biggish data

EI while waiting for Green card?

Wow, Flames, you answered this for me on CanucksAbroad just yesterday! Funny how topics seem to come up. I looked over the links you sent me, and the only way I can see around the wait, is if you are lucky enough to find a POE officer to give you a stamp for your EAD right away... does that ever happen?

Stuart and Thea

Female

Canada

2011-03-19 13:46:00

Baby Dilemma

I was pregnant when I moved to the US and when I tried to find health insurance (hubby was only part time at work so he couldn't add me) I found out that because I was moving from a country with a national health care plan that I was covered under the HIPPA laws so they could not refuse me insurance. It was going to cost me $2450.00 but I would be covered...lol

Colleens..
Do you have any links on HIPPA?.Was the 2450 for a month? As expensive as it is it may work for us...We were going to pay midwife out of pocket but if im close to delivery this may be an option...

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-01-21 09:40:00

Baby Dilemma

I was pregnant when I moved to the US and when I tried to find health insurance (hubby was only part time at work so he couldn't add me) I found out that because I was moving from a country with a national health care plan that I was covered under the HIPPA laws so they could not refuse me insurance. It was going to cost me $2450.00 but I would be covered...lol

We will have a one mon th wait period but the pregnancy will be covered hence the dilemma. I cant move at 8 months. We have secured midwives for that month I will be missing covergae but if munchkin decides to come early we could be in trouble...
I would be ok to having it here as in the summer as FI is off all summer im just worried about all the paperwork and the delays after the muchkin comes..Depending on how the summer goes he could be due back in august early sept or mid sept..and if we think saying goodbye is hard now..I cant imagine..

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-01-20 06:24:00

Baby Dilemma

So we are just sending pack 3 back now...Fi been on rd trip need his tax and support papers...

Im 14 weeks...i know i cant guess when everything will get finished by? whether there will even be interviews available etc?

What hellish paperwork will we go trhough if the babe is born here? will we almost be starting over? bc there will be an extra one of us??

thanks

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-01-19 11:14:00

NOA2 Nov..not in Montreal yet?? exp in march? panic

Thanks while I was waiting i panicked and called DOS again? i think the 202 number..this person told me yes it was in montreal and pack #3 was sent our dec14...its jan 5th she told me to give it a week and call montreal..uggg

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-01-05 15:18:00

NOA2 Nov..not in Montreal yet?? exp in march? panic

We applied months ago finally got our NOA2 on Nov22...Have been working on getting stuff ready so I call Montreal today and it hasnt arrived yet? Josh a got letter dated Dec % saying it would be sent within the week..

Today when i pull it out It saus Notice Type..Approval Notice
Valid from nov 22 2011 to mar 21 2012... um what does that mean? please tell me it doesnt mean everything has to be done by march? since its not even in Montreal yet???

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-01-05 14:49:00

send pack #3 from usa

awesome..thank you..love your dress..jealous..as mine will no longer fit...big baby bump..

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 16:17:00

send pack #3 from usa

Spending today doing package 3 so i appologize now for all the ?s that may be coming..:)So dont want to forget anything or mess anything up.

FI is on a road trip and his Mom was to send me his stuff and of course she cant find it..We are going down thursday? Can i just fed-ex from there to the courier address in Montreal?
I dont want to waste 10 more days until I get back..
Thanks..

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 11:21:00

help quick..pack ds16the

the ? has anyone ever filed an immigration petition on your behalf??

do0es that incluse this k1? or does it mean anything else??

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 16:58:00

pack3..kids forms..

K..I know im being PITA today i just dont want to forget miss anything....

Do I only do a Ds-160 for me? or do i have to do it for the kids as well??

I did DS230s and 156s for each of us and have 2 passport photos for each of us...

Im just so scared im missing something...my clock is ticking...i gotta get this in as FI's insurance has a 1 month wait period..i dont want to hvae the babe here..

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 16:22:00

Montreal website updates

We have the I134 ready to go too...Ugghh so it no longer goes in pack #3?? just to the interview? Ive been sitting here waiting for FIs info as hes on a road trip....If I dont need it I can send my stuff in tomorrow.....

HELP..lol all i need is on that page??

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 16:24:00

upload photo ? ds160 HELP

It's hard to help without knowing exactly what the page looks like. I haven't filled it out in a year or so, so I forget exactly how to do it. Hopefully someone who's done it recently remembers.

It just keeps going back to photo exceeds 240jpeg
only options i see are cancel puts me back to photo page or upload selected photo...
i cant seem to bypass

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 20:52:00

upload photo ? ds160 HELP

Don't panic. I couldn't upload my picture either. I just included a passport sized photo with the confirmation page and Packet 3. I had no problem.

How do i bypass it tho????? help

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 20:45:00

upload photo ? ds160 HELP

For some reason i just cant seem to do this...i read somewhere if you see an X it was rejected and you cna simply add a photo to the confrimation page...More then happy to do that but i cant get by without uploading...

HELP..
hopefully my last ? for now...lol

TammyandJosh

Female

Canada

2012-02-07 19:22:00

Just want to type...

Sorry for being whiny and I know should be thankful and appreciate everything is on its way now; but just.... not quite motivated with all those things i don't like the stage of limbo...

Haha it's cool to ramble and let it all out :thumbs:

I know all about limbo! I have been stuck in Administrative Processing for almost 3 months since my interview and not knowing when I'll hear anything or get my visa...

I can't do anything here except wait...and wait...and wait...

On a positive note I've turned into an excellent cook because all I do is learn how to cook new things to keep my mind off everything! :blink:

But the limbo and the crazy waiting and everything is a small price to pay to be with the person you love. That's what I tell myself!

Edited by Floella, 22 February 2012 - 04:13 AM.

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-22 04:12:00

Thanks everyone!

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-22 17:57:00

I just want to post an update. Yesterday I received an email that LOOMIS had my passport. Honestly I was too afraid to believe it till I actually had it in my hands, but, today I went to pick it up and it DID have my Visa

Hahah I almost broke down crying.

So I was in AP for just around 72-73 days.

I am so excited, I am heading out this Friday. So much to do!!!!

Thank you all for your wonderful support! Let's hope my POE goes well and I'll be back soon to start my AOS journey!

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-22 11:50:00

Sorry to hear this. I hope it gets resolved very soon. Do you have a very common name?

Yes, I do. We do think that's a possibility for being put into AP as well.

Honestly, I'd plan for being put into AP if I was you. It's better to be prepared for it than not prepared at all (as was the case with us) and then deal with the waiting and the disappointment. But I hope your wife dodges the bullet. I saw your other post about booking the venue for your reception. I really hope things work out for you!

Edited by Floella, 20 February 2012 - 05:23 PM.

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-20 17:22:00

Hey Floella. I'm so sorry you're still stuck in limbo. Frankly, though, I'm really shocked the Consulate responded at all to your inquiry (and also so quickly) considering they advise us not to email for status updates. I'm going to take this as a good sign.

I think about you guys just about every day, and I often check in just to see if you posted good news.

Yeah, I was shocked they responded as well. But we have not tried to send a lot of emails to them over this and in my email I explained to them how long we have been waiting, how we have not had any updates at all, and how we understand that they need to follow AP according to the law but that we're desperate for any update at all on when this will be resolved so I honestly think whoever read the email just took pity on us.

I hope it's good news soon too. I'm mostly terrified that we'll get denied for something ridiculous, I don't know if they can do that after telling me it's been approved...but then again, we never imagined I'd get placed into AP after being told I should expect my visa in the mail either.

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-20 17:08:00

I am curious to know, how many ofyou are still in AP.

I am concerned that my wife might be placed in to AP as she is a Pakistani citizen and Canadian PR. I was trying to find out how long the process took for you guys. I don't know what I would do if she was placed in AP. I am having tough enough time waiting for NOA2 but with AP there is no knowing.

I am still in AP. I am pretty much exactly in your situation. I'm a Canadian citizen but I was born in Pakistan and attained Canadian citizenship when I was a kid. I do not know if that is the case for being in AP, but my fiance and I cannot imagine what else it is.

I have been in AP now for 71 days. I recently emailed the consulate in Montreal asking them to give me ANY information they can. Their response was going to decide whether my fiance will contact his congressman or not. They responded saying that a Consular Officer is reviewing my case now and that we should hear about it "soon" so at this point we have decided to wait another 2 weeks before contacting my fiance's congressman. We're hoping that this means it's finally coming to a close but we're not certain.

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-19 17:24:00

Yeah, I gotta say Floella was particularly eff'ed over by the consulate. She left with approval and without a 221g, only to be informed about AP when she inquired as to when she might actually receive her visa. That's freaking crazy!

At least my husband was straight up informed and left with a 221g, as opposed to left twisting in the wind.

Once a week I call DOS to ask what our status is (forever "pending"), and I always ask if they need anything from us ("Nope, we have everything"). From day one we submitted everything they wanted and we were never given RFEs or anything. We don't need a co-sponsor either.

We're clueless as to what the issue is; although, from perusing the AP forum, I have to say the most common denominator between cases is the beneficiary being a Male of Arabic Descent. My Christian, Anglo-Canadian husband with an Arabic last name may be up against this...

Yeah we've never had a single RFE either. And DOS tells me all our documentation is complete as well. It's just so tiresome waiting.

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-01-11 17:56:00

Tercerero,

From my experience and knowledge, Montreal consulate/DOS use the term "AP" for almost all the reasons. What I mean by that is if your visa is slow to process, they will safely use that term to make you wait. Although I am not sure what your situation is, As long as you get them the documents they request and there's no fault at your side, no need to worry and it's a matter of waiting. Unless there's a serious concern on their side when they did a background check on you. Normally AP doesn't go more than two months @ montreal. Might be little longer for you due to the holidays. Good Luck and keep us posted.

I hope you're right. We are starting to finally consider sending a letter to the senator/congressmen to inquire further into the process because it's tough just sitting and waiting without knowing exactly when it'll resolve.

Did they ever tell you why they were put into AP? And what were the dates for their interview and the date they received their visa?

I can't imagine what could possibly make them tell me that I would receive my visa within 5 days and then place me into AP. It's very confusing and aggravating because I was sitting around making travel plans and packing up. I'm actually still living out of boxes from the packing I did back then in anticipation. Sigh.

Edited by Floella, 11 January 2012 - 08:55 AM.

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-01-11 08:53:00

Still waiting

I was hoping I'd get some new after the new years, but still pending. Ughhhh...

But I am happy for those of you that have finally gotten through.

I have been in AP for over a month now

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-01-05 16:18:00

Good luck, hope we get to go "home" for Christmas I emailed Montreal 4 days ago, nothing yet...maybe today! Trying to stay positive but its oh so hard!!

Yeah, it's so hard to stay positive. My fiance and I are trying to stay positive but it is tough when we thought, "This is it! We get to be together!" and then it didn't happen. I was supposed to be there by today/tomorrow, so it's particularly hard thinking about it.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-09 12:52:00

Yeah

It's terrible for those of us going through the process.

So I called them and DOS told me that my documents list is complete. They cannot give me a reason for AP though.

I have emailed Montreal. Let's see what they tell me now.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-09 12:19:00

Wow, that really sucks. I am so sorry. It must be hard to have to tell a kid that your plans for Christmas have changed

You're right, it can still happen! I hope it comes through for all us stuck in AP.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-09 11:45:00

Okay. I will definitely do all of those things today. Let's hope it is just a missing document or something.

Thank you so much for your help, I appreciate it. This process has really taken a toll on me.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-09 10:47:00

I suppose I'll wait a week or two before I start contacting people to figure out why they may have done it and so on. But we're devastated at this point. Once we were told I was was approved I was already making rough traveling plans, and packing, and my fiance told his family that I'll be with them for the holidays and everything...and we were so excited we'd get to spend New Years together...

UGH.

I just want to start crying. This is so miserable.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-09 10:20:00

Wait, did you get a 221 g form from the consulate when you went for your interview??

No. I didn't even know I was in AP. They told to expect my visa in the mail in 5 business days. And then I get told I'm in AP via an email.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-09 09:50:00

I was an immigrant, yes, so I suppose that could be it. But what can they possibly need to check for? I was very young when I moved here. Do you have any idea how long it will take? I thought I'd be with my fiance for Christmas and New Years, and now I don't know if I will be. It's extremely upsetting.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-08 17:25:00

I had my interview Nov. 29. I was approved but I got an email today that states that my visa is under "administrative processing" and that they will contact me eventually.

I'm reading that the time it takes for AP is different for each consulate and such. They didn't tell us what it is under AP for.

Has anyone had any experience in this at all??? I am so upset, I'm near tears and freaking out because I thought it was finally over and my fiance and I could be together but now it's back to uncertainty and waiting.

Please help.

Floella

Female

Canada

2011-12-08 17:05:00

Hello! L1 to Perm Resident

Congrats!

I think the process should be straightforward. A friend of mine met his now-wife while she was on a student visa in the states and they got married and just did a spousal visa while she was still in school. It's not the same as going from a work visa to spousal, but I would think that as long as you continue your job you should be fine living there while your spousal processes.

Edited by Floella, 24 February 2012 - 02:00 AM.

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-24 01:59:00

DS 156 online.... part 2

When you are on the barcode page, there should be an option there that allows you to email the page as a PDF to an email address. In fact right on the page it says,

"If you do not have access to a printer at this time, select the option to email your confirmation page to an email address."

Once you have emailed it to yourself, you can go to the other computer and print it out? I am sorry I can't be more help, I did this last summer and I do not remember how to exactly but I KNOW the option is there because that is what I chose to do (my computer wasn't hooked to a printer at the time either).

Floella

Female

Canada

2012-02-21 07:49:00

QUOTE (AnewKINDofFEELIN @ Feb 27 2008, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Advise is a verb...advice is a noun. They are two different words and I have never, as an american, seen advise used as a noun. I advise people on ways to make buildings more energy efficient. In doing so, I provide advice.

I have also never seen "organise," as the spelling that we use is "organize."

I think you are probably accepting what some people with poor grammar use as the "american" way of using the word.

Well no actually, I think you misunderstood my post.

What I said was that Americans seem to confuse the spelling of the word advice fairly often by spelling it advise (look around this site, it happens on a daily basis), not that they confuse the use of the word.

And in the Canadian and British spelling of words such as "organise" we use an S not a Z(ed).

Reba

Female

2008-02-28 07:21:00

Yes, Sea-Doo is a brand name of jet-ski made by Bombardier (I have never heard a Canadian say "wave runner"). Same as Ski-Doo, which is what we Canucks call pretty much any snowmobile even if its not made by Bombardier. I bet all the other manufacturers just looooooove that.

QUOTE (AnewKINDofFEELIN @ Feb 26 2008, 01:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Y'all have some unusual love for the letter U. Lindsay and I always joke about adding a U to words.

Actually, its the other way around, and an American dis-like for the letter U. Everywhere else in the English speaking world uses the U whereas the US does not. Blame Benjamin Franklin and his printing press. He figured it would save space, and therefore money, because the words are pronounced the same with our without the letter U.

Canada long ago decided to stay with the proper English spellings of things, rather than the revised American spellings. Americans also switched Z for S in a lot of words like "organise" and such. And S for C in other words, like "defence". Which of course confuses the heck out of them when they want to ask for ADVICE and they spell it ADVISE, which is pronounced completely differently and is a different word.

I have even over the years discovered that some words in American English are almost completely opposite of what the definition is in other English speaking countries and this has sparked any number of internet flame wars until I got out my trusty dictionaries (I have one of each, Canadian, American and British) to settle the disagreements.

Reba

Female

2008-02-27 07:34:00

QUOTE (Emancipation @ Feb 25 2008, 04:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I called a garbage disposal a garberator the other day and everyone burst out laughing..

it IS a word right?

Garburator was actually the Canadian brand name for garbage disposals and just became the name for the item itself, like Kleenex is for facial tissue. I guess they didn't sell in the US.

Reba

Female

2008-02-26 07:33:00

Here in North Carolina a toque is called a tobaggan. Cracks me up every time.

Reba

Female

2008-02-21 07:21:00

Here in North Carolina a toque is called a tobaggan. Cracks me up every time.

OMG when my husband called it a tobaggan the first time I thought he was just messing with me, I'm like what you put a sled on your head lol.

The "zed" thing still cracks me up.

When I hear "zed" I think of the boss in Men in Black, whose codename by the way, probably didn't ring a bell with American audiences. In MIB, every agent's codename was a letter (Tommy Lee Jones was "Agent K" for instance) but then we ran across the guy in-charge and his codename was "zed." Most Americans I've run into just thought he had a codename that sounded different because he was the boss. It most likely didn't occur to them (or they just didn't know) that "zed" is how most of the English-speaking world refers to what we in the U.S. call "zee."

I remember having to spell something to someone on the phone and I said Zed and he didn't understand and I was like oh yeah Zee, shaking my head.

Pop vs soda is a regional thing. I live in the midwest and here it is pop. Because of the accent here, this is the one region that really really should use soda. Not only because, well, it is soda, but with a strong midwest accent, "pop" sounds more like "pap." Eeeeeuwww!!!!

I find this is regional, as I know lots of Northern Americans and they say pop, but here in the south sometimes you get waitresses not understanding the term lol.

OH and how about I know several American people who call it a bedroom suit and I call it a bedroom suite.

Leafgal

Female

Canada

2011-06-29 14:05:00

how many more photos after noa2?

Also I just noticed that you mentioned kids. I think its the same for each person i.e. they each need 2 for packet 3, 2 for the interview, etc. If you can I would do what Vanessa suggested and print them yourself to save some money- you're going to need it to pay for all the medical and interview fees.

pocheros

Female

Canada

2011-11-23 15:02:00