US Immigration Lawyer Consultation

Well, I am back from my trip. This one was a short one, only three days and had an objective of visiting with a US immigration lawyer to answer some of our many, many questions on how I can one day live in the United States.

When we first decided we would start looking into one of us moving, we planned to look at the options in Canada and the US. I hoped to post a similar post on options here in Canada. However it is looking much more likely that we are just going to plan for this and not consider Him moving here at this point. We definitely discussed the ‘what if I hate it there?’ and we agreed that the option of returning to Canada one day will always be on the table. In a way it would be so much easier if he moved here. Canada is very easy to get a work visa. Simply get a job and as long as you are the most qualified and the employer proves it, you will likely get it. In the US it is very difficult to get a work visa. Learning this I think we had to come to terms with what we truly wanted. He does not want to move here if there is risk of it not working and having to return to a home and job that is no longer there for him. For me, I am much more willing to take on some risk.

So here we are, looking at the options only really for me to go to the US at this point…. I posted a list of questions in the last post. Here are some of the answers I received:

What to ask an immigration lawyer – US edition

On Feb 17, we will be making the first steps into potentially ending the distance in this relationship. We have a meeting with a US immigration lawyer and now the panic sets in. What do I need to ask him?? I thought this could be a two part post. Here are the questions I have come up with so far:

Work Visas

1. Does a project manager qualify for the fast track visa
2. Do I need to find a job prior to getting the visa? How does one get a job before legally being able to work in the country?
3. How does it work to apply for a regular work visa? How do they pick who gets them
4. How long will a work visa be valid?

K-1 visa (Fiance visa)

1. What is the overall steps. What are the forms we have to fill out, requirements etc.
2. How long does it take from submitting the forms to hearing back? (Ball park, anything? I know I won’t get much for this)
3. How much does it cost?
4. Is INS going to want to interview us?
5. Is there a test? (Like you see in the movies?)
6. What does INS look for when approving these visas?
7. If approved, when does the 90 day clock start? When I get the approval or when I enter the US?
8. How long do I have once getting the visa, to enter the US?
9. Are there forms that the US citizen has to fill out too?
10. Do I need to get other documents (background checks, medical exams, etc)
11. Once married, what forms are next?
12. Do I have to become a citizen or can I stay there as a resident? What’s the difference for me?
13. Do I need to have money saved before I am approved? If so, how much?

Oh so many questions. Funny when I started asking some friends of mine in Canada about Canadian visas, they said the process is simple. Find a job, get it and basically the visa will be yours. Spouse visas seemed about as complicated and long winded as down south.

I’ll be posting soon on answers to many of these questions. I can say that there is a high likelihood that I am headed to the US sometime in the future. Today, I am a little scared, and still nothing is 100% decided, but I am hoping overtime the fear will turn to excitement. Soon I hope.

Valentine’s Day

Soon, I will be in Minneapolis, having a Valentine’s day weekend. I won’t actually be there until the evening of Feb 15th though, so I will

miss Valentine’s day. I think this would bug a lot of people, maybe because I have not been big on celebrating Valentine’s day in the past, it doesn’t matter so much to me. I think more though, I have had to learn to accept that being in an LDR means, that you might just have to deal with being alone on days where society says you shouldn’t. When I was single, Valentine’s day made me angry. Everything around me (media, calendars, people) were telling me that this holiday is not for me. I am not invited. So, I would sit alone defiantly, or find some other single people to hang out with. For

many, after a long stint of being single, Valentine’s day becomes so hyped up because now I am finally in the club. I am normal again and no one needs to pity me.

What I h

I keep trying to look at the bright side. Most people are probably going to get some flowers and go for dinner. I get to travel to another country and have a night out in a different city. I get to go to restaurants I have never heard of before and I get a vacation out of the deal.ave learned though is that in an LDR, I can’t always choose when I will see my boyfriend. I would have loved to be there on Valentine’s Day, but that would have meant spending an extra $200, we didn’t do it. Simple as that.

So why is Valentine’s day bugging me this year? Just like when I was single, I feel like anyone I talk to is just going to look at me with pity rather than see the bright side I know is there. Say things like “See, that’s why I could never do a long distance relationship…” It makes me angry. I don’t like when people tell me how they couldn’t do what we are doing, that is too hard…. not exactly motivating, is it?

So seeing as I am going to be alone on Feb 14th this year, what are some ways to celebrate? There is always long distance dates. Both of you get a bottle of wine, have dinner together (online) watch the same movie, play online games. This year, I am doing something for myself. I am getting my hair done and I am going to buy dinner instead of cook it. No need to pity me. I think I am probably going to have a better weekend than most people!

Fuck Valentine’s Day… But, yay for the weekend and only one day to go!