Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Canada	Flu Shot	Anyone have issues sending off their Medical info without the flu shot being completed when filling AOS? My medical states that it is incomplete due to inappropriate age... Medical was done in Montreal by Medisys in August.. Nothing here, but our interview isn't until the end of January. Got an RFE for something else, but not that!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-12-28 13:57:00
Canada	POE all done!	Entered the United States on December 28th via the 1000 islands bridge. Both of the officers we encountered were very nice and everyone knew what they were doing. We weren't in the office for more than 25 minutes. I was not importing a vehicle so I'm sure that cut down the processing time but otherwise it went very quickly. The officer was friendly and informed on the entire process. We drove up to the booth and stated I was coming in on a K1 visa and the officer at the booth took our passports and my sealed envelope and took them inside for us. We went inside and sat down and a couple minutes later were called up and the officers asked me where I was moving to. That was about the only serious questions we were asked. The officer then carried on a casual conversation with us and told us everything was good to go he just had to type everything up. We took a seat and about 5 minutes later he called us up again and he stapled the I94 into my passport told us the deadline we had to be married by and was ready to send us on our way. But before he did he gave us some advice which was super helpful. He talked to us about work authorization and parole. He told us where we would be filing with CIS (which is nice for us because the office is in the city we live in ). Before we left he asked us if we had any other questions and we didn't so we thanked him and left. Overall a great experience and I would recommend this Port of Entry to anyone YAY FOR GETTING MARRIED SOON Congratulations on such a smooth POE!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-01 03:08:00
Canada	pack3 ? list times entered US..border town no idea...	Im going to attempt pack 3 paperwork today one question has made me panic tho..List all the times youve entered the USA...We live ina border town and i cant even begin to guess or list how many day trips ive taken for groceries shopping..My ex-fiance from high school played semi-pro fball there for 2 summers and we crossed 3 nights a week for practice plus games... I know since when Josh and I got engaged since he has an unbelievable memory...But prior to I have no clue...What do I write? Do tehy keep track fo everytime you cross? Thanks... I've crossed a lot, though not that frequently... what I did was list the last five times I was there for at least 24 hours and appended that there were several other day trips as well.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-10 07:17:00
Canada	Appointment Letter	I got a packet 4 letter stating i could schedule my interview...is that what they want? and when i scheduled my interview i received an email from the consulate that says Appointment Confirmation and has the details of my interview I brought both! They wanted the "you can schedule" letter at the medical, and I just showed the printout of the email at the interview. Easy peasy	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-12 21:34:00
Canada	Social Security Card - ID Requirements?	Thanks so much for the prompt replies! Here's another complication - she was born in Tanzania, so I guess we can show her Tanzanian birth certificate for proof as well. She doesn't have an ON drivers license, but she does have a health card - any ideas if that would work (it is a "state" issued ID, after all). Thanks! All I showed was my passport & birth certificate, as I didn't have a DL either. I had the health card with me (though technically it's not valid photo ID but that's probably not widely known in the US) but they never asked for more ID.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-16 23:16:00
Canada	Canada Post deliver to US Consulate question	I mailed packet 3 to the consulate in Montreal on January 13th. On January 20th, they responded with a letter telling me that I needed to provide a couple of things that were missing. On January 25th, my immigration lawyer emailed me to say they had received the letter and that I needed to address the issues in the letter before the case would continue to be processed. The lawyers had used an in-house DS-156 form rather than the online one, and forwarded it to me to sign and send to the consulate. This form didn't have the barcode on it, so the consulate was requesting I re-do the form and get a bar code. My lawyer also neglected to tell me I need to provide a photocopy of the biographic page of my passport and the consulate was requesting this as well. (I know, I will never hire a lawyer again to do something I can do better myself!) On the 26th, I sent the information to the consulate via Canada Post Priority Next A.M. service since DHL doesn't have an outlet in my area. Canada Post guarantees next day delivery. According to their tracking system they attempted delivery at approximately 10 am on the 27th but apparently there wasn't anyone there to accept the envelope so they left a delivery card with information on where the envelope can be picked up. My first question is, WHY there wouldn't be someone at the consulate on a Friday morning to take delivery of my envelope! Does this make sense? My other question is, does anyone know how the consulate will treat a delivery card notice? Do they go pick up mail at the post office or will it sit there for a while? I'm at the point where I am more than ready to book my appointment and there appears to be a reasonably short wait time for available dates at the moment. I don't want to miss out on a March appointment. I would try calling the consulate, but my understanding is that Montreal doesn't answer the phone and they are very slow to respond to emails. I am considering sending a second envelope via courier (at least a courier will make more than one attempt to deliver) so that it will be delivered to the embassy on Tuesday morning, in case the one that is at the post office right now ends up just sitting there for days. Is this a good idea? Has this happened to anyone else? I'm just anxious to book my appointment! There are lots of reasons a delivery notice would have been left, but it's really up to your judgment on whether or not you resend it. Personally, I would wait until at least end of business day Monday (Even before the 5pm xpresspost cutoff on Tuesday, actually) to see if there's any change in the tracking number before taking that step. Keep in mind that it being received at Montreal is not necessarily any indicator of how soon you'll be able to book anything, either, as they can be notoriously slow with processing things they get in the mail. Good luck!!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-29 09:19:00
Canada	Question regarding interviews...	I just received my NOA2 today!!! Anyway, I was wondering if anyone knows what month people going to book interviews are getting. I am trying to be able to go to a weddign in the US in June and hoping to have my interview after that. I know it may not work out and I would take an interview over waiting, but it is my future brother in law's wedding and I know that after I have my interview I can't go until I plan on moving which I am not planning on doing until September. Are interviews usually 1,2,3 months out after packet 4? Anyone know? Thanks! Grats on the NOA2!! As a K1 you'll pick the date yourself if you're going through Montreal, so you're actually in a good position with wanting it to be *after* a certain date, not before. If when it's time for you to book the dates are too soon, you will be able to wait and book for a later time.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-31 03:48:00
Canada	Incredibly surprised with Montreal	Congratulations!! Glad to hear they processed you speedily	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-31 12:38:00
Canada	NOA 2	Congratulations!!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-02-08 18:45:00
Canada	understanding loomis	Undeliverable is ready for pickup as far as I know, yeah. Is the Dorval location the one you wanted?	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-11-10 12:38:00
Canada	Best US cell phone to text Canada	I worked for a Canadian provider for years until I moved, so I can tell you that despite having the same country code it's entirely up to the provider if they differentiate between US and Canada for texting costs, no matter where you are. My Fiance was also with T-Mobile who changed it. Same goes in Canada where for example Rogers charges separately for texts to the US and some other providers include the US in their Texting bundle. Best bet is to call and ask specifically, and don't let things like roaming get involved, or you're liable to get misinformation as that means different things to different people in the industry and its a huge pain in the ####.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-09-24 13:21:00
Canada	The Way We Were	Speaking as a newer member, I'd love to get to know the Canadian forum posters more... What sorts of threads used to be around? We could resurrect things and try to foster the community aspect you seem to be missing? I know I'd look forward to it!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-08-18 21:44:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Thank you! And thanks everyone for listening to me whine throughout the process. USCIS has updated my case three times since the approval, though. First it was card production, then it got changed to decision, then it got changed BACK to card production and I received an email for all of them. Figures you hear nothing from them for months and then when you're done, they don't leave you alone. Yup, happened for me too! I was so confused LOL. How is everyone doing? I've been working a lot, still haven't found a chance to visit home. I miss lots of weird things and sort of fall into the trap where it's very similar here to at home that I get used to it and then something jarring happens to remind me just how different it can be, its strange.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-06-07 15:01:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Got my green card approval today Card is in production! Congratulations!!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-06-05 13:17:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Congrats to everyone who's had progress or started working! I start work in a week (Got hired at the end of February, this wait has sucked...) Just got my T4 from my old roommate and I'm trying to figure out how to file my taxes... it's.... confused :/	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-03-18 18:25:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Happy leap Day! And congrats to everyone who's seen approval I got a job doing call center stuff for a bank, but it doesn't start for another 4 weeks which is kind of lame, financially... but whatever How's everyone else doing?	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-02-29 16:25:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Just how accurate is the USCIS site? I check it daily to see the status of my green card, which is how I found out about my EAD being ordered for production. However, yesterday I noticed that the date on it changed. Originally, it said card production was ordered on Feb 9. Yesterday it said it was ordered on the 13th, and now today it said the 14th. Why does this date keep changing? Also, it says my AP has been approved but my card has not been ordered for production yet. I thought they were the same card? I am getting quite confused. The date on mine changed a few times, but when I got the card it had the first date on there. and Only one of the two ever said card production for me, I'm assuming since there's only one physical card that you get. I hope yours shows up soon!!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-02-14 19:21:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Call centre work... meh. I'll do it again, obviously, but the environment surrounding shifts/days off is what killed me. And the one I'm going for the test for tomorrow has a "No time off in first 6 months" policy... which, its not like I expect paid vacation right away but my sister in law is getting married in June and I sort of need to be there... And ideally I want to be away from that kind of work but realistically I know it's what I'm liable to end up doing again. I don't know that I'll be able to find anything anyway since my former employer has a "no references" policy and doesn't even provide a number for employment verification so if I get to that stage I don't really have references for my time there. I have a couple of former coworkers who agreed to be my references but they weren't my direct supervisors or anything... and if my direct supervisor COULD give me a reference it'd be a damn good one since I basically did his job for him and he was very open about it. (They asked a lot of his role, it was no failing on his part). I just wonder how I worked for one of the most major companies in Canada and they have a policy against references? At least in the call centre. There wasn't even a phone number for the call centre so when I come to job applications that require me to list a former employer's phone number I have to put the 1 800 Rogers number, which... lol. Pocheros; that sucks about your husband's unemployment getting screwed up so much I hope his luck turns around with the job search soon!!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-02-09 03:21:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Got my card today, I am so beyond relieved... going to SSN office tomorrow to update everything, which I'm sure they'll manage to screw up... lol I also have a job testing thing tomorrow, just basic call centre skills for a job I really don't want. The hours are horrible, the start date isn't until April and the pay is less than half of what I made at home for the same sort of position (which made me miserable, ugh). Unfortunately, of the 40-odd applications I've submitted this is the only call I've gotten so hopefully it goes well... and if I get it, I still have until April to find something better, I guess. How's everyone else faring with job hunting? For those that have their EAD, at least. Edited by ralyse, 08 February 2012 - 06:37 PM.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-02-08 18:29:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Card Production Ordered!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-02-03 18:43:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Site now says "Decision" for our interview, and lists the following: During this step the formal decision (approved/denied) is written and the decision notice is mailed and/or emailed to the applicant/petitioner. You can use our current processing time to gauge when you can expect to receive a final decision. So... hopefully it's approval? No Post-Decision Activity or Card Production, just Decision.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-02-02 15:39:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	I'm sorry, ralyse Seems nothing goes smoothly for you lately. But like you said, I'm sure everything is fine and you'll get your approval in no time. It's just these little things like the 5 hours of panic over my medical because my doctor was being a jackass or the guy at biometrics freaking me out over my married name... like, I know I'm really fortunate that we haven't dealt with lost cases or cheques or lots of RFEs or any of the dozen other complications that can arise... I just would really have liked to have walked away today with one stress off my shoulders, yknow? Bleh. Glad you'll be able to reschedule your biometrics no problem, though! Hopefully they get you another appointment relatively soon!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-30 14:20:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	I just... this whole process. I just can't even. Felt like interview went really well, she didn't have a lot of questions, just the expected stuff and all that... only she ends by saying she hadn't looked over our file beforehand so she couldn't make a decision at this time. And that we'd hear from them within 30 days. Which, I know it's probably fine but I'm really tired from not sleeping well last night and stressing over this and the 3 hour drive each way and she can't tell us anything because she didn't have the time to look at anything beforehand? This whole process is emotionally draining.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-30 14:12:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Yeah, mine has the reschedule part too on the notice. I'm just worried that it's too late. If I sent them a request for rescheduling in the mail tomorrow, I don't think it would get to Milwaukee on time and I'm really worried that they'd think I abandoned my appointment. Ugh. My notice for the actual AOS interview says the following: If an emergency, such as your own illness or a close relative's hospitalization, prevents you from appearing, call the USCIS National Customer Service Center as soon as possible. So calling them first thing tomorrow is likely your best bet, just to make sure they know you're sending it to Milwaukee to be rescheduled? I hope it works out	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-29 11:09:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Oh no!! My biometrics letter says to reschedule I send the letter to the office where the appointment was with no indicator of how much notice needs to be given, so I'd imagine they would reschedule you if you did so, but no saying how quickly.... Definitely call USCIS first thing Monday and hopefully they can offer guidance	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-29 09:03:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Have to drive to Detroit (3hrs) for the interview tomorrow, so naturally it's snowing insanely out there. Been a relatively snow-less winter until now, too. Glad to hear about the transfers for you guys! Hopefully no interviews	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-29 08:44:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	lol and today I get another letter saying I'll get my SSN in a few weeks. I don't even know. (Never did go back there, btw)	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-21 15:55:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	I just received a text stating my AOS has been 'transferred to another office for processing' ... I know that being transferred to CSC is a good thing usually, but how do I know where it's been sent? You won't know until you get the hardcopy, as far as I'm aware. But yay if it's CSC!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-20 22:50:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	ralyse that SUCKS! I really wish people would get their acts together. I got a second biometrics letter today in the mail. Has this happened to anyone? The first one said it is for AOS, the second says EAD. Am I going to get an AP one as well? I thought we only had to go to the one appointment? The first one is for Jan 30 and the second is in Feb. We didn't go back today, so maybe tomorrow lol... and that's weird, we only had one appointment for all three. Maybe take all the notices to the first one and ask about the others?	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-18 19:31:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Honestly you seem to have the worst luck and always get the most incompetent people! First your medical, now this. Makes you wonder if the SSA people are smoking something... I hope you can get it straightened out tomorrow Sometimes I feel that way. I mean, at least it seems to only be the little things that are getting messed up because our interview in Montreal was nice and smooth, but... I don't even know. I just don't get how they can say I didn't prove alien status when I gave them my EAD and just... I'm not leaving the office tomorrow until they give me proof a card has been issued and if I hear the words "We'll call you tomorrow" I may lose my mind. I did this at home, I was a second level call centre manager for Rogers, of all companies. So when people got really mad and asked for a manager? Then didn't like what the manager had to say? *Then* they talked to me... so I know all about angry customers and incompetent agents and I try to always be very polite and give the benefit of the doubt when dealing with any customer service professional, but the consistent misinformation and failure to do what I know can be done is threatening to turn me into one of the awful customers I used to deal with on a daily basis, and I really don't want that. Ugh.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-17 18:37:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Oh jeez..... so, to continue my SSN saga, got a letter today stating I "have not given us the document(s) we need to show US citizenship or lawful alien status. Your legal immigration status and/or document(s) will expire before an SSN card can be issued to you." So my EAD that's good until January 2013 will expire before they can send me a new card with my married name? PS: They took my old one in my maiden name from me at the office so I don't even have it anymore. Guess we're going back again tomorrow. I sort of want to just wait until I can go in with my green card after the interview but at this point they've kind of been pretty ridiculous so I sort of want this straightened out right away.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-17 18:10:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	OMG I feel like I should write a book about my various dealings with the Social Security Office at this point, lol. So, I went in today with my combo card to finally get my name changed on my SSN (Because last time I went they swore they couldn't do it until I had the card. Then when I said they could they photocopied all my stuff and promised to call me back. And never did). Lady was very nice, took my EAD and passport, verified all my info etc... First snafu: Apparently I was in the system as "Lauraanne" (My name is Laura, my middle name is Anne...) so she had to go through correcting that. Next: I had no citizenship listed. So she was all confused how I ever got issued a SSN in the first place. Then: She finally gets all that straightened out and it tells he she can't issue me a new SSN in my married name from the EAD until the EAD has been issued for "More than ten days". This isn't listed on any of the paperwork that came with the EAD, keep in mind. Card says it was issued the 2nd, so she tells me it should be fine to run tomorrow and.... Guess where this is going... She'll call me tomorrow! Sigh. She *did* give me a printout with my name and info that said my SSN is currently pending but I'm allowed to look for work if my immigration status allows, so whatever, I'm just going to start looking for a job. I'm going to be sort of lazy about it until after the AOS interview, just because if I *did* get a job interview and had to say "PS I can't be there on the 30th I have an immigration interview" they probably wouldn't want me... at least I know at my old position in Canada that would've gotten me turned down and unable to apply at that company again for a year. But, if I see any job postings that sound really awesome I'm just going to suck it up and apply for them. Hopefully going to use the AP after the interview to go back to KW for a day or so, since we're already driving across the state to Detroit I'd be really sad to be that close to the border and not able to cross.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-12 11:13:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	mine did that too there website is stupid, i think it still says that and i have the card lol Got my card today, woo. And it's in my married name, so all that nonsense at my biometrics appointment was apparently just that, nonsense.... lol. Would've been a better picture had they not made me cry, then.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-11 16:13:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	And now my EAD is back to saying "Post decision activity" instead of card production ordered..... okay. :\	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-09 21:36:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Thanks! However, I got my letter yesterday lol! So that answered my question before I got a chance to do that! My biometrics appointment is in Baltimore on January 30th at 12:00. What all does this biometrics entail? Fingerprints, and what? Fingerprints and pictures, super easy and quick. That's the day of our AOS Interview, hopefully it's a lucky one for us both!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-07 11:26:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Well, EAD is marked as Card Production ordered as of today, woo! AP is "Post Decision Activity"... really hoping to have that in hand by the interview, it would suck to be that close to Canada and not able to hop over the border to visit.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2012-01-02 20:56:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Oh good. I thought so! They also cashed our cheque this morning! *relieved* It is just tough at this time of year to have that kind of money in your account and not being able to use it (seems deceiving when you are paying bills!) We were checking the account every 3 hours or so lol! Raylse, I am sure you will do fine at your interview! That seemed pretty quick! I am so worried about an interview. I know it isn't a huge deal and is pretty simple, I just get nervous. We are still working on getting my name on some bills and stuff. I have a hospital bill addressed to me at our old address, with the payment coming from my husbands account, so I am going to add that to my pile of evidence. And photos of course. I know that feeling! Glad they finally cashed it for you And, intellectually I know we'll be fine... I just worry about things compulsively so this is no different. It's the financials that worry me the most, under scrutiny. My husband has literally zero income listed due to being a full time student and his mom was our sponsor, but we don't live with her and I'm worried questions like "How do you pay rent when neither of you have income?" are going to come up. And since my husband does landscaping and odd jobs for his father under the table, we can't really explain that without admitting he's getting paid... I'm not sure if that's even a problem since it's his parent, but the whole thing makes me nervous and I'm glad it's only at the end of January and not a few months wait like the Montreal interview. Plus, there's so much less information about AOS interviews... I've read reviews and such but VJ has the Montreal interview down to a science and I was so confident about what to expect, whereas I have a vague idea with the AOS one, not this clear template... It does feel good to know that barring any issues I should be able to look for work in February, I like that better than waiting indefinitely. Did I mention I'm a compulsive worrier and overthinker? I apologize to everyone in this thread who's had to read my constant freakouts through this process, lol. That being said, this is the first Christmas we're spending together so I'm really excited. My birthday was last week and in previous years my husband came up to KW for my birthday and went home to his family for Christmas. It's nice this year that I'll be able to spend it with him	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-12-23 15:20:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Just got my emails and texts stating that my case has been accepted at USCIS! They are being routed the the National Benefits Centre for processing (this is normal right?) Cheque still not cashed but I am assuming that may take a few days to clear (for holiday reasons). I feel better knowing that things are starting to move! National Benefits Center is perfectly normal, yup!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-12-22 19:39:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	Never got called back about the SSN, so... who knows. Just checked case status online, though: On December 21, 2011, we mailed you an appointment notice for an interview for January 30, 2012, at NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER. Please follow the instructions on the notice. If you move while this case is pending, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283. So it looks like we'll be getting an interview for AOS.	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-12-21 21:54:00
Canada	Montreal August 2011 Interviews!	AOS is finally going in the mail today. Back to worrying about whether I did everything properly or not... Woo, congrats!	ralyse	Female	Canada	2011-12-15 11:19:00