canadian moving to US

Hi I would like any suggestions or info you may have.
I am Canadian and married a US citizen in March 2009 in the US. I than returned to Canada to serve my 6 months. I now want to return and when I return I plan to file for my green card. Any suggestions on procedure to follow or who may be able to help me. I really don't have the money for a lawyer so am trying to do the papers myself. I have a sponsor for the financial part. SO I guess it's just a matter of filling out all the paper work and sending the money. Any help?????

To serve your 6 months?

Yes as canadians we can only stay in the US for 6 months than must return to Canada for 6 Months...

And you should have applied to adjust status immediately after getting married, then you woldn't have had to return to Canada.

OR, you should have submitted the I-130 sponsorship petition before you left the US, then it would be about done processing by now.

I'm afraid you're probably not going to be allowed back in to the US now that you're married and you left. You won't be eligible to apply to adjust status because you left, and they won't let you back in for another 6 month visit because now you're married to a US citizen, and you have immigrant intent.

Have your spouse submit the I-130 petition asap, with all the assorted documentation required, then you'll just have to wait it out. It's about a year to process unfortunately.

For more detailed info see the forums at http://www.visajourney.com

If I am lucky enough to get back in can I apply for my I130 at that time and also the forms for my green card...

Yes as canadians we can only stay in the US for 6 months than must return to Canada for 6 Months...

Yes, for visitors. Your not a visitor.

Does anyone ever look into these things BEFORE getting married?

well we thought we did....when we went there we did not intend to get married. so have family in canada. Had to come back so that was the best way I thought I should do it. what are my options now other than wait here in canada for papers to be completed , From what I am reading I can go to the US and do it...

You can't though now because you've left. Had you stayed you could have applied to adjust status, but now you've left, you'll have to wait it out in Canada, if you want to do it the legal way. If you want to go the illegal route and misrepresent yourself at the border and risk being deported at your application interview, sure, go right ahead. There is no recourse if your application is denied because you misrepresented yourself at entry.

Again, see Visa Journey for all the info. It's all there already, with loads of people who've been thru the process.