Bringing Child from home country to live for 1 year

[canadianvisions 0]

Hello,

I have lived in the US as a permanent resident for 4 years so far. My husband is a US citizen.

I have 2 daughters, aged 10 and 12, who reside in Canada with their father, who has full custody. With his approval, I'd like to look in to having them come live with us for a school year (probably in about 2 years or so).

I have read over the link "I-130, Petition for Alien Relative" so I understand that it is possible for their step-father (the US citizen) to file to have them come live with me. What I'm wondering though, since it'd only be for a school year, is if it might be more reasonable to apply for a student visa instead?

If anyone reading has any experience with this situation, I'd really value just about any information you can provide.

I'd like to weigh costs, timeframe, amount of paper work/legal documents required, etc...

Thank you kindly for your time.

[canadian_wife 1,831]

A student visa will be very expensive as you have to look into private schools since public schools do not issue I20s for student educations.

If you'd like to begin researching the costs, begin with the local private school tuition for international students.

good luck

[canadianvisions 0]

A student visa will be very expensive as you have to look into private schools since public schools do not issue I20s for student educations.

If you'd like to begin researching the costs, begin with the local private school tuition for international students.

good luck

Oh wow, that sounds intense. Thank you for the information.

[Darnell 8,479]

it is ! [intense, that is]

[canadianvisions 0]

Reading further into this, I have a few more questions since they were not found when I performed a "google custom search"... My apologies, and thanks for whoever feels up to answering them

To petition for my daughters to come live with me (husband would be doing so as the US citizen)...

1) Is the process the same (or quite similar) to the IR1-CR1 we did for me? I'm curious if it would be roughly the same wait time (took us about 1 year), cost and paperwork?

2) Any idea if my daughters would have the same procedures done such as the blood work I needed in Vancouver and the final interview in Montreal? The final interview in Montreal especially was a huge cost and something I wasn't aware of when we first filed. Certainly would need to start saving for this now.

3) What is the maximum amount of time one can wait to enter the US after receiving a visa? If we were to say, be approved in February, we'd likely want to wait until August or September to actually bring them over (to start the school year)...

I remember when we filed for our visa, we followed one posters journey (she was doing the same thing we were) and it was so helpful. If there is something similar for this and you can provide a link, you'd have my gratitude (again, nothing found when searching)... :-/

Edited August 24, 2015 by canadianvisions

[Darnell 8,479]

1. yes

2. yes

3. 6 months from medical exam date, roughly 6 months span in the visa, if medical exam is near the IV interview date.

'google custom search' useless,

instead click 'advanced search' under your name, upper left corner. if on handphone, canna see it.

-----

errata:

can turn around at POE on same day, return to Canada, activating the visa. Has 1 year duration from POE date for real status, but must return within 6 months or possibly lose status.

Edited August 24, 2015 by Darnell