Canadian Marrying American in Caribbean March 2012. HELP!!

Hello,

I am marrying my fiance in March 2012 in the caribbean.
We are not sure how to go about the immigration process.
I will be moving from Canada to the US. My fiancee is American.

We know that we have a lot of time so we want to get the ball rolling now so that we'll have everything in time for next year.

Should I:

1) Apply for a Fiance Visa, get it, get married in Jamaica and go to the US? Then we can file the marriage and apply for the K1?

2) We were thinking of just getting married at the courthouse just to make things official and then we can apply for the visa but I'd rather not do that.

Please help guide me so I can do this correctly.
Thanks!

Samantha

Your a little confused!! you have two relationship visa routes, yes the k1-the fiance visa--YOU CAN't get married until after you get the visa--which takes anywhere from 6-8 months on average OR you can go ahead and get married now (full wedding or courthouse wedding, whatever) and go the CR-1 route. Cr-1 takes anywhere from 8 months to a year to obtain, but I do belive both process are picking up speed as just recently a bit has changed and one can do more of the form filling online (instead of mailing stuff in)

Best FREE source out their is VJ: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/

READ the k1 and cr-1 forums! There are guides at the top of the page that tell you what to do STEP BY STEP!!!

K1: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum ... rocedures/

CR-1: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum ... rocedures/

You will see a K3--but is has gone the way of the dodo bird!!

WHICH VISA IS BEST FOR U: this compares them: http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

Where will you interview be: For k1, manitoba and west goto vancouver!. East of MB got Montreal!

ALL CR-1 interviews got Montreal!! And yes their are other USA consulates in Canada, but they do not do these visa types.

AND the #1 question asked on VJ is?? CAN I visit the USA while undergoing the Visa process???????? and the answer is YES, BUT it all depends on the Port of Entry (POE) officer!! Many visit with no problems, but some do get denied! ALWAYS bring proof of ties with you that proove ur returning to canada! IE apartment/house lease, letter from employer, bil statements return airfare! if they think your going to stay and live there, they may deny you entry. if you search VJ, you should get a zillion posts asking about visiting!! My free (worhtless advice on visiting:

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:
1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer
2) Be confident in ur replies
3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!
4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!
5) Pack light! No job resumes with you
6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)
7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!
Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1


TAKE SOME TIME and read the guides on VJ!! No 1 cares more about ur case than YOU!!!! The process is rather simple, it truly is, its thew WAITING that will drive you nuts!!! At the top of the VJ page, you will even see EXAMPLE FORMS---Reviews of POE's, REVIEWS on interviews from Mtl and vancouver!! Everything you need is on VJ! Even a Cdn forum!

During the process you wil require some extra paperwork such as a Long Form Birth cert (its the 1 with ur parents info right on the birth cert.) Any divorce paperowrk if previously married. Cdn passport(where this visa will be put) The Cdn (not American) wil require a Criminal background check of all places lived for 6 months or longer since the age of 16----You do NOT need 1 from every city/province in canada,you get 1 doen at the RCMP or local police force,ensure they do a CANADA wide check--thus it covers al of Canada,lol If you have EVER had a criminal history, you WILL require finger printing!! NO criminal history = NO fingerprinting, just the background check! Normally a very easy to obtain! Fingerprinting on the other hand can take a few months

As i said above, at first it sounds like a lot, but it really isn't, its just the waiting that sucks!! Just have to decide which visa is better for you!! The CR-1 is probably the "less paperwork" of the two, costs less, can work right away, can travel out of the USA right away, BUT takes a bit longer to get!!

-- Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:35 am --

Furthermore, you CAN collect CDN Employment Insurance (EI) if you have enough work hours in Canada!! perfectly legal! BUT one has to be LEGALLY able to work in the USA to collect it. SOO the CR-1, your able to work right away--so you can collect EI right away! BUT the k1,one can NOT work until they get EAD(employment authorization document) and that can take anywhere from 1-3 months after you submit the paperwork, which is after you get married. Just throwing this out there, as many do not realize you can collect EI until you find work!

I went the Cr-1 route back in 2004 and glad I did. Sure it took a bit longer, but less of a paperwork hassle,lol And it costs a bit less! Keep in mind the k1 is a ONE time use! So you can NOT leave the USA until you get the greencard OR you apply for Advance parole AP. Well you can leave the USA--thats no problem, it is the GETTING BACK IN to the USA that will be the problem,lol--but thats mentioned in the COMPARING of the visa link above. Just have to make a decision thats best suited for you. Cheers

Furthermore, you CAN collect CDN Employment Insurance (EI) if you have enough work hours in Canada!! perfectly legal! BUT one has to be LEGALLY able to work in the USA to collect it. SOO the CR-1, your able to work right away--so you can collect EI right away! BUT the k1,one can NOT work until they get EAD(employment authorization document) and that can take anywhere from 1-3 months after you submit the paperwork, which is after you get married. Just throwing this out there, as many do not realize you can collect EI until you find work!

This is the first time I've heard about this. I'm waiting (and waiting and waiting.....) on a K-1 Visa. (It's been a nightmare really) While I'm waiting to hear ANYTHING>>> I'd love to read up on this. I currently make a very good wage and was just expecting to up and quit. Are you saying that I can legally leave my job, move to the US AND collect EI while in the US while looking for work? Assuming of course that I get a Greencard right away? I'd LOVE a linky to more on this subject!

Checkout visajourney.com on the k1-----ur not getting a greencard right away on a K1. Takes some time to get the Green card and legally able to work on a K1

You wont get any Ei $$$ until you can LEGALLY work in the USA, which you can't until you get EAD (Employment authorization document)

Different story if one comes on a CR-1//IR-1 as you have the greencard and legally able to work

not law binding links: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/93-canada/

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic ... ei-thread/

Many of us Canucks that came on relationship Visas LEGALLY were able to collect Ei. Just the k1'ers had to wait until they got EAD, while the CR-1//IR-1 were able to collect right away.

But do read up on the k1 to ensure what you can and can't do. Some ae suprised that they can't work right away, NOR can they leave the USA until they get their greencard or apply for advance parole (AP)

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic ... -and-info/

http://www.visajourney.com/content/guides

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

yes hon, thanks! That last part really threw me, as we had planned on getting married outside the US and honeymoon plans had to be changed once we learned that I'm held captive there until we get permission for me to leave the country (and return!) Now we're planning on a local wedding wherever they can do a last minute (-90 days) deal for us.

The EI thing is very interesting, and I had never considered it, mind you, like you said, coming in on a K1, I will likely be able to find a job by the time I DO get my greencard, but if I don't, it will be nice to know I can at least collect EI, as I've been paying it for years!

You wouldnt be the first (nor last) that had intentions of gettign married outside the USA, then realize one can't! Well, you can,lol but then have to start over again! The problem is NOT leaving the USA---problem is getting back in!

Thats why some of us got married on a visit to the USA to start the CR-1 process! We had a JP wedding then later on had a wedding for friends and family! 99% of them thought that was our real wedding,not,lol

Hi guys congrats on ur soon to be nuptials! Wanna look fabulous on ur wedding day...hire a jamaican professional makeup artist and hairstylist in one to make you even more beautiful on ur big day along with your bridal party! check out my page oon facebook called Muse Makeup Artistry for bookings , rates more info or even just to say hello ! have a good day