RalphT

I had a border agent call me and threaten my wife with a 5-year ban over the phone because he said she was visiting too much.  She never overstayed her tourist visa or did anything illegal, but he had a suspicion that she was abusing her visa and "living here.". These people are no joke, they take their jobs seriously and once they make a decision there isn't much we can do about it.  You're acting like this person should just roll the dice like there aren't serious consequences.

This is immigration fraud.  The OP has already said he plans to Adjust Status and has been denied entry.  He has moved his whole life down to the US and is basically living there.  To tell immigration that he is not planning to adjust status and is just visiting is lying to immigration and will result in being denied entry, possible detention at the border, or a ban, either minimum of 5 years or a lifetime ban.  If the OP succeeds in entering the US after lying to immigration, if they don't catch him right away and put him in detention in preparation for trial and deportation (and you DON'T want to go into any of the ICE facilities), it will come back to haunt him on one of the many different petitions he and his spouse will need to file over the next few years for him to live and work in the US, and during any future petition for citizenship.  One lie haunts you forever and there is no statute of limitations. 
 
Mistakes happen through ignorance of the law, which is the situation in which the OP now finds himself.  It isn't an excuse nor will it hold any weight with immigration.  They do not care.  What the OP needs to remember is that you don't mess around with US immigration because you do not want the consequences, especially if you are married to an American citizen and want to spend a happy life together.  It may be long and tedious and involved, but going through the proper immigration process - his spouse filing an I-130 and working on a CR-1 visa - is the only way he is going to get back into the US and it is not likely to be any time soon.
 

If she has to quit to get time off to go to Canada, then wouldn't she have to quit to go to Mexico, Europe, or anywhere else?

You bring up all these complications and ignore the most obvious solution.  Your USC spouse can visit you in Canada.  Problem solved.  So, it really isn't that hard for the two of you to be together.  It is that simple.  

You can't visit the US on a non-immigrant basis because you have immigrant intent.   No one said you can't see your spouse for almost two years.  She can visit you.  You can meet in many places.
 
If she divorces you, then you have no path to immigrate to the US.  You will still be in the system.  Getting divorced will not erase you from the system.  
 
The I-130 is the start of the immigration process.  After many steps, you get the CR-1 spousal visa.  It's not CR-1 or I-130.  It's both.  At this point, you choice are to immigrate to the US or she immigrates to Canada.  If you want to immigrate to the US, then there is ONLY ONE WAY TO DO IT.  You start with the I-130 and end up with a CR-1/IR-1 spousal visa.  
 
If you are detailed oriented, can read and follow written information, then you can do it on your own.  This is a DIY website.  Many people have done it without a lawyer.  If you don't have the time or desire to learn about US immigration and need someone to handle things for you, then get a lawyer.  This is a personal choice.

No.  You did do something illegal.  You just didn't realize it was illegal.
 
By your own words, you worked in the US for your Canadian employer.  That was illegal and a violation of your entry into the US.  You just didn't realize it was illegal.
 
By your own words, you were in the US for over 100 days and left all your stuff here - you basically brought your entire life including your keys.  That's not consistent with someone taking a vacation.  That looks like someone moved to the US.  That's illegal even if you didn't know it.  

Yes, it's certain you're in the system.  

If you try to visit in a month, you will be forced to buy a return ticket home and you will listed as a repeat offender trying to enter the US and it will make it worse for you.  You will likely be deported with a 5 years ban.  This means you would be denied a spousal visa after waiting 12-18 months and you would need a waiver for your deportation - yeah, so making your situation way worse.  You might not get the waiver.  DON'T EVEN TRY THIS.
 
You have to look at this from CBP's point of view.  You spent over a 100 days living and working in the US without proper authorization.  Essentially, you were an illegal immigrant.  You have been flagged as such.  Trying to enter again without a visa would be a BIG MISTAKE because you will be deported with a 5 years ban.
 
Your chances of a B-2 visitor visa are zero.
 
Either your wife files for a spousal visa which will take 12-18 months or she moves to Canada.  She can visit you.  Your days of visiting her are over.  

We see this a lot with attorneys and also visa processing services.  They promise faster processing times to get people to pay them for their services, when in reality they can do nothing to speed the process up, you get in line after everything is submitted, just like everyone else.  As with everything related to US immigration, it could go faster or slower than the posted times for your USCIS location, no one knows for sure, including your attorney, it's very unpredictable and not logical, and depends on so many unknowns, including the details of your specific case.  I've always found that expecting the longer, maximum estimated time works best, then you might be pleasantly surprised if it goes faster, and this approach significantly reduces the frustration level.  Good luck with your N-400 process!  

The US is a great country. Housing here is 1/3. Material lifestyle is way better in the US. Australians are "poor". They live in a $1.2m home that doesn't have a laundry room. They hang their clothes outside like cavemen. Their $1.3m home don't have water connection to the fridge, so they take ice from the ice tray like Neanderthals. But yeah, beaches are great. 

I agree 100% with @laylalex. I will trust scientists and medical experts, not random internet rumors or conspiracies. COVID is a real threat and I will do my part to keep others safe and healthy.  If that means getting tested and quarantined, I will. Imperfect tests and precautions are not 100% foolproof, but are far better than not doing anything at all.
 
We're all making sacrifices. We've all been inconvenienced, in terms of time, money, and separation from our loved ones. I'm separated from my partner too. It's hard. I empathize with those who are also separated. But this worldwide health crisis is much, much bigger than any of our personal problems.

Airlines can deny boarding for a plethora of reasons.
 
It's CBP that cannot deny entry to US nationals.

Nobody knows yet. Biden hasn't even been sworn in yet. Since immigration was a major issue during Trump, they might prioritize it? But there's also Covid, so who knows? As long as Covid is the main focus, my hunch is that immigration will remain on the back burner, but I might be wrong.

A moderator needs to lock this thread. Way too much misinformation being spread, speculation, and politically charged statements. I would hate for someone to make plans or big life changes based on future assumptions. 
 
The initial comment made towards someone being from a “red state” in my opinion should result in a ban of that individual from this website. There is 0 place for that here.
 
As a reminder, just because a politician says one thing doesn’t imply it will come to fruition. A lot has changed in the world since Biden was VP and he also wasn’t in charge. His policies/approach may be different this time around.

Look if you don't agree with the post fine. But don't sit there and tell us not to do something. So you mean to tell me a professional athlete should be able to get in but not my fiancée? I'm sick and tired of hearing CR-1 IR-1 people saying that our Visas don't matter. Go to another forum if you don't like it.
 
K Thanks 🤬 

*** Many posts removed for being off topic.  This is an immigration forum; post with constructive, legal advice for the OP or do not post.  This is not your political soap box. ********

This guy keeps putting pandemic in quotes. Best to ignore. 
 
The current shutdown is saving countless lives and no matter what, doubters will claim it was for nothing. They can’t comprehend that people are being saved by staying home and distancing. 
 
Doctor and nurse here incase someone wants to debate science. 

Oh God. Here we go. Please look at the countries like Italy, Spain and UK. This is NOT like other viruses/flus. It has killed and will continue to kill without a vaccine. Those that are currently self isolating including our elderly and with underlying health conditions are sitting ducks right now. And you may ask how I know this??? ICU nurse here and seeing first hand that this virus does not discriminate. It is still killing those that are healthy and fit normally. 
 
 
If you are going to be so resolute is your thinking, at least make an informed opinion and not one out of utter ignorance.

LOL funniest comment I have read today. 😂

Trump's most likely plan is to have this executive order blocked so he can claim in November that his intention was to "protect US Citizens and their jobs but the Democrats didn't allow him that" as a political power move.
 
What a moron, honestly.

its anecdotal evidence obviously. Anyway, this is why we shouldnt let it get political, whether he is someone's fifth choice isnt really the point right now . Most of us here agreed that a democrat would not do this 

It’s a perfectly valid question to ask in a region where being found out to be gay can have severe consequences. 

It would have been interesting if he’d come on here with his questions during the process. 
 
“Would the following be enough for evidence of bona fide relationship? 100 paparazzi pictures of us dating, a 12-page spread in Hello from our wedding, the Queen of England congratulating us in her Christmas speech and our faces on t-shirts and plates?”
 
“My USC wife, our son and I have been living in a property owned by my grandmother, renovated by the taxpayer and my wife hasn’t worked since we started dating. How would I report this on the I-864?”
 
”In the past I had some issues with alcohol and cannabis (which is illegal in my homeland) to the point where my father put me in rehab. Will this cause an issue for my medical?”

(From my blog)
A Warning To Green Card Holders About Voting
Do not register to vote in any election until you have officially been granted US Citizenship.
Going into this election season, it is very important to understand that for a Green Card holder, (Lawful Permanent Resident) to register to vote is not only improper, but can have severe consequences in the future.
Even though there are States that have instituted policies that do not require evidence of US Citizenship when registering to vote, the voter registration documents do ask whether the person registering is a US Citizen. Many have simply checked the box and gone ahead and registered, knowing that even if the State Law requires showing government issued identification, their driver license will suffice.
While this is not legal advice, the publicly searchable “9 FAM” (Foreign Affairs Manual) is quite clear regarding the potential consequences of falsely claiming US Citizenship. There is no more serious a misrepresentation, based on the consequences, dealt with in 9 FAM. The potential consequence of registering to vote or for any other federal or state benefit afforded only to US Citizens includes Deportation and a LIFETIME BAN from entering the USA.
If any reader who is not a US Citizen, has registered to vote in any official State of Federal election, I advise them to seek competent legal advice as soon as possible, to discuss minimizing or eliminating the risk of any future deportation and ban.
The law is, what the law is. Regardless of whether this particular or any other immigrant related law is being consistently enforced today, that can change at any time.
False claims to US Citizenship are taken very seriously by Customs and Border Patrol Officers. Some years ago, I was traveling with my step daughter, when we encountered a border check station on Interstate 10 in West Texas. My step daughter was quite proud of passing her citizenship test just the day before, and proudly answered yes, when a CBP Officer asked if she was a US Citizen. I quickly corrected her, so the officer would hear me, saying, “You WILL BE a US Citizen after your swearing in ceremony, but you’re aren’t a citizen yet.” Fortunately, the officer was understanding and we were soon on our way without incident.
Many have registered to vote, somewhat “innocently” because of the misrepresentations or ignorance of well meaning officers at the DMV (Driver License Offices) or even a campaign worker.
* * DO NOT REGISTER TO VOTE IN ANY ELECTION UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY GRANTED US CITIZENSHIP * *

For me, definitely don't have to worry about renewing green cards or if my green card will be revoked.  Most importantly as citizen i get to vote!

For me, definitely don't have to worry about renewing green cards or if my green card will be revoked.  Most importantly as citizen i get to vote!