ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaAOS'rs...
No touches since the 25th still... I was kinda hoping that maybe they'd get my AP and EAD done soon after biometrics. Oh well...
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-31 00:44:00
CanadaAOS'rs...

Ouch, you had to go 2 hours away?
I only had to go about 15 minutes away... Cali must have alot of offices.
At least it didnt take forever, mine took an hour.

Yeah, it annoyed me a bit that USCIS advertises that they have all these auxiliary "Application Support Centers" that just do biometrics so nobody should have to drive too far... but apparently Northwestern Pennsylvania is a gap in their coverage.

I think USCIS should fix this problem by licensing their "tenprint" program to local police stations to do this stuff for them. My guess is that a lot of them already have it.
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-25 14:37:00
CanadaAOS'rs...
Biometrics yesterday went something like this:

  • Two hour drive to Buffalo
  • Five minutes at USCIS Buffalo office
  • Two hour drive back to Erie
I don't understand why they can't just let us get our fingerprints taken by local police and sent in... Oh well, at least there were no problems.
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-25 14:09:00
CanadaAOS'rs...

So I called the USCIS customer service line today and was transferred to an IO. She said that the case was pending and the last thing they have on file is my biometrics. The next thing to prepare for is an interview. I was dumbfounded and asked if it was at CSC and she said yes, but since I came on a family based visa, I need an interview (she was obviously just saying that from experience, I suppose).

Wait, so we can no longer use the CSC transfer as reliable evidence that they won't interview?
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-19 11:23:00
CanadaAOS'rs...
I just signed up with CustomHouse today after trying twice to make a wire at PNC (stupid "correspondent bank" weirdness); hopefully the wire I sent today won't be sent back.
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-17 16:59:00
CanadaAOS'rs...

Grats, Spoom!
I still havnt gotten any touches since the 3rd.
I wonder if they're waiting on my biometrics since it's in two days.

Well, I'm sure you'll get your transfer soon. Your timeline is roughly the same as mine, so watch your email :)
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-17 14:32:00
CanadaAOS'rs...

On March 16, 2010, we transferred this case I485 APPLICATION TO REGISTER PERMANENT RESIDENCE OR TO ADJUST STATUS to our CALIFORNIA SERVICE CENTER location for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action. Please follow any instructions provided on the notice. We will notify you by mail when a decision is made. 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.

:)

Biometrics appt. made too, on the 24th in Buffalo. Who knows, maybe we'll be done with this by the end of March :P
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-17 14:12:00
CanadaAOS'rs...
ashenflowers, I believe it says on the I-485 (and most other USCIS forms that require a criminal history) that unless you were arrested, you don't have to report traffic citations.

NOTE: Unless a traffic incident was alcohol or drug-related, you do not need to submit documentation for traffic fines and incidents that did not involve actual arrest if the only penalty was a fine of less than $500 and/or points on your driver's license.

In other news, I got my texts and emails a couple days ago and can track my three forms online as of yesterday. :)

My I-485 still says Acceptance so I hope there was nothing wrong with it.
SpoomMaleCanada2010-03-03 10:42:00
CanadaAOS'rs...
Dear priority mail: Please be quicker with my package since I paid for the highest level of USPS letter service. According to their tracker it hasn't even left the local post office yet >_<
SpoomMaleCanada2010-02-22 10:26:00
CanadaAOS'rs...
As of today I'm officially pending AOS (once they receive it).

Rhiannercakes, if it makes you feel any better, my AOS package was also huge since we included all three tax years of information.

/me crosses fingers for CSC...
SpoomMaleCanada2010-02-19 22:32:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
There's another thread where we're keeping track of everyone's interviews.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 15:58:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (cdn_gewels @ Oct 20 2009, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
This is crazy!!

THIS... IS... MONTREAL!

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 15:51:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Apparently, 1-202-663-1541 is the Department of State Visa Bulletin number. I assume it just gives automated information. I don't think your fiance is doing something right on their IVR.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 12:58:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Indeed. A lot of win in one day. biggrin.gif
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 11:11:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I, uh, got tomorrow. sleep.gif
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 11:05:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I also left a message to get a medical. Hopefully they're not swamped due to Montreal scheduling everyone yesterday o_O
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 10:48:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Bah, other people should have a November 9th interview as well. Not that I'm complaining wink.gif

Arabella, just go to the interview and request that the consulate delay issuing your visa. They'll more than likely be fine with it.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 10:31:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I really hope you're right. In any case, there is one of four things going on here:
  • Montreal mass-scheduled everyone through a certain date, which would be win.
  • Montreal scheduled dutchmatt due to pressure from his congressperson, which means everyone start your letter writing!
  • Montreal just scheduled him randomly out of order because they're mean and/or incompetent like that.
  • Montreal didn't schedule him and we're going to have another Peachey / Varba situation, and still have no idea what's going on inside that scary building in Quebec.
Really hoping it's not one of those last two.

By the way, I'm totally setting my cell phone to record when I talk to the Department of State tomorrow.

Edited by Spoom, 20 October 2009 - 12:48 AM.

SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-20 00:44:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Hey, dutchmatt, did you get the actual Packet 4 or were you told your interview date?
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-19 16:35:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Whoa.

And now they're closed for the day.

Well damn.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-19 16:12:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
DoS is closed again today, got the "please hang up and try your call again later" message.

Grmbl grmbl...
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-19 14:32:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
It's bothering me more and more that we haven't heard any of us get interviews for a few weeks now. What the hell is going on in Montreal?
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-18 14:30:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (ashenflowers @ Oct 18 2009, 11:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It is for this reason that my fiance and I never fly out of Canada anymore when we go visit each other. I live about 2 hours from the border, and it's STILL cheaper to fly out of Detroit, and take a 2.5 hour shuttle bus ride to the airport , than it is to just fly right out of London, ON. It's well worth the added travel time, even with the cost of the bus added.

Yep, I did this repeatedly back when I was flying on a regular basis. Robert Q airbus is nice for getting to Detroit. I just drive now since my fiancee is only about five hours away.

Good to see someone else in London.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-18 10:48:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I've all but given up on the idea of being able to have a legal wedding on the date we planned (January 23, 2010) at this point.

Probably asked and answered a million times already, but what are the realistic risks to having a ceremony-only (i.e. non-legal) ceremony? Our Pastor is already onboard with the idea if necessary.

Edit: Sam and Ben, you're probably looking at January or February, realistically.

Edited by Spoom, 17 October 2009 - 12:33 AM.

SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-17 00:31:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (Rhiann @ Oct 16 2009, 07:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hm, I'll talk to her about this when I see her again, which won't be till next Friday. I'll just have to leave her a note to not give her notice so I can talk to her about it.
I need her to double check her lease though to see if the assignment thing is allowed.
Thank you heart.gif

To protect your rights and those of your boss, I'd definitely recommend you get the lease assignment in writing. Your landlord probably has a standard-issue lease assignment form you can use. Plus, you don't want to get evicted by the landlord due to not being on the lease (harder to do in Ontario, but possible).

If possible, you should both meet with the landlord at the same time.

If your boss assigns the lease to you, that stops him / her having to be your "landlord proxy", and if you kept doing that, the landlord could make a case that your boss was, in actuality, subletting to you, which you previously said was not allowed by the terms of the lease agreement.

I don't think your landlord will have a problem with this; they usually just want to make sure that they have everyone involved on the right paperwork.

Here's the relevant section for lease assignment of the Residential Tenancy Act. Note that your landlord could refuse the assignment; likely this would be due to them wanting you to sign another lease, or because of a failed credit check.

Edited by Spoom, 16 October 2009 - 07:15 PM.

SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-16 19:11:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (Rhiann @ Oct 16 2009, 05:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Unless it's possible that I can stay in my apartment by paying month to month even though I wasnt the one that signed the lease? (And that subletting is illegal according to the contract, whoops.) If anyone knows that'd be so helpful.

Rhiann, where do you live? If it's in Ontario, you should be able to go month-to-month by default due to the Residential Tenancy Act, Part V, section 38.1:

QUOTE (Residential Tenancy Act of 2006)
38 . (1) If a tenancy agreement for a fixed term ends and has not been renewed or terminated, the landlord and tenant shall be deemed to have renewed it as a monthly tenancy agreement containing the same terms and conditions that are in the expired tenancy agreement and subject to any increases in rent charged in accordance with this Act. 2006, c. 17, s. 38 (1).

They can't just kick you out in Ontario at the end of your lease if they don't have a good reason, and every "good reason" is iterated in the Residential Tenancy Act. You'll probably get the maximum guideline rent hike though, which is currently 1.8% for 2009. You'll also lose any "rent discounts" you may have received in your initial lease.

To get this effect, you'd have to get the leaseholders to assign you to their lease. They can do this by talking to their landlord. You'd also have to make sure they didn't submit their notice of termination already.

Edited by Spoom, 16 October 2009 - 04:59 PM.

SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-16 16:57:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (KnJ @ Oct 15 2009, 04:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Good because it says "to be scheduled soonest" (whatever the hork that means)

But it is worded such that I'm getting increasingly paranoid that they aren't going to give any information to anyone by any means other than mail.

Better than any response I've ever received through that email; I've just gotten the email FAQ with no human intervention.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-15 15:20:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I think you probably just got an incompetent agent last time. Doesn't say anything good for them, of course.

Anyone know what packet 3 receive dates they're actually scheduling for now, and what dates they're getting? Has anyone gotten theirs recently?

(No interview date on my check today, though the agent was at least nice about it. They're open and back to the wait time game.)

Edited by Spoom, 13 October 2009 - 10:53 AM.

SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-13 10:52:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Yep, either they're closed today or they've changed their IVR to not allow people to hold for a representative (which would be annoying as hell).
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-12 15:23:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Hrmm, they're scheduling for the end of November now, and I sent my packet 3 at the end of August. So now all signs are pointing to December or January. Maybe the Montreal consulate will set new records for length of time between packet 3 and packet 4! mad.gif
SpoomMaleCanada2009-10-06 15:33:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I'm pretty sure you can request a specific consulate either on one of the I-129F package forms or when your petition is at the NVC stage.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-09-29 14:17:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Weekly DoS call: negative interview, negative estimate.

Why, oh why, didn't I see this thread earlier and specifically request Vancouver...
SpoomMaleCanada2009-09-29 13:53:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (JillA @ Sep 22 2009, 05:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Spoom @ Sep 22 2009, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Argh. This whole waiting game is making me depressed.

My fiancée's parents want to send out the invitations now, and I'm faced with either telling them to go ahead or telling them to wait... they're convinced, however, that I'll have the interview in time and that we're just making a big deal out of nothing. I think they have much more faith in the American government than I do.

DoS won't tell me anything now other than "no interview date set". They refuse to give estimates.


That's a tough one... USCIS clearly tells us NOT to make any wedding/moving plans until we have the visa in hand.... you never know what type of delays or issues can come up at the interview. Not trying to worry you, but that's why I didn't plan the wedding ahead of time... the fear of sending out invites and then being rejected at the interview or having a late interview just made me bag the whole thing. Can you at least wait until you have the date before sending out the invites?

Not really, since we have about 250 invitees, many (many) of whom will have to travel to get to the wedding, and we don't want the invitations lost among the Christmas cards. But we're likely going to risk doing a non-legal ceremony if they don't have the interview date by January. I figure as long as USCIS doesn't hear about it, we'll be fine, and we'll do a smaller legal one later.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-09-24 01:25:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
Argh. This whole waiting game is making me depressed.

My fiancée's parents want to send out the invitations now, and I'm faced with either telling them to go ahead or telling them to wait... they're convinced, however, that I'll have the interview in time and that we're just making a big deal out of nothing. I think they have much more faith in the American government than I do.

DoS won't tell me anything now other than "no interview date set". They refuse to give estimates.
SpoomMaleCanada2009-09-22 15:48:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
QUOTE (Peachey @ Sep 14 2009, 10:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Spoom, I wouldn't expect it until November unless they start processing people like crazy.

Planned wedding date of January 23, 2010: Should I just start rescheduling everything now?
SpoomMaleCanada2009-09-14 10:05:00
CanadaK-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal
I've been told by the Department of State not to expect Packet 4 until October at the earliest. I sent in my Packet 3 response on August 21. Thanks, bureaucracy!
SpoomMaleCanada2009-09-14 07:57:00
CanadaUS Re-entry
Just bring tons of evidence of ties to Canada and you should be OK (barring the occasional CBP-agent-having-a-bad-day). I'd advise you not to lie or be vague about your relationship; it's better to be refused entry than be accused of misrepresentation.
SpoomMaleCanada2012-03-08 13:27:00
CanadaIs my I-751 Package Complete?
We're sending it out today. I printed out more first pages of bank statements; one every six months for the life of the account, in addition to the oldest and newest statement. I also added more Waste Management bills. Hopefully that'll be enough!

Looks like we're in for a wait from the timelines. Oh well, we're pretty good about waiting (other than checking the USCIS update site every week obsessively).

Thanks folks!
SpoomMaleCanada2012-03-12 10:35:00
CanadaIs my I-751 Package Complete?
My logic for the SSN is secondary evidence of integration into US society; the visa and I-94, making the adjudicator's job easier; employment, evidence of not being a drain on the system; Indians tickets, documentary evidence that I was where a couple of the pictures show me to be.

Of course, I could just be massively overthinking it. ;)
SpoomMaleCanada2012-03-09 10:11:00
CanadaIs my I-751 Package Complete?
Haha, yes, I did. I'm sad that it's over. It's not exactly the same but Order of The Stick is great too and it's still going :)
SpoomMaleCanada2012-03-08 14:11:00