ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaBreak time! Albertans and Texans...
C.'s spent the last two months in and around Texas and he thinks it's nothing like Alberta on the following grounds: 1) Texas is 6 zillion degrees outside 2) poisonous snakes 3) the existence of dry counties and 4) Texans.

He has nothing but praise for the Mexican assistants his company hires.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-08-24 09:00:00
CanadaPOE - Peace Bridge...
We went through in May. I wrote up my experience around here somewhere. They did not give us the EAD stamp.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-08-27 12:43:00
CanadaChange in Employment
You haven't sent in the I-134 yet, because you present that at the interview. Just have that letter be from his current employer.

I'm trying to think what form requires the USC's employment and all I'm coming up with is the G-325A, which they don't seem to do anything with anyway.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-08-21 11:02:00
CanadaBona fide
Dude. This is an American-Canadian relationship. There's more fraud risk going the OTHER way.

The only way this interview could get MORE rubber stamp is if they actually made the visa out of rubber. They practically assume you're a legitimate couple. C. says the interviewer in Vancouver wasn't even really listening to his answers as he was asking the next question on the list before C. had really finished. Yours is essentially an AOS interview, so I think misa's advice is excellent.

-Proof of trusting each other with the money (i.e., comingling assets, bank statements)
-Proof of living at the same address (lease, deed, bills coming to the house in his name and your name, AB health care.)
-Proof of being a bona fide couple (your pictures are good for this.)

C'est ca.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-03 14:02:00
CanadaI feel completely hopeless
*hugs*

Sorry to hear about the delay in treatment. For what it's worth, delays in scheduling surgeries are relatively common in the U.S., too, (you still have to find the doctor, schedule it, get prepped) so I don't think you've lost any valuable time by not moving down here.

Hang in there, and good luck.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-02 20:42:00
CanadaCar Insurance tips?
C. can't get his driver's license here without the NOA1 from the I-485, but I managed to insure his car in my name through GEICO. They say I have 15 days to put Connecticut plates on it, which we can't do until he gets his license, but our rate was $40 a month. This doesn't insure him, though, just me, but at least we can get around a little bit.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-06 15:50:00
CanadaCar Insurance tips?

It wasn't a problem with Geico. They insured my (imported) car, registered in Ontario, using my Canadian driver's license no problem. They just need the VIN and the driver's license information.


Okay. We'd been looking at Geico. I can deal with him not having a CT license as long as he's legally insured.

The problem is that I personally don't have a car to add him to my policy. :( Everything's in his name except the citizenship. But we'll check out Geico as a Canadian and see if we can get the rate reasonable... Connecticut is ridiculous for insurance, which has been the main reason I haven't purchased a car as a grad student.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-08-15 14:28:00
CanadaCar Insurance tips?
So, we may run into problems getting C. a driver's license in Connecticut, especially since the complete lack of AOS NOAs mean we have no way to show that he's here legally. He can drive on his Canadian license (Connecticut says after 30 days of residency; I'm willing to quibble about when residency starts if they won't let him have a CT license on the grounds he isn't a resident), but his insurance policy is up at the end of August.

So, we're batting around options:
1) Option 1: Try to get temporary insurance on the car in C.'s name. Unfortunately, you need a green card to get insurance (not sure what people here on business do), and a CT license.
2) Option 2: Get his Canadian company to extend the policy another couple of months. (Doubt this is feasible.)
3) Option 3: Transfer the car to my name, I, by the power of citizenship, insure the car, and I drive. But then he won't be able to drive and I'll have to cart his ### around.

The problem with option three is that we have no idea how to proceed. He's imported the car, but it isn't registered in Connecticut because you can't do that without... wait for it.. a valid Connecticut driver's license. Can he sell it to me if it's not registered here?

Anyone have any experience with this?
CaladanMaleCanada2007-08-15 12:02:00
CanadaAdvance Parole RIDICULOUS for USC/Canadians
I don't think AP is any more ridiculous than the rest of the process for Canadians. The number of times my mom thought I was making up this whole process because "can't he just drive down here whenever and you can get married".... But it's a different country, even though it's one that has eased tourist restrictions.

I wouldn't sign a petition, and I wouldn't think your odds are great on easing anything remotely related to border security.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-06-05 10:38:00
CanadaWhy are people like this....
Any local high school kids in the area?
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-10 11:56:00
Canada$65.00 to step on U.S. Soil
Ron, you have only my respect because you haven't said 'screw it' and just stayed in the U.S.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-13 09:23:00
Canada$65.00 to step on U.S. Soil
Proposed new rule: if the last criminal offense is older than the officer adjudicating the case, it doesn't count.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-07 14:40:00
Canada$65.00 to step on U.S. Soil
QUOTE (Ron/Sharon @ Sep 6 2007, 06:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Not wanting to give more ammunition than necessary to the other side I did what I thought was right to protect myself from further problems in the future. I called the CBP at Buffalo NY and asked for a waiver to enter the United States and was asked what is that and after talking with three people we finally figured out it was a parole that I was seeking. Well I got the parole and that is good, the bad part is that it is good for only 7 days and the bad part of that is I have 4 days of travelling 2 to get there and 2 get back. I was to leave today but the buss people screwed up, they said today at 4:30 would be the best for me, wrong, that would have brought me to Detroit and I have to go through Buffalo because the parole is only good at the point it was issued. So now I will be leaving at 2:15 tomorrow for Buffalo to get the parole papers which had I not called again and changed the time I would arrive would most likely have been cancelled. As you read above the cost is $65.00 US for the parole which has to be turned in at the border upon my return or suffer the consequenses. I should have saved more and flown down the CBP at the airport here agreed to give me a parole no cost with a 14 day limit because that is what I would have preferred to have in the first place. the good thing is I will be there on the day I need to be.
If the above doesn't make sense blame it on the massive headache I am present in possession of.


How bizarre. I'm so sorry, Ron. This is just ridiculous; they're so, so worried that you're a dangerous criminal that you have to get a waiver to get a fiance visa, but if you bring a little piece of paper to the POE you can come for a visit.

Do they put down the crack pipe in between drafting regulations or what?
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-06 18:38:00
CanadaAnyone thinking of remaining a resident somehow?
QUOTE (trailmix @ Sep 17 2007, 12:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (dearheart @ Sep 17 2007, 09:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I just called Immigration Canada and trailmix, you're right! I won't lose my PR status! Wa-hoo! I am so excited. So if we should want to move back to Canada I will not have to go through immigration again this way. Wa-hoo! I am so darn excited! Thanks, trailmix!


You're welcome! good.gif


That is so smart of the Canadian government.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-18 08:55:00
CanadaAnyone thinking of remaining a resident somehow?
QUOTE (Sprailenes @ Sep 17 2007, 09:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (bradcanuck @ Sep 16 2007, 11:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am sorry to hear about your friend and her problems with CDN Healthcare. This is why I will always prefer US Healthcare. If you can pay for it, you can get it done nearly immediately.


Yea its nice to know we will get good health care because we can pay for it.

But my only problem with the US system is that there is people who can't afford it. I think its a great system if you can afford it. But there are a lot of people in this Country who live well below the poverty line.

It's just sad. The one thing I liked about Canada is that I knew I was getting the same health care as everyone else (for the most part). I wasn't being given a shorter straw based on income or insurance.


And unfortunately 'people who can't afford it' is a pretty sizable amount of Americans.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-17 08:35:00
CanadaPolice certificates w/o fingerprints in Edmonton for K3
C.'s from outside of Edmonton and he received his certificate from the RCMP office in Stony Plain.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-22 09:08:00
CanadaHockey or wait?!
QUOTE (warlord @ Sep 20 2007, 04:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yes he is ineligible to even apply for any H or I-94 type status or visas now as he's married. You'll need to get all the details in order now to immigrate him to the US. This of course won't be in the near future either. I agree, this season is unfortuantly out. Even if he was able to get to the US and into it you would then need to file the AOS package and he'd have to wait for the EAD to come in to be able to work.

Now that he's been denied there will be a flag on him next attempt though the border and they'll be heavily questioning him. Basically they know he's married now and will want the proper documents. So you're kind of stuck now...



Why would being married to a U.S. citizen preclude him from getting an H-type visa? Hs are dual intent.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-20 16:46:00
CanadaMichigan Licensed Driver driving Canadian-titled vehicle?
I (the USC) was able to insure C.'s Canadian titled car through GEICO, which meant I could drive it. GEICO said we had fifteen days to get the plates on the van (which we did), but we had the policy practically immediately.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-22 23:22:00
CanadaOff we go...
Best of luck, guys.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-25 07:20:00
CanadaAnyone know what kind of food we are/aren't allowed to ship to the US?
Honest question: what citrus is in Canada that hasn't been shipped from somewhere more southerly (i.e., through the U.S. already)?
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-26 10:43:00
CanadaLen_and_Bren Happy Dance
Awesome, guys! Congrats!
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-26 17:05:00
CanadaCanadians and Americans - do you celebrate Oct or Nov?
I asked C. about it... 'Oh, so when's our Thanksgiving again?' Guess we're not doing an October one. wink.gif We just plan to celebrate in November.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-07 17:09:00
CanadaI'm frustrated and angry .....
QUOTE (lynamon @ Oct 8 2007, 11:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My family dinners were always 30 plus people , cousins, aunts, uncles and everyones children. Everyone brought a dish (which was generally organized with who brings what). It's amazing that I speak in past tense considering that this is the first one that I've missed. I'm really trying hard not to feel "snubbed" by my family as up until just recently I was feeling frantic that I would not be able to make it back for Christmas.



You poor kid. I was just thinking about you and how it seems that you've had zero luck in the AOS process so far. But you're in the system now, which officially means that Your Problem is now Their Problem. smile.gif

If your MSC# is like ours was, the one on the back of the check doesn't match the numbers for any of the applications. E.g., our check number was (say) 11234, but the AOS package was 11235, EAD 11236, and AP 11238. Basically close to the number on the check but not identical with any of it, which I guess makes sense for a package that consists of three distinct applications.

I think the Infopass appointment is probably your best bet for the code on the EAD thing. Maybe they can give you the case numbers and you can get it corrected.

Hope things look up for you soon. rose.gif
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-09 09:14:00
CanadaEverything is falling apart completely. I need help, please.
QUOTE (Lyric @ Oct 11 2007, 10:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Therein lies one of our many problems. He hasn't done it yet. sad.gif And he may not. Things are bad. Really bad.


Oh sweetie. I'm so sorry. rose.gif
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-11 21:18:00
CanadaEverything is falling apart completely. I need help, please.
QUOTE (Lyric @ Oct 11 2007, 10:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Glady @ Oct 11 2007, 10:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (LadyJane @ Oct 9 2007, 04:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yep, we told the border guard that we intended on getting married.
I'm so sorry to hear about your fiance. What about going to Canada to stay and if you eventually decided to come to the US then you could file DCF?


Yeah I did the same thing I drove up with 5 Minivans full of family and told them i was getting married there. No Questions ask. i have been traveling to the US on a monthly basis ever since.


I figure that if we do end up trying that route we're going to be one of the unlucky couples that aren't 'allowed' across. sigh. sad.gif We just can't win. I've tried so hard over the last year to stay positive but things keep happening that make it more and more hopeless. I'm pretty much beside myself right now, although I am trying so hard to stay strong. I feel like I'm at my breaking point now.


*hug*

If you want to get married here in the U.S., you don't need the K-1. The purpose of the K-1 is to provide a path for adjustment of status (and a way into the country if the person can't get a tourist visa), but marrying and leaving doesn't violate the terms of the VWP.

I just wouldn't volunteer the information about getting married. You're going to Buffalo for a short vacation. You intend to return on thus and such a date. How you spend your time probably won't come up. But if you're really worried, you can marry in Canada.

On the other hand, you're just a couple weeks away from your interview. He might as well go. The visa's good for six months, and even if he doesn't intend to stay, there would definitely be no problems using a K-1 to come and marry even if you then moved to Canada afterward.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-11 09:24:00
CanadaVisiting the US while Visa pending
QUOTE (MandE @ Aug 31 2007, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh, this all makes me feel much better. Since March, when we started this process, I have been paranoid about traveling, so I just haven't. I was sure that if I tried, and they denied me, that my visa would get denied too.

Anybody have any experiences about traveling through the Windsor/Detroit poe by car?


The only time I did the guy barely looked at my passport. I'm the USC. Just wanted to let you know that C. flew down here while our K-1 was in process for a short visit and had no problems. It seems to be a bit of a dice roll.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-09-06 12:06:00
CanadaFellow Canuck starting this long road of pain.
For what it's worth, if I had to do it all over again, I'd do a CR-1. But you can check out the guides, talk it over with your intended, and figure out what's best for YOU and for your wedding plans. Welcome!
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-11 21:20:00
CanadaI got my drivers license today!!:)
QUOTE (piosenka @ Oct 13 2007, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
How early can the Canadian get a license once they are in the US?


It depends on the state and the visa. For us, they wanted the NOA1 from adjusting status, and a copy of the marriage certificate, so it was about two months after the wedding. They didn't require that he take a written or driving test; Connecticut treats Canadian licenses like it does out-of-state license.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-13 13:00:00
CanadaStress taking its toll
Oh, Ron. I wish I could buy you two some ice cream.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-16 20:49:00
CanadaK1 extension possibility?
QUOTE (SpiritAlight @ Oct 19 2007, 07:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thank you Kez, even though you did not give the answer I would have liked to have heard. smile.gif


You do have six months to use the visa once you receive it at the consulate, and then 90 days to get married once you've crossed the border. C. got his on Valentine's Day, and didn't enter the U.S. till Memorial Day. That gives you almost nine months to play around with.
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-19 19:10:00
CanadaWheres all the privileges to be canadian
It's not passing over people based on their birth country, just their ability to qualify for a tourist visa. We don't think it's discrimination there.

And they wouldn't be eligible for a green card any easier than anyone else.

And like I said, if you're worried about national security, then the VWP needs to go. There were, what, 14,000 fiancee visas last year and 64 million visitors? I can't imagine a terrorist eligible for the VWP who would decide that his best route into the country was marriage fraud. Or that a three-minute interview would have stopped him.

I'm not really complaining about our process, because it's been pretty easy. But I look at people going through Montreal and I can totally see why half the lawyers out there just say 'come on over, we'll take care of it later.'
CaladanMaleCanada2007-10-21 17:13:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionDS-156 Question
Thanks.

I'm at some loss as to how to proceed. My fiancé was flagged nine or ten years ago for driving while not insured. This resulted in a fine. When he didn't pay the fine, an officer came, picked him up, drove him down to the local jail, where he sat for about eight hours while his dad & uncles paid the fine. That was it. I'm not sure that properly counts as an arrest, but I imagine the term is to be construed as widely as possible for immigration purposes.

His record is completely clear, not just expunged. (We know because his job required a police check.) I know that he's not inadmissible, but if we check 'yes', we'll need some kind of documentation as to what the 'yes' is for. Any suggestions on how we should proceed?
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-03 13:05:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionDS-156 Question
The first question on 'inadmissibility section' of the DS-156 confuses me. I don't understand how you can have one check box for two very different questions.

Does any arrest count as a 'yes', even if it leads to no fingerprinting, no charges, no court date, and no conviction?
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-03 12:50:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionOngoing relationship proof ideas...

Caladan,

If it matches what the consular officer senses about your fiance's personality when they interview him it will be excelent evidence.

Sounds like you've got a 'keeper'.

Yodrak

My fiancé made me a memories album about a year ago that's really a lovely work of art. He includes pictures (only two of the two of us, but plenty of scenery from vacations), and apparently, the romantic fool has kept every movie ticket stub, every museum ticket, every 'date'-type activity we've ever had. He made the album because I was feeling sad that we didn't get to do a lot of 'real couple' things.

It's not a good proof of an ongoing relationship on its own for the reasons others have mentioned. It could be an elaborate hoax. But I think it makes a nice addition to the rest of our three years of telephone calls & primary evidence.


He's pretty awesome.

And Cass, you should totally take up yoga. Good for relieving stress, and surprisingly great for developing rock-hard abs.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-03 14:54:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionOngoing relationship proof ideas...
My fiancé made me a memories album about a year ago that's really a lovely work of art. He includes pictures (only two of the two of us, but plenty of scenery from vacations), and apparently, the romantic fool has kept every movie ticket stub, every museum ticket, every 'date'-type activity we've ever had. He made the album because I was feeling sad that we didn't get to do a lot of 'real couple' things.

It's not a good proof of an ongoing relationship on its own for the reasons others have mentioned. It could be an elaborate hoax. But I think it makes a nice addition to the rest of our three years of telephone calls & primary evidence.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-03 13:51:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionHow much is too much?
Hmm, that's interesting. I wouldn't expect that they would allow your CD anywhere near their equipment, but if you had your own laptop, that might be one way to transport the data. If you could get the laptop into the interview.

I expect, though, that electronic proof isn't best even if the logistics would be worked out. They're going to want to collect the proof and put it in a packet, and something tells me that having the relevant data on a CD wouldn't be the most helpful thing ever. (If they need to review it later, are they going to use a laptop?)

I'd check with the consulate before bringing electronic records. Would be cool to put the whole application on a flash drive, though.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-04 16:56:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionOther Nams Used
My fiancé and I both go by names that don't match our legal names, and we put them down on the I-129F and plan to on the later forms, as supporting information (my bank and phone bills) use the non-legal names.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-08 20:15:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionBAD News!!!
Hang in there! It sucks to be delayed but this sounds like a delay, not a denial!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-21 01:42:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionCalling all grad students...
Update on this, as it might be useful for other graduate, law, and medical students:

Chances are, your university has a sizable percentage of international students, and has an international students' office which pretty much exists to answer questions about visas. Including considerable experience with affidavits of support, as many graduate students bring over their wives and children when they study.

Call this office and explain that you're on a K-1. In my case, they sent me to my departmental registrar with instructions to update my admittance letter (2002) to 2006 with the new, increased funding. The registrar called some people over at the international office, and was able to obtain the standard form indicating income and support that the international students get automatically.

The bonus of talking to the international office is that you won't have to explain ad nauseam what a visa is, and why the Department of State wants to see your income, and you're basically taking advantage of a wealth of experience, for free.
CaladanMaleCanada2006-12-09 13:10:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionCalling all grad students...
Thanks!
CaladanMaleCanada2006-11-06 19:27:00