Ms Hogan

I haven't had a tough time. I've had an easy time. That's why I said don't look at my timeline as a "normal" example because we flew through the process.
And most people here will also let you know that working with an attorney makes everything take a lot longer, unless you NEED a lawyer and don't have an option when there are special circumstances making it harder for someone to get approved. Lawyers don't have it in their best interest to move things along quickly and stay ahead of the game. They, from what most have experienced and shared here, wind up causing a lot of necessary back and forth which in the end delays your progress. When you read the guides here about getting through the process as quickly as possible, you'll see there are a lot of preparations that can be made ahead of time to stay on top of things. An attorney likely won't do those things.
Again, good luck with everything!

I hate to add to the negative vibe but my first question is whether or not you already have your marriage license for the state of New York. You will need to apply for that at least 24 hours before you plan to get married. I was married in Niagara Falls, NY so yes, I'm familiar with this part.
On to the next part... to be completely frank, your wife is going to need to find a job and contribute. I'm sure this sounds harsh but unless you want to;
a) pay for everything yourself while being separated OR
b) stay in Canada a while longer...
you don't have much choice.
There are many MANY stories here on the boards of people who have been waiting a very long time to be reunited with their loved ones. They are also not all as fortunate as we are in Canada to be able to visit without needing a visa. With that said though, your wife, when crossing the border, won't be able to prove that she has any ties to Canada. She doesn't work, she doesn't have her own lease... does she have any income or banking or anything at all in her name? I have been driving back and forth across the border for 3.5 years to visit my boyfriend/fiance now-husband. I have been fortunate enough to never be given a hard time but more-often-than-not I was asked what I did for a living and when I had to be back to work. My visits were no more than a few days at a time. Your almost-wife isn't in the same situation.
When you pull up to the border with a truckload of stuff saying you're moving, your almost-wife can't be stating that she's moving. Because she isn't allowed. If it were that simple, none of us would be here jumping through all the hoops we're jumping through.
I was also surprised when I found out how complicated it was going to be. I was shocked when I found out how long the "normal" processing times were as I had no idea until I arrived here on the message boards. Do NOT follow my timeline as an example because we have gone through faster than most as of late. Mine is not the norm.
You already know you're getting married. So get that taken care of and then start building your case for your application. There is a lot of preparation.
I apologize if my wording is harsh in any way but you have some stuff to think through and plan around because what you thought you might be able to do, simply isn't allowed. She must stay in Canada whether with you our without, other than her coming for visits. As Canadians we are often permitted to visit for up to 6 months BUT that also is usually only permitted after being able to prove that we're coming back to Canada. With you getting married, you moving, and her having no ties, that will be very hard to convince the border guard to be true. On the other hand you might just get lucky and they let her in. Either way, your case will almost definitely take longer than the 6 months maximum before to be complete, which means she needs to come back to Canada at some point. Does she have anyone to stay with during this time?
Good luck with whatever you decide. There's a lot of support here on the boards.

Yep, first of the November group from what I remember. I won't take it personally, though Nola!
I got lucky and busted my a$$ to make sure I didn't miss a beat. I am one of the fortunate few to get through very quickly. Which again, is why I said don't look at my timeline as an example.
Thank you for adding this.
I apologized in advance for what I felt might be a reality dose that would be taken hard. It is what it is. My intent was, of course, to share feedback based on what I've experienced personally and learned from others here.

I hate to add to the negative vibe but my first question is whether or not you already have your marriage license for the state of New York. You will need to apply for that at least 24 hours before you plan to get married. I was married in Niagara Falls, NY so yes, I'm familiar with this part.
On to the next part... to be completely frank, your wife is going to need to find a job and contribute. I'm sure this sounds harsh but unless you want to;
a) pay for everything yourself while being separated OR
b) stay in Canada a while longer...
you don't have much choice.
There are many MANY stories here on the boards of people who have been waiting a very long time to be reunited with their loved ones. They are also not all as fortunate as we are in Canada to be able to visit without needing a visa. With that said though, your wife, when crossing the border, won't be able to prove that she has any ties to Canada. She doesn't work, she doesn't have her own lease... does she have any income or banking or anything at all in her name? I have been driving back and forth across the border for 3.5 years to visit my boyfriend/fiance now-husband. I have been fortunate enough to never be given a hard time but more-often-than-not I was asked what I did for a living and when I had to be back to work. My visits were no more than a few days at a time. Your almost-wife isn't in the same situation.
When you pull up to the border with a truckload of stuff saying you're moving, your almost-wife can't be stating that she's moving. Because she isn't allowed. If it were that simple, none of us would be here jumping through all the hoops we're jumping through.
I was also surprised when I found out how complicated it was going to be. I was shocked when I found out how long the "normal" processing times were as I had no idea until I arrived here on the message boards. Do NOT follow my timeline as an example because we have gone through faster than most as of late. Mine is not the norm.
You already know you're getting married. So get that taken care of and then start building your case for your application. There is a lot of preparation.
I apologize if my wording is harsh in any way but you have some stuff to think through and plan around because what you thought you might be able to do, simply isn't allowed. She must stay in Canada whether with you our without, other than her coming for visits. As Canadians we are often permitted to visit for up to 6 months BUT that also is usually only permitted after being able to prove that we're coming back to Canada. With you getting married, you moving, and her having no ties, that will be very hard to convince the border guard to be true. On the other hand you might just get lucky and they let her in. Either way, your case will almost definitely take longer than the 6 months maximum before to be complete, which means she needs to come back to Canada at some point. Does she have anyone to stay with during this time?
Good luck with whatever you decide. There's a lot of support here on the boards.

I haven't had a tough time. I've had an easy time. That's why I said don't look at my timeline as a "normal" example because we flew through the process.
And most people here will also let you know that working with an attorney makes everything take a lot longer, unless you NEED a lawyer and don't have an option when there are special circumstances making it harder for someone to get approved. Lawyers don't have it in their best interest to move things along quickly and stay ahead of the game. They, from what most have experienced and shared here, wind up causing a lot of necessary back and forth which in the end delays your progress. When you read the guides here about getting through the process as quickly as possible, you'll see there are a lot of preparations that can be made ahead of time to stay on top of things. An attorney likely won't do those things.
Again, good luck with everything!

I haven't had a tough time. I've had an easy time. That's why I said don't look at my timeline as a "normal" example because we flew through the process.
And most people here will also let you know that working with an attorney makes everything take a lot longer, unless you NEED a lawyer and don't have an option when there are special circumstances making it harder for someone to get approved. Lawyers don't have it in their best interest to move things along quickly and stay ahead of the game. They, from what most have experienced and shared here, wind up causing a lot of necessary back and forth which in the end delays your progress. When you read the guides here about getting through the process as quickly as possible, you'll see there are a lot of preparations that can be made ahead of time to stay on top of things. An attorney likely won't do those things.
Again, good luck with everything!

Yep, first of the November group from what I remember. I won't take it personally, though Nola!
I got lucky and busted my a$$ to make sure I didn't miss a beat. I am one of the fortunate few to get through very quickly. Which again, is why I said don't look at my timeline as an example.
Thank you for adding this.
I apologized in advance for what I felt might be a reality dose that would be taken hard. It is what it is. My intent was, of course, to share feedback based on what I've experienced personally and learned from others here.

I haven't had a tough time. I've had an easy time. That's why I said don't look at my timeline as a "normal" example because we flew through the process.
And most people here will also let you know that working with an attorney makes everything take a lot longer, unless you NEED a lawyer and don't have an option when there are special circumstances making it harder for someone to get approved. Lawyers don't have it in their best interest to move things along quickly and stay ahead of the game. They, from what most have experienced and shared here, wind up causing a lot of necessary back and forth which in the end delays your progress. When you read the guides here about getting through the process as quickly as possible, you'll see there are a lot of preparations that can be made ahead of time to stay on top of things. An attorney likely won't do those things.
Again, good luck with everything!

I hate to add to the negative vibe but my first question is whether or not you already have your marriage license for the state of New York. You will need to apply for that at least 24 hours before you plan to get married. I was married in Niagara Falls, NY so yes, I'm familiar with this part.
On to the next part... to be completely frank, your wife is going to need to find a job and contribute. I'm sure this sounds harsh but unless you want to;
a) pay for everything yourself while being separated OR
b) stay in Canada a while longer...
you don't have much choice.
There are many MANY stories here on the boards of people who have been waiting a very long time to be reunited with their loved ones. They are also not all as fortunate as we are in Canada to be able to visit without needing a visa. With that said though, your wife, when crossing the border, won't be able to prove that she has any ties to Canada. She doesn't work, she doesn't have her own lease... does she have any income or banking or anything at all in her name? I have been driving back and forth across the border for 3.5 years to visit my boyfriend/fiance now-husband. I have been fortunate enough to never be given a hard time but more-often-than-not I was asked what I did for a living and when I had to be back to work. My visits were no more than a few days at a time. Your almost-wife isn't in the same situation.
When you pull up to the border with a truckload of stuff saying you're moving, your almost-wife can't be stating that she's moving. Because she isn't allowed. If it were that simple, none of us would be here jumping through all the hoops we're jumping through.
I was also surprised when I found out how complicated it was going to be. I was shocked when I found out how long the "normal" processing times were as I had no idea until I arrived here on the message boards. Do NOT follow my timeline as an example because we have gone through faster than most as of late. Mine is not the norm.
You already know you're getting married. So get that taken care of and then start building your case for your application. There is a lot of preparation.
I apologize if my wording is harsh in any way but you have some stuff to think through and plan around because what you thought you might be able to do, simply isn't allowed. She must stay in Canada whether with you our without, other than her coming for visits. As Canadians we are often permitted to visit for up to 6 months BUT that also is usually only permitted after being able to prove that we're coming back to Canada. With you getting married, you moving, and her having no ties, that will be very hard to convince the border guard to be true. On the other hand you might just get lucky and they let her in. Either way, your case will almost definitely take longer than the 6 months maximum before to be complete, which means she needs to come back to Canada at some point. Does she have anyone to stay with during this time?
Good luck with whatever you decide. There's a lot of support here on the boards.

I hate to add to the negative vibe but my first question is whether or not you already have your marriage license for the state of New York. You will need to apply for that at least 24 hours before you plan to get married. I was married in Niagara Falls, NY so yes, I'm familiar with this part.
On to the next part... to be completely frank, your wife is going to need to find a job and contribute. I'm sure this sounds harsh but unless you want to;
a) pay for everything yourself while being separated OR
b) stay in Canada a while longer...
you don't have much choice.
There are many MANY stories here on the boards of people who have been waiting a very long time to be reunited with their loved ones. They are also not all as fortunate as we are in Canada to be able to visit without needing a visa. With that said though, your wife, when crossing the border, won't be able to prove that she has any ties to Canada. She doesn't work, she doesn't have her own lease... does she have any income or banking or anything at all in her name? I have been driving back and forth across the border for 3.5 years to visit my boyfriend/fiance now-husband. I have been fortunate enough to never be given a hard time but more-often-than-not I was asked what I did for a living and when I had to be back to work. My visits were no more than a few days at a time. Your almost-wife isn't in the same situation.
When you pull up to the border with a truckload of stuff saying you're moving, your almost-wife can't be stating that she's moving. Because she isn't allowed. If it were that simple, none of us would be here jumping through all the hoops we're jumping through.
I was also surprised when I found out how complicated it was going to be. I was shocked when I found out how long the "normal" processing times were as I had no idea until I arrived here on the message boards. Do NOT follow my timeline as an example because we have gone through faster than most as of late. Mine is not the norm.
You already know you're getting married. So get that taken care of and then start building your case for your application. There is a lot of preparation.
I apologize if my wording is harsh in any way but you have some stuff to think through and plan around because what you thought you might be able to do, simply isn't allowed. She must stay in Canada whether with you our without, other than her coming for visits. As Canadians we are often permitted to visit for up to 6 months BUT that also is usually only permitted after being able to prove that we're coming back to Canada. With you getting married, you moving, and her having no ties, that will be very hard to convince the border guard to be true. On the other hand you might just get lucky and they let her in. Either way, your case will almost definitely take longer than the 6 months maximum before to be complete, which means she needs to come back to Canada at some point. Does she have anyone to stay with during this time?
Good luck with whatever you decide. There's a lot of support here on the boards.

I hate to add to the negative vibe but my first question is whether or not you already have your marriage license for the state of New York. You will need to apply for that at least 24 hours before you plan to get married. I was married in Niagara Falls, NY so yes, I'm familiar with this part.
On to the next part... to be completely frank, your wife is going to need to find a job and contribute. I'm sure this sounds harsh but unless you want to;
a) pay for everything yourself while being separated OR
b) stay in Canada a while longer...
you don't have much choice.
There are many MANY stories here on the boards of people who have been waiting a very long time to be reunited with their loved ones. They are also not all as fortunate as we are in Canada to be able to visit without needing a visa. With that said though, your wife, when crossing the border, won't be able to prove that she has any ties to Canada. She doesn't work, she doesn't have her own lease... does she have any income or banking or anything at all in her name? I have been driving back and forth across the border for 3.5 years to visit my boyfriend/fiance now-husband. I have been fortunate enough to never be given a hard time but more-often-than-not I was asked what I did for a living and when I had to be back to work. My visits were no more than a few days at a time. Your almost-wife isn't in the same situation.
When you pull up to the border with a truckload of stuff saying you're moving, your almost-wife can't be stating that she's moving. Because she isn't allowed. If it were that simple, none of us would be here jumping through all the hoops we're jumping through.
I was also surprised when I found out how complicated it was going to be. I was shocked when I found out how long the "normal" processing times were as I had no idea until I arrived here on the message boards. Do NOT follow my timeline as an example because we have gone through faster than most as of late. Mine is not the norm.
You already know you're getting married. So get that taken care of and then start building your case for your application. There is a lot of preparation.
I apologize if my wording is harsh in any way but you have some stuff to think through and plan around because what you thought you might be able to do, simply isn't allowed. She must stay in Canada whether with you our without, other than her coming for visits. As Canadians we are often permitted to visit for up to 6 months BUT that also is usually only permitted after being able to prove that we're coming back to Canada. With you getting married, you moving, and her having no ties, that will be very hard to convince the border guard to be true. On the other hand you might just get lucky and they let her in. Either way, your case will almost definitely take longer than the 6 months maximum before to be complete, which means she needs to come back to Canada at some point. Does she have anyone to stay with during this time?
Good luck with whatever you decide. There's a lot of support here on the boards.

I haven't had a tough time. I've had an easy time. That's why I said don't look at my timeline as a "normal" example because we flew through the process.
And most people here will also let you know that working with an attorney makes everything take a lot longer, unless you NEED a lawyer and don't have an option when there are special circumstances making it harder for someone to get approved. Lawyers don't have it in their best interest to move things along quickly and stay ahead of the game. They, from what most have experienced and shared here, wind up causing a lot of necessary back and forth which in the end delays your progress. When you read the guides here about getting through the process as quickly as possible, you'll see there are a lot of preparations that can be made ahead of time to stay on top of things. An attorney likely won't do those things.
Again, good luck with everything!

I hate to add to the negative vibe but my first question is whether or not you already have your marriage license for the state of New York. You will need to apply for that at least 24 hours before you plan to get married. I was married in Niagara Falls, NY so yes, I'm familiar with this part.
On to the next part... to be completely frank, your wife is going to need to find a job and contribute. I'm sure this sounds harsh but unless you want to;
a) pay for everything yourself while being separated OR
b) stay in Canada a while longer...
you don't have much choice.
There are many MANY stories here on the boards of people who have been waiting a very long time to be reunited with their loved ones. They are also not all as fortunate as we are in Canada to be able to visit without needing a visa. With that said though, your wife, when crossing the border, won't be able to prove that she has any ties to Canada. She doesn't work, she doesn't have her own lease... does she have any income or banking or anything at all in her name? I have been driving back and forth across the border for 3.5 years to visit my boyfriend/fiance now-husband. I have been fortunate enough to never be given a hard time but more-often-than-not I was asked what I did for a living and when I had to be back to work. My visits were no more than a few days at a time. Your almost-wife isn't in the same situation.
When you pull up to the border with a truckload of stuff saying you're moving, your almost-wife can't be stating that she's moving. Because she isn't allowed. If it were that simple, none of us would be here jumping through all the hoops we're jumping through.
I was also surprised when I found out how complicated it was going to be. I was shocked when I found out how long the "normal" processing times were as I had no idea until I arrived here on the message boards. Do NOT follow my timeline as an example because we have gone through faster than most as of late. Mine is not the norm.
You already know you're getting married. So get that taken care of and then start building your case for your application. There is a lot of preparation.
I apologize if my wording is harsh in any way but you have some stuff to think through and plan around because what you thought you might be able to do, simply isn't allowed. She must stay in Canada whether with you our without, other than her coming for visits. As Canadians we are often permitted to visit for up to 6 months BUT that also is usually only permitted after being able to prove that we're coming back to Canada. With you getting married, you moving, and her having no ties, that will be very hard to convince the border guard to be true. On the other hand you might just get lucky and they let her in. Either way, your case will almost definitely take longer than the 6 months maximum before to be complete, which means she needs to come back to Canada at some point. Does she have anyone to stay with during this time?
Good luck with whatever you decide. There's a lot of support here on the boards.

I haven't had a tough time. I've had an easy time. That's why I said don't look at my timeline as a "normal" example because we flew through the process.
And most people here will also let you know that working with an attorney makes everything take a lot longer, unless you NEED a lawyer and don't have an option when there are special circumstances making it harder for someone to get approved. Lawyers don't have it in their best interest to move things along quickly and stay ahead of the game. They, from what most have experienced and shared here, wind up causing a lot of necessary back and forth which in the end delays your progress. When you read the guides here about getting through the process as quickly as possible, you'll see there are a lot of preparations that can be made ahead of time to stay on top of things. An attorney likely won't do those things.
Again, good luck with everything!

I'm sorry to say, but the wording of such questions makes it sounds like you're trying to figure out how long you have to stay married in order to get what you want.

I'm sorry to say, but the wording of such questions makes it sounds like you're trying to figure out how long you have to stay married in order to get what you want.

I'm sorry to say, but the wording of such questions makes it sounds like you're trying to figure out how long you have to stay married in order to get what you want.

I'm sorry to say, but the wording of such questions makes it sounds like you're trying to figure out how long you have to stay married in order to get what you want.

Are you sure it hasn't been processed? Keep in mind that they don't actually cash the check in a normal check-cashing way you might be used to. They actually convert it into an electronic transaction where they will debit the account for the $420 but not actually cash the check. Have you had a chance to look at your account to be sure it hasn't been debited yet?

Are you sure it hasn't been processed? Keep in mind that they don't actually cash the check in a normal check-cashing way you might be used to. They actually convert it into an electronic transaction where they will debit the account for the $420 but not actually cash the check. Have you had a chance to look at your account to be sure it hasn't been debited yet?

Be honest, don't lie. There is no reason to lie. If you get caught lying you're going to be S.O.L. and possibly have challenges with your petition or he could be denied entry for a length of time instead. If they turn him away on this attempt he can always try again right away but provide the ties they're looking for.
Many of us have crossed throughout the process with no problem. I have for 3 years before getting married and then after getting married, crossed just about every other weekend until this past week when we completed our interviews.

I have been using a U.S. RBC account for over a year. It is linked to my Canadian account. I transfer money instantly between the accounts and have a Visa Debit card to use in the U.S. Easy, safe, and cheap!

Interview this morning. APPROVED! I will post details later but just wanted to share the good news.
I know a lot of people are still waiting patiently for NOA2s or even waiting for your interview to be scheduled after your NOA2. I also understand that a lot of members here get frustrated when they see those of us who have been fortunate to get through the process quickly. PLEASE don't be disappointed to hear that we are now complete. I'm sharing the news with people who understand the process, whether it be long or short, challenging or easy, we're all trying to reunite with our families. And each of our journeys is as important to us as the next person. I was fortunate to get through it quickly. I would like to stay involved here and offer whatever help I can to those who are still waiting or new members coming to the boards.
Thank you everyone for your ongoing support! I would NOT have been nearly as prepared for this process without the guidance and knowledge of VisaJourney members!

100% bang on, KDH. I almost always forget about tourist visas. I am fortunate enough to come from a country that doesn't require a visa to visit the US but because of that I forget about the fact that most people would have to get a visa first before coming.

My husband and I have been together for 3.5 years but only married in October of 2012. Once we knew that moving to the USA was the better choice for us we wound up moving our marriage forward so we could be together all the time sooner.
Immigrating to the US is a huge privilege and a huge deal. I feel the same way about immigrating to Canada. Either way, you'll have to deal with having a long distance relationship until you both know for sure you want to get married. I agree with you that you should not rush into marriage. Don't talk yourself into it just because you miss each other and it's the only way to immigrate. Be patient with your relationship. If it can withstand the long distance and you truly decide it's the right decision for you then you'll both be stronger and so will your marriage.