amicablebride

Wow, I am so glad you made such great process! 
Yeah it takes time to settle down and all that. While waiting for EAD and AOS is truly gonna test your marriage, it's crazy. 
I am very thankful to have all the people on here to seek advice and support, it is awesome. I joined this site last June while waiting for NOA2 and wondering where our NOA2 was and my husband called USCIS to ask and they told us to give it 2-3 more months(bull answer like usual) and I freaked out lol. Got some consolation on here from people and we received the NOA2 in the mail within a week later.

Jude, I moved to the U.S. about 3 years ago and I'm still terribly homesick -- especially after I go home to visit for a while and come back. I experience the same feelings of regret you mentioned and wonder why I did this all for one person, and why my husband couldn't move to Canada to be with me. I often miss everything about the part of Canada I'm from (which is a 25 hour drive / 7-12 hours in flights and very expensive to travel back and forth from). The culture is different, the laws are different, their standard of living here is lower, the politics are ridiculous, the people in the New York area where I am now are aggressive for the most part and have funny accents. I wish I could offer you some help and tell you it gets easier, but for me it still hasn't. When I'm here, I feel like I'm living away at a job. Like an extended business trip. It doesn't really feel like "home". I'm comfortable and all, but I think home will always be home. You can love it and cherish it in your heart forever, and be absolutely grateful every time you go back. And if you ever want to speak your mind, you know where to come! :)

Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to respond to my post and to share their experiences. It really does help.
 
My husband and I had a long talk yesterday and I shared my many frustrations with him. It felt good to talk about these things, even though they weren't necessarily the most complimentary things about his home town and the people who live there! But he understood, and in many ways shared my feelings (he admitted there were people he's friends with - real Trump supporting, right wing racist rednecks - that he wouldn't be if he met them now and hadn't grown up with them). He wants to get out of this town almost as much as I do, so the next step is to work out where we want to move to. It's not going to make the time until I can work go any faster but at least it gives me something to work towards and to focus my mind on.

Thank you. It is a written rule, but not often enforced at the border. 
Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you! 

Ah ok. The answer is still no, but mushroomspore answered it more eloquently. 

I wasn't allowed to volunteer until I had my SS#. I tried volunteering to work with kids, animals, and seniors -- all requested SS#.

If you think that's bad... the teacher I work with is in her 60's.... she was looking at a map of the U.S. that showed Alaska down in one corner and Hawaii down in the other corner... she looked puzzled and said, "I always thought Alaska was up north somewhere..." 

Wow! I could have written this myself. You're absolutely right about there being a different standard of what's considered friendship. I don't want to seem "critical" of any of the Americans I've met... but in Canada, when you go to someone's house, they ALWAYS go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. It doesn't matter if you're a total stranger who was invited by someone, or if you're a family member. They include you in conversations. They talk about things everyone can relate to. They're hospitable. The Americans I've personally met are... well... different. When I first met his family, they hugged me and kissed me on the cheek, took us out for a nice dinner at Olive Garden. I thought, wow, they are soo incredibly loving! I sent them a thank you card and chocolate covered fruit from edible arrangements as a thank you. I wanted a great relationship with them.
 
But now, I dread going there. We walk in, they say hi to their son like they haven't seen him in years.. he rushes in and goes straight to the kitchen, I always take my shoes off, I don't care if American's leave them on lol. Then I go in and they're busy on their ipads or with the TV so I say hi, they say hi back. Then I follow him to the kitchen because it's just sooo awkward!
 
My in-laws won't come over or be part of their grandkids' lives either, I know it. So it's kind of hurtful thinking that I could be back home with my mom, grandma, friends, etc... tons of support while pregnant and then giving birth in a hospital where you don't have to worry about a medical bill... or going back to work after just 8 weeks! But, my husband is a good man, and I guess he's worth giving all that up for. I just miss home a lot.. and I think as Canadians, we really don't understand how good we have it until we move to the U.S. 

Wow! I could have written this myself. You're absolutely right about there being a different standard of what's considered friendship. I don't want to seem "critical" of any of the Americans I've met... but in Canada, when you go to someone's house, they ALWAYS go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. It doesn't matter if you're a total stranger who was invited by someone, or if you're a family member. They include you in conversations. They talk about things everyone can relate to. They're hospitable. The Americans I've personally met are... well... different. When I first met his family, they hugged me and kissed me on the cheek, took us out for a nice dinner at Olive Garden. I thought, wow, they are soo incredibly loving! I sent them a thank you card and chocolate covered fruit from edible arrangements as a thank you. I wanted a great relationship with them.
 
But now, I dread going there. We walk in, they say hi to their son like they haven't seen him in years.. he rushes in and goes straight to the kitchen, I always take my shoes off, I don't care if American's leave them on lol. Then I go in and they're busy on their ipads or with the TV so I say hi, they say hi back. Then I follow him to the kitchen because it's just sooo awkward!
 
My in-laws won't come over or be part of their grandkids' lives either, I know it. So it's kind of hurtful thinking that I could be back home with my mom, grandma, friends, etc... tons of support while pregnant and then giving birth in a hospital where you don't have to worry about a medical bill... or going back to work after just 8 weeks! But, my husband is a good man, and I guess he's worth giving all that up for. I just miss home a lot.. and I think as Canadians, we really don't understand how good we have it until we move to the U.S. 

I think you need to try it for more than 2 months. I felt the same way when I first moved here. I still miss my job, my family and friends back home. Also the restaurants and places I used to go, the free medical care, the health spa I went to when I felt stressed out. I cannot do any of that anymore. But being here makes my husband happy, so for now that's what I will do and in time maybe he will move back with me :-). If not, I am trying hard to build a life here and doing things to make it feel more like home.
You could be a foster parent to dogs. Then you wouldn't have to adopt them, or make any commitment... but you could take care of some dogs in need until they find someone to adopt them. And also there is the Internet for friends and people to talk to and meet :-). I've never found friends at work in the United States. Everybody is so uptight, they have enough friends, they only go to work to make money, not socialize and make friends... (rolling eyes). LOL. It will get better.

A lot of US colleges will accept foreign earned credits towards a degree.  
 
With degrees - it all depends on the college or university you attended.  If you attended what is the equivalent of a community college here, then no, your degree won't be worth very much without work experience behind it.  Any licenses you'd have to redo here.  I know of doctors in other countries who cannot become doctors in the USA and Canada because the education isn't equivalent, even if they've practiced for 20 years.  If you attended a well known, to your field, university, then likely that degree will hold more weight.  
 
Let's be honest here, the average american hasn't a clue about what happens outside the USA unless they see it on the news or on facebook.  I'm from Canada and for some reason people seem to think there's a line of snow at the border and it's suddenly freezing.  That we live in igloos, drive dog sleds, and have polar bears for pets.  But yet they can figure out that Alaska, Montana, Washington or any other border state doesn't have snow 24/7.      Expecting more than that leads to disappointment more often than not.  Expecting that and getting more, leads to happy surprises.  I prefer to be happily surprised than bitterly disappointment. I still enjoy the "are you legal" questions.  LOL

I'm in Boston and opportunities abound here... i see posting for entry level admin I positions around $60k
Are you in a more rural part of CT? 
 

Thank you. I'm in Connecticut so I'm going to see I feel any of this applies here. Jobs seem scarce and hard to get here. I'm currently making less than half what I made in Canada and it's quite devastating.

Exactly true. I do have a job and car, but if I divorced my husband I would want to go back home. There's no life here if you're all alone. 

I wouldn't risk it. During immigration, we had to prove my status to my husband's insurance company -- I think it was Blue Cross. It was such rigamarole, and there was no clear definition as to what my status was (according to them) I was a spouse who was waiting for my green card, lawfully here on the K1 visa, but his insurance over complicated everything, and eventually took me off the policy. I was without insurance for several months until I got my green card (and his insurance company needed ALL the paper work and proof resent, but they also couldn't just start fresh. They needed us to appeal the fact I was taken off ... for not being a permanent resident).  At tax time, we were being charged $400 for the months I was without insurance! We fought it though, saying it was their fault.. we couldn't get in touch with anybody to appeal or resolve the case. Luckily the $400 charge went away. Others might not be as lucky.
 
I know you probably want your child to be born in the United States, but don't depend on insurance. They will find any loophole they can to get out of covering the costs if an immigrant is involved. Even though she's your spouse. Be prepared to cover basically all the medical bills. If it were me, I'd honestly just have the baby in Canada. She's still covered there. It's 100% free. Then they can immigrate together... and eventually you can all apply for dual citizenship. I've been in the U.S. almost 2 years now, and I would rather go home to Canada to give birth. I'm terrified of the hefty medical bills / deductibles even though we both have insurance.
My husband had great insurance, but had surgery for his appendix and still had to pay $2000 in fees that weren't covered. In Canada, this surgery would've been completely free... no hassle. No deductible.
 
My honest opinion, and what I would do:
Start the paper work now. File from Canada. Meanwhile, enter the U.S. as a visitor in October. Show the US Customs proof that your wife plans on returning to Canada within 6 months, still has ties there, etc. 
Have the baby in Canada, free of charge. Once paperwork resolved / spouse visa approved, she can now enter as a lawful resident. Then immediately apply for her green card. Just something to think about :-)

Exactly true. I do have a job and car, but if I divorced my husband I would want to go back home. There's no life here if you're all alone. 

In the eyes of US customs, you sound more like business partners than a romantic couple in a loving relationship. 

Exactly true. I do have a job and car, but if I divorced my husband I would want to go back home. There's no life here if you're all alone. 

In the eyes of US customs, you sound more like business partners than a romantic couple in a loving relationship. 

Exactly true. I do have a job and car, but if I divorced my husband I would want to go back home. There's no life here if you're all alone. 

In the eyes of US customs, you sound more like business partners than a romantic couple in a loving relationship. 

I'm so sorry to hear that things didn't work out  
Well, I'm from Canada which might be different, but when I entered the US on the K1 visa, I asked the customers officers if things didn't work out, can i still come to the US to visit / go shopping / travel. They said yes, absolutely. 
 
But of course, that means you need to follow the rules and go back home as soon as you're able to. Then if you want to come back as a visitor in the future, they might interview you and you can tell them the truth. They will be glad you are honest and followed the rules.

I'm so sorry to hear that things didn't work out  
Well, I'm from Canada which might be different, but when I entered the US on the K1 visa, I asked the customers officers if things didn't work out, can i still come to the US to visit / go shopping / travel. They said yes, absolutely. 
 
But of course, that means you need to follow the rules and go back home as soon as you're able to. Then if you want to come back as a visitor in the future, they might interview you and you can tell them the truth. They will be glad you are honest and followed the rules.

I'm so sorry to hear that things didn't work out  
Well, I'm from Canada which might be different, but when I entered the US on the K1 visa, I asked the customers officers if things didn't work out, can i still come to the US to visit / go shopping / travel. They said yes, absolutely. 
 
But of course, that means you need to follow the rules and go back home as soon as you're able to. Then if you want to come back as a visitor in the future, they might interview you and you can tell them the truth. They will be glad you are honest and followed the rules.

I wouldn't risk it. During immigration, we had to prove my status to my husband's insurance company -- I think it was Blue Cross. It was such rigamarole, and there was no clear definition as to what my status was (according to them) I was a spouse who was waiting for my green card, lawfully here on the K1 visa, but his insurance over complicated everything, and eventually took me off the policy. I was without insurance for several months until I got my green card (and his insurance company needed ALL the paper work and proof resent, but they also couldn't just start fresh. They needed us to appeal the fact I was taken off ... for not being a permanent resident).  At tax time, we were being charged $400 for the months I was without insurance! We fought it though, saying it was their fault.. we couldn't get in touch with anybody to appeal or resolve the case. Luckily the $400 charge went away. Others might not be as lucky.
 
I know you probably want your child to be born in the United States, but don't depend on insurance. They will find any loophole they can to get out of covering the costs if an immigrant is involved. Even though she's your spouse. Be prepared to cover basically all the medical bills. If it were me, I'd honestly just have the baby in Canada. She's still covered there. It's 100% free. Then they can immigrate together... and eventually you can all apply for dual citizenship. I've been in the U.S. almost 2 years now, and I would rather go home to Canada to give birth. I'm terrified of the hefty medical bills / deductibles even though we both have insurance.
My husband had great insurance, but had surgery for his appendix and still had to pay $2000 in fees that weren't covered. In Canada, this surgery would've been completely free... no hassle. No deductible.
 
My honest opinion, and what I would do:
Start the paper work now. File from Canada. Meanwhile, enter the U.S. as a visitor in October. Show the US Customs proof that your wife plans on returning to Canada within 6 months, still has ties there, etc. 
Have the baby in Canada, free of charge. Once paperwork resolved / spouse visa approved, she can now enter as a lawful resident. Then immediately apply for her green card. Just something to think about :-)