jelky

5 hours ago, SorrowL said:

Renew your passport now, and submit it during your interview. Shouldn’t be a problem.

2 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Correct

Thanks!

Hello, I'm very sorry if I'm posting a question that has already been addressed! I've searched for existing topics but of course everyone's situation is different, so I'm just looking for some clarification.

My husband and I fully submitted our forms/documents (I-864, IV, civil documents) this past weekend to the NVC. My passport expires in late October of this year, and my understanding is that it needs to be valid for at least 6 months at the time of the interview. As optimistic as I am that everything goes smoothly, it's probably unrealistic to expect an interview date for April (six months before October). It's no problem for me to renew my passport, but should I do that ASAP or wait until I get an interview date? Will getting a new passport before getting an interview date conflict with the information I've already submitted to the NVC?

Thanks in advance for any insight!

You need a copy of the marriage CERTIFICATE not the marriage license.

Exactly. You just have a copy of the marriage license. You need to order from Service Ontario the marriage certificate. You can actually order the cheaper short form, this that is exactly what everyone expects the marriage certificate to look like. The more expensive long form, is actually just a certified copy of your paperwork you signed on your wedding day.

FYI, I suggest asking for an expedite and stating it's for immigration reasons if you're in a rush, otherwise, they can take up to 3 months to return it. The office is some make-work project in Thunder Bay.

Thanks folks!

The purpose probably pertains to your country. Maybe sone people use it to rent a venue or donething. Immigration doesn't need it.

Also only send a photocopy with your petition. You will need a photocopy for USCIS and one at NVC. Save the original or certified copy for interview.

Is the marriage certificate in English or French?

If other than English it will need translation attached also.

Thanks! It will be in English.

Get a copy of your marriage certificate. This is what USCIS will want

Thanks! Honestly it isn't really a big deal for me to do that anyway. Do you know what the purpose is of the marriage license certified copies?

This is really confusing because you keep referring to it as a "marriage license". A marriage license is the document you get BEFORE you get married. A marriage certificate is the document you get AFTER you finalize your marriage. As long as this "certified copy of marriage registration" that you have is the registration of the final marriage AFTER the marriage was performed and attests to the fact that you are now married, then you're good to go.

I'm sorry for the confusion! Yes, the marriage license was obtained before we got married, and the document I have is a "certified copy" of that, which was only made available to us a few months after. What throws me off is that it is just that - a copy of the form we signed before and after our marriage ceremony. It is signed by the registrar general and has a certificate number, but the copy itself is titled marriage license. Do you think that will be sufficient?

I have attached an image I found on google that is very similar to what I have.

Thanks again for your help!

Hi there! I apologize in advance if I'm posting this in the wrong forum, or if I've missed this information somewhere else. I've found a few topics related to my query, but I'm still a bit confused.

My husband (American) and I (Canadian) were married in Ontario in 2015. We are preparing the I-130 package, and I understand we need to include our marriage certificate.

We already have a certified copy of our marriage license from the registrar general, which is what I requested of the two options available on the Service Ontario website. The other option was "Marriage Certificate (File Size)". I assumed we'd need the long form because it apparently has more information, but now I'm wondering if I should actually request the marriage certificate and send that in the I-130 package instead.

I have attached a screenshot of what is available to be requested through the Service Ontario website.

I guess my question is: will the certified copy of our marriage license be enough to include in our I-130 package as it has more information regarding our marriage, or should I take the I-130 instructions more literally and request a marriage certificate to include instead?

I hope this makes sense, and thanks for your help!

Answers:

1. Canada specific answer needed
2. Canada specific answer needed
3. You will not require a tourist visa. However, be prepared to show strong ties to Canada in the event they are asked for by CBP.
4. The petition can be filed by the US Citizen anytime once the marriage certificate is in-hand a photocopy of it is made. You applying for the visa itself will only come after the petition has been approved.

Ok thanks!

Point to note what you applying for isn't for Ir1 it's will be a CR1 since you are not married and marriage may just be a few months when you apply...IR1 are for marriages over two years

Thanks for pointing that out! I understand the difference, just mistook one for the other.

Anyone who can answer the marriage/declaration questions?

The K-1 route would be indicated if you were willing to relocate to the US permanently and giving up your job in Canada unless you could work from home and cross into Canada sporadically. There are waiting times - average 90-120 days - during which you would have to stay in the US without being able to leave the country. That's something you need to consider.

The other option involves doing just what you guys proposed - getting married and visiting each other for periods of time. No one can tell you for how long that plan might work but it's important to observe that you should spend more time in Canada than in the US, i.e. don't expect to come in for 5 months, leave and return a month later for another long stay - that will set off some red flags. If you're planning on short visits every so often you should be ok but again, there is not set formula. When you cross, be sure to have proof of your employment in Canada so you can explain that you have no plans to stay in the US upon entry. If you get to the point where you're denied entry your husband will have to start the application for a greencard for you and that will take about a year, give or take, at the en of which you'll be expected to come to the US and establish residence.

Good luck!

A few more questions: if we were planning on doing what I originally explained, could I go there/he come here and just get married at city hall? And then when we would plan on living together, would we be filing for the IR-1/CR-1 Visa or...?

Thank you again for being so helpful.

Technically you may get married ant not live together. I was married for almost 5 years before we applied for my wife's gc because of a series of factors. However, she had easy access to the US with her career which allowed her to work in the US virtually permanently. Without a work permit you may end up having trouble crossing the border at some point if you come in often and stay for weeks on end. Without a way to stay in the country and without some sort of status other that a visitor, your plan may end up not working in the long run.

Thank you for replying so quickly.

So does that mean you would suggest going the K1 route?