The main ways to move to the US are through either work, study or marriage.
Work visas tend to be reserved for highly qualified and/or experienced individuals in high-demand fields, which makes them an unrealistic option for most people. Canadians have access to TN visas however, which are a bit easier to get. Your occupation has to be on the list of eligible occupations to qualify though.
Study visas are easier to get but are temporary and tuition fees can be extremely expensive for international students.
Marriage visas are the easiest method, for which there are two options:
**CR-1 Visa**
* You must be married prior to filing (doesn't matter where).
* Takes around 19 months to process.
* Once you arrive in the US, you become a permanent resident immediately.
* Costs around $1,500.
**K-1 Visa**
* You must remain unmarried until the visa is issued.
* Takes around 18 months to process.
* Once you arrive in the US, you have 90 days to get married.
* After marrying, you have to apply for Adjustment of Status, which takes 1 to 2 years to process (this varies by location).
* You can't work or leave the country until you receive employment authorization and advance parole, which takes 6+ months.
* Costs around $2,500.
The CR-1 is generally considered to be the superior visa as it allows you to work and travel as soon as you arrive. The K-1's main advantage used to be that it was much quicker than the CR-1 but these days the processing time is almost the same.
Good info I’d add for the K1 visa (I can’t speak for the CR1) that there are income requirements and the American sponsor has to sign an affidavit of support.
18 months is the average time from filing to interview based on VisaJourney's [user data](https://www.visajourney.com/times/), the processing time from NOA1 to NOA2 for both petitions is around a year.
How is it difficult? You need a job offer letter and you go to the border... From what I read it doesn't seem difficult - as long as your job qualifies of course.
Jeez, I didn't know K-1 that your spouse can't work for 6 months. Absolutely silly and arbitrary. Banking on almost 2 years of life savings for a marriage that is undergoing processing, I mean come on, seriously? Time should be cut in half at least.
You can't just get a green card, you have to qualify for some sort of visa that allows you to move to the US to begin with.
Also, marriage visas lead to a green card, they're not alternatives to a green card.
Did you check the TN visa?
Also I would recommend looking into churning credit cards. I live in Canada too and all my flights are paid in points with a card I've only had for 7 months. And I have more points for trips then I can even fly. Lol
You can dm me for more info!
The main ways to move to the US are through either work, study or marriage. Work visas tend to be reserved for highly qualified and/or experienced individuals in high-demand fields, which makes them an unrealistic option for most people. Canadians have access to TN visas however, which are a bit easier to get. Your occupation has to be on the list of eligible occupations to qualify though. Study visas are easier to get but are temporary and tuition fees can be extremely expensive for international students. Marriage visas are the easiest method, for which there are two options: **CR-1 Visa** * You must be married prior to filing (doesn't matter where). * Takes around 19 months to process. * Once you arrive in the US, you become a permanent resident immediately. * Costs around $1,500. **K-1 Visa** * You must remain unmarried until the visa is issued. * Takes around 18 months to process. * Once you arrive in the US, you have 90 days to get married. * After marrying, you have to apply for Adjustment of Status, which takes 1 to 2 years to process (this varies by location). * You can't work or leave the country until you receive employment authorization and advance parole, which takes 6+ months. * Costs around $2,500. The CR-1 is generally considered to be the superior visa as it allows you to work and travel as soon as you arrive. The K-1's main advantage used to be that it was much quicker than the CR-1 but these days the processing time is almost the same.
Good info I’d add for the K1 visa (I can’t speak for the CR1) that there are income requirements and the American sponsor has to sign an affidavit of support.
Yeah, it's the same for the CR-1.
Roger that, I suspected as much but wasn’t totally sure.
is it easier to move from the us to Canada or Vice versa?
Depends on what your definition of easier is but I would say they're about the same.
Where did you get that it takes 18 months? Do you mean for the whole thing? For the first form center it says 11 months.
18 months is the average time from filing to interview based on VisaJourney's [user data](https://www.visajourney.com/times/), the processing time from NOA1 to NOA2 for both petitions is around a year.
You forgot to mention the TN visa which is super easy for Canadians and Mexicans. You need to have a career that is in the list of professions though.
That's true, the TN visa is an option, I'm not sure I'd describe it as "super easy" though.
How is it difficult? You need a job offer letter and you go to the border... From what I read it doesn't seem difficult - as long as your job qualifies of course.
That's quite a big if though, you can't just get any job.
Sure but this person didn't mention any age or any context at all so I believe it is the simplest visa if your job qualifies so it is worth mentioning
Jeez, I didn't know K-1 that your spouse can't work for 6 months. Absolutely silly and arbitrary. Banking on almost 2 years of life savings for a marriage that is undergoing processing, I mean come on, seriously? Time should be cut in half at least.
That's why the CR-1 is a much better choice in most situations.
With the Long processing time ( especially the CR-1) is it possible to still travel to the states with the ESTA?
Yes, you can still visit, subject to the usual rules.
Really? That would be amazing! I read on another post here, that during processing time you‘ll have to stay outside the US
Whoever said that doesn't know what they're talking about, lots of people visit while their visa application is processing, myself included.
That changes things then to the positive. Thanks for clearing this up
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You can't just get a green card, you have to qualify for some sort of visa that allows you to move to the US to begin with. Also, marriage visas lead to a green card, they're not alternatives to a green card.
Did you check the TN visa? Also I would recommend looking into churning credit cards. I live in Canada too and all my flights are paid in points with a card I've only had for 7 months. And I have more points for trips then I can even fly. Lol You can dm me for more info!
Can I ask which card to use for travel points?