Sponsoring Spouse while living Outside the USA

[Kathryn Baer 1]

Oh, another question, how long does this kind of application usually take to process? From the date they receive it to the date you're able to immigrate?

[sarrobo 18]

 

On 5/8/2018 at 5:22 PM, Kathryn Baer said:

Oh, another question, how long does this kind of application usually take to process? From the date they receive it to the date you're able to immigrate?

 

Jumping in late, but my husband and I just did this process (Canada to US while living in Canada), and it took just over 15 months total, from when we sent in our i130 to having the visa in hand.

[Kathryn Baer 1]

2 hours ago, sarrobo said:

 

 

Jumping in late, but my husband and I just did this process (Canada to US while living in Canada), and it took just over 15 months total, from when we sent in our i130 to having the visa in hand.

What did you do to prove domicile? 

[NikLR 13,220]

You counted the household count incorrectly.

 

Your husbands household count is 3. Him, wife, child

 

Joint sponsor = 6

Dad, mom, children 18 and under, you.  They do not count your husband (adult usc) or your child (not their child and also usc). 

Edited May 17, 2018 by NikLR

[NikLR 13,220]

To be honest for domicile your husband will need to move ahead of you.  He needs a place for you to live and a job or enrollment in school.  Montreal is quite strict on this.  Rarely in my 5 years on this site have I seen Montreal approve a Visa without that USC already living in the USA. 

[sarrobo 18]

On 5/15/2018 at 12:05 PM, Kathryn Baer said:

What did you do to prove domicile? 

I didn't move first, which is recommended but I was prepared to do so if they didn't accept my proof.

 

I wrote a cover letter explaining why it wasn't ideal for me to move first (I'm the primary breadwinner, so my husband wouldn't be able to maintain our home in Canada alone - i.e. financial hardship). I included the following evidence with my i864:

• Bank Statements from a US bank with about $150 in it that I had kept active throughout my stay in Canada, as well as our proof of US dollar accounts accounts held through RBC. Both statements had a US address on them.
• Credit card statements with US address 
• Proof of US Voter registration (obtained online)
• Our current lease agreement in Canada showing an end date of July 2018
• Lease created by me - for a stay with family (open ended)
• 3 or 4 moving quotes obtained online
• Correspondence regarding a job interview I had earlier this year (didn't work out - but showed intent)
•  

I think others have provided similar proof and not had it be accepted. But this worked for me, I guess maybe we were rare exceptions? Our interview was in Montreal in March.

Edited May 17, 2018 by sarrobo

[Kathryn Baer 1]

9 hours ago, NikLR said:

To be honest for domicile your husband will need to move ahead of you.  He needs a place for you to live and a job or enrollment in school.  Montreal is quite strict on this.  Rarely in my 5 years on this site have I seen Montreal approve a Visa without that USC already living in the USA. 

So, here's my idea & questions; 

- He could move ahead of time to a place where he would also work near the Canadian-USA Border (so he lives US side, I live Canadian side). Only problem is that it would be very expensive to have two rental places of our own. 

- Would it work if he moved in with say, a family working in the same location (potential Oil field employment possible in North Dakota) or with his Grandma? This way we have our main place Canada-side that he could come home to every weekend. Or does he need his OWN place? 

- And how long would he need to be living there?

 

We understand that we may just have to spend time apart again but it would be extremely difficult since we're so used to being together all the time now and will have a little one to raise. I can't even stand one night away from him now. He's been here in Canada for about a year now. We were hoping to start the process right after our 2 year anniversary (1 year this year in June). So he would be here for a total of 2 years when we start the process.  

 

9 hours ago, NikLR said:

You counted the household count incorrectly.

 

Your husbands household count is 3. Him, wife, child

 

Joint sponsor = 6

Dad, mom, children 18 and under, you.  They do not count your husband (adult usc) or your child (not their child and also usc). 

Okay, that makes sense. So household size with a Joint Sponsor would be 6, correct? 

[NikLR 13,220]

1 hour ago, Kathryn Baer said:

So, here's my idea & questions; 

- He could move ahead of time to a place where he would also work near the Canadian-USA Border (so he lives US side, I live Canadian side). Only problem is that it would be very expensive to have two rental places of our own. 

- Would it work if he moved in with say, a family working in the same location (potential Oil field employment possible in North Dakota) or with his Grandma? This way we have our main place Canada-side that he could come home to every weekend. Or does he need his OWN place? 

- And how long would he need to be living there?

 

We understand that we may just have to spend time apart again but it would be extremely difficult since we're so used to being together all the time now and will have a little one to raise. I can't even stand one night away from him now. He's been here in Canada for about a year now. We were hoping to start the process right after our 2 year anniversary (1 year this year in June). So he would be here for a total of 2 years when we start the process.  

 

Okay, that makes sense. So household size with a Joint Sponsor would be 6, correct? 

The joint sponsor's household size would be 6.

 

He needs to be stateside by interview, but preferably by AOS admittance.  He certainly can live with family.  

Granted I didnt have a baby so working for me was much easier, but hubs and I maintained two households until I moved. We married  May 20, 2012, started paperwork in Oct 2012 and I had my interview and moved June 10 2013.