ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaPotential joint sponser issues
Okay, well... I'm not sure if this is right forum for this sort of post, but I couldn't think of where else to post it. Anyway, this is going to take some explaining...

My fiancee and I (obviously) want to get married, be together and live in the United States. Some of the smaller details aren't important, but what is important is that my father will be required to be my joint sponser. He doesn't know this yet. My father makes more than enough to qualify (and then some), so monetarily, it's not a problem.

The problem is the conditions that come down on the joint sponser for sponsoring the permanent resident. My fiancee doesn't want to become a U.S. citizen because she doesn't want the U.S. government having excessive control over her actions or more control over her than the Canadian government. I think she's afraid of becoming a USC and then the U.S. government going beserk and not allowing USC's to leave the country or something silly like that. I really don't think such a thing would occur, but she's made up her mind that she won't become a citizen; that being a permanent resident and greencard holder is good enough.

That's fine with me, for the most part. My father, on the other hand, probably won't like it. If I understand everything correctly, the joint sponser will be financially responsible for the permanent resident for 10 years (even in the event of a divorce) and unless she works a certain amount (the number escapes me at the moment), the contract still holds. My fiancee is planning to work and she says that my father will "never have to make good" on supporting her and, in the unlikely event we were to divorce, she'd "move back to Canada." Neither of us plan on that happening, however.

Okay, that sounds fine and good, but my I know my father. He won't buy it. He won't sign a legally binding agreement stating that he is financially responsible for someone outside his family for a decade, especially if the responsibility continues in the case of a divorce. So I have a problem here, and I'm unsure of how to go about fixing it.

That's why I'm asking you all for help. My father is the only one I can go to in this event. I need some advice on what to do.

Help would be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time. :)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-11 09:12:00
CanadaI drove my USC's Truck Home

You can bring a car if you rent it or if you own it. Same thing as if you're driving cross country in someone elses car and they're not with you, good chance if you get pulled over for speeding they will hold you until they can verfiy you have permission to drive that car from the owner. At the border they want to eliminate car theft, and a foreign person driving a US car without owning it or having the owner in it shows a bunch of possible red flags...

Ah ha. I gotcha. :yes:

Okay, well, I definitely own the car, so that's not a problem. However, could my fiancee drive the car in Canada or would I need a new/seperate insurance plan for that? That's what I'm still unsure about.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-11 08:34:00
CanadaI drove my USC's Truck Home
So wait a minute...

Does this mean that you're NOT allowed to bring an vehicle from the United States into Canada? What if it's on a semi-temporary basis? I mean, longer than a vacation but shorter than "forever." In other words, something along the lines of five or six years.

I was thinking of driving my car up to Canada and crossing that way and being with my fiancee. I have all the paperwork for my car. We would both be coming back to the U.S. eventually (as I said, after about five or six years), and I would like to have my car with me.

What's this about the Canadian citizen not allowed to drive the vehicle? So only I would be legally allowed to operate it? That does limit my car's usefulness, if that's the way it works... :unsure:

What if, when I got to Canada, I bought different auto insurance? Canadian auto insurance that covered myself and my fiancee? Would that work or not? Or could I keep my American auto insurance for me and purchase Canadian auto insurance for my fiancee?

Help would be very much appreciated in this matter. :wacko:
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-11 08:06:00
CanadaCandian Passport Photo From Abroad
I don't know if it's been said yet, but what about going to your closet AAA location and have them do the passport photos? That's what I did. Sure, I'm a USC (and therefore, don't have to deal with the different size requirements needed for a Canadian passport), but AAA is probably better staffed and a bit more professional in regards to travel documents than Walgreens or CVS.

Just a thought. ;)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-11 11:42:00
CanadaTies to the US
You know... now that I look at these two programs more closely (CANPASS and NEXUS), I think CANPASS would better suit me. Of course, it's a little late for me to apply for it, considering I'll be heading up to Canada in May.

Oh well. I doubt I'd be able to make it to an interview anyway, as it seems they also want U.S. citizens to be in Canada for the interview at one of the designated airports. I can't do that. Not until May, anyway and that's the start of my vacation, so the entire point of having CANPASS would be moot.

If I'm getting this all wrong, someone please tell me, but according to the CANPASS website, it seems that's what Canada is saying...
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-16 08:55:00
CanadaTies to the US

I have one question

Why on earth have you not applied for Nexus by now.... If you would have applied for it, you would not have had these problems...

But yes, it does work both ways...

Hmmm... actually, that's a good idea. Maybe I'll apply for NEXUS. I think I was orignally getting NEXUS confused with CANPASS, which is why I didn't think it applied to Jeremy. But looking into NEXUS more, it does work for air, land and water entries. I wonder if it'd make my entrances into Canada (as few and limited as they are...) any easier.

Zyggy, do you know how someone from the U.S. (who lives a long way from Canada in Texas) would go about applying for NEXUS? I can't just hop on a plane and fly to Canada to enroll in NEXUS. Aside from the cost and my limited time, that'd be a bit much to expect.

Do they perform phone interviews? I could definitely do that. I'm not sure if e-mail interviews are done, but if such a thing exists, perhaps that could work as well. Whatever that wouldn't require me to be physically in Canada at the time -- except when I next fly there for my visit.

Anyway, this NEXUS program would probably serve Jeremy a bit better than even me. To look into it, here's the NEXUS website.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-16 08:33:00
CanadaTies to the US

"it's a random search" "it's a random inspection" I think that's just what they say so you have no defense and dont argue.

This might be a little different than the searches and inspections performed by Customs & Immigration, but...

TSA has a process called "SSSS" that can appear on your boarding pass after either printing them out or getting them from the ticket agent/ticket kiosk at the airport. Basically, what this means is that you are going to go into a seperate line at security and undergo a higher level of screening -- your body will probably be searched and your bags will be looked through, at the very least.

What does "SSSS" stand for? No one really knows, unfortunately. I'm a member of the FlyerTalk Message Board and no one there can truly figure out what it means and yet, a number of people have had it happen to them. Some people have come up with nicknames for it, most of which are ridiculous.

How can one get "SSSS" stamped on their boarding pass? Well, there are a number of ways: Paying in cash, booking a week before the flight time, choosing a one-way ticket, being part of a select demographic, your name is on the "selectee list" or it can just happen at random intervals. Oh, and just who gets the "SSSS" mark really makes no sense either. I've seen and heard reports of one member out of an entire family getting hit with "SSSS" while the rest were fine; little children have been slapped with "SSSS" on their boarding passes while their older siblings and adult parents haven't been. So there's really no logic behind it.

I know coming back from my first visit to see my fiancee, I was screened quite heavily and my carry-on was searched. I don't know what they were looking for, but whatever it was, after about five minutes, they were content that my bag was "clean" and therefore fine to allow on the plane. I think it was a random check, to be honest, since my name is rather uncommon and I (thankfully) didn't have "SSSS" on my boarding pass.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-15 19:55:00
CanadaTies to the US
Jeremy,

You're not alone in that boat. I'm the USC and I rarely travel to visit my Canadian fiancee. It's not because I don't want to do so (I really do), but I can't usually get away nor can she in order to make the time for our visits. So we usually have a grand total of two weeks twice a year for the entire year to see each other.

Both times I have visited my fiancee, she was then my girlfriend. The first time I visited her, it was in Edmonton. That went smoothly. I was basically waived through with very few questions asked. The second time, however, was a whole different ballgame. This was in Vancouver for Christmas and I was there to not only see her, but her family as well. The Customs & Immigrations officers nearly had a heart attack and initiated a Chinese Firedrill when I mentioned I was visited my girlfriend.

I was immediately send to secondary inspection. The officer there looked at and talked to me like I was some sort of criminal, holding an M-16 and carrying a suitcase full of heroin and cocaine. All in all, she was fairly rude and told me point-blank that she would decide whether or not I entered the country. I, on the other hand, was polite and respectful. The very last thing I wanted to do was say something wrong.

I was interrogated about everything -- my work, my finances, my trip plans, my relationship, and so on. Not one detail was left unearthed. Fortunately for me, I had arrived at the airport around midnight, so there wasn't anyone else there at that time, and so I didn't have other people breathing down my neck at the time. Of course, that could've been a negative as well. Perhaps if there were other people, the officer might not have spent as much time with me specifically. I don't know for sure though.

Finally, after all was said and done, I was allowed into Canada. It was a very scary experience and one which I think was way overdone. All I said was "girlfriend" and everyone freaked out. I didn't say I was planning on marrying anyone nor did I say I was intending to immigrate. Truth be told, my fiancee and I are going to live in the United States, not Canada. So really don't see the problem. I suppose they didn't know that though, but the point is that there was no need to get so worked up about it all.

Neiks,

Because of my incident, do you think a "visitor's record" was issued to me? They didn't say anything of the sort to me. I was merely allowed on my way after the interrogation was completed. The next time I am crossing into Canada will once again be in Edmonton, not Vancouver, so will that make a difference? Will they know about my crossing into Vancouver last year? Will that affect my ability to make it into Canada this summer? Once again, I was fully allowed into Canada -- I didn't break any laws. I was just questioned a whole heck of a lot.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-15 15:04:00
Canada/wave

Hee, welcome to VJ and good luck with your process.

My fiance and I met through WoW too. (World of Warcraft, an online role-playing game, for those that are scratching their heads.) Now, here come the geek questions.

Which server do you play on?

And... ALLIANCE OR HORDE? :D

Hey cool! I used to play World of Warcraft and Guild Wars! As far as WoW goes... when I was on there, I was Alliance and on the Silverhand server. :D

I know another couple (not on VJ; both are American, but they live in seperate states) who met on WoW as well. They're moving in together this summer and getting married in 2008.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-16 16:36:00
CanadaMy Interview at Montreal on Friday, Apr 13th
Wow. It seems some people just don't have good "people skills," which is rather ironic considering the sort of job they're working in...

Anwyay, congrats on getting everything sorted out. :)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-16 08:58:00
Canadaprovincial health plan

However, you plan to apply for permanent residency in the US, so no, you are not eligible to keep Canadian provincial health care, unless you definitely have an expected return date. Like TN visas do.

Does that work the opposite way? I mean, if one were to temporarily reside in Canada for a few years, could they retain their American health insurance if they intend on returning? :unsure:



Depends on your employer... some employers make some sort of provision to have health insurance in the US for cases like surgeries, etc to get people to overcome their apprehensions about the Canadian Health system...

You are just a fountain of knowledge, Zyggy! :D

I don't get my health insurance through an employer. I pay for it myself. I've got a PPO plan through BlueCross BlueShield of Texas.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-17 08:48:00
Canadaprovincial health plan

However, you plan to apply for permanent residency in the US, so no, you are not eligible to keep Canadian provincial health care, unless you definitely have an expected return date. Like TN visas do.

Does that work the opposite way? I mean, if one were to temporarily reside in Canada for a few years, could they retain their American health insurance if they intend on returning? :unsure:
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-17 07:50:00
CanadaBeen a few months since I've been here & I need some help please.
If he has any sort of serious illness (which it sounds like he does), then finding a healthcare provider that will allow him on one of their plans is unlikely. As I believe I told someone else on VJ a while back, I know a person in real life who was turned down from several healthcare providers for ONLY having migraine headaches; otherwise, she was in incredible health. But the health insurance companies didn't want to insure someone who might actually be (gasp!) using their services.

A healthcare insurance provider's number one goal is to retain their money, and pay out as little as possible at all times. They do not feel like they are there to help the patient, except in times of emergency situations. Otherwise, any exhisting ailments could bar you from gaining health insurance in the first place.

It's a very difficult system, at times. But as my Canadian fiancee has said to me before, neither system -- privately-funded or government-funded healthcare -- really works well. Both have some positives, but many negatives. It seems like no one can get a good healthcare system in-place that might actually do some real good.

Oh well. I hope everything works out for you and that your partner comes out okay.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 06:35:00
CanadaBeen a few months since I've been here & I need some help please.
As far as I know, the best indication of whether or not one may be denied entrance into a foreign country due to illness is if they are typically contagious or are otherwise at risk for spreading their illness via other means (i.e. sexual transmission). Other grounds may be psychological disorders that may result in one proving a potential danger to the populace or becoming a public charge (i.e. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, multiple personalty disorder, etc).

With the first category, the type of contagion is extremely important. Someone attempting to immigrate who has a simple cold virus (and is therefore contagious), will not be denied. Likewise, I can't imagine someone with a relatively simple bacterial infection (such as chlamydia, a very common and easily curable STD) that could be cleared up via antibiotics would be denied as well. Problems might come into play, however, if one had a permanent viral infection (i.e. HIV/AIDS or herpes) or a much more virulent bacterial infection, such as tuberculosis. Physiologically speaking, if he has something that cannot be transfered from one person to another, then it's extremely unlikely that he should be denied entry.

The one caveat to that, of course, is psychological disorders. These cannot, obviously, be transfered from one person to another and yet, some are very serious and can affect others very strongly. As I wrote before, if he were to have a disorder such as schizophrenia, which could result in becoming potentially dangerous to others (and in the eyes of the government, a public charge, which is probably a worse thing to them), then that could possibly become grounds for denial. Much of this, however, would depend on his own personal psychological history and what his psychologist and psychiatrist were to say/write about him. For instance, even if he did have schizophrenia, if he never "acted out," went to therapy sessions, and always took his medication as directed, then there would be few reasons to deny him entry, as he'd be a model patient.

Please do understand that what I have said here is just my take on the entire situation, based upon my working knowledge of medicine and psychology. I am not, nor have I ever been, in the employ of any government body (U.S. or Canada) and they may look at things differently than I do.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 00:08:00
CanadaInterview

ok you guys are gonna laugh at this ..............speaking of airport security.............many moons ago my husband took a second job on the weekends since he was posted in Ottawa he had a cushy office job and didnt work weekends........and it helped getting away from the ex wife....anyway......
guess what it was .........AIRPORT SECURITY!!!!!!!!!! He said the only people he treated badly were those who were rude to him for the sake of it.

anyway I thought it was worth a chuckle.

Flames .........this base is the first posting in his career where he has been treated poorly. He's been lucky I spose.

I've never been rude "for the sake of being rude" to airport security. I just "do what I'm told" in order to get through as quickly and as little fuss as possible. Airline security (the Transportation Security Administration, or TSA, in the United States) has the potential to ruin a good trip at the start of it before the plane even takes off!

Of course, I think TSA sometimes acts stupid or does stuff to irritate passengers on purpose. They don't even follow their own rules, or at times seem to know what their own rules are! You'd think if you work for an organization, you'd know where your own personal interpretation ends and the rules/regulations begin! But that doesn't seem to be the case with TSA. Every trip is an adventure with them.

I don't know how the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (better known as CATSA) is though. Maybe they're more cohesive and regulated or maybe Canadians follow the rules better overall than Americans. I remember my fiancee telling me that when she went through TSA going home to Canada, one of the security officers gave her a "thumbs up" and told her, "That's perfect! You're doing exactly what we asked!"

So perhaps part of the problem is that either some Americans don't know the "new" rules for traveling by air (something hard for me to believe, given how publicized it all was; if you don't know you can only have three ounce-sized liquid/gel items in a one quart-sized baggie by now, then just do us all a favor and drive!) or that many Americans feel they are entitled to "get away with disobeying the rules" in which case that causes problems for the rest of us by slowing the entire process down.

Oh, by the way... does Canada have the "shoe carnival" across the country? What I mean is, do Canadians and visitors have to remove their shoes for x-ray at airport security stations like we do in the United States? I'm asking because think I had to do it once while in Canada, but not another time. I don't quite remember though.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 06:14:00
Canadaquestions on medical/doctors

I have asthma, had bouts of depression in my past & have had stomache surgeries - told the Dr. at the medical and he wrote it down, but nothing was said about it at any point in the interview process.

If you are worried about anything in particular you could have your current Dr. write an explanitory note about your situation - patient has mild form of asthma which is controlled by blah blah blah - if you want to have some explanation for the Dr. at the medical.

AND they ask you to bring any current meds to the Exam as I recall. SO.. i carted off my inhailers as well. They will make note of that stuff.

Dr. Doane (in H'fax) did also tell me if I passed the medical or not. (he said pending the all clear on the blood work and the x-ray). You could simply ask the Dr. at the end as well. You ultimately have the control on your medical as you will be the one turning it in to the Consulate. (not that you can change anything and the medical is sealed but the Dr. doesn't send it directly to the Consulate is what I mean)

EXCEPT for an HIV/AIDS positive. Dr. Doane told me that if I should test positive he had a legal obligation to tell both CDN and US authorities of that. I dunno if that's 100% true but that's what he said :)

Well, it's good to know that those conducting the interview process probably aren't too concerned with the medical review then. As for HIV/AIDS... I belive that and syphilis are the two STDs that must be reported to the CDC. Everything else, if I recall correctly, can be treated or cured, without a need for a formal report.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 08:47:00
CanadaRain rain go away

that is such a good idea!!!!!



and deadpool........you may go to the " im just a guy what do I know " couch and just SIT there with Flames..........ITS A GIRL THING DANG IT :D

That's fine by me! The couch is comfy, and there's TV there too! :lol:
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 11:28:00
CanadaRain rain go away

Doesnt most want a sunny nice day for a wedding?? many get pics taken outside, which can be hard to do in the rain? Hope the day turns out near perfect.

Ah yes... there may be pictures taken outside, and the rain might ruin that. I hadn't thought about that scenario.

I've never been to a wedding before. :blush:
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 06:15:00
CanadaRain rain go away

We're having the big formal church wedding on Saturday in Connecticut. The weekend forecast SAYS that Saturday will be sunny with a 10 % chance of precipitation ..... but please send some good sunshine vibes my way :) I am not trusting this crazy New England weather.

Maybe I'm dense, but I'm not quite sure I understand the importance of "clear, sunny weather" if you're getting married inside a church. I could see why it'd be important if you were having an outside wedding, but if it's inside, what difference does it make if it's sunny and clear skies or overcast and potentially rainy?

It shouldn't have any bearing on your wedding. Those who wish to come will do so, and those who're looking for an excuse not to be there, will find some way of not showing up. I'm sure it'd be nice if the weather cooperated, but barring anything extreme, I'm sure the wedding will proceed as normal and everyone who wants to be there will show up.

Maybe I'm missing something though? I'm not sure. If I am, please tell me.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 05:59:00
CanadaAnybody else hear this

Hard to tell when Canada Post is on strike--since they put the "snail" in "snail-mail".

Huh. Here I thought USPS was bad...

Oh well. As least USPS delivers on Saturdays! :P
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 11:26:00
CanadaCulture shock for Canadians in the US

I'm still getting used to the whole "check card" thing... like how it's not really like a debit card (but it is) and not really like a credit card... and getting asked if I want cash back each time.


I STILL don't understand this. What the heck IS this card? Is it a debit card or is it a credit card? Is there some sort of writeup about it online so I can figure out what it is? I just don't get it. Please help. LOL

A check card is like a credit card, except that it's a type of "debit" card that looks similar to a credit card but acts like a check because the purchase amount is deducted from the cardholder's checking account. :)

And yes, many places take debit cards but use them as credit cards in a way (i.e. no need to enter a PIN) and in fact, some card issuers inform the cardholder to choose "credit card" instead of "debit card" on the electronic pay devices. The money is still deducted from your account like a debit card, however.

One thing that I should note that, at least in my experience, many more places here in the U.S. accept credit cards versus debit or check cards. Using a debit or check card is less common here, than say... in Canada. Most people use credit cards. This throws my fiancee for a loop -- she says you can pay for practically anything in Canada with debit and she hardly ever uses her credit card. I'm the opposite. I have a debit card, but I rarely use it (only for taking money out of ATMs, really) and rely on my credit cards.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-28 09:34:00
CanadaCulture shock for Canadians in the US

american cheese sucks :)

:yes:


I totally agree with you......You have said what i think. I know it says that i am in hk but i am a Canadian working here. Ramos is in Houston and listening to the talk raido shows, and they make me laugh sometimes at what people choose to share about their lack of knowledge.

Never take Talk Radio at face value. The hosts (in general) are there just to incite strong feelings and get people to call in, thus making the show more entertaining for the listening audience. This isn't to say all Talk Radio is bad; it's not. But most of it is inflammatory and just plain rude.

Fortunately for us all, Talk Radio does not represent the city, state or country. It just shows what a relative few people think.

As for American Cheese... I'm the USC in the relationship, and I used to like it when I was a little kid. Little kids have no taste, so American Cheese was as good as anything else. Now that I'm much older and have experienced other cheeses, I can't say that American Cheese is really appetizing. Although it's still much better than spray cheese. I never understood the attraction to that.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-27 10:52:00
United KingdomA question regarding heritage and passports
A recent thread in the Canada forum got me thinking: my great-grandmother was born in the UK (England, to be exact) and I was wondering if that somehow gives me the ability to claim, in any shape or form, UK citizenship and gain a UK passport.

I know something similar to this works in Canada and the United States, but I am woefully ignorant when it comes to the laws in the United Kingdom. Even if it is possible, I don't know if a "great-grandmother" would count. I'm sure a parent would or maybe a grandparent, but going back more than that might be too much.

I'm not looking to immigrate to the UK nor do I know anyone there (my wife is a Canadian citizen), so if I couldn't claim UK citizenship through my great-grandmother, I wouldn't be terribly disappointed. In fact, even if I can do it, I may not, since there is little advantage to doing so in my case. More than anything, I'd just like to find out.

So if anyone here knows the answer or can point me in the right direction to find it out for myself, I'd appreciate it. Thanks. smile.gif
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2008-03-21 20:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (mox @ Feb 27 2008, 03:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Len_and_Bren @ Feb 27 2008, 01:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Peace out and let's this thread die once and for all.

Agreed up to this point.

Let this thread become the one to rule them all!!!!!

If we're running out of stuff to talk about, I humbly submit that all Texans are wankers. Discuss.

As someone who is Texan, I take offense to that remark. I refuse to share the status of "wanker" with anyone, Texan or not. cool.gif
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2008-02-27 19:40:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusThe Lost Arcade Games of the Soviet Union
I don't know if this has been posted before (I wouldn't be surprised if it had), but just in case this somehow slipped by, I figured I'd add it. My brother (who has been studying Russian for years now and is practically fluent in it) sent me this link a little while back about video arcade games that were set up during the Soviet Union. Wired had a small feature on it. I thought you guys might want to see it. If you do, click here.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2008-04-14 12:44:00
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)Questions about dual citizenship
QUOTE (jundp @ Feb 25 2008, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (DeadPoolX @ Feb 25 2008, 10:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
While it's extremely unlikely that the U.S. and Canada would ever go to war against each other, if I was in Canada, holding Canadian citizenship at the time, I could theoretically be called into service for Canada against the United States, my birth country. Although I somehow doubt the any government would fully trust a naturalized citizen when their opponent is that citizen's home nation; they'd have no way of knowing if he or she could be fully loyal to them. The fact, remains, however, that such a scenario could take place.


I may be wrong, but I believe in that instance you automatically forfeit your American citizenship.

I think you're correct. But once again, that's probably why the U.S. doesn't care for dual-citizenship.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2008-02-25 17:14:00
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)Questions about dual citizenship
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this already in this thread, but if you have dual-citizenship, you are only regarded as a citizen of the country in which you are residing.

Let's use me as an example. I am a U.S. citizen by birth and if I were to get Canadian citizenship, I'd have dual-citizenship. While in the U.S., I'd be considered an American citizen only; my Canadian citizenship wouldn't mean squat. Conversely, if I was in Canada, my newly created Canadian citizenship would take over and my American citizenship would now be meaningless.

I can legally hold both citizenships, but I can only be considered a citizen of one country or the other at a time -- and this depends on which country I am in, the United States or Canada.

This also accounts for the reason why the U.S. frowns on dual-citizenship, since if I held Canadian citizenship and got into legal trouble in Canada, the American Embassy would be powerless to assist me. I'd be Canada's problem. In addition, having more than one citizenship can make for conflicts if war occurs between the two nations in which you hold citizenship with at the time.

While it's extremely unlikely that the U.S. and Canada would ever go to war against each other, if I was in Canada, holding Canadian citizenship at the time, I could theoretically be called into service for Canada against the United States, my birth country. Although I somehow doubt the any government would fully trust a naturalized citizen when their opponent is that citizen's home nation; they'd have no way of knowing if he or she could be fully loyal to them. The fact, remains, however, that such a scenario could take place.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2008-02-25 13:47:00
Asia: East and Pacificinterview questions in sydney

friends

for australians moving to usa on K1 visa, is the australian moving, required to disclose assets/liabilities in sydney interview or on any forms?

can anyone provide a list of questions??

This is the Canada forum. While you're welcome here, you might get a better response in the Asia: East and Pacific (Except China) forum. Australia is included in there, so that forum might be of greater use to you. :)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-04-18 08:56:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionIs it worth it?

I thought the US went back to 5 year passports this year.

I don't think they did.

I got my passport in 2005, and it expires in 2015. My brother got his passport this year, and it expires in 2016. So as far as I can tell, the U.S. is still using ten year passports. Which is a good thing, in my opinion. I think five year passports are a rip-off.

Anyone else think it's somewhat odd that, given how paranoid and security-minded the U.S. is, it doesn't require a guarantor, while Canada, which is lax on security (when compared to the U.S.) does require one? I just think that's weird.

Anyway, it's good to know that there are individuals within the U.S. that can act as guarantors as well, so when my fiancee is living here, she can get a new passport. Of course, that's assuming she doesn't naturalize and become a citizen. She might very well do that. I think what she's concerned about is losing her Canadian citizenship, and she wants to hold onto that. If she can keep that (and become an American citizen), then I don't think there would be a problem. :)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-25 09:50:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAmerican/Canadian Dual Citizenship
Wow. Those were some very thorough answers. Thanks again, Zyggy! :D

Now I just need to tell my fiancee! ;)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-02-15 11:35:00
US Citizenship General DiscussionAmerican/Canadian Dual Citizenship
Okay, both my fiancee (Canadian citizen) and I (USC) are possibly looking into become dual citizens of the U.S. and Canada...but we have a few questions.

1. I've read that the United States makes you take an oath renouncing ties (and allegiance) to your former country. Is this true?

2. Canada doesn't recognize the above renouncement taken in the U.S. naturalization process, correct?

3. Do you lose U.S. citizenship if you willingly take on another country's citizenship (Canada), or does the U.S. let you keep your American citizenship status?

4. What are the major benefits to becoming a naturalized citizen in both the United States and Canada?

Thanks ahead of time. :)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2007-02-15 11:06:00
CanadaGetting a Passport
Okay, thanks for the timeline correction. :)

My fiancee is heading back to Canada on January 7, 2007. According to the U.S. Department of State, that's one day before the passport requirement is implimented. So technically, she doesn't even NEED a passport.

Of course...it still might be better to have a passport. Getting across the border is probably easier with a passport than without one. It'd also be good to have so she has a record of her trip--I've read here on VJ that passport stamps are good to have and all. So yeah, she'll probably get a passport, just because it'd be the best thing to do all around. But I guess if she doesn't have one, it won't cancel her trip. :thumbs:
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-06 13:01:00
CanadaGetting a Passport
Thanks for replying! :)

Canadians are not required to have a passport to travel to the US, she'll just need a birth certificate and photo ID of some sort, like driver's license.

Well, I know that currently neither U.S. nor Canadian citizens need passports to enter each other's countries. However, I've read that starting December 31, 2006, BOTH U.S. and Canadian citizens will be required to show a passport to travel between the United States and Canada. Is that now incorrect? If it is, that'd be great. :D

Why doesn't she have a guarantor? She can send it to anybody whose on the list whose known her for 2 years or more, it doesn't necessarily need to be someone in the town where she currently lives.

I think my fiancee mentioned that she might have a relative (I think her brother-in-law's sister) who's an attorney. Lawyers are on the list. She'd pretty much be the only possibility, but there's a good chance she may have moved out of Canada. In that case, my fiancee would still have to file the PPTC 132.

If she goes directly to the passport office to turn in the application, it'll be faster than if she mails it to them. Usually the 10 business days for drop offs (well, sit and wait for 4 hours and then drop off :P ) or a month or 2 for mail.

Well, we certainly can't wait a month or two for mail...it'd have to be by drop-off. I just want to know how anyone who works normal business hours can make it to a Passport Canada office between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:15 PM, Monday to Friday. My fiancee would have to practically take a day off from work to deliver this by hand, especially if she'd need to sit and wait three-to-four hours.

Oh well. I guess I'd better break the news to her. ;)

Edited by DeadPoolX, 06 October 2006 - 11:56 AM.

DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-06 11:55:00
CanadaGetting a Passport
Okay, well...I'm an American citizen and I have a U.S. passport. My fiancee, a Canadian citizen, HAD a passport, but seeing as Canadian passports only last for five years, hers has expired and since they can't be renewed, she needs to apply for a new one. So far, everything seems simple, right? It's not.

My fiancee doesn't have a guarantor that she's known within her city for at least two years. I do know, however, that there's a form she could fill out called a PPTC 132 "Statutory Declaration in Lieu of Guarantor." The problem is that I've read that if someone files the PPTC 132, it may delay processing, and it can take a LOT longer to get your passport. I've heard all sorts of wild claims--anything from an extra week or two to a couple of months! :blink:

My fiancee is coming down to the U.S. on December 30, 2006. So she needs a passport before then. It's already October. I know in the U.S., they say to allow at LEAST six weeks for processing (unless you go the expedited route, which costs an "arm and a leg") and that doesn't even include shipping time! I've read on Passport Canada's website that the normal processing time to receive a passport is 10 working days. But that probably assumes you have a guarantor, not a PPTC 132.

So what I'd like to know is...approximately how long is my fiancee looking at waiting to get her passport (with filing a PPTC 132), since she'll definitely need it to enter the United States.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-06 11:15:00
CanadaStudent Visa
Thank you! I've been searching everywhere online for an answer to this question and you responded with exactly what I was hoping to hear! :thumbs:
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-08 18:56:00
CanadaStudent Visa
Hi all! :D

I know I made a post about a student visa to Canada in the DCF forum, but I figured that maybe some people in this forum might know some more information. Besides, that question was in regards to filing a DCF, and this question has NOTHING to do with Direct Consular Filing.

Anyway...my question is: On a student visa to Canada, is it legal to marry a Canadian citizen? If I married a Canadian citizen, would my student visa become nullified? For the record, I'm a U.S. citizen and I have NO intention of immigrating to Canada.

I know that if a foreign national were to marry a U.S. citizen in the U.S., the foreign national's student visa would become null and void; however, I have no clue whatsoever about Canada's rules and regulations regarding this scenario. I've attempted looking up the information online myself, but Google has been less than helpful lately.

So help would be greatly appreciated. I apologize ahead of time if my constant stream of questions seems annoying, but I do have a lot of them and everyone here seems quite knowledgable. :)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-08 18:07:00
CanadaTravel Insurance
Oh, I agree. Cold viruses are usually better off treated with OTC medication, since there's really no "cure" for them anyway. Unless you're in a high risk group (very young, very old, diabetic, asthmatic, etc.), then there's really no reason why you can't just use Tylenol Cold, Robitussin, NyQuil or some other brand.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-21 17:17:00
CanadaTravel Insurance
Muscle relaxants and sleeping pills aren't usually on the necessary list of prescribed medications (some OTC medications might include them as well) for a typical cold...unless, of course, you're being kept awake (due to excessive breathing difficulties, coughing, sneezing, runny nose, etc.) and you're suffering from myalgia (which can happen from colds, sore throats, a flu, or what have you...), in which case you'll be thankful to get a muscle relaxant. Most of the time, however, these muscle relaxants are used to combat pain in the lumbar region of the back.

Some of the prescribed muscle relaxants are actually benzodiazepines (minor tranquilizors), tricyclics (anti-depressants), and even SSRI's (anti-depressants). What makes this remarkable is that all of these are most commonly used by psychiatrists for treating a variety of conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders and personality disorders. Why these actually affect us physiologically and help reduce pain is somewhat unknown. What is known is these medications can reduce musculoskeletal pain, and help fight migraine headache, neuropathic pain associated with diabetic neuropathy, and postherpetic neuralgia.

Anyway...enough of that. Your physician might've just been covering the basics, depending on what the list of symptoms might've been at the time. As long as you have insurance, you should be covered for the medication. I wouldn't expect each prescription to be any more than $40 at the most; usually it's anywhere from $10 to $20 per prescription, but then again, I have a PPO. An HMO might be a different story.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-21 10:01:00
CanadaQuestion about graduate school in Canada
Actually...our first choice is Oregon. There's something about that state that my fiancee really likes. I can't quite put my finger on it. Whatever it is, if it makes her happy, then I'll go there. I realize moving down to the U.S. is a big move and a major lifestyle adjustment for her, so if I can make it any easier for her by going to a state she seems to like, then I will.

So we may be moving there sometime in the future. :)
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-24 13:25:00
CanadaQuestion about graduate school in Canada

that sounds plausible, but if you have no intention of staying in Canada why get Canadian PR? You can be on a student visa for the entire lenght of grad school.

Well, the only reason I'd get Canadian PR is because I thought that in order to file for DCF, I needed to be a permanent resident of Canada. If this is incorrect, and I can file for DCF while on a student permit in Canada, then that works out even better.

We'd like to DCF and only do the IR1/CR1 if we absolutely have to do so.
DeadPoolXMaleCanada2006-10-23 18:46:00