Help, going to US to be with fiance

[memoria 0]

Hi, I fell in love and hard. I'm Canadian and my fiance is American, he wants me to move to the US ASAP. We are wondering when we should get married to make it as painless as possible for us and for me to be able to work there ASAP as well. We are in love, we have documents to prove it, I've already been to see him in the States and we contact each other every single day. What do you guys suggest? I will also be traveling with a pet (cat), going to the US as a visitor for a month should not be a problem right?

[j-manu 0]

Hi, I fell in love and hard. I'm Canadian and my fiance is American, he wants me to move to the US ASAP. We are wondering when we should get married to make it as painless as possible for us and for me to be able to work there ASAP as well. We are in love, we have documents to prove it, I've already been to see him in the States and we contact each other every single day. What do you guys suggest? I will also be traveling with a pet (cat), going to the US as a visitor for a month should not be a problem right?

Congratulations!

You should check out the guides on this web site if you have not already. The quickest way here is K1, but then it takes time to get your work permit. The other way is to get married and then file for a K3. This takes a little longer, but as soon as you arrive, you can start looking for work and becoome a good tax payer

Good luck on the journey

[Jasman0717 9]

I wish you good luck with your journey. You might take a look at the K-1 and K-3 guides here on VJ, that might help you decide what will work best for you. I was looking at the timelines for Canada and the stats seem to show both with similar time lines.

[TimsDaisy 0]

As noted - first things first - read the guides here. Then head over to www.uscis.gov and read all over that site. Esp the instructions for the I-129F.

Basically, if your goals are to be together ASAP AND to be able to work, you're going to be a bit disappointed, most likely. You can likely come here, stay as long as the nice folks at the border say you can, and/or visit often, but you won't be able to work.

The K1 (finance) and K3 (spouse) visas DO take time to process - check out the link for "immigration timelines" above. Where your beloved lives in the US makes a BIG difference too.

Do you both live close enough to the border to make frequent visits possible?

best of luck! and best advice after "read read read" is "get you patient hat out and get ready to wear it."

[no name 1]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=compare

[memoria 0]

Thanks alot everyone, I'll read the guides and see if I have any questions afterwards... This is a great site by the way!

[YuAndDan 153]

I was in the same situation last July, we meet in China, new we were for each other, and filed for K-1 when I got home 8 months later my fiancee got the K-1 and came to the USA. Fortunately you are from Canada so the process is quicker through your consulate.

Read the K-1 guide, it is the least complex of the visas and the quickest.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...mp;page=k1guide

Good Luck to you

[raymaga 26]

I was from Canada and my fiance (at the time) was American. We only lived 3 hours from each other so we saw each other every single weekend from the time we met until I moved to the U.S. permanently.

We both crossed the borders a lot, but mostly my fiance came to Canada. But, when I crossed the border (by car) into the U.S., I was asked for proof of ties to Canada, such as mortgage/lease documents, my most recent pay stubs, etc. to prove that I intended to return to Canada after my "visit" to the U.S.

If you are planning a trip for a month to visit your fiance in the U.S., take any documents which will prove that you intend to return to Canada afterwards. I answered the border officers honestly when they asked me any questions, such as the purpose of my visit (I answered to visit my fiance). They would ask me from time to time if I had heard of the K-1 Visa (I answered yes, and that we were awaiting approval). Don't give them any more information than they ask for, and answer with brief answers. You shouldn't have any problems visiting your fiance as long as they believe that you do not intend to stay in the U.S. permanently.

Good luck.

Edited May 11, 2007 by raymaga

[msu17 0]

Just wanted to throw out that until you have the visa in hand, you can't move here. Don't know if you were considering that or not, but thought I'd mention it.

[~Chad~ 0]

Welcome to vj, and good luck on your journey

[pushbrk 14,507]

Congratulations!

You should check out the guides on this web site if you have not already. The quickest way here is K1, but then it takes time to get your work permit. The other way is to get married and then file for a K3. This takes a little longer, but as soon as you arrive, you can start looking for work and becoome a good tax payer

Good luck on the journey

K3 visa holders must apply for and be approved for EAD before working, just like K1. It is the CR and IR visas that allow working upon arrival. Once you read through the guides, I'm sure you'll have more question. Make your decisions carefully.

Edited May 11, 2007 by pushbrk

[neiks 19]

visitor for a month should not be a problem right

If you are visiting for a month - do you have a job back in Canada? If you don't then this is a big red flag entering into US and then trying to prove that you have substantial ties that will indeed take you back to Canada.

[memoria 0]

Thanks I'm feeling very overwhelmed right now!!!

[JODO 2]

Welcome to VJ! Lots of good info here, just take a deep breath and dig into the guides.

[lynamon 0]

If you live in Canada and are able to travel back and forth to see your fiance .. the difference between a K1 and K3 is the Advance Parole ... you will not have to wait the 3 months that it takes for AP for a K3 if it matters about the timeframe to come back and visit family and friends. This is especially helpful to know if you have children that you will be bringing with you and they still have a parent that they see for visitation.