ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaBuffalo Wild Wings has....

totally just checked my local BWW... no dice :(  sad face!!  I havent been home in over 2 years :(


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-09-07 19:21:00
CanadaOrdering Canadian Food Products Online

 

Do you have a Dutch farmers market near you at all?  That is the only place I can find cheese curds around here!

 

hmmm I dont believe so but I am now on a quest to see if we do!


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-10 12:26:00
CanadaOrdering Canadian Food Products Online

I miss Old Dutch Ketchup chips.. ah caramel snack cakes ..

 

then a whole host of chocolate bars.. wunderbar, caramilk, coffee crisp.

 

hp sauce (dad sends me down a bottle at christmas each year!), st hubert sauce and bbq seasoning.  hmmm what else?  mom has me bring her back Byrds custard?  pop tastes funny here, so I stick with canada dry gingerale.  I wish I could find cheese curds to make my own poutine.  

 

as for canadian other products, I wish I could find penaten baby cream for when we have kiddos.  We always used it on my nieces.  the diaper cream here smells rank.


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-09 01:03:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
okies Ill tell hubby that :) we were just going to go down Monday.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-16 19:07:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
I totally checked it off! thats why I was so confused. I was like, and I should get my ssn in the mail right? and he goes no, you will need to go to the ssa to get that.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-16 16:53:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
yah the cbpo just told me to go apply in person for the ssn. Im anxious to get that... also I am thinking of going back to school..
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-16 12:25:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
cngrats to all who got their visas in hand in the past few days! My POE was super quick and painless! We drove down to Arkansas after crossing in Niagara Falls. Long drive, but SO worth it. the CBPO said I had to apply for my ssn in person at an SSA branch, so we will do that Monday on hubby's day off. Hopefully green card gets here as quick as Saylin's did :D
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-15 21:28:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
thanks for all the congrats. I guess the next step is POE next week. super excited! Decided to just make it Tuesday morning instead of Monday night late.

I hope Karen and Kribun get your emails an visas soon! So exciting for everyone!

Also I just got back from picking my visa up! They put the visa on page 16 of my passport which kind of confused me since I dont have anything else in it.. I was like.. why didn't they just put it on page 1? oh well :P
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-08 12:44:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
I got my dhl email!!!!
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-07 17:45:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal

according to a DOS representative, it depends on the person at the consulate handling your file...they go over the docs and stuff... i had my interview 2 weeks ago and as of friday my visa had not been printed yet (according to DOS)...



omg I hope the blonde lady is speedy then.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-04 00:03:00
CanadaWaiting for our passports from Montreal
out of curiosity, is there anyone we can contact to find out what the hold up is? (as in, if we ended up in AP?) I'm only a week since my interview on Monday and with Canada Day Friday and Independence day Monday, I figured I wouldn't hear much until this week, but I'm -really- hoping to hear early this week because hubby is supposed to be coming up next weekend to move me.. /sigh.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-07-03 18:50:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionQuestion about RoC paperwork an supporting documents

our licenses aren't the same :(  I just got mine a year and a half ago and we've moved.  his expired so when he got it renewed in feb it has our new address on it..mine still says old.


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-06-08 21:24:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionQuestion about RoC paperwork an supporting documents

Hey guys,  I havent been a great VJ member.. I actually really havent been around much since my move to the US almost 2 years ago...

 

Hubby and I are getting ready to file our RoC, and we had some questions about the supporting documents mostly.  we are in the process of printing off our bank statements and want to have them sorted/separated by month.  Is it ok to staple each month separately to group them?  I wasnt sure if staples are ok?  Also here is a list of what we are including, if anyone could tell me if we should include anything else in our packet.  Thanks!

 

copy of my green card

copy of lease
joint bank statements
state and federal tax returns
insurance policies showing beneficiaries
utility/loans in both our names
affidavits (at least 2)
completed uscis form
cheque
 
thanks again!

Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-06-08 16:06:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

received my card today! yaay! Its our anniversary! what an awesome gift!


Edited by Shawna and James, 17 October 2013 - 02:34 AM.

Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-17 02:33:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

yaaay my card is on its way.  got the tracking number email today.  It says delivery for 10/17 (the day after our anniversary!), but its one state away now.. so maybe we will even see it tomorrow!  a girl can hope :D

 

congrats to all who are approved and hopefully the rest of us will be getting those approvals soon!


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-14 16:55:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

You guys looks like were transferred to CSC but got Approval letter from Local Office! Which office address was in the NOA2 sent out after the transfer. Thanks for your response.

 

we got both ours from Vermont.  first saying our application had been received and then again when it said it was transferred to CSC.  


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-11 01:49:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

Okay, cestlaviecherie...I hope you get good news today! Our approval letter FINALLY came (mailed from St. Albans, VT...go figure!). Approval date is 10/4, posted 10/7. Interestingly enough, there's a sticky thing covering the name of the director and the letter is signed by an "Acting Director." I wonder if this has anything to do with the delay?

 

At any rate...updating the list for myself. Hopefully more will come by the end of the day! *fingers crossed!*

 

 

 

 

Mine also had a label with the acting center directors signature on it.  Hmm...


Edited by Shawna and James, 10 October 2013 - 12:25 PM.

Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-10 12:23:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

I forgot to mention ours was from the local office in Fort Smith, AR


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-08 16:47:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

We got our approval in the mail!  The decision date is 10/02/2013, and we received it today (10/07/2013).  Now just waiting on my green card :D  woo-hoo!


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-10-07 23:35:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

 

I figure we lost 2 months compared to folks to filed directly with CSC simply because our cases just sat at VSC and gathered dust until they were transferred.  

 

booooooo.  Im hoping not :(


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-09-17 17:46:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

hmm Im getting impatient lol.  No updates since the transfer to CSC.. Im wondering if the people who got transferred are at the bottom of the pile.. just anxious.  but Im thinking (hopefully) that if they were going to send us an RFE, they'd have sent it by now.. I hope :)  trying to keep positive and patient.


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-09-17 15:39:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

I should have mentioned when I said we were transferred, the letter was dated 08/19.  I know that doesn't make a huge difference, but thought Id mention  it.

 


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-09-04 20:30:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

whew!  thanks for easing my mind


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-08-23 18:33:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

We came home today to a notice from USCIS saying our RoC was transferred to CSC.  It says they have jurisdiction over the case.  Im so confused.  I even went to the uscis website to make sure we didnt accidentally send it to the wrong service center, and it still says Arkansas is handled by VSC.


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-08-23 18:26:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

sorry for being a space cadet.  I had my biometrics appointment on 07/31/2013.  My NOA1 was dated 06/25/2013.


Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-08-08 01:03:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General DiscussionI 751 June 2013 Filers

Hubby and I sent ours in June 21st, it was signed for June 24th.  Waiting on NOA and our Bio appt now! biggrin.png

 

also, it was sent to the Vermont Center


Edited by Shawna and James, 26 June 2013 - 12:38 PM.

Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2013-06-26 12:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresMedical Exam Question(s)
Hi there,

My husband and I are waiting on my PCC to come in so we can send in my petition to NVC and I have a couple questions regarding the Medical Exam. First off, how long is the exam good for? Ive heard 6 months, Ive heard a year. My question is because once our DS-230 IV is mailed in, barring a dreaded RFE.. we should be looking forward to a case complete and interview date.. Well Ive heard the Montreal Consulate is sloooooow and it could still take 5-7 months to get an interview, so I am worried that if I was to book a medical exam too early that it would not be valid come the interview date. Thus the 6 months or 12 months question. Also, my next question, Does my examn HAVE to be done in Canada? I know we have a Dr in Toronto and one in Montreal who are listed as approved, but my husband has one in the city he lives in that is approved as well. I am hoping to go down in May for his university graduation, and was thinking it might be ok to go to the approved Dr there. Theoretically, being in Arkansas, he might not have as full of a schedule. And it might be less expensive. Anyway, thanks for your help! Hopefully its smooth sailing..
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-01 00:42:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support Question...ish?
:D thank you both! I was unsure about whether it would effect us being pregnant or not. We aren't... but we also didn't want to take the chance that it would. I am sending in my IV package this week so barring an RFE we should be getting close to an interview date assignment.. I cant see it taking 9 months to assign one! so at least that is a relief IF something did happen. thank you again!
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-17 11:48:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAffidavit of Support Question...ish?
This isn't an issue right now, and to be honest I don't see it being on in the future, but just for curiosity's sake I thought I would ask. When my Husband and Father-in-law filled out their AOS forms (we needed a co-sponsor as my Husband is in his last year of University and cannot work enough hours to meet the income requirement), my Husband put us as a family of two, and my Father-in-law put himself as a family of four including myself. My question is this: If we got pregnant, how would that effect things? The forms are already submitted, so would we have to amend them some how? He and I aren't planning to start our family until after immigration is done because we want to be together during pregnancy as well as that will give him the opportunity to find a job in his field of study that offers medical insurance. That said, we all know accidents happen. So I am just curious what effect that would have on a form previously submitted which, at the time, was accurate information? The co sponsor wouldn't be an issue, even with a 5th family member, just not sure how we would go about updating that news as we wouldn't want it to seem like we were hiding it?

thanks a bunch!
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-17 11:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhat name to use for I-130 package??
Hey there, thought I would add my two cents. If I recall correctly, for the I-130 package, other than your bio page and the passport style photos, you do not need to include any ID copies as the beneficiary. I also had the same issue when we filed for our I-130, and although none of my ID was in my husband's last name, I still took his name on the petition as well as the biographic page. I have since changed all of my ID over, so for the IV package to the NVC my passport scan will show my new married name. Since it will take a few months for your petition to be forwarded to the NVC you will have lots of time to switch all your ID over before it is needed for paperwork :D
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-17 11:41:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Checklist

Dear Shawna and james,
I am curious about why your first I-130 packet was denied? Your timeline says incorrect or missing info?
I am just about to send my I-130 packet off and Im obsessing over every detail as I too want to, need to get this right the first time!

Best of luck to you!!



we arent 100% what stopped us the first two times. the time it was actually accepted we changed two things. We had put N/A for last residence we had resided at together, because we never lived together. We were advised rather than putting n/a to explain we hadnt lived together. Also, for my address, it said City/State/Country. Well in Canada, we dont have states, so I just put my city and country. We were advised by someone here to put in my province. so those two things we changed and it was finally accepted. All it kept saying was section C: address.. and there are a few address places in section c, so we werent sure.

Make sure you send copies off your original civil documents like marriage, birth, and police certificate with your DS230 package. You will get your originals back after the interview but they'll keep the copies.

Make sure you put your NVC case number on all pages, on upper right-hand corner. On originals you can use removable stickers.



thank you for this. I probably wouldnt have thought to put the case # on everything.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-21 20:36:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Checklist

I took a photocopy of my police certificate to the interview just in case (original was sent to NVC) and was fine. You shouldn't need another original one for the interview unless the one you submitted to NVC is over a year old by the time of your interview.

As fas as the photographs go, two are fine for the DS-230; I wrote my name, NVC case number and DOB lightly on the back. BTW you will need three for your medical.

Good luck!



thanks! Yeah I realized after I posted that that it was actually 3 for the medical. bah! Wal Mart is making a killing off of me in photos lol.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-20 21:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Checklist

It's good that you discovered the bill now and not later than that :D


The only reason I did is because I logged into his email to email the NVC to see if they could re-send his AOS receipt. He accidentally deleted it >.< and so I clicked on the mail we received then and was reading the attachment and it said "enclosed is an invoice" I assumed maybe it was for the $88 bill we had paid.. and low and behold it was the IV bill. I called him and told him immediately lol. All I can say is, thank goodness USCIS took less than we anticipated to process.. so we were ahead of what we initially thought our time line would be by 2 months.. so.. we are still ahead by one.. ha ha. Oh well.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-20 13:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Checklist

:D Ok good cause sometimes people forget to sign it
That is just to make sure you got copies for yourself but the consulate is not gonna ask you for documents that you have already sent to NVC
are you guys doing the process electronically or regular ?


regular.. my hubby isn't very electronically inclined and I don't have access to a scanner here for some of the documents :/

I don't trust him with electronic correspondence anymore.. I just discovered today that he didn't read the entire attachment he got on the 23rd of feb.. so we have been waiting for a month to get the $404.00 bill... and we received it almost a month ago by email and he just didn't read all 3 pdf pages!! I was like /facepalm. Ah well. Can't do anything about it now except pay and keep moving forward lol.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-20 13:22:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Checklist

Sign DS-230 Part 1
The originals will be forwarded to the consulate after NVC completes the case then you will get them back after the interview


thank you for your response :)

I have it signed :D

Im not too worried about getting originals back.. I can order more online.. its just whether I need to bring originals with me to the interview. If so I will need to order more/get another check done. I read that we should being copies of all our packets with us in case they say that they never received something, we can show it was with the packet. Im just over cautious :/
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-20 13:10:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresDS-230 Checklist
Hey guys,

I'm sending my DS-230 package to my hubby on Tuesday so he can have it ready to send in. I want to make sure I have everything I need included, but I am just wanting to be cautious so as not to delay our processing any longer. (we realized today we have been waiting for a month for nothing. yay.)

So I have:
- Tthe completed DS-230 (parts I and II)

- Police Certificate Check, with Seal. (Im assuming this must be the original, I only got one copy so will a copy of the original be ok to bring to the interview since I am sending the original in?)

- Two passport-style photos (we had 4 done, but I think two are for the packet and 2 are for the medical? and do I need to endorse any of these photos?)

- Birth Certificate long form - Issued by Govt (again, sending in original.. will copy be ok at interview or should I order another original before the interview?)

- Marriage Certificate long form - Issued by Govt (same question)

- Passport Bio Page, color copy (Does this need to be notarized or endorsed with a signature by me?)

I think that is all. I hope. I have no previous marriages, no military service, and no adoption.. does that look good to everyone? I just want to make sure we get it right the 1st time. Also, at this stage do we need to include any more evidence of a bonafide marriage (photos, call logs, cards, etc) or should I just be prepared to bring that to the interview. We never included anything other than the 3 letters from people with the I-130... so Im not sure when the photos and what not are needed that everyone talks about..

thanks a bunch!
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-20 12:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIm sure its been asked before...

We actually sent the 230 from my wife's hometown in the Philippines via DHL. Tracking was the same as if I had sent it. Make sure you put the NVC case number at the top of each page!

Bob



I put it on all my documents, but not on the actual DS-230. Should I have my Hubby write it on the actual DS-230 as well?
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-22 21:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIm sure its been asked before...

why arent you doing electronic processing?


Im not really sure how, and I think we are too far into it... Also I dont have access to a scanner to scan all my documents. I dont mind mailing it in to be honest.

Ill tell hubby not to staple anything. thanks!
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-22 16:52:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresIm sure its been asked before...
putting my DS-230 in the mail today to send off to my Husband (he has my photos and I read somewhere its better if it is sent to NVC from the US as you can track it easier).

My question is whether I should staple everything together, or just put it in order per the list on my cover letter?

thanks a bunch!
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-03-22 12:47:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresLetter from Employer?

I didn't realize there was a requiremnet on who writes the letter..Why do you need 2 letters?? I think they are looking for current employmment just to verify you are working...

HR department will write my letter, but I don't see why a supervisor can't write it..Just make sure you have a company letterhead....if this is at all possible..



I assumed we needed two because I have my husband as a sponsor (so he needs one from his work), and my father in law as a co-sponsor (which would also mean he needs one0...

my father in law is going to try and request again when his company he works for opens on Tuesday. I'm just worried about what to do if they say no again.
Shawna and JamesFemaleCanada2011-04-01 22:51:00