Hello, I want to avoid too much bureaucracy

[Lakontis]

I will be marrying my sweetheart from the US sometime in september or october. So far this is what I understand from my research about the process of immigrating through marriage:
1) Apply for K-1 visa
2) She fills out I-129F
3) A period of time goes by before those two applications get processed (I want to know how long the period of time is)
4) I fly over there
5) I can already get a temp job while the bureaucracy gets processed (is this true?)
6) We marry
7) I apply for permanent residence and SNN

Now if the above is really is pretty accurate procedure, I am looking for ways to make it all a little easier. Also I have a couple concerns. For example:
1) Do I really need the K-1 visa? Or can I just come over there as a visitor with my Canadian passport, fill out the I-129F and marry?
2) Since she is technically my sponsor, will she need to provide some evidence that she can support me financially? Because she is still in college and only works part-time. But I have enough money to support us both for the first several months so we can get on our feet there.
3) Will it be a problem that we haven't met in person? Only online and on the phone?
4) Approximately how much does the whole bureaucracy procedure cost (all the applications including petitions and green card application)?

Thank you for you concern, I will really appreciate any help you guys can contribute

[flames9]

check out visajourney.com great site for relationship visas!! before you file for the k1 visa,YOU HAVE TO HAVE MET IN PERSON!!! check out visajourney as it gives u steps by step instructions on how to do the various relationship visas

[Reba]

If you have never met face to face yet, there is NO WAY the I-129F petition will be approved! You HAVE to have met AT LEAST TWICE face to face within the 2 years prior to her submitting the I-129F petition.


And your timelines a bit off. I'll elaborate for you:

First, you have to meet face to face. Plan a couple of trips together, have her come up to Canada to stay with you for a week or so, then after a few weeks, you go down to the US to stay with her for a week or so. Then see if you still like each other enough to pursue marriage.

THEN, she will submitt the I-129F petition and accompanying documentations (see http://www.visajourney.com for the Guides and information, everything you need to know and more is already set up there).

The processing of the I-129F will take a few months, and during that processing you can still visit back and forth, but you cannot move to the US or get married yet.

Once the I-129F is approved (IF it is approved) then you will be sent a package of forms from the US consulate in Canada which you have to fill out and send back in order to get an interview appointment. You will also have to get a police certificate, plus a medical exam before your interview.

THEN you get an interview scheduled (in either Vancouver or Montreal, depends on where in Canada you live).

IF you are approved at the interveiw, THEN you can move to the US and get married.

The entire process can take 9 months to 1 year, so there's no way you're getting married this fall I'm afraid.

Again, see Visa Journey for ALL the information, GUIDES, example forms, timelines etc etc etc

[axolotl]

3) Will it be a problem that we haven't met in person? Only online and on the phone?

You want to marry someone you haven't met in person? That doesn't seem particularly wise.

In any event, they would never approve a I-129F if you haven't yet met. I think you should probably do that before you even think about going down the marriage route.

[Lakontis]

The fact that you don't believe we already love each other, even though we haven't met in person, shows that you have 0 respect for me.
I am wondering why you said that you have to meet two times? I never heard that one before. And just visiting each other two or more times would be a waste of money and time, considering we can just do it all in one move.

[flames9]

As we have suggested, head to VJ and read and read and read! MEETING in PERSON is one of the requirements for the k1. if you want, you can goto the USA, get married that visit, and then head back home and do the K3 or CR-1 route! And that to is covered on Visajourney. best of luck

[Lakontis]

Well I guess we will just have to wait a little longer than expected. Just means I will have more time to save up money before I move there permanently. On the other hand I also need to spend money to come visit her (we already decided that I will come visit her for a week next sunday). But anyways no obstacles like money or time are big enough to stop us from being together. We love each other and we'll go through any bureaucracy headaches to be together.
I forgot to mention another thing: she is still technically married but has been separated for almost a year now. I am not sure how divorces work but she said they filed all the paperwork, but she doesn't have money right now to pay for the divorce. He is supposed to pay for all that but apparently he hasn't yet. So I am wondering, do we need to wait for the divorce process to fully go through before we file the I-129f? Or can we file it as soon as I come back from the visit to her, because she has been separated for almost a year, just not officially divorced yet.

[flames9]

One has to be legally able to be married--which in this case is NOT the situation! have to wait for the divorce to be FINAL!