ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaI'm back from Montreal -Had my poutine and smoked meat!
Congrats!!!!!
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-29 07:59:00
CanadaAll Time Dumbest Questions asked by Tourists to Banff Park
:lol: :lol:
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-26 09:00:00
CanadaCanadian Conslate

My pasport expires in Feb 08. Anyone know if there is a conslate in Houston????

To apply for the new passport you will have to send the application to Gatineau (Hull).

You will also have to be prepared to wait; current processing time is 15 weeks up from 8 in March.

Yeah, that difficulty (of having to send the passport to Canada) has been around since at least 1997 (my just-prior-to-last renewal; I have not renewed my more-recently expired one due to having Yank passport).
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-06 14:58:00
CanadaSearching for health insurance for the first time.

I'm very curious to know how much health insurance costs when you don't have coverage through an employer?

I am from Canada, where health care is VERY cheap, and I am now on my husband's insurance through his employer, but I am just wondering if anyone could tell me how much it costs for a couple to get health insurance.

GoldenRule charges us $275/month for a $25 copay policy.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-09 14:05:00
CanadaSearching for health insurance for the first time.
Try Universal Insurance Services, http://www.udb.com/usa/home.aspx.

Also, UnitedHealthCare through GoldenRule, http://www.goldenrule.com/

(FYI, I use UHC/GoldenRule for Pras and myself)

Edited by CherryXS, 09 July 2007 - 09:32 AM.

Saddle BroncMale02007-07-09 09:32:00
CanadaSaskatoon to Minneapolis!!
sigh -- haven't even been anywhere in Canada since at least 2004.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-10 11:23:00
CanadaSaskatoon to Minneapolis!!
Isn't Saskatoon domestic-only?
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-10 10:30:00
CanadaApplying for NAFTA professional job, while pending application

I do indeed read that but..........the person is not trying to "immigrate" on the TN Visa........but may at some point on the CR-1 visa...........if they can prove the requirements and Job, and returm requirements, then why not??? Still looking for someone that might have applied????? Might be trying to split hairs here but the NAFTA/TN work allowance seems like it has strong guidance...........

Dave

If the CR-1 petition had not been already filed for you, the answer would be much easier. You could get the TN-1, then marry after in the US*** after 30-60 days on it, and then file full-package AOS (I-130/I-485/I-131/I-765); in theory, also possible to file I-130 for Montreal-issue CR-1 (only do this if you have a cent-percent guarantee of the petition taking less than the remainder of 1 year, and having no travel outside US until the interview) off a TN-1.

Existing CR-1 petition-->don't try for TN-1!
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-10 09:47:00
CanadaApplying for NAFTA professional job, while pending application

If you read the eligibility requirments for a TN visa it clearly states Non-immigrant intent as one of the requirments.

How it actually works:
  • if you try to apply for a new TN-1 (especially at a POE/PFI) after you have filed I-485 (because the old one expired and you hadn't gotten EAD yet, or you didn't bother applying for EAD--for the second case :bonk:--), it will be denied
  • TN-1 can be renewed by mail-in even with an approved I-140 (note: this is "petition for immigrant worker"). It is safe to travel on unexpired TN-1 when you have an approved I-140, even one waiting for interview @ Montreal--right up to the day before the interview.
Having actually gone from TN-1 to GC through employment....

For marriage-based immigration, cannot extrapolate the same. Almost certainty of denial with this type of immigration petition.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-10 09:43:00
CanadaSlightly possible future scenario

That must be a very old law. For decades now you never lost your Canadian citizenship when obtaining another one. I haven't even heard of any other law until now. Hell back in the 60's you didn't need a visa to even move to the US like you do now. How times have changed...

The CIC site has hints of earlier law (did you miss the references to "after...1977" and "before...1977"? There were lots of those on there, last-i-checked).
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-13 11:14:00
CanadaSlightly possible future scenario
Would an INFOPASS appointment (for the specific questions about naturalisation of a minor) help any?

As far as I can see, such an appointment cannot hurt you much (the only hurt it can give you is that of being a total waste-of-time).
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-13 09:58:00
CanadaCalgary Herald today Immigration Cartoon
:lol: :lol:
Saddle BroncMale02007-05-30 09:58:00
CanadaCalgary Herald today Immigration Cartoon
Did you forget to actually attach it?
Saddle BroncMale02007-05-29 14:21:00
CanadaHow busy is Toronto-Pearson preclearance?

...
Canadian C&I can be pretty bad as well.
...

I've had some bad experiences there; my WORST was in 2000/11 when making a combined trip to Calgary and Windsor (actually Vassar, MI--but I drove there from Windsor airport) from DC for the Thanksgiving week. Canadian C&I are known for picking on visible minorities, and those in Pearson are also known for an anti-western bias--being both visible minority AND going to western Canada...
Saddle BroncMale02007-02-22 11:52:00
CanadaTrying again after entry refusal
I've done it the next day (I had to wait that long to get the proper-format TN-1 offer-letter).
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-14 17:56:00
CanadaVancouver Consulate Review

Well, we had the interview last Wednesday... sorry I didn't post sooner, but was busy driving back Thursday and Friday was busy as well with errands and such, and this morning dropping my fiancee and her son off at the airport for their flight home (otherwise I wouldn't be up this early in the morning on a Saturday!!! :lol:)

Interview was on July 11th at 1PM, we were there at 12:35PM. It was very hot in Vancouver but where the consulate doors were, it was nicely shaded, so when we were told that we'd have to wait, it was no big deal. There were 2 other gentleman there, who I found out later that they were there for K1 as well.

So, we went through airport like security... I made sure the boys didn't bring their electronics and that I left the cell phone and other prohibited items (Leatherman tool) in the van or hotel. We all made it through security no problems, even my USC Fiancee's son had no problem. I expected problems here as his passport still had not come before they came up from Kansas. We were escorted to the elevator and the guard ensured that we were going up to the 20th floor. Once there, we had to go through the security routine again, the metal detector even more thorough (I had to remove my belt this time) and let in through a locked door and told to sit on the 4 blue chairs. The first booth is where they check all the paperwork for completeness and such. They were just doing the first K1, he was finished about 10 minutes after we were sitting on the blue chairs. Then they called the other gentleman where that took about 20 minutes. Then came our turn. Well, this is where I found out that the Canadian Citizenship Certificate is not the same as a Birth Certificate. However, I had a Birth Registration form from France with me where I was actually born (I was born in France by Canadian parents, my father whom was with the Canadian Forces posted to NATO).

You could have PM'ed a VJ Canuck by naturalisation (such as myself) to find out that last part.

After all the paperwork was ascertained, we were told to sit in a larger square waiting area adjoining the 4 blue chairs and that the interviews were to start at 2PM. We got to talking with the other K1 people there. It was about 2:45PM when we all were told to sit on chairs in front of another set of interview booths, and the first gentleman was called up. He was up in the booth for about 45 minutes while they were working through some problems. Then I was called up. I mentioned that there was another gentleman who was here before me, but the interviewer told me that I should come up as I would be done quicker. So other than the standard questions and asked to show some pictures of us together, which he was getting answers from a conversationalist point of view, what came out of the interview is that my fiancee needed to get a certified copy of a court order regarding a previous marriage and that, while he was ok with not having to worry about the translation of the french birth certificate, the people at the border may have issues with it not being translated. So, since I would have to get that court order from the fiancee, he might as well mandate that there would need to be a translation of the french birth certificate. At the conclusion of the interview, he gave us our passports back.

After the interview, we were told to go to the first booth and wait for our names to be called, and this is where we were told how to do the logistics of the actual submission of the abovementioned paperwork and passports to the Consulate.

So, in summary, we weren't told we were denied, and the general feeling that I get, is once this paperwork is submitted, then we'll get the passports mailed back to us via prepaid expresspost envelope with the visas in them. The boys, my 2 boys and her son, were well behaved, though all were very bored. Still, it's an exercise when there's 5 of us there as a family. There's not even a lot of reading material, like magazines and such, at all.

The people were nice in the Consulate, the interviewer was doing the conversationalist route, but I could tell that he's steering the conversation to answer the questions he was seeking the answers to...

Hope this helps.
Scott.


Saddle BroncMale02007-07-16 08:43:00
CanadaSicko - Don't Cry - get angry and do something about it
The very fact that Castro brought in a Spanish surgeon to treat his diverticulitis (he didn't trust it to any Cuban surgeon) tells more about Cuba's "healthcare" system than Michael Moore could ever do.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-16 05:41:00
CanadaSOOO why leave Canada than???
For me, it came down to a choice between waiting for a Canadian job where the decision would not be made until after New Year, and a definite job offer in Atlanta starting on Jan 2 (on which I would receive the offer letter and airticket by Christmas--I didn't due to the sender's use of Express Mail instead of FedEx; the lack of knowledge of Canada Post caused a delay).
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-17 07:18:00
CanadaRegistering Marriage in Canada?
No.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-25 12:28:00
CanadaCalgary's Broo-ha-ha over Support our Troops Decals

:thumbs: I like the Mayors suggestion.....but I don't trust politicians and money :blink:

scrap this - was trying a poll.

Basically the question was going to be:

A citizen of Calgary offered to donate 5000 'Support our Troops' decals (completely free of charge) to the City of Calgary, to be used on city vehicles. Yesterday Calgary's city council voted against this proposal.

The Mayor suggested that instead of putting the decals on municipal vehicles they should instead be sold at city offices and the money be donated to organizations supporting military families.

What do you think?

Sonds on the nail--everytime pols suggest one usage for moneys, very little of them actually gets used that way.

Classic example is the Gouge-and-Shaft Tax (GST) imposed by Mulroney, which was supposed to reduce the federal deficit--proven a lie the moment he sent a note to the Queen seeking approval to appoint more Senators, and even more so after it was railroaded through by the then newly-appointed Senators!

The wording "support our troops" can also be read another way--in the specific case of Canada, upgrading their weapons systems to somewhere-near-current (Canada is notorious--even in its own press--for having weapons systems that are waaaaaaaaaaaay out-of date). If this is what was meant by "support our troops", and Calgary's mayor actually ensured the moneys went to do that, then it would be fine to buy (one or more of) these stickers.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-27 09:01:00
CanadaCity of Montreal

Yeah next time I go back to Montreal for a visit I will have the police waiting for me at the customs to arrest me for a 42$ parking ticket on an invisible car...

lol

Wouldn't they then have to coordinate with TWO OTHER bunches of CF's--CIC and CRCA? :lol:

Edited by CherryXS, 29 May 2007 - 11:58 AM.

Saddle BroncMale02007-05-29 11:57:00
CanadaWhen activating your IR-1 at POE
I can "fourth" it. I went out of US for a three-week trip only two weeks after I received an immigrant visa @ Montreal, and had it stamped @ Dorval PFI.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-28 08:37:00
CanadaOrdering RCMP online or by mail?
Have they started charging for all record checks? :huh:

For printless ones, it used to be cost of $0.
Saddle BroncMale02006-09-11 10:19:00
CanadaOrdering RCMP online or by mail?
I can remember seeing the RCMP site in 1998 for getting the certificate. For those not in Canada, they make the process so convoluted and confoozled.

As I had to make two trips to Canada (I lived in the Atlanta area then on a TN-1, and was waiting for Consular Processing appointment at Montreal for which I would need it), I simply did a walk-in on one of these.

So, I would suggest you just get the certificate by walk-in after you return home.
Saddle BroncMale02006-09-11 07:08:00
CanadaWhen are RFE's issued?
Usually, RFE is issued by USCIS; Montreal consulate is under Dept. Of State--and transfer of case to DOS implies that RFE's have been satisfied.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-30 10:11:00
CanadaPossibly screwed up my passport style photos

You'll be fine. The only thing they are picky with is the size and the quality of the actual photo. Doesn't matter if it's a good photo of you or not. :)

I couldn't help laughing on that bolded part :lol:

When have you seen passport (or driver's licence) photos that are ever above mediocre?
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-27 09:50:00
CanadaWill OHIP cover me
If you are still on OHIP, it may cover you for a pittance (compared to actual cost of exam).
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-31 05:35:00
CanadaYou know you're a Maritimer if......
:lol: :lol:
Saddle BroncMale02007-08-01 07:35:00
CanadaAmerican moves to Canada reach record high
Also, to make complete analysis, one must include external (not from US) immigration of skilled workers to Canada (there are fair numbers who immigrate using "point system", some of whom may have eventual goal of US immigration)
Saddle BroncMale02007-08-02 06:33:00
CanadaAmerican moves to Canada reach record high

And I wonder how many of them are only temporary work permits, or will have to wait up to 5 years for their permanent residency status?

Also, the reverse question "how many of the Canucks heading south are students, TN-1's, TD's, ...?".
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-31 08:31:00
CanadaAdjustment of Status on TN-1 Visa

I am suddenly being educated in more Canadian lingo. I have learned that Shaganappi is a Native Canadian word and a region in Calgary, but judging by the context in the sentence, I assume it is slang for "phoney" or something along those lines.

:yes: It is a Sarcee word, meaning exactly the same as the hindi bakvas (rubbish).

Edited by CherryXS, 05 June 2007 - 09:31 AM.

Saddle BroncMale02007-06-05 09:30:00
CanadaAdjustment of Status on TN-1 Visa
Using a shaganappi travel date is the norm for I-131 submissions.

Part 7 of the I-131 has checkbox-options of "one trip" and "more than one trip".
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-04 14:35:00
CanadaAdjustment of Status on TN-1 Visa
Obs0lete, it would be much safer for you to do a registered marriage in the US, then file AOS full-package (EAD and AP included), then do a church wedding in Canada after you get AP (or conditional GC).

I happen to be a former TN-1 (though I got my GC through employment, not marriage).
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-04 09:25:00
CanadaCross-continent road trip
How about driving a rental car to Spokane, dropping it there, flying to Calgary and then renting a car for the drive to Pigtown?

Admittedly, only advantage of this is keeping the drop-offs on one side of the border.
Saddle BroncMale02007-07-31 14:12:00
CanadaCanadian Passport Dilemma...

Okay another thing, you can have a U.S. guarantor as well:

Eligible guarantors

Your guarantor must:

1. Be a citizen of Canada or the United States and must be accessible to Passport Canada for verification.
2. Have known you personally for at least two years.
3. Be one of the following:
* Chiropractor
* Dentist
* Judge
* Lawyer
* Magistrate
* Medical doctor
* Notary public (notarial seal must appear on the application form)
* Pharmacist
* Police officer
* Signing officer of a bank or trust company, or of a financial institution that offers the full range of banking services (cash withdrawals, deposits and savings)
* Veterinarian

I was just going to mention that......

my passport expires at the end of this year and I was wondering if I use a Notary Public, does that person have to have known me for 2 years?? :unsure:

No. I've used bank NP's seal twice before (1992 and 1997; 2002 I renewed while in Calgary).
Saddle BroncMale02007-03-14 07:52:00
CanadaAdvance Parole RIDICULOUS for USC/Canadians
However, there is one factor against the K-3: the basic chopfrack design of the program by USCIS.
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-12 18:27:00
CanadaAdvance Parole RIDICULOUS for USC/Canadians

Thanks for the question, Krikit...I wanted clarification as well....I ASSUME (frightening) it means truck driver, in which case brings about a whole NEW area for some intense discussions, I'm sure, and definately not the direction I want to go.

Cherry, not sure what you meant by your last post not being received well? I'm open for all thoughts, negative or positive in this process, especially from senior members who know far more than I. One thing I do know for sure is that the perception seems to be that we expect special treatment, or that USA and Canada should adopt one anothers' rules/politics? Not intended!


My earlier post inferring "well, if you're complaining about the AP, remember that you had other options":

Actually, the answer is rather simple.

There ARE several options other than K-1 (CR-1/IR-1, DCF) where AP is NOT required at any time.

(i know you didn't want to hear this but...)


Saddle BroncMale02007-06-06 12:38:00
CanadaAdvance Parole RIDICULOUS for USC/Canadians

This whole debate sounds rather analogous to an issue raised on the Grasmick Forum about TD's being unable to work in US.

TD = ?

the dependent "derivative" visa of TN-1 (TN-1:TD is almost analogous to H1-b:H4).

Admittedly outside the glister of VJ, but...
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-06 11:29:00
CanadaAdvance Parole RIDICULOUS for USC/Canadians
This whole debate sounds rather analogous to an issue raised on the Grasmick Forum about TD's being unable to work in US.

I can remember reading a page-long email from one of the "advocates" of TD's being allowed work, Linda Deck (who had written a book on that subject--which I didn't bother reading).

The analogy: all TD's (the vast majority of whom are Canucks) are foreigners in USCIS' eyes; plus, their argument in its favour was that "Canada allows the derivative spouses of tempworkers to also work; why does the US not do so?"--which itself infers that US should act the same as its northern neighbour (invalid, as the US is a separate country not even in Commonwealth). Of course, pointing it out was received no better than (my anticipation of) my earlier post here.
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-06 08:45:00
CanadaAdvance Parole RIDICULOUS for USC/Canadians
Actually, the answer is rather simple.

There ARE several options other than K-1 (CR-1/IR-1, DCF) where AP is NOT required at any time.

(i know you didn't want to hear this but...)
Saddle BroncMale02007-06-05 10:41:00