ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaWhat Are You Reading?

Currently reading I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb. He's the author of She's Come Undone (one of the greatest books I've ever read, I highly suggest picking it up) .. I was a little intimidated by this one, it's lengthy and there's a lot of detail, however, it's beautiful. Heartbreaking, but so incredibly well written.


I really liked 'She's come undone'. I haven't picked up any of his books since then though so I'll have to give 'I know this much is true' a try.

It's funny, there have been several books that I'd already read or picked up without knowing, only to realise later that they were on Oprah's book list. Now i'm not so quick to dismiss a book if I see the Oprah stamp. hehe.

Edited by usmcwife, 03 September 2010 - 10:58 AM.

usmcwifeFemaleCanada2010-09-03 10:58:00
CanadaWhat Are You Reading?

Jane Austen is pretentious trite.


I have begun reading Irvine Welsh's collection. I am halfway through Acid House and will read Trainspotting afterwards.


Thats rather rude since several people have expressed liking her books.
usmcwifeFemaleCanada2010-09-03 00:25:00
CanadaWhat Are You Reading?

usmc wife, I was reading over your list and was going to post that you should read 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" - and there it was on your list! There are a series of them - Sense and Sensibility and SeaMonsters and the most recent one was Emma and Vampires - or something like that. Someone is having far too much fun with these, ehehehe!


It has definitly spawned a genre of rewritten classics and biographies. I have the seamonsters one but havent started it yet. If its not quite as good as zombies then i will be disappointed. I loved the sisters in Pride and Prejudiced and Zombies being rewritten as zombie hunters trained in asian fighting styles!
usmcwifeFemaleCanada2010-09-02 23:45:00
CanadaWhat Are You Reading?
Oh yeah, I forgot about Kelley Armstrongs women of the underworld series. It's definitely a favourite series of mine. She's canadian too and one of her characters is from Toronto. Toronto has been in her books a couple of times and one book is mainly there I think.
usmcwifeFemaleCanada2010-09-01 01:41:00
CanadaWhat Are You Reading?
@ Kathryn41: Pride and Prejudiced is my favourite Jane Austen too!

here is my list, it's long because I tend to bond with books. I cannot rate them, and they are from a huge range of categories.

- The Red Tent. Anita Diamant. Not to be read if you are looking for an emotional pick me up. I bawled about halfway through. Very interesting fiction derived from women found in Genesis.

- World War Z - Best post apocalyptic zombie fiction I've found so far. (Also in this category 'Breathers' for creepiness and hilarity factor)

- Ten thousand lovers. Edeet Ravel. (Also good in trilogy: 'Look for me' and 'A wall of light') Really amazing books on living and trying to love and survive in Israel and Palestine.

- Lamb: The gospel according to Biff, Christ's childhood pal. Christopher Moore. If you have a sense of humor this book is for you! about the missing years in Christ's life. I'm not religious and if you are this might not be for you. It is a hilarious view of what shenanigans Biff takes Jesus on. (Biff does most of the shenanigans)

I also recommend pretty much anything by Christopher Moore. Particularly; 'the stupidest Angel' (ZOMBIE SANTA WARNING), 'Bloodsucking fiends', 'A dirty job'

- Time Travellers Wife. Audrey Niffenegger. I found this book a few years ago while on a papermaking tour of Chicago. Several people recommended it to me. Also not a book to be read if lookign for an emotional pick me up. An amazing story though. Skip the movie and read the book.

- Good in bed. Jennifer Weiner. love her books. She also wrote in her shoes, but i liked this one better.

- A Thousand splendid suns. Khaled Hosseini. Really interesting fiction about girls growing up in Afghanistan.

- Ender's Game. Orson Scott Card. One of the best Sci fi books I've ever read. Genetic selection to make super smart children then training them to fight a war with an alien species.

- Stranger in a Strange Land. Robert Heinlein. Another great Sci Fi. Definitly an intersting view on religion and society.

- Stephanie Plum Series. Janet Evanovich. Great light reading. I look forward to each of her new books. The Grandma in the books is hilarious. I've even listened to some of the audiobooks when the paperbacks weren't available at the library and think they're almost better.

- Pride and prejudiced and zombies. Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith. If Pride and Prejudiced was my favourite book, and I have a mild obsession with zombies that makes this book the best book of all time! I'm pretty sure this was the beginning of all those rewritings of historical fiction with monsters. I think its the best so far. I am halfway through his new interpretation of Abe lincoln's history as a vampire killer and it's pretty brilliant so far.

- I love the harry potter books. I have a weird phobia of flying and ever since I started reading harry potter 10 years ago, I've had to read one on a plane on every trip. It's gone on so long now that recently I forgot to bring one and had to buy the philosophers stone at the airport. Did everyone know that they called it the Sorcerers stone in the USA? Weird.

(As much as i like harry potter. I do kind of think that the Dark materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman was a bit more well written.)

I'm sure I'm missing so many great books.
usmcwifeFemaleCanada2010-09-01 01:32:00
CanadaWhen You Eat Your Smarties
no poutine, butter tarts and no smarties..engagement may be in jeopardy....kidding oh and their oreos are ####### not to mention no fudgeeos
TammyandJoshFemaleCanada2011-06-16 09:34:00
CanadaFinally POE next week.?s.1000 islands
Finally after what feels like forever..K1 started a pregnancy a baby and now a CBA certificate enoute we are planning to do our POE next mon-tues at 1000 islands gan..and of course im nervous and have a million questions..

Anyone POE there before?

How long?

We will have 3 vehicles...me and the kids...fiance driving UHAUL and fiances aunt in a van..Hoping not to put anything in her vehicle so she can just go straight through.. So do we drive uhaul behind me and all go through the little booth or is there a way for him to park at secondary? does he go through truck lane? I cant imagine the hassle if you drive in the wrong spot?

I have an itemized list and all our IDs envelopes from interviews etc..anything else?


Much Thanks
TammyandJoshFemaleCanada2012-08-14 08:27:00
CanadaGuinea Pig....? POE
Thanks Guys..:) Cant imagine if we had to leave Kyle here..
TammyandJoshFemaleCanada2012-08-15 07:09:00
CanadaGuinea Pig....? POE
Can we take him or not? Do I need a vet certificate or anything?
Tips on travelling with little critters?
Thanks
TammyandJoshFemaleCanada2012-08-14 08:28:00
Canadainterview I-134 or i-864 tomorrow

As a K1 you only need the I-134 and its supporting evidence at the interview. The 864 is for AOS. It's a bit late to gather stuff but at minimum you need your fiance's last year's tax return or tax transcript.


I have i134 letter from his employer And past 3 u
Years taxes. Was on bus to Montreal when I heard I might need the other. And I being paranoid panicked. We can't afford to be delayed any longer.
TammyandJoshFemaleCanada2012-04-24 16:38:00
Canadainterview I-134 or i-864 tomorrow
help whats needed?
i was told i-134 for fiance so thats what i have..now ive heard they are asking for i-864s? i thought that was AOS later? i can prob get him to fax me tonight? what did they ask you for? help..

so stressed...
TammyandJoshFemaleCanada2012-04-24 14:18:00
CanadaMoving issue
Yes, if you send them a photcopy of your I-94, which will be stapled into your passport when you POE, you will not be charged duty on your items. Check the weight limits for luggage on the west jet website. Then go to Canadian Tire and buy a fish scale for $5. They have a hook. Load up your luggage and periodically weigh it until it's 2 or so pounds under the limit. Fish scales are more accurate than regular scales- I used one to weigh my luggage and it was only 1 pound off compared to the scale at the airport.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-14 01:05:00
CanadaMoving issue
Long story short, flying with overweight luggage is FAR more expensive than shipping it. I plan on shipping about 8 boxes that are within UPS's size and weight restrictions (the boxes are around 50-60 lbs each.) I got estimates on each box (UPS has a price estimator right on their website) and they were between $70-$120.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-13 21:59:00
CanadaInteview Tuesday - DS 156
Just redo it and print off new copies.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-20 19:26:00
CanadaPacket 3
Vancouver seems to be good at answering e-mails. Make sure to include your case number and be as succinct as possible.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-04-23 16:28:00
CanadaWhat is an overstay exactly?
I think you'll be fine since you're not staying for a very long time. The general rule is over 6 months is considered an overstay OR if you're given explicit instructions by an officer to return by a certain date then you should be back by then. Since neither situation applies you should be fine. If they ask you why you didn't return when you said you would at the border (I'm guessing they won't) just be honest and say you didn't want to make an extra trip.

This is all just a guess, I might be wrong.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-21 19:55:00
CanadaThe Way We Were
Yes, I'd love to see some chit chat threads as well. The VJers here are exceptionally friendly :yes: Well, perhaps one of us should dive in and make a new thread? Hehe.
pocherosFemaleCanada2011-08-19 09:25:00
CanadaWoking Medical Services
It's cool they give you a second sealed envelope for just $50. It's worth it IMHO cause USCIS or the POE seems to misplace medicals a lot!
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 04:31:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

lol you're not! It's good info! I'm pretty sure I saw all of this when we were looking into him coming up here. The page I read is misleading, unless I'm just way too tired :blush:


Haha, no, it is misleading and not all that clear. Just like most other Canadian government websites :/ I wasn't that sure of it myself.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 23:54:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration
Also I'm not trying to be a b itch or anything, sorry if it comes off that way. Just trying to seek clarification ^^;;

Edited by pocheros, 30 May 2012 - 10:35 PM.

pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 22:34:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

From:

http://www.cic.gc.ca...onsor/index.asp



From:

http://www.cic.gc.ca...ETOC.asp#table3

Looks like a lot more than the US sponsor needs to make :blink:


That is specific to Quebec- only Quebec residents have to meet an income requirement. All other provinces you merely need to prove that you can meet basic necessities and you're not receiving social assistance. So, you still financially sponsor them, it's just not as stringent.

Link: http://www.cic.gc.ca...op/op02-eng.pdf Check pages 42 and 43.

"Sponsors of dependent children and of spouses, common-law partners or conjugal partners
(unless they have dependent children who have dependent children of their own) do not have to
meet financial requirements, but they do undertake to provide for the basic necessities of the
sponsored applicants so that the applicants do not need social assistance. Applicants may be
refused for financial reasons under A39 if they are unable or unwilling to support themselves and
their dependent children and there are not adequate arrangements for their care and support.
Officers should take into consideration the sponsor's financial situation and willingness to assist,
as well as the financial situation or employment prospects of the applicant, if applicable."


Further discussion here: http://www.canadavis...r-t61486.0.html

Edited by pocheros, 30 May 2012 - 10:30 PM.

pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 22:20:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

You would still need to prove that she can financially support you or find a sponsor. So really it's the same thing. I believe www.roadtocanada.com (?) is the website that would have more information for you.


I'm reluctant to speak in absolutes but I'm fairly sure that income requirements are waived for Canadians sponsoring spouses. I can't find it written on an official website anywhere but forums for US to Canada immigration seem to be agree on this. I could be wrong though, I'm not really familiar with it.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 20:48:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

I didnt see this mentioned either.

In Canada, there are only 2 places to interview.

One is Vancouver the other is Montreal.

Vancouver ONLY processes K1, but its also geographical, they only take from Man - BC

Montreal will process both K1 and CR1, for K1 they do from Ontario -> east, for the CR1 they cover ALL of Canada.

So the waiting times are backed up. I went to Vancouver for my K1, and from Pkg 3 - pkg 4 was 3 weeks. In Montreal pkg 3 - pkg 4 can take 6 months. So you definetley need to take that into consideration too.


I did mention this in one of my earlier posts. Packet 3 and 4 DO NOT take 6 months in Montreal! They take about 4-6 weeks. I got a K1 from Montreal last year and it only took 8 months from start to finish.

Alizon: thanks for the clarification re: NVC and interview scheduling.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 20:23:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

Big edit:

Also a huge question that could change everything.. What if, instead of getting her residency here, we were to get married, and I was to attempt to become a Canadian resident. Is it at all easier? The deciding factor in all of this is what's easier, and what's going to actually allow us to be together. We're both completely willing to move. All that matters is being together. How different is the process if I wish to become a Canadian citizen rather than my honey becoming a U.S. citizen?


Just addressing this one thing before I go run to do my errands: Yes, it is easier for you to move to Canada. There is still an immigration process involved, of course, and I am not terribly familiar with it, but the impression I get is that it is a bit easier.

Visa journey addresses moving to the US. Check out http://www.roadtocan...orums/index.php to go to canada.

I think- I AM NOT SURE- I read somewhere that you do not need to meet an income guideline to bring a spouse to Canada. So that's worth looking into if that's a problem, although it is possible for you to bring your partner to America if your mother takes a job that would net her the income requirements or you have a friend (co-sponsor doesn't have to be a relative) who could help out. (will write more on this later, or hopefully another VJer will come alone and address this concern, as i am not to educated on the I-864)

It's still a lengthy process to get a visa to move to canada but is completely doable and less of a headache than moving to the US. Citizenship occurs after you have been a PR of Canada for some time, just like in the US, although I am not sure how long you have to be a PR of Canada to qualify. Naturally you will have to consider the many advantages and disadvantages of living in Canada vs. the US. Both are options.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 18:10:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

(: Your post hit all of the right spots, Pocheros. I really appreciate your response, along with all of the other posts so far. I'm sure I'll come back with more questions in time, but for now, it looks like I have everything I need.. I also checked out your link.. and wow, it's pretty intimidating.. I'm just hoping the sponsorship part goes okay.. I'm really, really terrified of rejection, and I'm even more terrified of how much money I might end up losing if my sweetheart DOES get rejected.. What it's going to cost, at least to me, is not easy money to come by, but we're hoping that her family plans to chip in as well. Once my sweetheart gets here, and after we're married, we'll start filling out the paperwork, and I have no doubts that I'll have a lot more questions, but in the mean time.. I have a lot of time to do more research as well.. Thanks again, all of you. Your advice means the world to me.


You're welcome :) The process always starts out very intimidating, what with all the information to read and paperwork to fill out. But just to reassure you it is very, very rare for a Canadian to get outright rejected. Usually if you miss something in your paperwork they send you a Request For Evidence or RFE- so it's simply solved just by mailing in whatever it is they ask for. RFEs can happen at any point in the process but it's no reason to be intimidated. It just makes things a little slower.

Lots of VJers have you used co-sponsors before- if you have someone who's willing and meets the income requirements you're good to go. The sponsorship form IS one of the most important pieces of paperwork but it's very straightforward.

Anyways, just rest assured that there's a 99% chance you won't be rejected. Rejection happens to people who don't do their research or commit fraud. The road can be very bumpy, for others it's smooth, but there's a light at the end of the tunnel. :thumbs:
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 17:37:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration
1. Again this is up to the individual border patrol officer. Since she is merely visiting a "friend", not her "spouse" I would guess the officer will be easier on her since if you were her spouse she'd have more of a reason to illegally immigrate :P 4-6 weeks isn't prohibitively long. I suggest that in case the officer asks for it she bring some evidence of ties, for example a letter from her employer (does she work?). Also if it's not too expensive she should invest in a refundable ticket.

She does not have to state her intentions to marry at the border- unless, of course, she had a wedding dress in her luggage. When I visited I referred to my partner as my boyfriend- I would just feel too awkward saying "friend" or "best friend" and didn't want to "sound" like a liar. Though friend isn't technically incorrect be aware that she may be asked further questions about it. (I was asked lots of questions about my boyfriend, but they were basic stuff like "where does he work," etc.)

2. Nope, you'll be fine. Foreigners marry all the time. It's just as simple as any two americans getting married. Just look up the marriage license requirements for your state since it varies throughout the country and make sure she brings the correct documentation. I think I just needed a few pieces of ID for mine, but I got married in Las Vegas which is the easiest place in America to get married. The form may ask for her SSN but rest assured it is not required to get married since she obviously won't have one.

3. Yes, you file for the I-130. You can even work on it with your partner while she's visiting and mail it off while she's there. I recommend doing this since the forms ask for a lot of information about both of you.

Here is a step by step guide for CR1 visas: http://www.visajourn...tent/i130guide1 Please check out the guides at the top left hand side of VJ, they are very useful.

I did not get a CR1 visa myself so I am only going by what is posted here- I may be wrong. It seems like the steps basically go like this:

1. get married and obtain marriage certificate (different from license)
2. Fill out I-130 and mail it to USCIS. This is the part that takes the longest. In a couple weeks you'll receive a NOA1 which is basically a receipt stating that they received your package. Then your petition will sit around at USCIS for 4-6 months. When they have finally reviewed your package, if it's approved they will send you a NOA2. NOA1 and NOA2 are important documents- do not lose them.
3. When USCIS is done they forward your petition to NVC or National Visa Center. NVC will then ask for the I-864 (sponsorship forms) in addition to some other things. I'm not really clear about this part of the process. If this page is correct then you have about 5-6 months before you need to start worrying about sponsorship.
4. NVC forwards your petition to Montreal. Montreal schedules a interview for your partner. You partner goes to the interview, gets asked a few questions and then is approved. Note: The american is not required to attend the interview.
5. Montreal keeps your partner's passport for a few business days. Montreal then glues her visa into her passport and mails it back to her.
6. Your partner receives her passport and is able to finally cross the border and start living with you. Yay!

This is a very, very barebones outline. If you don't have a printer I recommend you get one as all the forms you need for the process are found online. You can start by looking at the I-130 on the USCIS website. USCIS also includes instructions for each form online. Print out the instructions and read them very carefully. Make checklists for everything it asks for and cross it off as you go.

She plans to spend pretty much the entire process in Canada, with attempted visits(we'll try our hardest, but if DOES get declined, how soon can she attempt to cross the border again?)


Again, up to the border officer. Sometimes they'll tell you not to try crossing the border again till X date, sometimes they don't say anything and you can successfully cross the border the very next day, sometimes they don't say anything and people have trouble crossing the border for the next three months.

Aside from our marital status changing, what else is going to change? (I mean, legally.. taxes, etc)


If you want to be taxed less you should inform your employer of your marital status. :P Not sure what else would change...

-What's the interview process she will end up having to go through, and what exactly does she need to know? She definitely knows everything there is to know about me, and she's extremely tight with my family. They're willing to do anything and everything to help and make this happen.


The interview is the easiest step of the process. They usually ask very basic questions- when did you get married, how do you meet, what does your spouse do for a living, when was your spouse born, etc. There is a link at the top of VJ that says Reviews, you can read about people's individual experiences in Montreal there.

Edited by pocheros, 30 May 2012 - 04:46 PM.

pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 16:37:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

Yea, I've already pretty much come to terms with the fact that we're going to have to wait and that trying to work around the system is just asking for trouble. What we're planning to do is to get married and to just wait it out. The biggest problem is going to be this whole financial sponsoring, and I'm definitely still pretty confused by it.. So, I'm going to need two people to sponsor her, basically? What if she isn't my fiancee and is instead my spouse? I'd much rather go the route of bringing her here, marrying her, and then having her go back to Canada so that I can file the CR-1. I guess I'll just have to get reading (: .


You have to prove that you can financially sponsor her no matter what type of visa you use- K1 or CR1. You don't need two people to sponsor her unless you require two people to meet the income requirements as laid out in the federal poverty guidelines. You just need to prove that your co-sponsor(s) meet 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.

I forget how household size is counted in the I-864. Someone explained it awhile ago but I don't remember and I haven't filled out the form myself :P But basically you look at the household size as outlined in the chart I linked in my last post and prove that you and your joint sponsors earn that much annually or you have a ridiculous amount of assets that exceed that amount.

Edit: Looked it up. Household size is counted as yourself and the intending immigrant and any children under the age of 18 who are dependent on you. So if you don't have kids the number you're looking at is 2. 133% of the poverty guideline for 2 people for all states except Hawaii and Alaska is $20,123. (You need to prove it for 125%- the chart I found doesn't list it, though.) So if you have a mom or dad who earns over $20,000 a year and is willing to sponsor your fiance/spouse you're good to go. You can even use friends if they're willing- your co-sponsors don't have to be relatives.

Edited by pocheros, 30 May 2012 - 02:44 AM.

pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 02:35:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

Hahahaha.. Pocheros, your lawyer comment is actually quite relevant as to how I came about this board in the first place. I was looking for a way to figure out how to go about all of this without getting a lawyer involved. Heheh.. All of this IS a lot of information to chew on, and I'd be lying if I said I knew what I was getting myself into. However, at the moment, I actually only have one question, seeing as how everything else pretty much clicked. If, for whatever reason, I'm unable to prove that I can financially support my lover (I was going to be able to do so through help from family + loans, seeing as how I'm going through school), how exactly can I get co-sponsors? Who do they need to be? How do I go about it? Do I definitely need to be employed?


Dukeandduchess already answered, but to add a little more detail, here's the federal poverty guideline for 2012: http://www.familiesu...guidelines.html

Co sponsors can be pretty much anyone who's an American citizen and is willing to help you out. Many people use their parents if it's necessary.

To echo dukeandduchess: read lots! But also take a grain of salt with what you read. Remember DIFFERENT consulates require DIFFERENT things, although there are some things in common that all consulates will require. Canada is one of the easiest countries to get a visa from, so if you're reading someone's immigration horror story from Nigeria there's no need to freak out. Everyone inevitably freaks out and worries though, it's natural :P

USCIS and NVC are stages that are the "same" for everyone, though. There are forums for each step of the process.

As previously stated, the immigration process changes fairly frequently so often information is out of date or slightly wrong. Cross check your sources. Check out the guides here to get an idea of the overall process: http://www.visajourn.../content/guides There are a lot of helpful threads on the forums- the search function is your friend. When in doubt, though, VJers are usually quite helpful and willing to answer your questions :D
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-30 02:26:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

Sounds great. I've just got a couple questions. First off.. How do we go about filing for this visa? What does it entitle us to? Does this mean that once she moves here on the visa, THEN we need to file for a green card? Would the following process be accurate:

-She visits.
-We obtain a marriage license while she's here.
-She returns to Canada.
-I file for a spousal visa (or does she? I think I'll understand this better when I know what the spousal visa is, heh)


For a spousal (CR1) visa this is the correct process, except YOU would file for her. You would file for an I-130. You find the I-130 on the USCIS website. There are example forms on visa journey if you are curious about how to fill it out.

Ultimately, the CR1 results in a visa AND green card at the same time. The K1 only results in a visa which she would use to enter the USA, then marry you, THEN apply for her green card. CR1 is usually a better option. I said that the K1 visa is faster in my last post, but that only factors in the amount of time it takes to process the visa. When you consider the extra time it takes to get a green card compared to the CR1 it is actually either the same amount of time or slower. The K1 visa is also more expensive. By the way, you can expect the the immigration process from the initial position to the acquisition of the green card to cost about $2-$3K.

The only time I recommend a K1 is if your fiance lives in western Canada (I think it's considered Manitoba and west, but it might be saskatchewan and west?) This is because ALL spousal visas/CR1s have an interview at the consulate in Montreal. Nope, it doesn't matter if she lives in Vancouver- if she applies for a CR1 she has to go to Montreal. And Montreal is a very slow consulate.

However, if she applies for a K1 AND lives in western canada she gets to interview at the consulate in Vancouver, which is significantly faster (2-3 mos it seems) than Montreal. If she lives in Eastern canada it doesn't make a difference if she applies for a K1 or CR1- she still goes to Montreal.

The CR1 and K1 are visas that entitle your honey to enter the US. The visa DOES NOT entitle her to permanent residency- the green card is what grants her permanent resident status, and her K1 visa in combination with the marriage certificate and I-94 allows her to file for a green card. Permanent residents get the privilege to work in the US, travel freely in and out of the US, get a driver's license, etc. They don't get the same protections as citizens do in the justice system but they effectively can live like an american inside the US. After maintaining permanent resident status for 3 years she can apply for american citizenship. And yes, you can be a dual canadian and american citizen- woohoo, that's fun! :)

Here's how it goes down effectively for a CR1: Once she receives her visa from the consulate in Montreal, she gets to cross the border and start living with you. A couple weeks later her green card will arrive in the mail, but for all intents and purposes she is a permanent resident. That means she can get an SSN, opena bank account, start working, etc. pretty much immediately.

Here's how it goes down effectively for a K1: Once she receives her visa from the consulate in Montreal (if she lives in eastern canada) or Vancouver (if she lives in western canada), she gets to cross the border and start living with you. Her K1 expires immediately upon entry- however, she gets an I-94 stapled into her passport. (the I-94 is just something the border officer attaches to her passport- it only costs $6, the fee is included if you fly.) This I-94 is valid for 90 days from the date of her entry into the US. Within these 90 days, you MUST get married. The 90 days grant her "conditional" status- she is NOT a permanent resident, but she is a legal alien. Within these 90 days, you would ideally file for "adjustment of status" which grants her a green card. Adjustment of status costs $1070 and takes anywhere from 3-6 months (6 months is quite long for AOS, however). When you file for adjustment of status you can also apply for an employment authorization document (EAD or work permit) and advance parole (document that allows her to exit the US). These are temporary cards issued to her while they work on her green card. The EAD and AP are usually issued a couple months after you file for AOS, and then the green card shortly follows. Without an EAD or green card she CANNOT LEGALLY work in the US. Also, without AP or a green card she CANNOT LEGALLY cross the american border. She is STUCK inside the US until she receives one of these documents.

In essence, the CR1 takes a couple months longer to process, but everything is done all at once and it gives her more freedom once she is in the US. Some people prefer to remain engaged before they start living together. That's a personal decision. I wish I had gone the CR1 route, but I didn't understand the process well initially and ended up with a K1. Lo and behold, hubby got laid off before we filed for my green card. Because we can't file my green card without proof of his employment I have been sitting on my butt in the US for 8 months unable to legally work or travel to Canada. By the way, you will have to prove you are able to financially support your honey- but don't worry, the required income for this is low and you can always get co-sponsors if you don't earn enough.

So there's some more info to chew on!

Also, one last tip: DON'T HIRE A LAWYER! They are a waste of money. VJ and time to read up on the process is all you need. Lawyers are basically glorified typists in that they just fill out forms with basic info like your name and birthdate for you. The immigration process changes frequently as well so they tend to be behind on the times and consequently give poor advice.

Edited by pocheros, 29 May 2012 - 11:38 PM.

pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-29 23:32:00
CanadaUS Citizen Marrying A Canadian Citizen + Immigration

I'm a U.S. citizen, born and raised. My partner is a Canadian citizen, born and raised. We are NOT married yet, nor are we 'officially' engaged(I've seen these vias that have to do with engagement, so I'm just assuming there's such a thing as official engagement?). We're looking to skip the 'engagement' process(unless this is required by law, in which case, we will obviously follow it. I want no chances of her getting a ban from the US or getting deported) and to get married within the U.S.


There's two marriage based visas.* The K1 is for engagement/fiances, and the IR1/CR1 is for spouses. There's no official engagement process- if you decide you're engaged you simply file for a fiance visa (the initial application for the fiance is called I-129F). If you go the other route, before you do anything else you get married. After you've been married you file for a spousal visa which is the I-130. You can do either. In both cases you have to demonstrate that you have a valid relationship but this is generally pretty easy to do if you've kept photos, receipts, boarding passes etc. Don't worry if you don't have an engagement ring as proof if you go for a fiance visa- some VJers mention this, it's not necessary.

*There's also a K3 visa, don't bother with this one as it's basically defunct and takes longer than either the K1 or CR1 and is more expensive.

To summarize it, my lover wishes to visit within the next month, and we would like to acquire a marriage license.. once married, we'd like to file for a green card so that she may become a permanent resident, but I'd very much like for her to live with me, within the U.S., while we wait for her green card to process. She will not be looking for work, she will not be going to school.. She would simply be living here. I'm aware of the fact that Canadians can apparently only stay here for six months at a time? Would it be possible to simply fly her back to Canada for a few days every five months before bringing her back to the U.S. so that she doesn't hit the six month mark? Or is there some rule against this? I realize this might all seem kind of jumbled, so I'll try to reiterate our goals/situation in a list.. I apologize if it seems redundant, I just don't want to confuse anyone.


The short story is that she can't really live with you during the immigration process. She can VISIT- she may even visit for slightly extended periods of time- but 6 months is really pushing it. Sorry, it's disheartening news, but this is the reality of immigration, even for us friendly Canadians.

If you go the CR1 route (probably the bets option- I'll explain why below), you SHOULD NOT apply for a green card right off the bat. You are only allowed to do this in special cases, and this not your case. IF you had never met your fiance before, and then met her in the USA (for example, if she were a foreign student) and got married right away and she intended to start living with you without her crossing the border at any point in this process- THEN you could apply for a green card. EVEN SO, applying for a green card this way is a very tricky and has a lower approval rate than the traditional route. As Inky already said, if you attempted this in your situation it would be fraud. Do not do this, no matter how tempting it is. DO NOT DO THIS! :P

Marriage based visas take about 7-12 months to obtain, with the K1 being a bit faster and 7 months being fast for a K1.

Now, on to visits:

Your fiance or spouse can certainly visit you during the process, but no visit is guaranteed. It is up to the individual border patrol officer to allow your honey through the border. Crossing borders is not considered a right- it is a privilege. Hence, the burden of proof is on HER to demonstrate that she is not intending to circumvent the process by taking off to live in the US permanently.

Language is very important here. For example, if she was asked why she's entering the US and said she was going to LIVE with you when there's no visa in her passport, she will get turned around. She should say she's going to VISIT. Likewise, if you get married but you feel like you're "engaged" (due to living apart) she should refer to you as her husband, not her fiance, because that is legally what you are in relation to her. Once you've filed your petition (I-129F or I-130), if she's asked further questions she should be 100% honest- tell the officers that she is in the process of obtaining a visa but simply wishes to visit you in the meantime. They like honesty!

So how does she prove that she has no ill intentions? If she's flying she should have a return ticket. She should not bring truckloads of personal items with her because to a border officer this screams that she is taking up residency in the US. When you file your first piece of paperwork you will quickly receive a Notice of Action, also called a NOA1. A NOA1 is an excellent piece of evidence that since it shows the officer you are going about the immigration process legally. If she is employed somewhere a letter from her employer showing that intends to return by a certain date is also good evidence.

For more information about this, search for "evidence of ties." What documentation can she bring to show that she is still "tied" to her home country?

Now, let's say she brought every piece of evidence she could. There is still a possibility an officer will turn her around the border. This has happened to canadian VJers before, even though they were prepared. Ultimately it is up to the individual officer's discretion. Of course, many Canadians have successfully visited the US in the middle of the process without a problem. They've even visited for extended periods of time. Just be PREPARED for her to be turned around at the border since nothing is guaranteed (refundable airplane tickets are good.)

I'm going to make another post in a minute about the difference between K1 and CR1 visas for you, but this should be something to chew on in the meantime :) I'm not trying to scare you- just being very honest! :)
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-29 23:07:00
CanadaI-129 is in the mail yay
Welcome to visa journey and congrats!
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-05-31 01:34:00
CanadaUnion Station Shut Down Due to Flooding
They think it was due to sewage too. Ewwww.

Still love TO though. :P
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-06-01 21:50:00
CanadaWhat do you like best about Tim Hortons?
I abhor Tim Hortons. They changed the recipe for the coffee several years ago and it taste like brown water in my opinion. The doughnuts and bagels are all frozen and par-baked and don't taste anything like a proper fresh doughnut should taste. I also worked there once- the customers were nice but the owners were @ssholes who didn't give a ####### about their employees, only the size of their wallet. They scheduled third shift employees for 14 hour shifts and did all kinds of borderline illegal ####### to spend as little money as possible... Full time workers who had been there for 3+ years never got any raises except when minimum wage wet up. Needless to say I looked for another job ASAP and only stuck around there for 4 months...

No, I'm not bitter :whistle: But in my opinion, Country Style makes better doughnuts because they're made from scratch (at least they were last time I checked- I worked at a Country Style a few years back, they might've changed it) and McDonalds has the best cheap coffee. Great Canadian Bagel makes good bagels.

Many a time I have been accused of not being a real Canadian because of my opinion on this matter :lol:

Edited by pocheros, 27 March 2012 - 03:31 AM.

pocherosFemaleCanada2012-03-27 03:29:00
CanadaOff Topic Part Cinq
Love the new cut! Short to mid length hair looks best IMO.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-03-06 13:51:00
CanadaNot to be Paranoid, BUT...
4-6 months is typical for NOA2.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-06-08 23:46:00
CanadaI need your suggestions?

3) I am a permanent resident of Canada and I will be entering in Buffalo in order to activate my CR1 status. We will then be flying to Houston. Does anyone know if I can keep both my Canadian PR and US GC or should I surrender either one. I have lots of things going on in Canada and I don't want to give up my PR at the moment. Do US border agents ask about such things? If yes what should I say?


I can't really help with your other questions but NO you cannot be a PR of both Canada and the US. You have to pick one, in this case you're giving up your Canadian PR status. You CEASE to be a PR of Canada the day you enter the US and activate your visa. Yes border officers are on the lookout for this kind of thing because many people try to get away with maintaining residency in both countries but you cannot do this. You tell them you are entering the US to activate your visa. If they ask about PR status you tell them you are giving up your residency in Canada to take up residency in the US.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-06-05 05:47:00
CanadaMontreal August 2011 Interviews!
Wow, thanks! I can't wait to try this out!

The fact that the egg is only slightly heated then chilled makes me a little nervous... But it's not like I haven't eaten raw cookie dough.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-06-08 08:01:00
CanadaMontreal August 2011 Interviews!

If you want I have a great nanaimo bars recipe I can share with you :)


Oooo! Could you you? I would LOVE that. Thanks :)
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-06-07 20:55:00
CanadaMontreal August 2011 Interviews!

Got my green card approval today :) Card is in production!


Congrats!!!

Hubby's still looking for a job. He had an interview last week, so our fingers are crossed. It's getting a bit ridiculous- I want to AOS already. My medical expires on the 21st of this month so I'm gonna have to start looking up civil surgeons in the area.

I totally know what you mean. Sometimes, a few days go by when I don't think about home really. I am just settled into my routine of going to work, going home, living my life here. And then someone will ask me a question about Canada, or something will happen here that is slightly different than what would happen at home, and then I get sad. It's really bizarre when it hits you like that


I feel the same way. Then I realize that I can't find nanaimo bars here or something else about the food is different and I suddenly miss home a lot. I really miss all the cute little shops in Toronto, especially Kensington Market. Las Vegas just doesn't compare...

On the bright side one of my friends from Canada is visiting me in July :dance: Very excited about that.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-06-07 19:35:00
CanadaMontreal August 2011 Interviews!
Coconuts, that's just BS. USCIS really doesn't seem to give a ****, even when it's their OWN mistake. Ugh.

Glad you were able to get the other tests done on time, though. If you weren't, then... :o It's scary to even think about.
pocherosFemaleCanada2012-04-30 17:10:00