dissuasion Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Ok, don't harass me because I'm too young to be thinking about this, because that's not the point of my post. My SO and I live in different countries (Canada and US) and eventually we want to get married and live together, but we're both in school atm. What I'm curious about is would it be easier to move to Canada, or to the US, and what kind of process do you go through to do it? We're not exactly working atm because school takes up too much time, so we won't have much money saved up :/ Would it be possible to graduate school and start out with a job in the other country to pay back money? Or would we have to get married first, or get jobs in our own country before anything can happen? Ugh I'm so confused x.x Link to post Share on other sites
crimsonrose Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Ok, don't harass me because I'm too young to be thinking about this, because that's not the point of my post. My SO and I live in different countries (Canada and US) and eventually we want to get married and live together, but we're both in school atm. What I'm curious about is would it be easier to move to Canada, or to the US, and what kind of process do you go through to do it? We're not exactly working atm because school takes up too much time, so we won't have much money saved up :/ Would it be possible to graduate school and start out with a job in the other country to pay back money? Or would we have to get married first, or get jobs in our own country before anything can happen? Ugh I'm so confused x.x Well, I am from the US, and I'm son to move to australia to be with my fiance. We're going to marry through the court before the official wedding, so that we can apply for a spousal visa. The visa will probably cost over a thousand dollars. Plus you will both need to provide proof that you can support each other financially. Because I am only 17, the only way I am able to do all of this is my fiance is 22 and has a steady job and more than enough money saved up to support me. I imagine it would be harder to get into the US than into Canada, but I don't know for sure. In order to make the decision on who will make the move, you will need to consider who is closer to their family, which place has better jobs, which is more convenient as far as house hunting goes, and so on. I chose to make the move because my fiance has much more family out in Australia than I do here, and I am not very close to my extended family to begin with. He also has a steady, good paying job, and Melbourne is much more beautiful than Texas. There ya have it Link to post Share on other sites
Rollercoasterr Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Since I'm actually in a situation similar to this, I figured I'd post. My fiance lives in Canada and I'm in the U.S. From what he and I have gathered, it's much easier to move to canada because basically, you get married and you move. I'm sure there's more red tape than that, but it's almost basically an open and shut case. In the early days of our relationship we had looked for me just to move up there to be with him, and because he lives in Quebec, which just thinks it ought to be it's own little country, it's a bit harder. You have to be skilled and be able to add something to their province before they'll just hand you the opportunity to move there. There are multiple other ways, but we soon decided it'd be better if he moved down here. Now, to move to the U.S. you might as well break into Fort Knox. It'd probably be easier. To get a work visa you need to be top notch in your field or they wont even consider wasting their time sponsoring you a visa. Employers also have to prove that they have given U.S citizens a chance at getting the job first. Student visa is a little easier, but once it's over, you go back home. End of story unless you want to try and get a work visa or get married(once again, I'm sure there's more visas, I'm just being brief). And then there's the one that we're doing, which is the K1(the fiance visa). It's going to cost us roughly around $2000 in application fees, but that's nothing compared to what some of our other members have paid for their love. I have to show that my income is 125% above the poverty line for America because the government wants to know that once he moves he isn't going to become a ward of the state(welfare, etc.). Then there's medical exams, interviews, processing time(currently 9-11 months). Once that particular visa is approved and his feet his U.S. soil we have 90 days to get married. If we dont, he goes home and we have to do the whole process again unless we can somehow get an extension(I've heard it's only happened like once or twice, but I could be wrong). Overall, I'd say moving to canada is easier. But in my current situation, it's easier for US if he moves down here. I don't speak french(I'm trying to learn), things are more costly up there usually(we have a running joke about them having a $6 footlong instead of a $5 footlong from subway), weather isn't wonderful(I'm a southern girl), and he'd generally get paid more for working down here since he's just about to graduate and become an engineer. If you don't have jobs, you need to get them. Both of you. Either process is going to be costly for you. If the canadian wants to move to the U.S., the American(you didn't specify who was who) will have to do what I said earlier, prove that they make 125% of the poverty line or have a sponser who makes that much, and then enough to support another person for their household size. Also, finances are going to be looked at anyway. No country is going to want to take a person that is more than likely going to become a ward of the state. It may not be true in canada since we didn't look into that in depth, but I'm just assuming here. And I don't get why you're saying for no one to lecture you about your age. You didn't post your age, so naturally we have no way of knowing how old you are. I'm 20 and my SO is 22, but I have an amazing job, and he graduates from a great program in the spring of next year and already has lots of work experience. So our case may be a little different from someone that's just out of high school, or isn't in school and works at a fast food joint 2 days a week(no offense if anyone here actually does work at a fast food place for 2 days, lol. You know I love you ALL). Overall, I'd think you need to give us a little more detail on the situation. Link to post Share on other sites
Author dissuasion Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 Oh, well I'd assume some people would look at my other posts and see that I'm 18 and he's 19. I'm the Canadian, and he's in the US. I'm going to university for a BS majoring in biology, and he's currently in also getting a similar degree. We don't have much work experience but we're hoping to get good jobs once we're done school. I'm just not sure how long it'll take us before being capable of living together >< living apart is so hard Link to post Share on other sites
Rollercoasterr Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 While you're in school there's not much that you can do if you don't have a job. You're probably going to have to wait until you both have gotten out of school and worked at pretty good jobs for a little while to save up money. Unless of course either of you would like to get a sponsor. I strongly recommend that one of you get a job. I'm a biology major too with animal science as my minor, and I hold a full time job in the cell phone industry. He works co-ops for some decent money when he has to complete them for school. Without those jobs, none of this would be possible. We're both full time students too, so it IS possible to do both at the same time. I'm not trying to dishearten you at all. I'm just trying to help you be realistic. Being apart sucks. It really does. But it's better for the both of you in the long run if you can have some money saved up for the two of you to live on once you're together. In either country I know that a work permit has to be granted, and in the U.S. it can take up to 90 days to be granted after a visa is approved. I remember reading somewhere that in Canada there's like a 6 month waiting period before you can work up there. I could totally be wrong on that one though, it's a little hazy and it's been some time since I looked it up. Please be realistic. I know you want this relationship to work out, and we want it to work out for you. Link to post Share on other sites
Author dissuasion Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 hey I really appreciate the responses I suppose I'll try to get a job near the university (I have little employment experience so far x.x I've obsessed over studies rather than money but at least ive gotten good scholarships) but I want to keep my summers free so we can visit each other for awhile >< I'd rather postpone the time until we're together permanently, than get rid of the little time we have to spend together physically. Link to post Share on other sites
Strawberry Cane Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 (edited) I can tell you right now, it is WAYYYYYYYYYYYY easier to move to Canada, in my opinion. I live in a BORDER CITY and cross all the time. My BEST FRIEND (who is in her mid 20s) met a man (who is also in his mid 20s) who lived in the States. They started with visits, eventually got engaged, and she actually managed to move there to be with him for a span of 5 months. Keeping up with the laws and whatnot, she came back to Canada before her 6 months were up so she could spend Christmas with her family. When she tried going back INTO the States (to go home), and mentioned she lived with her boyfriend there, and had for 5 months, the border flagged her passport, treated her like garbage, and told her she was unable to pass. She tried to cross again a month later, and they threated her and her fiance with jail time. They called her an illegal immigrant, and said that her fiance was attempting to smuggle her into the States. She's been a total mess for months, crying every day, separated from her fiance. This girl is honestly the nicest and kind hearted person you could ever meet. She wouldn't hurt a fly, and it sucks to see her so sad, because for the first time in her life, shes finally found someone who loves her like crazy, and she deserves it. Now, her fiance on the other hand has been able to come into Canada EVERY TIME with NO HASSLE whatsoever. And having crossed the border several times myself, I can say that it's very easy to get into Canada whether you are American or Canadian, not so much for the American side. I dated an American myself for a few months and every time I went to visit him it was a big problem with the border patrol. On the other hand, whenever he came to see me he always got through no problem. My best friend had to hire an immigration lawyer to help her through all this and now they are going to court and spending all this money. I really don't think it's worth all the hassle. Her fiance might as well just move here, so that's the advise I'm giving to you. P.S - I forgot to mention, even when I was dating an American guy, he lived right in the next city, so it was like only a 10 minute drive to go see him, so I was going over every few days... and at one point, the border patrol actually said to me "How do we know you are not living over there?? You are over here every few days and have spent a few nights here too." The worst part is that I HAD A PASSPORT! It didn't matter if I had one or not! I always had to answer a MILLION questions. This was the kinds of questions I was asked. "Where are you going?" (To my boyfriends house, he lives right in this city) "How often do you come into the States?" (Every few days now that I'm dating someone here) "How long do you plan to be in the States." (I'm unsure, I might spend the night there) "What is your usual business coming into the States?" (I go see my boyfriend or go to dinner or a club) "What is your boyfriends name." (I'd say his full name) "How long have you been dating for?" (A month) "Where does he live?" (At this address) "What do you do for a living?" (I'd state my job) "How much money do you make?" (An hourly wage) "What does your boyfriend do for a living and how much does he make?" (I'd state his job, say I didn't know his salary) *I often wondered if knowing that info really even mattered to them or if they were just stalling me* "Whose car are you driving? Do you have proof, and let me see it." (It's mine, yes I have proof, here it is) "Let me look in the trunk." "Are you bringing anything into the States with you today?" I actually had a guy say to me once, "So you "do this" for a living, only make "this much money" and this is your own vehicle? Registered to your name?" It was, and I had proof. I was pretty offended but I couldn't start arguing with him, plus my car wasn't new or anything so I thought it was a weird comment to make. Me and my boyfriend at the time never had any problems getting into Canada. This is just my experiences and my point of view on the system itself. I am in no way suggesting that this will happen to you, but it's not easy to move into the States. I can't complain too much. I have never myself been unable to get into the States to go to dinner or anything, but it's just a long process of drilled questions. In my eyes, you can't blame the border patrol. They are only doing their job, but at times they can make an innocent person feel like a criminal just with their tone of voice and strict manner. Edited November 30, 2009 by a LoveShack.org Moderator Added the PS Link to post Share on other sites
Rollercoasterr Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 They want to know that you're not intending to just stay here. What your friend said to them was unfortunately the wrong thing to say. It's their job to keep out illegal immigrants, and while I don't agree that they should be quite so harsh, they were doing their jobs. What they want to know is that you have ties to your home country. That you have a a job you can't leave, bills to pay, school to attend, and family there. This way they know you'll be going back, and that when your time comes to move you'll be entering the U.S. correctly, and not illegally. I wish it were just so easy to say he was living with me, but it's not. The border people haven't been mean to him at all about coming down here and staying. He said he's learned that if you go to the one with the shorter lines it means they aren't really being thorough and asking a lot of questions. I'm not saying try and jump the border that way, but it'll certainly help you get across if you do intend to go back. Link to post Share on other sites
Strawberry Cane Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 They want to know that you're not intending to just stay here. What your friend said to them was unfortunately the wrong thing to say. It's their job to keep out illegal immigrants, and while I don't agree that they should be quite so harsh, they were doing their jobs. Please note that I mentioned this... I can't complain too much. I have never myself been unable to get into the States to go to dinner or anything, but it's just a long process of drilled questions. In my eyes, you can't blame the border patrol. They are only doing their job, but at times they can make an innocent person feel like a criminal just with their tone of voice and strict manner. Living on a border town, I've heard many many stories all regarding the same thing. Link to post Share on other sites
Rollercoasterr Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I never said you didn't mention that. Link to post Share on other sites
Strawberry Cane Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 I know! I never said that you said I never said that! HEHEHEHE! Isn't that a mouth full! 'm just saying I agree with you! Link to post Share on other sites
Rollercoasterr Posted April 12, 2009 Share Posted April 12, 2009 Oh, okay! then we agree! Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts