biggish data

I can't believe its finally my turn to vote! Yay for patience finally paying off!
Our wait time was smoking fast! I had my interview on Friday and I picked up package up yesterday afternoon!! :-D I can't believe it is finally over! Good luck to everyone who is still in process, I hope you are with your families soon!

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-08-31 17:57:00

On an unrelated note, I've never understood why they don't process CR/IR-1 visas in Vancouver. Stinks you have to travel so far!

Heh I know? Isn't that silly? I am as far from Montreal as possible!

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-08-09 20:24:00

I am in Glendale, Arizona. Where are you moving to??? Oh it took 20 business days for my passport to reach me but it was printed July 7, had my interview June 29. Somehow it got lost somewhere with DHL then back to the Consulate. Received it July 27.

Its been awhile since I looked at this thread! Yes, I was curious where abouts you were living (while in Canada) because I was assuming it would take longer the farther from Montreal we were. Seeing as I am in BC I suspect I'll be waiting awhile. To answer your question I'll just be moving across the water over to Washington. I live about 3 hours from my husband. We have our interview on Friday August 26 and we were really hoping that I might have my visa by Labour Day so he could take his long weekend to help me move. I am highly doubting that this will happen though (unless by some miracle I get the visa in 5 business days).

Edited by Kammo, 09 August 2011 - 08:20 PM.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-08-09 20:19:00

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

I was mildly curious about this as well. I am about as far away from Quebec as one can be (British Columbia) so I assume I'll wait longer than 1-3 business days!

@edsotherhalf: where about's are you?

Edited by Kammo, 26 July 2011 - 07:39 PM.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-07-26 19:38:00

i-751 filing questions

I just came across the fee I asked about. This is horrible timing as we just closed on our house, we should have looked into this more but didn't.

I'm assuming I HAVE to file this now? What happens if I do not? Will I be deported? Just wondering if there is anyway around this for the short term?

Kammo

Female

Canada

2013-06-27 15:57:00

Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

i-751 filing questions

I think I almost have this all set to go, just a couple questions:

1) I read about there being a cover sheet for this. Where do I obtain this?

2) Is there a fee for this, where can I find that information if so?

3) Will a deed of our house be enough proof or should we send more (don't want to overdo it)

Thank you

Kammo

Female

Canada

2013-06-27 15:51:00

Filed in late January, no touch since March 4

Unfortunately, you are long way off from an appointment date. We filed in late October, got our NOA March 31st. They first touched the file Feb 23rd.
It can take 5 months to get your NOA. Then you need to follow instructions from the NVC. Work on getting your documents now. All of them as some take along time to get.

Good Luck!

Oh, believe me! I have no false hope that I'll see an interview anytime soon! I have small hope I'll be living with my husband within a year from now.

Have you heard anything since March 31st?

Best of luck.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-12 15:20:00

Filed in late January, no touch since March 4

I'm just curious if any one who filed in late January is in the same boat as us or if anyone has been lucky enough to have an appointment date in view?

I hope that no touch and no news means good and not bad?

Have any of you started on your immunization proof or criminal check? I'm wondering if I should start those soon?

Wish the rest of you luck

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-12 14:37:00

NOA2 approval!

hi there

My husband and I found out yesterday that our I130 had been approved!!

I find myself a little concerned though because I am set to move in 2 weeks and have not yet found secured an apartment. Does anyone here have any recommendations for me? I'm just nervous they will start sending stuff I won't receive (I am the beneficiary).

Thank you!

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-17 12:29:00

NoA2! next steps to take? (Canada Beneficiary)

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/LingChe_NVC_ShortCut

check it out

Thanks! =)

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-18 13:28:00

NoA2! next steps to take? (Canada Beneficiary)

Hello,

My husband got an email the other saying that our I130 has been approved! :-D There are a lot of topics inquiring "what to do next" (and I did some looking around) but I decided to just go ahead and start my own thread, Canada specific (if it makes any differences on the whole?)

Police certificates: Can I start those now or should I wait awhile? Other than a one year residence in another province 10 years ago I have always lived in the same city/province.
I assume the police check needs to be recent? 6 months, 1 year?
Does anyone know how long they take to process in Canada and how much they are? More important, how long are they valid?

Birth Certificates of myself and my children: My children will not be immigrating with me at this time but I understand I need to provide birth certificates for them. Do I need to provide just the basic ones (the new ones in BC are pretty specific and state parents and child's names) or do I need something else (ex. the actual registration copy? (we needed when our daughter was born - when we applied for her US citizenship)

Vaccination stuff: I have 2 old records from getting rubella and tetanus and the like, but i don't have any other records proving I have all the required vaccines. Should I be looking into this now or do I just wait until a later time? If now, what do you recommend?

What kind of fees will we be looking at for the next batch of paperwork (just so we are prepared)?

It would be really nice to receive all this stuff in a few weeks and know what we are looking at so we can send it off right away! Thats the goal anyways!

Is there any other advice or thought that maybe I have missed that would help and that you think is important? If there is a list of such answers somewhere and I have just missed it, could you link it?

Thank you so much for your time!

Edited by Kammo, 18 May 2011 - 01:27 PM.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-18 13:25:00

income tax returns/financial requirements.

Hi,

My husband (who is the petitioner) has a question relating to the 3 year tax return requirements...

His tax return for 2008 and 2009 were over minimum requirement, but 2010 was under the requirement by $3000. I should mention that his current position (in the last 6 months) exceeds the requirements.
Is this going to be a problem?

I assume yes, but hope no. I have to guess that they probably wouldn't ask for 3 years of tax returns if the previous salaries didn't really matter...

We can get a co-sponser but don't want to unless necessary, especially given the fact that he is currently above requirements.

Thank you for any advice you may have.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-19 17:32:00

Birth Certificates AND Passports of children?

Ok, I understand now.
Thank you to everyone who has replied!
I wish I hadnt just spent 60$ on two birth cert's...
I guess they will be good use at the border while I'm still visiting as a tie to Canada! The more ties the better!

Cheers!

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-25 10:19:00

Birth Certificates AND Passports of children?

They werent? Oh...
I had to write them on the i130 form regardless of whether they were joining us or not... Hmm... Maybe I shouldn't have?
On a check list I found it stated that the birth certificates were required, even if they were not immigrating. I guess I started overthinking and thought i may need a passports too... Doesn't seem that is the case?
Thanks for the help!

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-25 09:07:00

Birth Certificates AND Passports of children?

Hi.

I have read that I will need to send in birth certificates of my other 2 children to the NVC (even though they are NOT immigrating with me). I understand that the whole birth certificate is required (with names of parents... etc). That part is fine. I ordered those last week.

Now I may be over thinking BUT Do I need to get them passports too? (to send in along with birth certifcates)?

If the NVC only needs birth certificates, great! But if for some reason I need to buy passports as well, I'd be get on it now! I haven't read anywhere that I do but I'd hate to miss that somewhere as passports take awhile to get....

PS... Is there anything else I will have to include in regards to my children who will not be immigrating at this time?

Thanks guys

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-23 15:50:00

Accurate police report

Here's the story...

I went in to get my police certificate, and it asked to list to my homes for last five years. Wasn't expecting this and told the lady I didn't have all that information. She said to just give it my best shot, that it didn't matter because they do a full city search anyways...
Well I later realized that I completely forgot one address and gave the wrong home number (but correct street address) for the other...
These were the same addresses I put on my i130.

Should I pay the $50 again and get it redone and correct my mistakes?
I would hate to be denied for something like this... I'm not sure if it would matter though as the officer said they do a full city search regardless of addresses? Can anyone answer this strongly one way or the other?
Sometimes I'm just so... Blonde!
Thank you.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-05-27 10:16:00

Visiting the US while CR-1 in progress

I did post this in the visitor visa section a few weeks back, but I thought I would try putting it here as some one may be doing something similar...

My husband and I live reasonably close (quick ferry ride away) so I visit him regularly. I have been blessed with a year of maternity leave, so traveling freely has been an option and I have taken it.
We just did the calculations for how much I have been in the US since Jan 1, 2011... We are at about 100 days currently.

How much is too much??

I know I cannot exceed 6 months at a time and I don't plan to do so, but what if all my shorter trips exceed the 6 months for the entire year?
When does the 6 month thing reset? Upon returning to Canada each time OR on a specific date? January 1st?
Generally speaking, the routine has been that I stay in the US with my husband for about 3 weeks and then return to Canada for 2 weeks.

We are currently at the NVC stage for our CR-1, maybe we would be approved before it matters but what if we are not?

Any advice for the travelling? Obviously we don't want to stop what we are doing unless it poses a risk for denial at POE or causes an issue with our visa.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-04 12:49:00

Police Reports

As I was preparing my IV packet, I copied a "cover letter template" from a WIKI on this website. I am now a little confused at this (was in template):

" Original/Certified Passport Office Police Certificate for Beneficiary and a copy

Original/Certified Police Clearance Certificate and a copy"

Which is which? I didn't know I needed two different police searches... ??

What I did was go to my local police office and request a police check. Apparently the check I had done is commonly done for people who are opting into volunteer jobs, etc. Did I even do the right one?

I informed them it was for immigration purposes and paid my $50.00.

I was asked to list my address for the last 5 years, my maiden name, current address...

What is Passport Office Police Clearance? Am I to understand now that I require 2 (two) separate police checks?

Super confused.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-09 15:38:00

Thanks for the info on the cover sheet. I'll be sure to change that.

RE: Scans... I was making sure that all the documents I have scanned did not need to be first notarized or the like. Just being over paranoid I guess. I tend to over analyze things some times

I did try a program on my mac to downsize the packet. It brought it down to 1mb but upon opening it, it looks horribly grainy so I'm not sure if that would be appropriate (I assumed not).

Edited by Kammo, 09 June 2011 - 04:42 PM.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-09 16:40:00

@Saylin

Hi again. I just posted a new topic but I was hoping I could ask you?

In your wiki, you stated that the electronic process cannot exceed 10MB. Is that information direct from NVC, or is this your guideline? I ask because...

Our i864 packet is complete but it is 24MB o.0... We use a MAC and I don't have Acrobat as mentioned in your Wiki, so I am not sure if I can make it smaller?? Any ideas?

Also (forgot to ask this earlier)... Do the images we have need to have any notarized/certified stamps on them upon scanning? (I have printed the complete "physical" packet and have it sitting in a envelope in case). I have a feeling I wont need to go to a notary but I would hate to make any mistakes given all the time involved!

The packet is laid out like so (in this order):

Cover Letter (signed, dated)
Cover Sheet (as sent by NVC)
i-864 completed
2010, 2009, 2008 Tax Transcripts
Letter from employer
6 months pay stubs

Thanks again for your time! I really appreciate it!

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-09 12:35:00

and no... we hadn't called them about the IV payment. I just assumed it would show sometime after the AOS payment cleared (which it did last night).
I will call them later today!

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-08 14:13:00

Ah! Yeah I see it under "scanning" in your wiki. Thanks again for your time.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-08 14:10:00

You have to put everything into ONE pdf file.

Everything? Meaning... everything? (cover letter, document cover sheet, transcripts, employment letter... etc)?!

If so, you saved my butt!

I'd of send separate files in the email...!! *blush*

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-08 14:08:00

It wont let me edit!

Glad you read my wiki!

What date did you send the DS-261? Have you called the AVR since then to see if it says that they'd accepted the Choice of Agent form? I had filled out the DS-261 on a Thursday, on Saturday the AVR updated to say it was accepted, and by Monday the IV bill appeared.

I don't think writing the case number on documents for EP is that important, but I'd still do it. I did it. I actually digitally added the case number in Adobe Acrobat after scanning everything and combining it into one pdf. But sticky notes are good too

We completed the DS-261 right after we were approved for the electronic OPTIN (June 3) We did get an email back saying it was accepted and then shortly after the $88.00 fee appeared, which we paid. It is the IV fee that has not appeared yet to pay.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-08 14:05:00

Glad you read my wiki!

What date did you send the DS-261? Have you called the AVR since then to see if it says that they'd accepted the Choice of Agent form? I had filled out the DS-261 on a Thursday, on Saturday the AVR updated to say it was accepted, and by Monday the IV bill appeared.

I don't think writing the case number on documents for EP is that important, but I'd still do it. I did it. I actually digitally added the case number in Adobe Acrobat after scanning everything and combining it into one pdf. But sticky notes are good too

Did you create a separate file for each tax year as PDF or 3 separate files for each year? Right now I have 3 separate files. I prepared the cover letter and assume its okay to save it as .doc?

Thanks for all your help

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-08 13:58:00

@ Saylin hehe yeah, we refer to your link a lot (Canadian Wiki). It has been really helpful! Thank you

We did complete the DS-261. I think that was the first thing we did actually

Would be beneficial to include our case number on all documents I am scanning (tax returns and such)? I was thinking I'd write it on a sticky note or something and place it on the document before scanning.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-08 13:35:00

Just be to certain that I have everything covered here.

The AOS fee came up as paid last night. I proceeded to print the "cover sheet" (saved to desktop). I then went to USCIS and saved a copy of the I-864 onto my desktop.
So from there I need... 3 years of tax transcripts, 6 months of pay stubs... an "Employment Letter"? So I am clear, what exactly is that? Am I to go to my employer and request they write a letter on my behalf?

Is there anything else at all that I will need to include in this packet that I have not mentioned?

Also: Do/Can I send this packet now and send the beneficiary packet at a later date? Wife is still waiting on police report.

When will the IV fee appear? It still says not available. Does it appear only after I have sent this packet?

Thank you for your time

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-08 12:57:00

Confusion regarding our daughter.

Hello again,

Specifically on the DS-230 is the following question:

"31a. Person(s) named in 14 and 29 who will accompany you to the United States now."

My daughter will be listed as in 29 and WILL "accompany me" to the US if approved, however she will not be immigrating.

So, do I leave this blank or put her name in?

Another question (29) asks me to list her name, DOB, place of birth and address (if different than my own)...

Would I put her dad's in or just leave it blank?

What it comes down to is wanting to do things the legal and honest way, but not really knowing which answer is correct.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-09 21:14:00

Confusion regarding our daughter.

I hope reading this does not make your head spin as much as it is mine! :blink:

The facts:
My husband (USC) and I have a daughter between us. She obtained her USC (Consular report of a birth abroad) last year.
I'm not entirely certain on this, however, I would assume that "legally" she resides with me in Canada (although she does spends half the time with her dad in the US).

We dont have a custody agreement as we are intending to be together.

This question has been bothering me for sometime...

On the forms we are filling out (specifically i-864, and DS-260 stages), how do we list her?
She can't considered an immigrant, right, so what is she then? She will be moving to the US at such time when I am approved, but as what?

My husband only put me on his i-864 as immigrating is this the correct course of action?
On the DS-260, it will ask to list all children and who will be immigrating. If I don't list her wont it look like she will not be moving with me? *head spins*

On a side note to my confusion, I found out my husband claimed her on his taxes this last year. Does that legally mean that she lives with him?
We did not discuss our tax stuff at the time since we couldn't file together, though I wish we would have. I claimed her on MY taxes as well, not even thinking twice about it.
I filed as separated.

Does anyone have a similar situation and can offer sound advice? I guess there are really two questions here...

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-09 16:34:00

hey - can post the error message on the bounce email? (redacted, of course)

Message:
Hi. This is the qmail-send program at (our mail server XXX.com)
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

<NVCElectronic@state.gov>:
XXX.XXX.X.XXX (IP) failed after I sent the message.
Remote host said: 552

--- Enclosed are the original headers of the message.

From: (US) <XXX@XXXX.com>
Date: June 11, 2011 2:03:34 PM PDT
To: NVCElectronic@state.gov
Subject: MTLXXXXXXXXXX – I-864 Documents

(Body supressed)

My husband went to his email server prior to sending this email to check on size limits, if any. He said that his server has virtually no limits.

Our smaller packet sent just fine. We received the confirmation email 1 hour later.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-13 11:46:00

The NVC Representative Lied!

Our 24MB package was rejected by the US Government server for being too large. We just shrunk it down to 10MB and hit send... again.

Hopefully it works out this time.

Just thought everyone would want to know.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-11 19:16:00

Hello everyone,

I just spoke to an NVC operator and was informed that there is no file size maximum on THEIR end. (so yeah, Darnell... hehe update away)

He did inform me however, that this does not mean that there is no maximum on the senders end!

Another thing worth noting is: I was under the impression that packets sent electronically needed to be in ONE .pdf file, however I was informed by the NVC representative that this is not the case. He told me that breaking down the files is no problem at all.

Edited by Kammo, 09 June 2011 - 09:40 PM.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-09 21:37:00

Hello there. I read on a wiki here that there is a size limit of 10mb for electronic processing through NVC but I don't see that number listed anywhere on their website... Is this a correct number or just best guess?

Our i864 packet is ready to send, however its about 24mb...

If it is 10mb limited, is there any way to shrink this pdf down? We use MacOS... Have Adobe but not Acrobat...

Thank you for your time.

Kammo

Female

Canada

2011-06-09 12:21:00