Canadian Permanent Residency and marrying a US citizen

[Shane&Carolyn 0]

Hi all,

I'm in a bit of a panic right, I was recently granted Canadian Permanent Residency but have not yet activated it. I am from Ireland and will be marrying my American fiancée in Ireland this coming September. I am visiting her in Seattle right now on a B1/B2 and had planned to cross the border to Canada next week to activate my Canadian PR and get back to work in Canada. However, we intend to reside in the USA after our wedding and are currently looking into IR-1 / CR-1 spouse visa options. Does anyone here know if activating my Canadian Permanent Residency will affect my future application for IR-1?

Any and all help would be much appreciated.

Thanks all

[Georgia16 2,858]

Well you won't be a Canadian resident if you are not living there so of course. And a spouse visa takes about a year so you can't live in USA together right after the wedding as you write.

And CR-1 = married under 2 years IR-1 = married over 2 years.

Edited March 16, 2016 by Georgia16

[Shane&Carolyn 0]

Well you won't be a Canadian resident if you are not living there so of course. And a spouse visa takes about a year so you can't live in USA together right after the wedding as you write.

And CR-1 = married under 2 years IR-1 = married over 2 years.

Thanks for the reply. Well I'll technically have a permanent residency card for Canada by the time I apply for a CR-1 (assuming that's indeed the correct visa avenue to take) - I'm just worried that having this status, even if I don't live there, will affect my application for US residency. Thanks for getting back to me though, it's much appreciated.

[Georgia16 2,858]

Thanks for the reply. Well I'll technically have a permanent residency card for Canada by the time I apply for a CR-1 (assuming that's indeed the correct visa avenue to take) - I'm just worried that having this status, even if I don't live there, will affect my application for US residency. Thanks for getting back to me though, it's much appreciated.

Why would it?? You are living there (Canada) legal so no worries

[teeak 224]

Nothing to worry about. You'll actually have the ability to have your consular interview in Canada, which is the only thing that your residency there will affect.

Edited March 16, 2016 by teeak

[Shane&Carolyn 0]

Nothing to worry about. You'll actually have the ability to have your consular interview in Canada, which is the only thing that your residency there will affect.

If this is actually possible, then that would be ideal. Right now, I'm (Shane) honestly a bag of nerves about this, but from talking to a few people, it sounds that having Canadian PR won't go against me. Thank you so much for your response. Truly appreciated.

Why would it?? You are living there (Canada) legal so no worries

Cheers mate, we really appreciate your feedback!

Why would it?? You are living there (Canada) legal so no worries

Cheers mate, we really appreciate your feedback!

[JFH 12,196]

Many people live and work in countries other than their home country of citizenship. Not a problem at all.

You will need to get certain documents from Ireland such as a police certificate and your birth certificate but that's not for a while yet. Hopefully you have a way of either ordering them online or a relative back home can get them for you.

Seattle - great choice! But I'm biased!

Edited March 16, 2016 by JFH

[NikLR 13,234]

Get your police certificate before you leave.