PeachesMagee

I love to read the posts on this forum, and rarely post...but here I go. I'm a CR1 beneficiary, and the bread winner in my home. My wife doesn't work, and is trying to get her disability. I didn't need to come to the US and get my citizenship, as I had a great job for the federal government, a beautiful 100 year old home, and a vehicle. Not to mention my family is in Canada. But love makes us do strange things, like uprooting our lives and moving countries. Had I not moved to the US, my wife would be a burden of the state, maybe on assistance, and probably living in a very small apartment. Instead, I have a great job, a beautiful 2 bedroom condo, 2 cars, and two cats. Had I stayed in Canada, I'd still be successful (job, home, vehicle). Was my path here a shortcut? Heck no. It took me about 5 years from start to finish, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. As an F1 visa holder, if you fell in love with an American, would you not try to stay in the US? Some might argue that you should have to go home, and start from scratch (K1 or CR1), or you'd also be taking a shortcut to immigrate. Me...I'd just be happy for you.

Unfortunately, there is no way to determine who is approved/processed before anyone else. If you don't like that other people are approved before you, there'll be others who are upset that you were approved before them. While you may not like what others are telling you, they're right. I am a super boring person, and have a very boring FBI check, I'm sure. I was approved within a year. Others may not be as boring as me, and require more background checks, or investigation....who knows.

Most of the people who do shortcuts to life in the US, will have that constant feeling that ICE is out to get them. If someone enters illegally, that says a lot of their moral character, or lack-there-of. I'm glad to have played the waiting game, and be here legally. I never have to worry about being caught.

I think what the OP is meaning by "freaking out" is "scared as can be!!". I was exactly the same way. I was SO nervous, it could be classed as "freaking out". Some people (mostly meaning ME) never feel prepared, no matter how much studying we do, or preparation. OP, no need to get so stressed. Study, the civics. Download the app and quiz yourself each day. Have someone help you by asking you questions at random. You'll be fine.

I wouldn't worry too much about how it looks. When my wife and I married, I had been divorced for just over a year. If USCIS had any issues with the timeline, they didn't inform me. As others have said, make sure you're able to check all the boxes for requirements. I think you're going to be just fine

You'll be fine. A honeymoon doesn't mean you don't love each other, or your marriage isn't genuine. It just means you have either better priorities for the money, or you don't have time to go away. I didn't have a honeymoon either. Don't stress about it!

My wife and I started talking on a dating site too, and then met in person. When the paperwork asked how we met, I simply stated we met online. Then, in my affidavit of our meeting, I explained the site, how we started talking, then met, then onward and upward. It was never looked at beyond what it is. So many people meet online now, USCIIS knows which sites are IMB and which are just plain-old dating sites. It would be awfully naïve of us to think that they don't have investigators checking out these sites, to see what goes on there. Just be as honest as you can, and you'll be ok.

The cruelest thing that can happen, would be to tell the OP that it's all rainbows and flowers. Telling someone the honest truth, although it may seem cruel, is the kindest thing we can do for our fellow journey goers. I would have gone truly nutty if it were not for the people in this forum.

The additional response was an explanation to a question. I answered "yes" to having served in the military. I just had to explain what/where.

I still have my documents on my computer, and when I checked, here is what I uploaded (all are separate PDFs): 3 years taxes (3 files), life insurance, auto insurance, divorce certificate, condo deed, green card, wife's birth certificate, marriage certificate, additional life insurance (through work), N-400 form, N-400 additional responses Total PDFs I sent in: 13 I brought all the originals with me for my interview, but wasn't asked to show anything, except for the green card. Good luck!!

My wife doesn't work, and hasn't since I moved here (long story), so after living with friends for about 2 months, I found a job. After having worked there for a month, we started apartment hunting. With zero credit in the US, and a spouse with less credit than me (another long story), we found an apartment we both liked. We both signed the lease, and there were no issues whatsoever. As a matter of fact, I was able to get a mortgage while still on my 10 year GC. Don't be afraid to find a place you like, and can afford. Your immigration status will have zero impact on getting an apartment with a reputable landlord.