For those who know me, my US immigration journey was not an easy one. Perhaps every naive Canadian has thought, "Well, I can easily cross the border for a 6 month visit. Therefore, the immigration process has got to be just as easy!" I was one of those people. Little did I know all the hoops that I had to jump through to get to where I am today.
There are also many decisions to make at the very beginning! If you have a significant other who is a U.S. citizen, deciding whether you are going to file for a Fiance Visa or Marriage Visa is a hard one. Of course, if you are already married, it is an easy decision. If you are still on the fence, however, each has its pros and cons.
K1-Visa (Fiance visa)
If you decide to file for the K1-Visa, then you will have to be apart (with visits between the two of you) while the visa process takes place. The wait period could range from 6 months to a year. Once you get the visa, you have 6 months to enter the U.S. and then legally marry within 90 days. You then need to file for a 2 year Green card and Employment Authorization card, which could take a couple of months. This isn't so bad because at least you will be waiting together.
CR-1 Visa (Marriage Visa)
As a married couple, you will have to be apart throughout the Visa process. This process could take from 1-2 years. The good news is that once you get the Visa and you enter the U.S., you get your Green Card and can work right away.
My husband and I chose the K1-Visa route. I am grateful to God that our wait period was minimal (both for receiving the Visa and Green Card). Still, having to go through this period was hard.
One site that really helped me get through was Visa Journey (www.visajourney.com). If you have time, you can browse the site, and has very interesting and up-to-date material.
Anyway, that's all for now. If I have any updates, I will blog it. Until then......
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