jedinite

The one thing you will need to be concerned about is proving your residency in the US if you continue to live and work in Canada for another year. One of the conditions of the CR-1 (green card) is that you are living in the US. Residing in another country is grounds for cancellation of the green card. You should try to think sooner rather than later of trying to find work in the US and discontinuing to work in Canada under your particular circumstances. If you were able to establish a residence in the US and commute regularly back and forth it would be a different matter than maintaining a residence in Canada. Your current circumstances may set up a big red flag to USCIS.

Agreed. Its going to be hard to say you live in the US (LA) when you work in Calgary.

Sly

Alright, that's definitely something I have to consider then. I'll start looking for job opportunities once I'm closer to an interview time. It's hard to start looking for a new job when you don't know when you'll be available.

I may just end up working out the rest of the year in Canada if only to make my taxes simpler, I hope that a couple months at the beginning of my receiving my visa doesn't affect me. Would I end up having to declare my taxes to the IRS even though I worked the majority of the this year in Canada prior to receiving my visa?

Also, if I do commute for a few months after receiving my visa, what do I say? That I'm traveling on business? Since I am working, but I don't want to end up shooting myself in the foot, already did that once with the whole TN-1 Visa disqualification when I mentioned that I am married to an American. Big doh! on my behalf.

Throwing in my 2 cents ..... I believe that the taxes paid are based on residency. If you still live in Canada you will have to pay your income taxes to Canada. You will still need to file some paper work on the US side though. I think it becomes a slightly bigger tax issue if your income is more than $100K per year.

Sly

Thanks Sly, I would be one of those ones in the $100K+ bracket and I suppose I would have to pay additional taxes for going over the world income limit.

You will not have problems, but you might have complexities as it relates to taxes.... In addition, short and even frequent visits outside the US are not problems and might only be complexities when and if you decide to become a citizen

Ok thanks for the info. I'm not intending on working outside of the US indefinitely, but if I cannot find an equivalent job south of the border (in the US of course) I'll continue to work in Canada for up to a year. Since there's no way I can move to the US and be unemployed and taking a job for a lot less doesn't make sense.

If you are planning to apply for US citizenship you will have some difficulties, as they require total count and exact dates outside the US to be on the application. Also there is a total days residence requirement. I do not remember anymore, but you should look into this.

Will this be an issue if I am only going to be working outside of the US for the first several months, up to possibly a year? I would of course be traveling to and from the US during this time. Not on a daily basis but I would expect to travel several times a month.

I just got my CR1 visa last month and I still commute to Canada every day to work. I have no problems at the border if that is what you mean by immigration. I am not sure how the whole income tax thing is going to work when I go to file next spring but from what I hear, I still have to file my taxes in Canada and then also file a U.S. tax return too but it is supposed to balance itself out. I will go to H & R Block or somewhere like that.

Any other questions just let me know.

Well I'm working in Calgary right now and our US home is based in LA, so I won't be able to commute daily unless I purchase an expensive flight plan that allows me to get unlimited flights (which I know are available). Anyways, was thinking that if I continued to work in Canada for up to a year after my CR-1 is approved it would allow me the time to get a proper career opportunity in the US.

I really just wanted to know what my options are without harming my long term goals of living in the US with my wife.

Oh about your taxes, don't go with H&R Block, they are a bunch of monkeys or students that don't really know a thing about taxes. Get a good accountant, I went with one at MNP (Meyers Norris Penny) because they are a medium sized firm and they have enough people that really know taxes there to cover the complexity of Canada/US taxes. You may be able to find someone from a smaller firm or even a private accountant that does this on their own but I like the fact that my accountant has a whole team he can go to if he doesn't know the answer or needs to go to bat for me if my taxes are audited for whatever the reason. Just my opinion anyways.

You will not have problems, but you might have complexities as it relates to taxes.... In addition, short and even frequent visits outside the US are not problems and might only be complexities when and if you decide to become a citizen

Ok thanks for the info. I'm not intending on working outside of the US indefinitely, but if I cannot find an equivalent job south of the border (in the US of course) I'll continue to work in Canada for up to a year. Since there's no way I can move to the US and be unemployed and taking a job for a lot less doesn't make sense.

Hi there, I posted this in the NVC forum but I thought I'd post it here as well seeing as there maybe someone from Canada that is in the same boat as I am or at least has a similar experience. I want to know if anyone has any information or experience of working outside of the US after you have received your visa CR-1.

I am working in Canada now pending my CR-1 Visa, but I may continue to work in Canada until my contract expires or until I get an equal or better opportunity in the US. I will most likely just travel back and forth every few weeks or once a month back to my wife in the US. Will this create an issue for me in terms of taxes, immigration etc? I know I will have to report all World Income earned and may be taxed on the difference of what is owing to the IRS if I don't get taxed enough in the foreign country.

I am not quite at the interview process yet but it shouldn't be long and I want to know what your experiences are so I can plan accordingly. Ideally, I would like to find employment in the US that is equivalent to my current position / salary.

Thanks for all your input in advance.

Hi there, I wanted to know if anyone has any information or experience of working in a foreign country after you have received your visa.

In my particular case, I am working in Canada now pending my CR-1 Visa, but I may continue to work in Canada until my contract expires or until I get an equal or better opportunity in the US. I will most likely just travel back and forth every few weeks or once a month back to my wife in the US. Will this create an issue for me in terms of taxes, immigration etc? I know I will have to report all World Income earned and may be taxed on the difference of what is owing to the IRS if I don't get taxed enough in the foreign country.

I am not quite at the interview process yet but it shouldn't be long and I want to know what your experiences are so I can plan accordingly. Ideally, I would like to find employment in the US that is equivalent to my current position / salary.

Thanks for all your input in advance.

Jedinite, this thread tracks from the day the DS-230 shows up in the system at NVC, to case complete, to interview date. The DS-230 is generally the last thing sent in to the NVC before they complete the case, and usually we're able to send it within a few weeks of when the case arrives to the NVC (using the shortcuts). So as soon as all your fees are paid, the AOS is sent, the DS-230 is sent, and you are informed that your DS-230 is in the system (calling the automated message or calling an NVC operator), make sure to post in this thread so your info can be added! Good luck on a speedy process at NVC!

thanks guatetaliana, I'll post on here after we get our DS-230 in. BTW do you know if I messed things up by sending them an e-mail with the DS-3032 information before even receiving bills or anything? I hope not, I was a little too anxious then I realized I couldn't pay my bill yet.

I don't know if I should be tracked on here or not. I called in to get my NVC number this week and my application was received on Aug 14, 2008 by the NVC from the CSC Field Office.

Can you add me to the list please. Thanks

Question about DS-3032. I am the benificary, who is suppose to fill this form out and who's address is suppose to go on the form if you are not using an attorney. The benificary's address (out-of-country) or the petitioner's (in the US)?

Thanks for the answer

Hi there, I just got approved on my I-130 and we are awaiting the packet to come in the mail so we can fill it out and send it in. But I was curious if I need to also file for an I-765 work authorization form. To my knowledge I thought that the CR-1 visa was sufficient for allowing me to work legally in the US.

I was formerly working under a TN-1 Visa so I am also curious if I need to get a new Social Insurance Number (SIN) or if my existing one is fine.

If anyone can answer this for me that would be terrific. I can't wait to return to the US to be with my wife.

An immigrant visa results in a greencard after entry... this is your work authorization... nothing else required..

A SSN is issued to an individual for life....

Awesome, thanks for the info. I was concerned because my wife's best friend told her that she filed for a I-765 but I didn't know what visa she actually applied for when she applied.

Anways, thank you!

Hi there, I just got approved on my I-130 and we are awaiting the packet to come in the mail so we can fill it out and send it in. But I was curious if I need to also file for an I-765 work authorization form. To my knowledge I thought that the CR-1 visa was sufficient for allowing me to work legally in the US.

I was formerly working under a TN-1 Visa so I am also curious if I need to get a new Social Insurance Number (SIN) or if my existing one is fine.

If anyone can answer this for me that would be terrific. I can't wait to return to the US to be with my wife.

awesome! congratulations and welcome to the club

Congrats! We received our NOA2 as well. I had to log onto see the update, since it wasn't e-mailed to us.

OMG! Guess what?! I finally got approved!!!! WOOHOO wife and I are so excited! I wasn't expecting anything and I haven't been checking these last few days but I logged into USCIS today and it said my file was updated, thought I would have received an e-mail but I didn't. Anyways, checked my case to see if it was just a touch, but it was an approval, now just have to fill out the packet and file more stuff! So damn excited right now. I hope you guys are around the corner too with your apps.

WOO HOOOO!!!! FINALLY APPROVED my I-130! 08/11/2008 Please update me

Guess what?....

Still no update

Seeing April filers getting approved before March filers makes me sad. I don't hate April filers, I just wish that USCIS would go through the applications in chronological order.

You guys are most likely already in the adjudicator's hands, and we hope you will get done at last!!!!

The files transfer to CSC from VSC should not affect you, but likely it will affect those who filed recently...

What a f*****g mess.

But what isn't these days...

So CSC is approving May filers now. I'm really disappointed and worried now.

Guess what?....

Still no update

Seeing April filers getting approved before March filers makes me sad. I don't hate April filers, I just wish that USCIS would go through the applications in chronological order.

My husband is finally contacting his Senator today. One half of me feels its probably not necessary as we should be approved any day now, while the other half is crying "but what if we don't".

Let us know what happens. I'm also a Canadian in waiting.

I see some approvals for early march filers....But still I haven't gotten anything...Not even a touch after 3/12/2008......This is getting ridiculous. I see April/May people getting approved but nothing for early march filers....

Still no updates on my end so I hope our week gets hit soon. I hope they don't decide to hold us all back until September just because they want to process people according to the website processing times.

I don't understand how a K1 takes priority over an already existing family. Nothing against any of the K1 filers of course, it just seems cruel and poorly prioritized on USCIS's part. I love how they offer an expedite request for hardship cases, but the undue stress and mental anguish and insomnia and ulcers and financial strain of having to maintain two households and pure heartbreak that THEY directly cause us don't count for ####.

That doesn't make too much sense to me either. If you go K1 Visa, sure you get down there faster, but for 90Days you sit on your ### and unless you have a lot of savings it's financially straining and stressful. And when you apply for a CR-1 you get full privileges to work right away but it takes forever to get approved. Don't they want to get contributing members of society in the country faster than non-contributing. I would have went K-1 route too but what's the point if I wasn't able to work or leave the country for 90 days.

So my wife is in the US, I'm in Canada we both work to make our payments and the more time that goes by, the likelihood of retaining the job I had while I was on my TN-1 visa slips away from me. *sigh* I just want to get back to a normal life.

That's awesome, maybe the adjudicator with our pile just got back from vacation.

Either that or files were misplaced, and found again.. and they started working on them to catch up. I can see that most April noa1s are done, while ours were just sitting there.

Any news today from CSC on any March applications ? any movement or touches at all ?

_{Service Center : California Service Center}

Consulate : Moscow, Russia

Marriage : 2001-09-26

I-130 Sent : 2008-03-01

I-130 NOA1 : 2008-03-12

I-130 Approved : NOT YET ...

Nothing yet, but it's Monday. Yet another excuse I can see them using. I'd like to get a response soon but at this point if they do it by October that should technically catch us up to the processing time on the CSC processing time webpage. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.

Thanks for supplying the link so I can check the status of our case. Very much appreciated!

That's awesome, maybe the adjudicator with our pile just got back from vacation.

Still no word on my application. hope we all get responses too.