Getting a US Green Card in the next 60 days

I am a Canadian Citizen, married to a US Citizen for 27 years. We intend on moving to the US in the next few years.

I have applied for a immigrant visa and the process is going a lot quicker than expected.

Here is my problem. I was planning on leaving my current employer shortly but this has changed.

I plan on having a residence in both Canada and the US and don't plan on moving permanently to the US for another year or two.

How soon after I receive the Visa do I have to enter the country. And once I enter, what are the requirements regarding staying in the country. If I apply for a permit to allow me to leave and re-enter the country would I be able to come and go (my oldest son is a US Marine and lives in the US) to visit family

No clue how a far along in the process you are. Once you do the interview and ur approved, you have up to 6 months to "activate" it

have you checked out Visajourney.com ?? In the canada section they have a list of people going through certain visas and one can tell approx how long it is taking. Some parts of the process can be fast, then it can SLOW right on down!!

Once you have LPR status you can leave, but only up to a year. Another option is a commuter green card, but that's more for people who have a job in the US and want to become an LPR and are in the process of moving their family down there.

the cr-1 (or IR-1) and k3 are MULTIPLE entry visas, so you can leave USA as you wish. if your going for over a year, then there a certain form one has to fill out, no clue on what that form (waiver) is. But as i stated before, after ur interview, you have 6 months to "activate" it I know some that have gone the CR-1 (IR-1) route, that have activated it at the POE, then turned around and went back to Canada, as one can do that with a cr-1 (ir-1) Visas

Once you get your IR1 visa, wait a few months before you actually use it (as flames said, you have up to 6 months), then you can come and go as you like for about 6 months. Any longer than that, and they have the right to revoke your status, and if you're out of the US for 1 year or more, they will without a doubt revoke your status, unless you apply for a re-entry permit *before* you leave the US. Which in your case will be difficult, if you don't plan to be going back and forth and not actually move there for another year or 2.

Hi there to those people who are applying for a green card based on marriage to a US citizen

I decided to write this post to explain how I received my green card in only 2 and a half months.

It literally went like clock work.

November 20 2009- Submitted I-485 (including I-765 Work Authorization) and I-130 together
November 30 2009- Received HS letter confirming they received my application
November 30 2009- Received Homeland Security (HS) letter about appointment date for biometrics
December 18 2009- Biometrics completed
December 23 2009- Submitted I-131 Application for Travel Document
December 27 2009- Received HS letter confirming they received my I-131 application
January 10 2010- Received HS letter about appointment date for Green Card interview: February 9
January 21 2010- I-131 approved
January 27 2010- I-765 work authorization approved
February 9 2010- Green Card Interview approved. Green Card Received!!

The whole process took 82 days in total . My application was dealt mainly through the Los Angeles office.

As for the interview, my wife and I studied up on all the questions making sure we knew what potentially could have been asked. Reading some of the forums, we read that some officers can ask very personal questions to our amazement, so trust me, we wanted to know everything what we could expect. Our documents were meticulously organized right down to color tabs and everything. We have only been married a short time, so most of our evidence were photos, letters and email correspondence, references from family and friends, cards, receipts from gifts, joint accounts and a lease agreement. We found the officer was keen to see more accounts/utility bills etc in joint names but as we don't have any of these yet (we only had a bank account and a lease agreement), our relationship evidence was suffice. Also, I shouldn't have to say this, but we are a legitimate married couple and that was no doubt obvious to the case officer involved.

He asked us a couple of questions confirming who we said we were on paper, asked us how we met and when we got married and was happy with that. 10 minutes later he shook our hands and congratulated us with the approval of my green card. Literally that simple.

As I said, the process took only 2.5 months and since then, I have applied and received my work permit, obtained my driver's license and recently gained full time employment. My life in the US has officially begun and I am able to direct my energies to my personal goals and my family.

I would love to help out others who are just about to enter the process of applying. Everything from what documents to submit as evidence of relationship, how to fill in the forms, which forms to fill in, best method of payments, interview prep, how to submit your application , literally everything I know as someone who was thoroughly prepared, been through the process and was successfully approved his Green Card.

Good luck on your application and feel free to drop me a line if you require any help.
cheers Ro

It all comes down to INTENT!!! If you Intended all along to stay in the USA and then just AOS'd that is ILLEGAL! Don't belive me, just tell the POE officer what ur true intentions are. "sir, I intend to stay in the USA and AOS" and see what happens! you will be denied entry to the USA. If one has no intentions (or keeps their story straight) one can then AOS! Being done in 2.5 months that way is not a big deal. BUT if one gets caught lying,well your troubles then begin! And yes many, many Cdns do it this way with no problems! I personally could care less how people enter the USA. I came in on a CR-1 visa. People should just be aware of the proper process. Visajourney.com is a great resource