Live/work abroad with 2 different citizenship

[robrl 0]

I'm not quite sure where to post this question or even how to explain this properly.

I'm canadian and my fiancee is a u.s. citizen, we've been dating for a few years now. We met abroad and have been together almost the whole time.

We are now both in our home countries and want to get married. However once married we plan to continue working/living abroad most likely in a different country every 2-3 years but between jobs (anywhere from 2-12 months) when we do come home we want to be able to live together in the same country (either canada or the u.s. and hopefully work as well).

I'm just curious as to what our best solution would be? I know I could get a conditional Green Card from the u.s. if we go through the k1 visa route and get married however if we're not planning on living in the u.s. permanently and only for a few months every year or two, the green card would go invalid as I'm not actually living in the u.s. I'm confused and a little unsure where to go from here.

Appreciate any help or ideas!

[ricnally 258]

You could spend up to 6 months together in either country. 12 months might be tricky, in the same country, but you could then go do another 6 in the other country.

But the "foreigner" won't be able to work.

Edited March 11, 2016 by ricnally

[Boiler 43,588]

2 months as a visitor should be doable.

[Anh map 2,098]

For your plan both would have to be citizens of the US in order to drop in and out of the US between expat gigs. That would take a few years of living in the US to achieve.

Edited March 11, 2016 by Anh map

[robrl 0]

Yeah I know we could do 6 and 6 in each country however one could not work, I was afraid becoming a us citizen was the best and probably only option. Good to know!

I know once married and applied I can get a 2 year conditional green card, which after 2 years we can apply again to get the 10 year green card. Is there a set number of years after marriage that I'm allowed to apply to become a us citizen? Or does it vary on every case?

[ricnally 258]

You are eligible to apply for citizenship 3 years after the date of your first green card or any time after that, but you'll have to be living in the US for that whole time. Once you're a citizen, of course, you'll be able to come and go as you please, (but your spouse will have to do the same thing in Canada, if you plan to spend time there, and he/she wants to stay longer than 6 months and work).