Hi anw559,
Yes, sure, you can marry a Canadian but you don't have quite so many
options available to you on how to go about it as American citizens
have. She will not be able to join you in the U.S. until the following
four steps are completed.
1) Get legally married in Canada.
2) Petition for Alien Relative (spouse)
3) Wait for your wife to receive a visa number
4) Your wife will complete the visa process at the consulate
Petitioning Procedures: Bringing a Spouse (Husband or Wife) to Live in
the United States
This information is for U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents
who wish to petition for or ?sponsor? a spouse (husband or wife) to
live permanently in the U.S.
What Do I File?
If you are applying to bring your spouse to the U.S. to live, you will
need to file the following with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services:
* Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative, with all required documentation
* A copy of your birth certificate showing your name, or your U.S. passport
* If you are a lawful permanent resident (LPR), a copy of your alien
registration receipt card
* Two completed and signed G-325A?s (one for you and one for your spouse)
* A copy of your civil marriage certificate
* A copy of any divorce decrees, death certificates, or annulment
decrees that would show that any previous marriage entered into by you
or your spouse was ended legally
* A color photo of you and one of your spouse (see Form I-130
instructions for photo requirements for details)
If you are a lawful permanent resident, and your petition for your
spouse is approved, your spouse will be notified by the Department of
State when a visa number is available. If your spouse is outside of
the U.S. at the time of notification, he or she must go to the local
U.S. consulate to complete visa processing with the Department of
State issued visa number."
http://uscis.gov/graphics/howdoi/Appproc.htm
G-325A, Biographic Information
http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/g-325a.htm
New requirements for photograph
http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/04_08_02Photo_flyer.pdf
FORM I-130, Petition for Alien Relative (the fee is now $185)
http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/I-130.htm
"Washington, D.C.? USCIS is now processing Form I-130, Petition for
Alien Relative, as a visa number becomes available. Filing and
approval of an I-130 relative petition is only the first step in
helping a relative immigrate to the United States. Eligible family
members must wait until there is a visa number available before they
can apply for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status to a lawful
permanent resident. This process will allow USCIS to concentrate
resources first on cases where visas are actually available. This
process should not delay the ability of one's relative to apply for an
immigrant visa or adjustment of status. Refer to www.state.gov/travel
to determine current visa availability dates.
If you are a U.S. Citizen or lawful permanent resident and plan to
file a petition for a qualifying relative, you are encouraged to file
as soon as you are eligible in order to establish your relatives place
in line even if the petition may not be decided for some time to come.
Upon filing, USCIS will send you a receipt that will establish a place
in line for a visa called a ?priority date?. USCIS will adjudicate
your Form I-130 prior to visa availability (or within six months if a
visa is immediately available upon filing)."
http://uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/newsrels/I_130_07_01_04.pdf
The Process
"An immigrant (also called a "lawful permanent resident") is a foreign
national who has been granted the privilege of living and working
permanently in the United States. Your spouse must go through a
multi-step process to become an immigrant. First, the U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services (USCIS) must approve an immigrant petition
(application) that you file for your spouse. Second, the State
Department must give your spouse an immigrant visa number, even if
your spouse is already in the United States. Third, if your spouse is
already in the United States, your spouse may apply to adjust to
permanent resident status. If your spouse is outside the United
States, your spouse will be notified to go to the local U.S. consulate
to complete the processing for an immigrant visa.'
http://www.foreignborn.com/visas_imm/immigrant_visas/marriage/3bringing_my_spouse.htm
I hope this helps to get you started. If you have any questions,
please post a clarification request and wait for me to respond before
closing/rating my answer.
Thank you,
hummer
I know this subject well so an internet search was not necessary.
However, to learn more on the subject, a search can be made on the
USCIS website. |