him what he needs for that trip (the border guards can get really suspicious we're trying to move before the Visa is available when we're carrying unnecessary stuff...)

Hopefully there is not a great distance between your current home and your US home!!

The very last step in the IR1/CR1 process is the interview in Montreal (it's the only Consulate in Canada that processes spousal visas) but they are real sticklers about the US Citizen re-establishing domicile in the States. So you going on ahead and setting up a home and getting a job while caring for your father will help your husband's case as well.....

The IR1 process seems to take 10-12 months...... in some cases (and someone who has had this can speak to it better than I could) but often when you live together while starting the process (i.e. you're both here in Canada) there appears to be a unofficial "auto-expedite" for the first stage (I-130) and often those are approved in 2-3 weeks!! And that can help cut the process down significantly!! ((But like I said, it's "unofficial" happens to some, but not all....)) Take some time looking through other Canadian member timelines and such.....

Best of luck!!

p.s. i really love your user name!!