Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Canada	Toronto translators (Portuguese to English)	Need a proper translator (not somebody's cousin!) for birth certificate and vaccination records from the Azores. Know any?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-03 13:57:00
Canada	CanadianTaxes	Reba, I feel your pain. Which is why I had Mark Serbinski do my Canadian and U.S. taxes this year. It was expensive, but my refund covered his fee. He knew about state as well as federal laws pertaining to RRSPs. He knew my status for the coming year would still be "resident" in RevCan's eyes because I married a Canadian who is living in Toronto. I'm a dual, my head is spinning, and I have better things to do than give myself grey hairs doing research and arguing with uninformed accountants. H&R Block is known as H&R Blockhead when it comes to cross-border taxes. They may seem like only game in town in NC, but Serbinski does everything by email and FedEx. Painless. One last thing: since I'll have to produce tax returns for my husband's K3 interview in Montreal, I want them done and done right. My peace of mind is worth the cost. Hey, we won't be doing dual returns forever.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-03 07:05:00
Canada	Originals or certifieds- previous marriages and divorces	I'm asking about marriage and divorce originals in advance of the Montreal interview so we'll be prepared. But really, it seems as if Package 3 will be about my Canadian husband, who has never been married before. Why am I worried about originals of my 3 previous marriages and divorces? Didn't I already prove my U.S. identity and particulars in the I-130 and I-129F with photocopies of photocopies? On the State Department's site, there's a description of the K3 visa at http://travel.state....es_1315.html#1c "U.S. law does not allow polygamy. If you were married before, you and your spouse must show that you ended (terminated) all previous marriages before your current marriage. The death and divorce documents that show termination of marriages must be legal and verifiable in the country that issued them. Divorces must be final." That sounds serious, which is why I'm sending away for certified copies of marriage certs and divorces. With my history, they may take me for a polygamist.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-04 07:46:00
Canada	Originals or certifieds- previous marriages and divorces	I've been married 3 times before and have been submitting photocopies of divorce certs with I-130 and I-129F. Will they ask for originals (marriages and divorces) at the interview? Has anyone had experience with this? Thanks.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-03 07:59:00
Canada	Jobs in Canada	Workopolis is the best place to start. It's national. If you're looking for a corporate-type job, go directly to the web sites of the big banks and others. They post under About Us > Careers. What kind of work are you looking for?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-04-26 13:21:00
Canada	Visiting my customs friends	Bring back some decent beer, eh?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-05 07:01:00
Canada	Quick question about medicals	Regarding pictures: I had extra prints made yesterday at the shop where the photo was taken. Since it was no longer in the digital camera (taken in March) it was possible to scan and print on photo paper. A sheet of 16 was $10. An interesting option under the heading: be overly prepared. Question: Is there a fee for the medical? (I can't believe it's covered by OHIP.) Do they want U.S. cash?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-05 06:58:00
Canada	Quick question about medicals	Is it true you now need five photo's to bring for the medical? How about a translation of your vaccination record in case it's not in English?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-04 12:11:00
Canada	Best method of sending mail to the Montreal consulate?	I wonder if Montreal has to do more interviews than usual because of DCF in Canada now. Or, could it be patio weather and the Quebecois are enjoying their croissants outdoors?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-06 19:19:00
Canada	US Citizen coming to Canada	married_my_love, everyone here is sorry to know about the medical misfortunes of your family. And you're right, they can happen anywhere, whether you have coverage or not. When these things happen, it can be a reminder that life is short and we need to make good things happen while we can, for ourselves and those we love. Which is exactly what we're all doing, so please take consolation in that. My mother refused chemo when she was diagnosed with lung cancer last summer because she didn't want to be very very sick during her last days. It was a courageous act, and mercifully, she passed quickly. Medicare provided daily Hopsice care and the family paid for live-in care. Sometimes, we can choose to let nature take its course and put ourselves in the hands of a higher power, as she did. Because there isn't a health care system in the world that can change the time of our birth and death. If you go to Canada, you can stay healthy by drinking all the good beer. It kills germs, I'm convinced!	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-05 07:18:00
Canada	US Citizen coming to Canada	I waited 7 months for an MRI The MRI labs in border towns like Detroit are doing gangbuster business. They take out full-page ads in Toronto newspapers telling Canadians to " come on down." There's no waiting and they take Canadain money at par, so there's a 15% discount right away. If you go to a U.S. clinic, you'll see lots of familiar faces, because most Canadian politicians go to the States for treatment. Do you like hockey? I waited 9 months to see the NHL knee surgeon and another 9 months to be scheduled for a simple, 10-minute arthroscopy. (That's where they send a micro camera into your knee and scrape away bad cartilege.) You're supposed to be back at work in 3 days. But for me, it was 3 months. Because no one checked my medication before giving a general anesthetic and the combo with hormone pills was lethal. I couldn't breathe when I woke up but they sent me home anyway because they needed the bed. I kept passing out for 2 days and called the hospital. They said, "Get back here in an ambulance right away!" But when I got there, I was turned away because there were no beds. Like many people in Toronto, I found myself listening to the ambulance driver cursing as we made the rounds of various emergency departments. Finally, I wound up on a Psyche Ward far far away. They were not equipped for orthopedics and my NHL doctor never showed up because he wasn't part of their staff. It was a two-week nightmare, during which I was presented with a bill for the ambulance. When I finally got home, I needed 3 hours of physio a day. That's $180 a day, out-of-pocket, because it's not covered by government health insurance. Nor were the anti-inflammatory drugs I took for a year and a half waiting for surgery. They'll put a hole in your stomach as well as your wallet. I was fairly healthy for the 38 years I lived in Canada and never needed anything more than flu shots and yearly GYN exams. But when I needed a routine, 10-minute operation, it nearly killed me. After surgery by "hockey's star doctor," I had so many blood clots to the lungs, they couldn't count them all. He may have been good with goalies, but middle-aged women were a mystery to him. My brother, a nurse in New Jersey, said they take women off hormonal replacement therapy a full month before any kind of surgery here, because they know the risk of clotting and death. Not to mention law suits, which are rarely successful in Canada because you can't sue the federal government. When I tally up the cost of giving 50% of every dollar I made to the Canadian government for 4 decades, it's a huge sum compared to simply paying by the month for health insurance in the U.S. Here, it's a competitive business, hospitals want your business, and the care is world class. Lousy health care in Canada was part of the reason I moved back to the States, especially since I'm in my 50s and expect to need care as I age. I still love hockey, Canadian beer, and the wilderness. But governments there should leave health care to the doctors. Edited by Jersey Girl, 04 May 2006 - 07:22 AM.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-04 07:20:00
Canada	US Citizen coming to Canada	has to pay for his medical and dental benefits. Perhaps the biggest myth about Canada is that health care is free. It's not. You pay for it with extremely high taxes. It's easy for a middle class person to be in the 46% bracket. On top of that there's GST (Goods and Services Tax) on just about everything. In Ontario, there's also PST (Provincial Sales Tax). These two taxes put an extra 15% on everything you buy. With all these taxes, you'd think the health care would be first class. But many people are turned away from hospitals for lack of beds. I know, I was one of them and I was lucky because I lived. But a kid with asthma didn't. Need knee surgury? The wait for orthopedic operations in British Columbia is 2 years. Some people can't take the pain and pay tens of thousands to go to India or Europe. They're are the lucky ones. People in Ontario die of cancer because they can't hold on for 9 months to get the diagnostic tests and treatments. Need more? Dental is not covered by government health plans. You pay out of pocket if you're not covered by an employer and even those plans rarely cover 100%. In the States, you keep more of your own money and decide which level of medical coverage to buy. You see the insurance premiums coming directly out of your bank account. In Canada, you have no say in your level of coverage and you can't sue if something goes wrong. You imagine it's free because you don't write checks for premiums. But when you do your income taxes every year, and see that over 50% of all your money is going for some tax or another, you wonder what you're getting in return, and whether government should be running health care in the first place.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-03 22:01:00
Canada	US Citizen coming to Canada	US citizens coming to Canada, then getting married, and then applying for landed immigrant status in Canada? Wish I'd never done it. It has complicated my life considerably. But at the time, I thought I'd live in Canada forever. I even became a citizen. For starters, she'll have to do two tax returns every year, one for Canada and one for the U.S. It's a headache, even if you can find a knowledgable tax preparer in Canada who's reasonably priced. Next, there's health insurance. You'll pay through the nose in Canada with high taxes but it may not be there when you need it. If she's used to the U.S. system, where healthcare is a competitive industry, there's no waiting for tests or treatments, you choose your level of health insurance, and you can sue if something goes wrong, she's in for a shock. Especially in her 50s when things start to go wrong. Coming back to the States, as an American, is no day at the beach either. It was a nightmare to re-apply for a driver's license because I had to prove my identity every which way to Sunday. Next, there's credit cards. My good credit score in Canada did not follow me to the States. Credit bureaus here refuse to check the ones in Canada. I had to get a secured credit card (where you deposit money) as if I were a student or someone who'd gone bankrupt. Beyond all that, when you leave Canada, you'll still be on the hook for outrageous income taxes there until you can prove you're no longer a resident. This means cutting all financial ties. If you own property, you have to sell. Bank accounts, credit cards, RRSPs, all have to be closed down. This can take some time. Then there's the question of retirement income and how it will be taxed, whether it's coming from the U.S. or Canada. But let's not go there. If she's in her 50s, why not maintain her U.S. residency (at a family member's U.S. address?) and simply come to Canada as a tourist? I'm assuming she'll be retired (not working) and could cover herself with private medical insurance. Unorthodox, but perhaps an option?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-03 07:32:00
Canada	Vehicles	I imported my Honda Civic from Ontario to New Jersey in Dec. 2005. I crossed at Niagara Falls, carrying a letter ON HONDA LETTERHEAD stating that the car complied with U.S. emmissions standards. I had to declare the car at Customs and fill out forms. That was the easy part. Once you move, you'll need a driver's license in your State before you can get insurance. The identity check is thorough and includes proof of address (at least in NJ). I used my apartment lease but also needed a cable bill and electricity bill. These took a month before they started arriving. Meanwhile, my Canadian car insurance didn't cover me because I'd moved. Once you have the driver's license, you'll need insurance, and a good driving record in Canada didn't help me. No one was interested in my Ontario driver abstract. Insurance is costing me double what I used to pay. I also paid $350 U.S. to have my dashboard changed from metric. You have to know how fast you're going without squinting at the tiny MPH numbers on the speedometer. Also, they put a sticker on the inside door, converting the previous kilometers to miles since the odometer went back to zero. Lastly, one of the forms (customs?) states that the car is for personal use only and not intended for resale. So I'm not sure if there'd be problems later if I wanted to sell or trade it in. My other option was to sell the Honda in Canada and buy something else in the U.S. In many respects, it would have been easier. Edited by Jersey Girl, 11 May 2006 - 07:07 PM.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-11 19:06:00
Canada	cmartyn	Never mind HP sauce. Did you see Camilla's daughter getting married in a white tent this week? Looked preggers to me. And Camilla, our future Queen, sprouting cabbage leaves from the side of her head? It's all over.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-10 17:55:00
Canada	Preparing for Interview	You're done. Put everything aside until the interview. Give yourself a day off to destress and then start thinking about which brand of champagne you'll be sipping on August 19.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-17 18:12:00
Canada	Packet 3 from Montreal	Nice to see somebody's petition going smoothly. Where in the States is your fiancee?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-19 08:18:00
Canada	New I-864	Check the Instructions under Evidence of Income. The sponsor is asked for the last 3 years of tax returns. If she didn't file in 2005, she'll need an explanation.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-22 20:07:00
Canada	Police Certificate	they'll accept police checks done on us up to a year prior Guess the Mounties are just covering their own butts, in case a person decides to suddenly enter a life of crime. cristy, I haven't heard of anyone being turned away because they had a country-wide check done by local police. But if they ask specifcally for an RCMP check, why monkey around?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-22 19:31:00
Canada	Police Certificate	Lola, what exactly did they ask for in your Pakage 3? I downloaded RCMP form 3584e, Consent for Disclosure of Criminal Record Information. If this is the form used by the RCMP and Commissionaires, there's a a 3-month time limit from the time of signature. Which means it may not be a good idea to get a check done too far in advance of being scheduled for an interview. Right? Thanks for the link, flames9.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-22 19:12:00
Canada	Police Certificate	Thanks, flames9 and Cassie. Where in the GTA can one go for the RCMP name check? Wasn't there an HQ somewhere around Jarvis in the downtown area?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-10 17:51:00
Canada	Police Certificate	in Toronto at Younge and College. I thought Yonge and College was headquarters for Toronto Police. Aren't we supposed to be getting RCMP checks?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-10 15:50:00
Canada	DS 156	hockeygal, I agree with your strategy. After all, Canadians don't need a visa to enter the U.S. for visiting/shopping.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-24 18:13:00
Canada	5 weeks left to interview, time to sell my car!	Sigh. What a shame. I hope you can replace it with something just as nice.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-25 19:21:00
Canada	5 weeks left to interview, time to sell my car!	Good grief. How in the world did you modify it? I take it the emmission controls aren't legal here.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-25 18:51:00
Canada	5 weeks left to interview, time to sell my car!	Beauty. This car would be worth the hassle of importing. Tell us again why you're "forced to sell"?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-25 18:21:00
Canada	Point of Entry	The original invoice (or copy) may also be needed later, after you've imported the car. Check your state's requirements for registering and "titling" the car. The title is your ownership paper. They may want to see an invoice proving the car belongs to you.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-25 18:14:00
Canada	Point of Entry	I imported my car from Ontario at Niagara Falls. You have to complete a customs declaration, as well as having all the documents you mentioned. They weren't used to handling this sort of thing at the Rainbow Bridge, which is mainly a tourist destination. There was a little confusion about forms. Luckilly, they didn't send me to the Lewiston crossing, which is more commercial. I had to go inside, and it added an hour to my trip. The officials were friendly and it was a formality, not an interview. Where are you crossing?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-25 09:08:00
Canada	Today's Medical Appointment at Dr. Seiden's	Thank you for the report. I expect my husband to be going sometime this summer, and he'll be well prepared. Tell me, where did you go for the RCMP name check?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-31 15:47:00
Canada	K1 approved!!	Terrific news. We all love happy endings!	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-06-03 06:43:00
Canada	The end is in sight!!!	Congratulations, Lola, and good luck. But I'm confused. Did you apply for the CR1 and throw in the K3 later as backup? Or did you originally plan for K3, which had you do the I-130 first? In any case, your K3 is now in motion and you escaped the Marriage Broker hold up. Yeah! So what's the plan? Come on K3 and do Adjustment of Status?	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-06-03 06:40:00
Canada	Those Idiots at Scotiabank !!!	Interesting, zyggy and flames9. Here's another twist. I moved from Canada to the U.S. in December (I'm a dual). But since I married a Canadian in March, and he lives in Toronto (waiting for his K3), CRA considers me taxable until he leaves Canada. I didn't know about that one.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-24 19:24:00
Canada	Those Idiots at Scotiabank !!!	I keep a Canadian credit card and my bank account (Bank of Montreal) as a back-up until my credit history here is established. I was under the impression that one must cut all financial ties with Canada or Canada Revenue Agency can consider you taxable on your worldwide income even though you're no longer a resident there. So it's best to close down everything as soon as possible. If you're trying to build a credit history in the U.S., look at the MNBA credit cards. After beating my head against a brick wall, they turned out to be the only ones who would check my history in Canada so I could have a card in the States. It's instant credit and a new history is started.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-05-23 17:54:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Is there a difference between I-134 & I-864??	severinep, you'll need both, at different times. Here's a stripped down order of events. 1. File I-130 2. File I-129f 3. Approved I-129f 4. Submit I-134 5. Enter on K3 visa 6. Adjust Status process 7. Submit I-864	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-08-02 07:55:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Filed for I-30 on July 30th	Once you get an NOA1 for your I-130, you can set up a customer account and check your status online. See roymcn3rd's link. It may take a few days for the system to recognize you. If you petition for K3/K4, you can add this and check the status on the same page. Keep a note of the dates. If they changed, you've been touched, meaning something has been done with your file. How long does K3/K4 take? Check the immigration timelines (top of this page) for people with spouses in the same country. Meanwhile, do your timeline, which contributes to the statistics you're looking for. (Top of page, Immigration Timelines, Edit/Add My Entry.) Also, if you do a signature, people get an instant fix on your situation when you post with questions. (Top of page, My Controls, Personal Profile, Edit Signature.) Good luck! Edited by Jersey Girl, 02 August 2006 - 05:58 PM.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-08-02 17:57:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	WE GOT IT "APPROVAL"	When prayers are offered for sick people, they recover more often than those who have no one praying for them. Those are the findings of long range scientific studies. You can call it the power of prayer, or the collective will. So if you got your approval, say a little one for the people with recalled petitions. It might be a good use of all the energy we have and might harness.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-08-02 08:30:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	WE GOT IT "APPROVAL"	How happy we are to hear your good news! Prayers ARE answered!	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-08-02 07:30:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	K3 approved!!!	Congratulations and all best wishes for the next stage!	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-08-03 16:33:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Lawyer or No Lawyer? Lining up the ducks!	can you please explain the options of the plan Hi hafiz, you can start by mailing your second IMBRA letter, then: Excuse yourself. If you're having a bad day, give yourself permission to accomomplish little or nothing. Pamper yourself. Bubble baths, naps, comfort food. Indulge yourself every hour if you need it. Express yourself. In prayer, in a journal, in a phone call to someone who understands. Forgive yourself. It's okay to be anxious or down. It's temporary. Reach out to other crazies here. Take care of yourself. See a family doctor. If you need meds or counselling, let it be part of your plan. Honor yourself. Be good to the person your finance or spouse loves. For their sake! Respect yourself. Take time with your appearance (hair, make-up, clothes). It will lift your spirits. Distract yourself. See a movie, go to a mall, exercise, volunteer. Get out of your self absorbtion. Monitor yourself. Gently replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Girl, your visa is on its way! Love yourself. Your life is a miracle. You're surrounded by so many good things and people. Embrace and enjoy them all.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-07-29 19:09:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures	Lawyer or No Lawyer? Lining up the ducks!	Hi JenM, Many people here are do-it-yourselfers and handle the paperwork themselves, without an attorney. But that puts the onus on you to understand the process, which can be confusing. Get set for research and tracking your petition. If it's vital for your husband to work in the U.S. as soon as he gets here, you may want to read the timelines for CR-1 and the U.K. It's the long way, but he arrrives with a greencard. He waits in his own country. K3 is supposed to unite couples quicker but there has been a new law (IMBRA) and backlogs. Not enough evidence yet to predict timings. Again, he waits in the U.K. I'm out of my depth on this one, but there may be couples who marry in the U.S. and simply apply for AOS. I believe the foreign spouse has to stay here, will not be able to work, and could be denied if it looks like he entered the States with the intent to immigrate, which is a no no. No matter which route you choose, get set for a difficult period of waiting and being seperated. It's best to have a plan to retain your sanity. Edited by Jersey Girl, 29 July 2006 - 06:34 PM.	Jersey Girl	Female	Canada	2006-07-29 18:34:00