justicejs

I know how to bring a dog across the border, but what about a reptile? Specifically a chameleon. Are there special circumstances?

CONGRATS!!! WHOA YOU GUYS GOT ENGAGED ON MY BIRTHDAY AND ONE DAY BEFORE US!!!!!! I wish you the best with your Journey

Its a special dat for both of us, then. Thanks!!

Thanks everyone!!!

After months of preparation, we filed today. I'm nervous and excited. Wish us luck!

Thanks so much, I feel a lot better.

My fiance and I are almost ready to file for my K-1, and I'm worried about being unemployed.

I explained to my boss that I would like to travel to the states, and was told that my job would be held for me until I came back. Even though I had told him I could be gone for up to 6 months, I was assured my job when I returned.

So anyway, my boss did not keep my job for me. He replaced me almost as soon as I left, and I was jobless when I got home. I'm hunting for a new one right now and have some really reliable leads, BUT, at this moment I'm unemployed. I'm really worried about putting that on the application, because I don't think it looks good.

I have 2 options. Wait until I find a job so I can put that on the application, OR put that I'm unemployed and attach a separate page explaining the situation (that I was unfairly dismissed from my job and should have a new one soon). Is that advisable, or would they completely look past it?? I'm a hard worker, and I do NOT want them to think that some lazy person is trying to immigrate to the states!!

Okay, thanks!

When you get your Visa, do you have to enter the USA right away? Or could you stay in your home country for a few months to book your wedding venue, etc.

I know you have 3 months once you enter the states to get married, but 3 months doesn't seem long enough to make solid wedding plans.

Everyone seems to think it's outrageous for a person to be able to take 6 month vacations from work....I did, with no problems...in fact, it was my boss who told me to stay as long as I needed and my job would be right there waiting when I returned to Canada.

Of course, it isn't paid vacation. But since I live with my uncle rent-free, I'm able to save up a lot of money for long trips to the USA.

So it is possible, and doesn't mean he's doing anything wrong...

This is a horror story if I've ever heard one.

I really wish OP would enlighten us!

Good luck...I'm definitely glad I found this forum too, I've learned SO much!

I had no problem crossing into the US while waiting out the fiancé process with a multiple entry visa, although you really should bring documents from your current work, bills, etc that prove you have strong ties and plan to come back soon. I actually always stated that I was visiting my fiancé and other than a couple of thorough checks I had no problem. The question of K1 over CR1 come up often and it really does depend on whether you want to wait before or after you get married. You should also consider that if you go the K1 way, you won't be able to go back to Canada until well into the adjustment of status process (when you receive your advance parole prior to Green Card). Congratulations on your engagement, nothing about this will be very easy, but if you love each other it will be well worth it. Visajourney is an invaluable resource, so welcome!

Thanks for the advice and the welcome I'm already finding it helpful and am learning a lot of things that I had no idea about before.

Hmm, my wife and I had the same issue when filing. She's the USC petitioner but doesn't know anything at all about her biological father. She was raised by her step father. Doesn't even know her biological father's name and never met him.

In the G-325A she wrote "unknown" for father, and wrote a letter stating that she doesn't know him, has never had contact with him or even met him, and that she was raised by her mother and step father. It's been kind of a non-topic in their family as she even has her step dad's last name. We had to do this also because her step dad is listed as her "father" on the marriage certificate. I'm still not sure if this will be an issue, but the petition made it through the acceptance stage at least..

Anyone have this problem before?

To the OP, I wouldn't exactly imagine it being a huge deal. Most adopted children never meet or know their biological parents, and plenty of people out there have no knowledge of their biological father.. But I guess in this process, accuracy and correct information is extremely important.

Thanks, I'll make sure to write that on my application as well, just to be sure.

I don't think escaping poverty is a major suspicion towards Canadians..

I'm not sure, but they do definitely always think I'm suspicious.

Maybe they see my age and think red flag, or maybe it's because I get nervous when they fire 100 questions at me and stare me down...but either way, they always give me so many issues. And I am a big rule-follower. I only ever have good intentions, I would NEVER try to overstay the 6-month time limit, or stay here illegally....but they always act like I'm a huge threat!

So I'm trying to be extremely thorough in doing all of this, because Homeland Security has always come down on me everytime I bat an eye or pause before speaking..I appreciate everyone's input. My fiance and I have decided we're going to talk to a couple of Immigration lawyers here in town, and then we'll make our decision.

Have your legal marriage in Canada and then apply for the CR1. Have a "real" wedding later in the US if you so desire. Avoids any risk of being accused of fraud for marrying in the US without declaring intentions to do so.

I'm American and my fiance is Canadian and coming here. While he's never been stopped when visiting they always ask him is he SURE he's not coming here to get married. Personally I wouldn't risk getting married in the US, too much potential to cause problems down the line.

That's a good idea. But what about when we cross into Canada? Will they ask us if we plan to get married, and if we say yes, will they let him in?

Hi, I'm in a similar situation to you and we are in the process of applying for a K-1. We met with two lawyers while I was in the states visiting, and both suggested we get married immediately and file a CR1. The reason they suggested this was because I had entered as a visitor- I didn't lie and come down with the intention of marrying.

This wasn't an option for us as I had a work contract I couldn't break, so we decided to go with the K-1. We are also complete rule-followers, and the idea of entering later with the intention to marry (and not admitting that), wasn't something I was willing to do.

In my opinion, there are more risks with the CR1- you risk getting denied entry (either by lying [...never a good idea in this situation!] or admitting you plan to marry), and I've heard of some people having issues with this when they go back to their home country for their interview. If you're considered suspect, they may not grant you approval as easily, in which case you're forced to stay out of the US for an unknown period of time.

As far as I can tell, the CR1 is intended for people who were already in the US for another purpose (e.g. work visa, travel, etc), met someone, and decided to marry. The K-1 is for people like you and I, who have been dating long distance, got engaged, and now plan to marry in the US.

The amount you end up paying to file a K-1 and then a K-3, like Immigration suggests, is too much for us. We're a younger couple, and how am I supposed to be able to go to school AND support myself when I am having to pay an unjustifiable amount for some people to look at some papers, give me a physical, and ask me some questions? There has to be a legal, honest, and less expensive way to do it.

This is not true. You can enter the US and get married and leave when your visit time is up. They can then file for the spousal visa.

You will need to show strong ties to your country and make sure they know you are returning home. You do not have to even say up front you are getting married, unless they ask you directly. You just cannot enter with intent to get married and STAY.

What are some things I can show them I plan to return home?(And I DO plan to! I don't intend to stay, I just intend to save money and time...lol)

There's never been a time when I've come through customs that they didn't ask me what I was planning to do here. So if I told them I was getting married but would be returning home within a week, with proof of strong ties and intentions to leave, would they give me a ton of trouble?

Okay- I found the Guides that Dave&Roza mentioned and read up on the 2 Visas. The CR1 sounds better for our situation. The only question I have about it is, will we have any problems trying to cross the border (either me coming to the USA or him coming to Canada) if we tell them we are getting married? I'm sure the non-citizen will need to have lots of proof that they will return home, and show very strong ties to their home country, etc...how can we prove that?

Let me address the last part first...

The purpose of the K1 as I understand it, is to lawfully enter the United States with the intention of marrying and seeking permanent residency through a change of status, when you enter under a visitor visa, you do not enter with the intent to remain, so that's where the big difference comes from. It's not impossible to marry under a visitor visa and adjust, but apparently it can cause major major issues since you entered the USA with 'false intentions'.... (you can still come in and marry, so long as you leave afterwards, i.e. you can't come in, marry, apply to adjust your status and stay there forever more)

if you want to get married first, you'll need to apply for a CR1 visa and then wait outside the USA before you can settle... (you can still visit!)

Ah, okay. I understand.

Now that scares me. I have always had bad experiences with Homeland Security, for some reason they always gave me hell whenever trying to visit my boyfriend (now fiance). :/

So are you saying to avoid problems, I will file the CR1 and get married after it's approved?? Sorry if I'm misunderstanding

Yes, get married and then file the cr1. would would still be limited to your standard "stay" time, ie 6 months or what the law permits. You would return to canada for interview for cr1 visa. When approced, you enter usa as resident.

Thank you. This makes it much easier on us.

If the fiancee visa isn't absolutely necessary, why do most people still opt to get it before getting married?

Thank you so much in advance for your help!

I'm a Canadian citizen engaged to an American citizen. We've known eachother since 2006 and got engaged this February.

At the Immigration office here in AR, we talked to a lady who told us some things that I'm not sure are true, because some people online have said otherwise. She was extremely unhelpful and didn't know how to answer many of our questions, so we are really confused about how to go about this process. Here are some things she told us:

1. I cannot be in the United States at all while our K-1 paperwork is being processed.

2. The fact that I don't know any information about my biological father could cause problems with obtaining my visa

Another thing I want to ask is, what the heck is the point of a K-1 visa anyway? We pay $350 for them to say "Okay, get married in 90 days and then make sure you spend another $400 on another visa."

Can we not just skip this fiancee one, get married in the USA and then fill out the marriage visa?

It seems like it makes no sense to go through so much trouble just for the government to tell us when to get married. Am I missing something?