Sarahg

My fiancé and I got engaged a few weeks ago. While we were both
thrilled, we weren't prepared for the issues that came next: getting
me, a Canadian citizen, into the US. We have two options, to do a K-1
visa (Fiancé) or a K-3 visa (spouse). I would prefer to go the K-1
route, as I am more traditional and want a big wedding, but would
consider having a small wedding in Canada to be planned relatively
quickly in order to be with my fiancé in shorter time. Our lawyer
tells us that wait times in Tampa are 2 - 3 months to have the K-3
visa filed (plus more time for my interview etc.), and 5 months for
the K-1 visa. My fiancé would do the visa filing from Tampa. Does
anybody have any experience with such filings in Tampa? And does
anybody have any advice on how to choose between the K-1 and K-3
route? I know it is a largely personal choice, but any tips would be
welcome! Thanks - this process is stressful!!

ian-mstm

I'm sure you'll hear from others on this, but if you file for a K-1 visa, you can *not* get married in Canada prior to moving to the US. The K-1 recipient *must* be married in the US. You can have some sort of blessing ceremony, but that's all.

As someone who went the K-1 route a long time ago, the 4-6 months wait (generally) until you're together is a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of your life.

Ian (and Sheila)

---------------------------------------------------
Timeline:

Mailed I-129F: November 28, 1997
1st NoA: January 13, 1998
K-1 interview in Montreal: March 27, 1998
Married Sheila: May 23, 1998
Filed for AoS: June 15, 1998
AoS interview: February 20, 2001
Received PR status: March 4, 2001
Applied for Citizenship: December 8, 2003
NoA: Priority date - December 11, 2003
Fingerprinted: January 20, 2004

WiAnSiempre

Hi Sarah and welcome to immigration blackhole! While your decision is a personal one and there are many factors you need to consider, here are a few things to think about:

Since your fiance is in Tampa, if you go the K-1 route - he would file through the Texas Service Center. The TSC is now processing petitions from Aug. 8th, so they are about 5 -6 months back, however, take this with a grain of salt as there is no way to exactly predict their processing times. Sometimes they speed up, sometimes they slow down. After this initial approval, it then goes to the National Visa Center (NVC) and then on to your consulate in Canada - so add another few weeks to this.

Since I'm going the K-1 route I don't have a lot of info on the K-3 process, but I do know that the wait time can be a little shorter, the same or a little longer even. Look at some of the other timelines of posters here going K-3 to get an idea.

Also, read the FAQ section at the top of the board for good information as well.

Good luck,
Angela

Rete

For either of the K petitions the filings are not done in Tampa. The K-1 would be filed with the Texas Service Center and the K-3 would be filed with the Chicago address on the I-129F and from there it is sent to the Missouri Service Center.

From there, both will eventually find its way after approval to the NBC and then on to either the US Consulate in Montreal or Vancouver (your choice).

While you can have the ceremonial only wedding in Canada (not legal), it can cause problems done the line if an USCIS decides that although not registered with your province it is indeed a legal service and thus you had violated the K-1 provision of being unmarried when you entered the US.

Rete

imkimmy

Sarahg-

If you are interested, there is a CanAm gourp in Yahoo! and there is a woman there who is currently dealing with Tampa. I am sure she would share with you the difficulities she and here husband have faced using that office. Here is the link to the group:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canamcouples/

Kimberly