Questions for those with Dual US/CA or married an American citizen - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

PIMking · 10-20-2015, 11:11 AM

What process did you have to go through when Marrying an American? did you get a Green Card right away or what all did you have to do?

Locke · 10-20-2015, 11:28 AM

I thought you said she was Italian?

Drak · 10-20-2015, 11:31 AM

By your location and green card question I assume you're a Canadian attempting to become landed in the US.

I married an American but she lives up here. Never bother trying going down. For her to come here it took about 8 months after filing an application.

PIMking · 10-20-2015, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

I thought you said she was Italian?

She is, but just wondering what she's looking at

gladaki · 10-20-2015, 11:34 AM

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encycloped...ew-spouse.html

How tough it was to google ?

PIMking · 10-20-2015, 11:37 AM

I was asking personal experience... is that too much to ask for?

Drak · 10-20-2015, 11:38 AM

If she's coming here it really might depend on education and a medical exam for optimal processing time.

I was stressed about the entire process but I do that. I ended up visiting our MP's office and she looked into it. Not sure if she helped speed up the process but it seemed to.

Locke · 10-20-2015, 11:39 AM

I cant help you, but the best person to ask is probably Nickerjones. Maybe fire him a PM, I havent seen him around for a while.

nickerjones · 10-23-2015, 09:44 AM

My wife is a Canadian Citizen. We went through the process both ways. Her coming to the US and me coming to Canada.. and quite frankly it's stupid both ways. No one can answer your questions at the numbers they give you. I don't remember it as bad on the US side ( bc we had an attorney) but the Canadian side was ridiculous. You'd call in and ask simple questions and the CBSA people wouldn't have a clue. Keep in mind I went through my Canadian stuff when they were on strike so I'm sure the experience is better now.

Your experience might be different because my wife attended school in the states. After she graduated she has a work visa for a year. By the time that was about to expire we were already talking about being married. We hired an immigration attorney, we were married, and then we went through the process. There is a ton of paperwork and sometimes travel involved. I would highly suggest an immigration attorney. Our process took 4+ months but we had friends who were going through it without an attorney. They missed a couple things on the paperwork (or filled it out wrong) and it was sent back and they had to start all over.

As for the process, after the paperwork and money was paid, it was relatively simple. They'd send you mail correspondence saying things like "you are required to visit a homeland security centre on XX date. Here are the addresses you can visit." We lived in Branson, Missouri at the time and the closest locations were Kansas City and St. Louis. Sometimes we'd drive 3+ hours to STL only to have my wife get finger printed and then drive back. We had to make 3 visits for mundane things like that and then one visit for the "immigration interview". This was a series of intense questions scrutinizing our marriage. This is where the immigration attorney paid off , as he prepared us for all the questions.

All in all the process took us 4+ months. So the quick answer to your question is no... you don't get a green card right away. My wife was issued a temporary working permit, quite easily, but the attorney said this was rare. I think this is likely because she was already working on her student visa.

My advice is get an immigration attorney. Also keep detailed records of your marriage and relationship history. Pictures, stories, dates you met her family etc. They ask that kind of stuff.

Maritime Q-Scout · 10-23-2015, 10:10 AM

I have a good friend who is Canadian, he now lives in the US, he married an American, and married her on Canadian soil.

What his experience is exactly I don't know. I know the marriage didn't automatically make things easier on him in terms of citizenship and immigration.

If you want to PM me your email address, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to share his experience with you.

Heck if you're in Gainesville, if you are making the trek up to Atlanta for anything I'm sure he'd be more than happy to meet in person, especially if you want to catch the next Jays game.

Slava · 10-23-2015, 06:48 PM

I think the process differs depending on who you get and where you are. My mother is from the US, but the process for my sister and brother getting a green card and what they had to provide for that was very different. For him it was super easy; he basically walked in told them what he was doing and that was it. She tried to the same but they wanted proof for every year of her life in Canada and all kinds of junk before they would give her the green card. It's bizarre because there seems to be no hard and fast.

I haven't gone through the process, so I can't really give personal experience, but those are recent examples.

PIMking · 10-24-2015, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nickerjones

My wife is a Canadian Citizen. We went through the process both ways. Her coming to the US and me coming to Canada.. and quite frankly it's stupid both ways. No one can answer your questions at the numbers they give you. I don't remember it as bad on the US side ( bc we had an attorney) but the Canadian side was ridiculous. You'd call in and ask simple questions and the CBSA people wouldn't have a clue. Keep in mind I went through my Canadian stuff when they were on strike so I'm sure the experience is better now.

Your experience might be different because my wife attended school in the states. After she graduated she has a work visa for a year. By the time that was about to expire we were already talking about being married. We hired an immigration attorney, we were married, and then we went through the process. There is a ton of paperwork and sometimes travel involved. I would highly suggest an immigration attorney. Our process took 4+ months but we had friends who were going through it without an attorney. They missed a couple things on the paperwork (or filled it out wrong) and it was sent back and they had to start all over.

As for the process, after the paperwork and money was paid, it was relatively simple. They'd send you mail correspondence saying things like "you are required to visit a homeland security centre on XX date. Here are the addresses you can visit." We lived in Branson, Missouri at the time and the closest locations were Kansas City and St. Louis. Sometimes we'd drive 3+ hours to STL only to have my wife get finger printed and then drive back. We had to make 3 visits for mundane things like that and then one visit for the "immigration interview". This was a series of intense questions scrutinizing our marriage. This is where the immigration attorney paid off , as he prepared us for all the questions.

All in all the process took us 4+ months. So the quick answer to your question is no... you don't get a green card right away. My wife was issued a temporary working permit, quite easily, but the attorney said this was rare. I think this is likely because she was already working on her student visa.

My advice is get an immigration attorney. Also keep detailed records of your marriage and relationship history. Pictures, stories, dates you met her family etc. They ask that kind of stuff.

what kind of questions did they ask?

we've already talked to the lawyer and basically gonna be near 4k to get it taken care of.

PIMking · 10-24-2015, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I have a good friend who is Canadian, he now lives in the US, he married an American, and married her on Canadian soil.

What his experience is exactly I don't know. I know the marriage didn't automatically make things easier on him in terms of citizenship and immigration.

If you want to PM me your email address, I'm sure he'd be more than happy to share his experience with you.

Heck if you're in Gainesville, if you are making the trek up to Atlanta for anything I'm sure he'd be more than happy to meet in person, especially if you want to catch the next Jays game.

I'm actually in Tampa now.