ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaSelf-Employed?

Oh one more question: Can you get a US bank account before receiving a SSN?


I'm still in Canada, but when I was in the US for 2 months this fall, I was able to get a chequing...I mean checking account and a Visa account with NationalCity. There were some extra security steps because I'm not a US resident. I just remember showing them my passport and signing an extra paper.

However, because I don't have a SSN, I can't use online banking or use the automated phone banking system. But I've been able to get account balances and pay my Visa while back in Canada by talking to a real person. :) And when I'm in the US, I can do banking transactions in the branch in person and use ATMs.

Edited by vanee, 05 January 2007 - 06:35 PM.

vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-05 18:34:00
CanadaInterview in Vancouver!!!!!!

I finally got my interview date in Vancouver for March 2/2007.....I am so happy!!!!!!!

Congratulations! :dance:

Were you given a choice of interview dates? Was that the earliest one available?
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-24 17:32:00
CanadaVisa in hand! - Vancouver Review
Congratulations! And thanks for the detailed review. I'll be going through there myself later this year, so I'm interested in all the details. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-23 19:45:00
CanadaPacket 3 from Vancouver
Thanks very much, CanuckmeetsYank and ajmc. This is exactly what I needed. I'm sure that it'll be useful to other VJers too. :)

For those who are interested, I found an example of Optional Form 167 (mentioned on the second page of the checklist).
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-02-06 16:48:00
CanadaPacket 3 from Vancouver
Now that we've got our I-129F sent off, I'd like to work on the Packet 3 documentation so that we can get it on its way as soon as I receive Packet 3. From what I've read here, the contents of Packet 3 vary a bit depending on the embassy. The list for Vancouver is here (thanks whoever compiled that).

Just about everything is on that page except for the checklist itself. Is that list online anywhere? I searched but couldn't find it.

Also, if we know what the Packet 3 contents are, is it possible to send the Packet 3 package to the Vancouver embassy after we receive NOA2 but before Vancouver sends us Packet 3?

Thanks for your help. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-02-05 00:44:00
CanadaBeen a while
Welcome back. :) I haven't been here for long, but it's good to hear from people who made it through this journey.

Sorry you didn't get your honeymoon, but you can always have one later. :yes:

What's life like on the other side of this process?
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-02-05 00:15:00
CanadaBest/Most in Canada and USA...
I can't speak for the whole of Canada compared to the whole of the US, but here are my general observations.

Best about Canada:

- We have so much natural beauty.
- Our cultural identity is, well, us.
- More produce and other natural ingredients are available.
- We have health care for everyone.
- Personal/cultural differences are accepted more and often embraced.
- We're informed about what's happening in the rest of the world.

Worst about Canada:

- It's expensive to live here.

Best about the US:

- Prices are lower.
- There's more to see within the country.
- People are friendly and helpful, both on a small scale and a big scale.
- My SO lives in the US. :)

Worst about the US:

- It feels like there's less individuality both in people and in stores. Almost everything is WalMart, Taco Bell, or other chain stores or restaurants. Of course people are still individuals, but the individuality isn't as apparent to me as it is in Canada.
- "Go Green" isn't a way of life. I'm probably seen as weird because I think like a Canadian (well, a lot of Canadians) and try to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Food isn't expected to be natural. Even in health food stores, I'm shocked at how small the produce section is. Vegetables are often packaged in plastic, not allowing shoppers to choose what they want, and packaged food has unnecessary and unhealthy ingredients. Even canned tuna can't simply be tuna and water -- they add broth to it, which ruins the taste for me.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-27 14:47:00
CanadaFun stuff to do in Vancouver?

You can walk to Stanley Park, as well as the Aquarium I think (if that is still open, were they going to close it?)

The Aquarium is open, and from the size of it and number of fish and other critters it has, it's going to be there for a long time.

Stanley Park was closed for a while after the December windstorms that knocked over a lot of trees in the park. The seawall (which goes all around the park) is still only partly open because of the damage done to it. It's going to cost millions to repair all the damage, and it'll take some time. The park isn't what it used to be, but it's still beautiful, and it'll be better again.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-02-18 12:52:00
CanadaFun stuff to do in Vancouver?
Everyone who goes to Vancouver goes to Stanley Park. You can walk to the start of Stanley Park in maybe 10-15 minutes from the financial district. Enjoy a walk around Lost Lagoon (ideally not by yourself), along part of the seawall, or into the main part of the park. You could easily spend a few hours at the aquarium in the park.

Canada Place is nearby, but I don't know if there's a lot to see there unless there's an event happening at the time.

Gastown and Chinatown are neighbourhoods within walking distance. Gastown is where Vancouver started, with cobblestone streets and lots of tourist shops. Chinatown is one of the largest Chinatowns in North America.

You can take a bus from the downtown core to Granville Island. It's a pleasant place to walk around and do a bit of shopping. Speaking of shopping, you might want to check out Pacific Centre. It's a large shopping mall downtown.

Also a short bus ride away from downtown are the Planetarium and the Maritime Museum (they're together). Once you're there, you can walk along the beach if you want.

For longer excursions, I suggest taking the SeaBus across to North Vancouver and then taking a bus to Lynn Canyon (free), Capilano Canyon (a more touristy version), and/or Grouse Mountain.

See Vancouver Sightseeing for more information and ideas. For restaurants, see Vegan in Vancouver and vegguide.org.

Not to put a damper on your trip, but be prepared for rain. The rainy season is from January to December. Actually, it rains a lot less from May to sometime in October, but it's a good idea to bring an umbrella and boots.

Have a great trip!

Edited by vanee, 18 February 2007 - 12:40 AM.

vaneeFemaleCanada2007-02-18 00:39:00
CanadaSomeone help me please
See the Montreal embassy page. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-02-24 18:51:00
CanadaFlying with a bike
I've travelled with a bike quite a few times. Packing options:

- Pack it in a bicycle travelling case (the safest way, but the cases are expensive).

- Pack it in a cardboard bike box from a bike shop. Tell your bike shop what type and size of bike you have and ask if they have a box the right size that you could have. Chances are that they do. You'll have to remove the front wheel, the handlebars, and maybe some other parts to pack the bike in the box. Do a search for "how to pack a bicycle" for instructions.

- Pack it in a box that the airline provides. You may have to pay for the box, but it'll be easier than a bike box to fit your bike in (you won't have to remove the handlebars, just turn them) , and you'll be able to wheel your bike into the airport = easier than carrying it in a box.

- Pack it in a large plastic bag. Most airlines have these available. While this method provides the least amount of protection, the theory is that because the handlers see exactly what the item is, they handle it with the appropriate care. I've flown with my bike in a plastic bag several times, and the only damage it's gotten is a scratch or 2.

If you pack your bike at the airport, be sure to have the necessary tools with you to loosen/remove parts, and then pack your tools in your non-carry-on baggage (maybe with the bike itself).
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-08 15:49:00
CanadaCanadian cheques

Misa,

It does not matter whether your clients paid you in US or Canadian currency. What matters is, when you bill your client and where you are working. If you were working in Canada, then that is part of your Canadian income. If you're working in the US for your Canadian clients, then you have earned US income (even though your client is in Canada)

So to answer your question, when you reside in the US, you can still continue to bill your Canadian clients. Those fees that you bill your clients (in Canada or the US) will be considered to be US income. You dont have to worry about where they deposit the money (US or Cdn bank account). When you file your taxes, you will report what you have earned in the US into your 2007 US tax return. I'm also assuming that you will be filing your 'final' return in Canada for the 2006 taxation year.

That makes more sense to me than having to pay income tax in both Canada and the US for the same income.

I'm still in Canada, self-employed, and I have clients in various countries. Most of my income is in USD. RBC in Canada is affiliated with RBC Centura, so I have these accounts:

- RBC savings and chequing: CAD
- RBC checking: USD
- RBC Centura checking: USD

My USD income goes into the Centura account if it comes via PayPal and to the RBC USD checking account if I receive it by cheque. I transfer it online to my CAD account when the exchange rate is good. My bank doesn't have a problem depositing USD checks for me in person, maybe in part because they're used to me doing that.

Since I have income coming to me through both countries and I pay taxes only in Canada at this point, I expect that the reverse will be true once I'm in the US permanently. I'm planning to deposit my CAD income into my RBC CAD account (by mailing the cheques to RBC) and then either leaving it there for CAD expenses or transferring it online to my Centura account.

If anyone else is looking for a way to manage CAD and USD, I recommend RBC/RBC Centura.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-08 16:25:00
CanadaPolice certificate from another country
Thanks for all the responses. :) When I called the US embassy in Vancouver, I was told that I needed to email the right department, so I did. The response:

Yes, Canadian police certificate you can obtain and bring it yourself but Israeli police certificate has to come directly to us and it includes English translation.

You will be required to provide them your case number, so please wait for your petition to be approved and sent to us and once we send you the instruction package then you go ahead and apply for police clearance.

There are few countries from which you can obtain police clearances directly and few countries need to send clearances directly to us and Israel is one of them. If you receive police clearance from Israel directly, we will not be able to accept it.

That's going to add more time to this process, but at least I know what to do now.

Former residents residing outside of Israel should apply in person at an Israeli consular or diplomatic mission.

According to the Israeli embassy in Toronto, I can send them a notarized copy of my passport, so I don't need to go in person.

Edited by vanee, 09 March 2007 - 10:25 PM.

vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-09 22:25:00
CanadaPolice certificate from another country

Don't know about your Israeli certificate but your Canadian police certificate will be issued to you and you bring that with you to the interview.

I haven't heard of anyone having their police clearance sent directly to a consulate (too much of a chance it would get lost I would think!). I would just put your address for part A and maybe call or email the Israeli consulate to confirm.

Thanks. :)

I can't get anything more from the Israeli consulate. I emailed them a couple of weeks ago and never heard back. They take phone calls only until 1 PM Eastern time, and the line was busy for about 5 minutes before I got through. The person I talked to didn't have time to answer all my questions because she had to take another call.

The US embassy in Vancouver did confirm that police clearance had to be sent directly to the embassy: "Police clearance must be sent directly to the Consulate or Embassy, where you will be applying for your K visa." Those are the exact words, and they don't say anything about police certificates for other countries being handled differently from police certificates for Canada.

I'm still confused. :(
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-09 00:38:00
CanadaPolice certificate from another country
I lived in Israel for a year a couple of decades ago, so I'll need a police certificate for Israel for Packet 3 (K-1 visa). I need to fill out this form and send it to the Israeli embassy in Toronto.

The form instructions read, "Complete Part A. Complete Part C only if the requested confirmation is to be sent to a consulate or foreign authority." But Part A asks for "Address (consulate or office) to which the confirmation is to be sent." So either way, they want to send the form directly to the embassy. I emailed the US embassy in Vancouver to ask what they want. The response I got: "Police clearance must be sent directly to the Consulate or Embassy, where you will be applying for your K visa."

I've never seen anyone mention this here, so I'm wondering what's typical. When I apply for my police certificate for Canada, will it be sent directly to the US consulate in Vancouver too?

Also, what's on the police certificates? The form I linked to asks for first names and last names but not together. If I'd had the names "Jane Doe" and "June Jones," the form doesn't show what went together, so would the police certificate be for all possible combinations of those names? It probably doesn't matter because my first name has never changed, but I find that form rather confusing.

Thanks for your help. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-09 00:01:00
CanadaPacket 3: divorce decree *and* marriage certificate?

The Packet 3 checklist for Vancouver shows that both marriage certificates and divorce decrees are required for people who have been married and divorced. But according to this post, only divorce decrees are required at Montreal.

Why does Vancouver require marriage certificates as well as divorce decrees? If you have proof of a divorce, well, you couldn't be divorced if you hadn't been married, right? I'd like to be able to tell my fiance a reason other than "It's the government." And since Montreal doesn't require them, the need for marriage certificates can't be that big after all. Or maybe someone at the Vancouver embassy forgot to take it off the list years ago and no one knows why it's there now, so they have to keep asking for marriage certificates?


from my experience I believe they ask for both the marriage and divorce certificate because the 1st one shows how many times you have been married before but the second one doesn t ...since they require all divorce decrees that is a smart way from them to see how many times you have been married ..
;)

Ah, finally something that the government does makes sense. Thanks for the explanation. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-18 19:14:00
CanadaPacket 3: divorce decree *and* marriage certificate?
The Packet 3 checklist for Vancouver shows that both marriage certificates and divorce decrees are required for people who have been married and divorced. But according to this post, only divorce decrees are required at Montreal.

Why does Vancouver require marriage certificates as well as divorce decrees? If you have proof of a divorce, well, you couldn't be divorced if you hadn't been married, right? I'd like to be able to tell my fiance a reason other than "It's the government." And since Montreal doesn't require them, the need for marriage certificates can't be that big after all. Or maybe someone at the Vancouver embassy forgot to take it off the list years ago and no one knows why it's there now, so they have to keep asking for marriage certificates?
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-02-08 18:47:00
CanadaMy Experience changing my Drivers License today..

...but the way I see it is we're all commisserating here in a regional specific forum.

Exactly. It helps so much to talk with other Canadians in this forum who are going through the same adjustment process.

Some background to my comment about keeping Canadian drivers' licences...here are some of the differences I've observed (generally speaking, of course) between Canadians and Americans:

1. Americans tend to think that Canadians are like themselves, while Canadians tend to be more aware of the differences.

2. The awareness of being American is much more pervasive in the US than the awareness of being Canadian is in Canada. At this point (and it may change), it feels to me like many Americans feel more comfortable if other people try to (or have to) be like them. In Canada, we're bigger on diversity. "The US is a melting pot, and Canada is a mosaic."

3. The world news that the US media present appears to be more US-centric than news in Canada is Canada-centric. (But perhaps I'm just not as aware of the Canadian slant as I am of the American slant.)

The above differences are just differences. But they sometimes make me feel like that big entity known as the US is trying to swallow me.

Back to my driver's licence. It's been my photo ID since I was 16. Being told that the US government will take it from me if they give me a US licence is almost like being told that I'd have to give up my Canadian passport to get a US one. As though my country and my culture don't matter. As though doing things the American way is all that matters. Of course that isn't how it is, but that's the emotional reaction I get when I think of the American government destroying my licence from my country because they issued an American one.

And I will still want to use my Canadian licence. When I go back to Canada on visits, I want to show my Canadian ID. My only reason for wanting to live in the US is to marry and be with the man I love. And while I'll adjust to and contribute to the country I'm living in, I am and always will be Canadian (although perhaps with dual citizenship).

Before anyone flames me, please note that I'm talking about emotions. It's a huge emotional process to move from one's own country. As misa said, this is a regional forum where we Canadians can commiserate. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-11 01:59:00
CanadaMy Experience changing my Drivers License today..

Just to clarify, my Original post was not meant to "bash" or offend any USC. We were just talking about some of our experiences here, and having a sense of humour about the whole thing. That was all. Sorry if this offended anyone.

That's a very Canadian response. :dance:

What I got from this thread is the warning not to hand over my Canadian driver's licence without first making sure that they will give me back my personal property and without mutilating it. Why on earth would they destroy other people's personal property that they might still want and need? I can see destroying a licence from another state if people are allowed to have only one US licence, but why destroy a licence for another country?
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-09 23:32:00
CanadaHow much did you bring with you?

My eldest was nearly 16 at the time and the stress of the move proved to be very difficult for her. She never really recovered from the trip down. She developed a urinary tract infection from the stress, then stopped eating and in spite of force feeding her, she passed away 6 weeks after our arrival. She is buried on the top of the hill behind the house with a small garden over top of her. The others are hale and hearty.

Sorry to read about the loss of your oldest. :( But it's good to know that the others are doing well. :)

(just kidding, as there was a limit on how much food one can bring over the border)

That's news to me. I was planning on stocking up on some things that aren't available in the US. Besides not bringing produce or meat, what are the limits on bringing food across the border?

Thanks.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-27 15:00:00
CanadaHow much did you bring with you?

Er, maybe I am missing something... u-pack looks like it's for within the US only?

In the Moving Quote box for upack.com, click on the State drop-down box, and you'll see the Canadian provinces below the US states. Confusing, but it's there. :)

Elsewhere at the site, I remember seeing information about moving from Canada to the US.

Edited by vanee, 22 January 2007 - 12:55 AM.

vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-22 00:55:00
CanadaHow much did you bring with you?

I used Premiere Van Lines ( or Atlas Van Lines, I'll have to go doublecheck to make sure), and they charged by weight. They were completely familiar with what paperwork was necessary, so it was a breeze.

Thanks. I'd read that Atlas was good at handling cross-border moves. It's good to read a first-hand experience.

OTOH...

A few people have mentioned a company called u-pack, http://www.upack.com/ From what I understand they drop a pod or truck off and move it. People in this group seemed to like it.

I looked at their rates, and I could afford to bring a lot more with me if I went this route. Thanks!
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-21 02:36:00
CanadaHow much did you bring with you?

I brought pretty much everything except my pots and pans, some dishes, a spare bed, a stereo and entertainment unti, and some bedding with me. I hired a moving company to bring it down, it cost me about $2000. They broke my TV. :P

I might bring most of that if I can afford to. :unsure:

How far did you move?

It cost us about $3200 USD to have my stuff brought down by moving company from Nova Scotia to Oklahoma. They were excellent, professional, friendly, efficient....and best of all, they didn't break or scratch a thing. Worth every penny. :)

What moving companies did you guys use? Do they charge by weight, by volume, or both?

Thanks.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-19 00:55:00
CanadaHow much did you bring with you?
Did anyone hire a moving company to move your belongings? If so, how much did it cost, and do you recommend or not recommend any moving companies? I'll be moving from the West Coast of Canada to the US Midwest, and that's way too far for me to drive.

You all sound way better at cutting down on what to bring than I'll be. :whistle:
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-18 04:33:00
CanadaHow much did you bring with you?
People who live on other continents have to give up a lot more than we do as Canadians to join our SO in the US. We have the option of shipping just about everything we own across the border.

How much of your personal belongings did you bring to the US? Or are you planning to bring? Why did you choose to bring them instead of buying other ones in the US? If your SO already had/has a fully furnished house or apartment, did you (or will you) still bring things from home that you don't need but want to have with you?

I'm at the beginning of this process, but I'm thinking about what to bring with me. I want to bring almost everything except for the living room furniture and the bed, but it would probably cost too much. I'm wondering how other people decided what to bring.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-17 02:59:00
CanadaTies to Canada
Another thing he could bring is his tenant insurance policy if he has one. It might count for something. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-10 03:47:00
CanadaTies to Canada
I don't know if these items would be useful, but you could try them:

- Phone bills (if he has a phone line in his name)
- Letters from people he knows stating that he's planning to return to Canada, possibly for a particular event
- A letter from his grandfather stating that his personal belongings are still in the house
- Doctors' or dentists' appointment cards if he has upcoming appointments scheduled
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-03-09 00:31:00
CanadaCulture shock for Canadians in the US

I mean, there's a lot of other stuff too, like the recycling around here (non-existent) and the high fructose corn syrup. I read labels to see whether HFCS is in it and it's become a joke around my friends and family. And I can't get used to not seeing the French labels either. :(

I'm not in the US permanently yet, but I'm on my second 2-month stay, so I'm getting used to it, and I'm gradually finding things I like.

The health food store has a lot of products I like, but it's too far to go to as often as I'd like to. And even it has a poor selection of produce compared to what I'm used to. But you may want to look for health food stores in your area.

I love the prices at the local grocery store. :) But one time I looked at the ingredients of every type of bread they had, and every one of them had HFCS in it. :( Fortunately, I've found a bakery nearby that makes delicious bread with only healthy ingredients.

The yogurt in the regular stores doesn't taste like the yogurt I'm used to, but again, I found healthy yogurt in another store -- this time a co-op.

I hope you'll be able to find products you like too. :star:
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-04-26 17:39:00
CanadaCulture shock for Canadians in the US
I'm just starting the K1 process, so I'm still in Canada. But I've travelled a lot in the US, and I recently spent 2 months with my guy there.

I don't know if I can describe much as culture shock for me. There were a lot of differences, but most were differences in big city life compared to small city life. And there were differences in what's available to buy, but that was covered in the thread favorite things you'll miss from Canada.

One Canadian-American difference was how to pay with credit cards. In Canada, the cashier swipes them in the credit card thing (sorry, I don't know what it's called) and gives the customer a receipt to sign. In the US, the customer is supposed to swipe the credit card, sign the credit card thing, and then push the "done" (or whatever it is) button. It took me a couple of weeks until I'd learned which direction to swipe the card and then to remember to push the button. And now I've forgotten how to do it. :crying:

Whenever I struggled with the US credit card, I felt like the cashiers must have thought that I was clueless. If that's the only way they know how to use credit cards, they probably don't understand why it's difficult for someone from another developed country.

What have you felt as a Canadian in the US that could be described as culture shock? What differences in thinking, perceptions, and behaviour did you encounter? What made you feel like a foreigner?

Also, what thinking, perceptions, and behaviour made you feel at home? While Canada and the US are different, we're also quite similar in a lot of ways. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-01-07 03:06:00
CanadaK1 APPROVE IN MONTREAL!!!

Here are some of the questions they asked.

Thanks for posting them. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-05-10 16:06:00
CanadaK1 APPROVE IN MONTREAL!!!

I was asked approximately 15 or so questions, pretty straight forward....

By this time next week i'll be with my finacee across the border...

Congratulations! I can imagine how excited and relieved you are. :)

Can you tell us the questions that you remember? Thanks.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-05-10 14:18:00
CanadaWork Related Travel

I was under the impression that i should carry my entire "K1 file" ... just incase the customs/immigrations ask any question, and that way you have all the docs

That's what the customs officer told me to do for future trips to the US while K-1 is pending, and he knew that my next (still upcoming) trip is partly a business trip. A copy of your NOA2 along with everything else will show that you're making progress on this visa journey.

For other things to bring, see the thread Yes, you can visit!

Edited by vanee, 22 May 2007 - 05:28 PM.

vaneeFemaleCanada2007-05-22 17:27:00
Canada*Sniffle*
Posted Image

I'm sad to say that I understand. :crying: I had to say good-bye to my fiance again last week after being with him for 2 months. We were so lucky to have those 2 months, but those good-byes are awful. Airports have become places for tears or joyous reunions, depending on whether I'm leaving or arriving.

Give yourself a few days to adjust once you're back, and focus on what you can and have to do in Canada during the separation. That's what I'm trying to do.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-05-15 12:48:00
CanadaNVC and Vancouver consulate case numbers
Thanks, everyone. :)

I would hurry up in getting that police cert, Van is quick in handing out interview dates!!

The Israel police certificate is going to take several weeks, but just for interest, how long does it typically take from when the file leaves the NVC to when the beneficiary receives Packet 3 from the Vancouver consulate?
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-05-25 20:00:00
CanadaNVC and Vancouver consulate case numbers
I'm doing the happy dance today because I found out by calling the NVC that our I-129F was approved on May 10 and is on its way to Vancouver now. :dance:

I got a case number from the helpful NVC person: VAC2007XXXXXX. Is this the case number that the Vancouver consulate will use? I'm almost sure that it is, but I'm checking to be sure. I need to apply for a police certificate from Israel, and this is what the Vancouver consulate told me in March:

...Israeli police certificate has to come directly to us and it includes English translation.

You will be required to provide them your case number, so please wait for your petition to be approved and sent to us and once we send you the instruction package then you go ahead and apply for police clearance.

So if I have the Vancouver case number now, I don't need to wait any longer to send the Israel police certificate application to the Israel embassy. Do I have the right number?

Thanks for your help. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-05-25 18:54:00
CanadaWhy did you choose the US?

Personally, I'm terrified to move down to the US. :blink: My happiness at FINALLY being reunited with my fiance is offset by my dread of moving there.

If anyone else really struggled with the prospect of moving to the US, I would love to talk about it and hear people's stories and how they came to terms with it. I seem to go through waves of acceptance and anticipation and then lie-awake-at-night dread. Is this normal?


Can you tell us what makes you dread moving to the US?

I've spent over 4 months there in the past year, so I've gotten used to it. It helps that I've found a health food store and a bakery that I like and that I've started getting to know a few people there. It'll feel like home for you once you get settled in. Not home like Canada, but a new home. And Canada will always still be here. :)
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-06-06 02:08:00
CanadaWhy did you choose the US?
I've seen this question asked for VJers from everywhere, but I'm wondering what factors led Canada/US couples to decide to live in the US instead of Canada. Of course some factors to consider will be the same for all couples. But like some other countries, Canada shares with the US the same language (well, most of Canada does), a culture that's similar in many ways, and the same standard of living more or less. Most Canadians have probably travelled in the US, and we get US TV, so there's less for us to get used to. Most of us aren't deciding on the language or continent, just which side of the border to live on (and all the changes that either decision brings).

My fiance was prepared to move to Canada to be with me. But when we took the emotion out of the equation (we both love our own countries), it made more sense for me to move to the US. I'm self-employed and work at the computer, so I can continue doing the same work almost anywhere that has an Internet connection. I earn most of my income in USD already. And he has a closer connection with his family, where he lives, than I do with mine.

Since you're here at VJ, you decided to live in the US. How did you make that decision? Or if you've lived in Canada together or plan to later, how did you decide that?
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-05-30 15:13:00
CanadaPayment for K-1 interview in Canada

when did you receive your checklist? i'm guessing you have not yet received your letter for your interview in Vancouver?


I received the checklist last week, on June 7. It was mailed on June 6. So no, I haven't received the interview letter.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-06-11 12:21:00
CanadaPayment for K-1 interview in Canada

Maybe you should email the consulate to double-check?


I just heard back from them, and this is the response:

Effective July 01 2007, fee must be paid at the bank.


That's from the Vancouver consulate, but the checklist says that this is the payment method for consulates in Canada.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-06-11 12:19:00
CanadaPayment for K-1 interview in Canada
The reviews I've read of the K-1 interviews at the Vancouver consulate describe paying the $100 fee during the interview process. The checklist here (posted last February) just says that the application fee is $100 USD per person. However, on the checklist I received yesterday (for Vancouver), it says this:

FEE: A $100.00 US non-refundable application fee for EACH applicant. Individuals applying for U.S. visas at Consulates in Canada must first deposit the fee to the bank. The deposit slip for your visa application fee consists of 3 pages. A separate set of deposit slips is required for each applicant. Take all three pages of the deposit slip(s) to any branch of Scotia Bank and pay the non-refundable U.S. visa application fee of US$100.00. The bank teller will stamp all three copies of your receipt and should return two copies to you. You must submit two validated deposit receipts with your visa application. The special pre-coded deposit slip can be downloaded from http://amcits.com/deposit.pdf. The Consulate cannot accept applications that do not contain two copies of your deposit receipt.

Has anyone else paid this way before?

Also, if this is the required way to pay now, I wanted to post about it because I almost didn't notice it after reading all the reviews describing paying in person.
vaneeFemaleCanada2007-06-08 11:56:00