ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Canadaugh story of our lives, I swear.
Sounds like he is working for A-holes, to put it mildly. Even if it isn't b.s., getting the frig out of there and into a better position (ie, one with actual human beings running it rather than ####### orafices) would be a good thing. Which doesn't make it easy.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-11 12:02:00
CanadaCanadian passport
Okay, related question. How long does it take to get your passport if you apply for it in Canada? My fiance is going to renew his early in order to avoid having to do it from here next year. The only real timing issue for him is needing a passport number to put on one of the forms (either DS-156 or DS-156k asks for it). He said he thought it would only take about 10 days, but we don't know if the new passport requirements for land crossings are slowing down Canadian passport offices the way they are US passports.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-11 11:16:00
CanadaI'm going on a hunger strike! Who's with me??
I wish it made me unable to eat. Alas, nothing short of contracting dysentary has that effect on me. *stuffs another bite of brownie into mouth*
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-12 16:05:00
CanadaAP? What AP?
Congratulations. Good luck getting through whatever is left. Also good luck to the others going through AP hell.

And please feel free to foist your sophmoric wit on us any time. It helps keep me sane--or close to it, at least.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-12 15:55:00
CanadaWhat is the age difference between you and your SO?
QUOTE (trailmix @ Feb 23 2008, 10:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (apk @ Feb 22 2008, 07:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for posting this thread it's a real pick me up! Just got off the phone with my brother-in-law and once again he's asking "What do you guys even have in common?" Anybody else get this?


Umm no, I wouldn't let anyone speak to me that way - how rude!!


Right, I wouldn't either. But at our age, a 9-1/2-year difference isn't much (he'll be 51 in a few days; I won't be 42 until October). He's also not the oldest man I've been involved with.

We do the what-were-you-doing-when thing too. Especially with 70s song lyrics. At 8 or 9, I didn't exactly interpret some of the more suggestive songs quite the way he did at 18.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-02-25 11:36:00
CanadaDS230 help
You should be okay if you list any major trips (like if you did a three-week road trip or something) and say something like what Neiks suggests. They are aware that people who live near the border cross it often.

Heh, my fiance is actually a bit concerned that he may appear freakish because he CAN remember all his trips to the US, but then, he is not from a border town.

Side note: my favorite take-out place has a "South of the Boarder" grill on the menu. They still have not corrected themselves.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-11 16:13:00
CanadaGood luck to Gypsyangel,beatrix kiddo,and Ontarkie
Good luck to all of you!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-11 11:29:00
CanadaThis Winter in Canada
Hahaha! Someone emailed me a version of this years ago (I'm originally from western New York State, home of "Lake Effect Snow") and I really, really, really wished I had saved this. Thanks for posting it!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-18 10:55:00
CanadaPerspective
QUOTE (Len_and_Bren @ Mar 19 2008, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I was more than ready to leave--- because I could not imagine another winter in Alberta, and we had nothing keeping us there.


That is one of the reasons my fiance is the one coming here. I don't even like OUR winters. One winter in Alberta would have killed me.

Emily, yes, I was obsessive. I usually managed to only check the USCIS site once a day, but then when October filers started getting approvals, I would check it again every time I saw someone get approved. I almost fell out of my chair from the shock the first time I saw we got a touch. Now that our petition is at the consulate, I check my email 6 times a day hoping there is one from my fiance telling me that packet 3 has arrived.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-19 11:57:00
CanadaU.S.A. quickly becoming just a place to visit
Hi, Ron. I was just thinking of you and Sharon while I was walking my dog yesterday. Just that I had not seen you post in a while and was wondering how you were doing. I'm sorry to hear about Sharon's parents and sorry to see that you are still waiting. As always, I wish you the very best whatever you do. I can't wait to see that you are finally together in one place!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-17 10:09:00
CanadaCanadian Names (English Language Names)
My sister is an Andrea. Well, granted, we lived quite near the border growing up, but otherwise no ties to Canada. The only person I know named Grant is from New Zealand.

I tend to think era might bring about more variations than anything else. I do not know anyone with my name born before 1964.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-19 14:16:00
CanadaCan I visit him while the K1 is in progress???
QUOTE (Crikey! @ Mar 17 2008, 07:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Julez and I are going to meet at the local Wegman's the next time I drive up. Maybe you can meet us there, Laura.



OMG, I remember Wegman's! I kind of forgot they were expanding beyond just Rochester before I fled from the snow belt. Hehe, you can eat a meal there just from the samples! At least you could when I still lived there. Do they still do that?
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-17 11:10:00
CanadaCan I visit him while the K1 is in progress???
Have a wonderful visit, Laura!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-14 11:40:00
CanadaHow do you use eat with your knife and fork?
QUOTE (flames9 @ Mar 20 2008, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I live on beer!!


Breakfast of champions!

What I really find awkward is that thing where you are supposed to use a big soup spoon to twirl the pasta around your fork. There are ALWAYS loose pasta ends every time! I try to remember to order ziti or gnocci or tortalini so as to avoid embarrassing the people I'm dining with.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-20 14:58:00
CanadaHow do you use eat with your knife and fork?
Gentle reader,

I find this problem can be solved easily by eating with one's fingers. In order to encourage my dinner guests to engage in this simple practical ettiquette, I always try to seat the left-handed guests next to the right-handed guests so that their elbows will bump should they try to use a knife and fork instead of their fingers. I also encourage them to speak with their mouths open by asking pressing questions just as they shovel in another mouthful. I hope this helps.

Sincerely, Miss Ing Manners
jest.gif

Okay, seriously, I tried to do it the British way just to be different, but found it difficult being right-handed. My fiance is originally British (even though I don't think he was using a knife and fork much before he immigrated to Canada as an infant) but I think he also does it the way we do. Now I'm probably going to stare at the poor man next time we eat together to see how he uses his knife!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-20 13:41:00
CanadaI got RFE's!
That really sucks. I'm sorry to hear this. sad.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-26 10:26:00
CanadaNo Doctor in Edmonton
Unless they get a new Edmonton doc very soon, we will be in the same situation. Except that my fiance has family in Calgary, so he does not mind making the trip and staying there for a few days. It is good to know he can be accomodated by Dr Morgan if that does not work out for some reason.

My biggest concern now about having to go to Dr V in Calgary is how is he supposed to get the results? Can they be mailed to him so he doesn't have to make another trip to Calgary? Or would they be able to get them back to him the next day while he is still visiting his sister? I know other people have had to travel for their medicals; how does this work?
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-17 09:52:00
CanadaHe's released!
I always wanted the invisible plane Lynda Carter used in "Wonder Woman."

Anyway, congratulations! And if they do give him an invisible helicopter, I totally want a ride in it!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-26 12:34:00
CanadaI'm home
I didn't realize you had already gone!

The goodbyes get harder each time. I hope you had a very lovely visit!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-25 11:48:00
CanadaHeads up to anyone needing medical in Western Canada
The Vancouver doctor sounds very accomodating. For us it is still more convenient for him to go to Calgary. He was going to make a weekend trip to Calgary to visit his sister and nieces sometime in April anyway.

FYI for anyone else going to Dr Viljoen in Calgary --- he does have someone who can book the medical appointment for you, but his regular receptionist cannot. I don't know if the person who handles scheduling medicals only works part time or just happened to be out Wednesday and Thursday, but she was in today, and my fiance booked his appointment for April 10. What a relief! kicking.gif kicking.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-28 12:42:00
CanadaHeads up to anyone needing medical in Western Canada
We just got packet 3 today and apparently not only is there no new doctor for Edmonton, there are no doctors at all for Saskatchewan.

Also, to make an appointment with the doctor in Calgary, apparently you have to speak to him personally.

I'm still really happy that we got packet 3 finally!!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-26 16:24:00
CanadaVancouver interviews
Yeah, I would try calling Vancouver, too. The interview is in two days and they aren't going to open your email before then, but you could try emailing too. Maybe talk to Lindsay first---do you know what if anything she told them? I know there are people here who have had to reschedule interviews, and I don't think rescheduling, in and of itself, is all that difficult with Vancouver. It's just that if she tells them she needs to cancel the interview because the wedding is off, you may not be able to just pick up where you left off when she's ready to go ahead with it.

This probably is not the first time this has happened, either.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-25 15:09:00
CanadaVancouver interviews
QUOTE (AnewKINDofFEELIN @ Mar 25 2008, 09:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Lindsay told me yesterday that she's not going to come. I'm devastated. It come completely out of nowhere and 2 days before the interview. I'm still in shock.


I am so sorry to hear that! Maybe it is just a matter of being overwhelmed at the thought of moving, starting a new life, and so on, and she will come around. I don't know what to say. sad.gif

QUOTE
I got my visa the same day as my interview. Mind you it was a morning appointment. Perhaps when you have an appointment in the afternoon you have to wait until the next day?


I thought if you had a morning interview you could pick up your visa in the afternoon as well. If anyone knows whether this is still the case, I would really like to know. We are still waiting on packet 3, but once we do get an interview date, we are planning to go to Vancouver Island for a few days after the interview, and we will need to know whether to stay in Vancouver an extra day to wait for the visa or not.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-25 12:06:00
CanadaPhone records for interview
I would say bring whatever you have. Unless it is really very little, I wouldn't worry about getting the phone records. It is pretty unlikely they will ask to see it, though it is better to have more than you need than to have less than you need. Plus, I think if they see that you don't have any relationship evidence, that might pique their suspicion and get them to ask to see it.

You said you had chat logs, right? Are there a lot of them? What about emails? Cards or letters? I would also bring along the boarding passes. It is pretty common to fly to a nearby city and travel overland. What about your wedding? Have you bought a dress or any of that kind of #######...err, I mean stuff? Wedding bands?

We don't have many pictures either. In fact, the only photos we have of the two of us together are the three we submitted with our I-129F! We also can't prove that we talk on the phone at all, let alone every night, because he calls me using his VOIP plan that has unlimited calling within North America. I have a few pictures of him cuddling on the sofa with my dog and a few pictures from vacations that have one or the other of us in them (well, really isn't that what you normally have when you take a vacation?). I do have boarding passes showing us arriving at SeaTac and MSP together and others showing we've visited each other's cities. I'm bringing all that plus copies of a few of his emails and a printout of my email inbox showing that he emails me every day.

As long as you have something, I think you'll be fine.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-28 16:19:00
CanadaJust had to share!
That's amazing--congratulations!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-31 10:31:00
CanadaReschedule appointment?
I didn't know he only took appointments one day a week! I know they are a lot more flexible about rescheduling than Montreal.

This is a guess, but I think it may be pretty likely that they have already scheduled other interviews for the same week they gave you yours. This is assuming they fill in the interview slots more or less in order. But perhaps the following week is still open? Do they take phone calls about interview appointments?

You could always keep the appointment, see Dr Morgan the previous week, and have a vacation in between the two (assuming you can afford to do this). Southern BC is really lovely. We are planning a week on Vancouver Island after the interview, assuming we get enough advance notice of our date to book something nice there.

Carla rescheduled her interview, but that was last year and I am not sure the exact circumstnaces.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-31 16:49:00
CanadaVancouver Interview 4-7-08 (YAY!!!)
Okay, for some reason I thought it was the Canadian previous marriage certificate you needed. For the US, again, it will vary by state or county, but you have to go to the office of vital statistics or county clerk or whatever government agency it is directly. Do you live in or near the county you were originally married to your ex in? If so, I would go in person and try doing what I suggested above.

In case you do not know what office it is, here is how i figured out how to get my birth certificate: I googled "birth certificate" and the name of the county I was born in and came up with a link to the Office of Vital Statistics for that county. It gave instructions on how to order it. In person was one option, though it wasn't an option for me since I live nowhere near there anymore. Try "marriage certificate" and the county where you were married.

Again, good luck to you!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-01 12:06:00
CanadaVancouver Interview 4-7-08 (YAY!!!)
You should be get a certified copy of the marriage certificate from a registry office fairly easily. I'm sure this varies by province--maybe even by city--but when my fiance got a certified copy of his first wife's death certificate for the I-129F, he went to the registry office in person and was able to pick it up from them within a few days. That's in Alberta. I see in your time line that you had problems getting the long form birth certificate---I'm not sure what happened, but I would not assume the same screw-up will happen. Go to a registry office today and see how quickly you can get it if you can pick it up in person. If it won't be ready in time, see if you can have it expedited (probably by paying an extra fee).

We are a bit confused as to why it is required at all. If his first marriage was never legally valid, we would still be free to marry. But for whatever reason, they do specifically ask for it. I think that if you do not have it in time for the interview, it will be a matter of sending it in once you get it and then they will issue the visa. That would be inconvenient, but probably I really doubt you would need to go have a whole new interview over this.

Good luck---both with the marriage certificate and with the interview!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-01 11:59:00
CanadaWhat to expect at the interview?
That was fast J--I knew your interview was coming up but somehow I did not know you'd had it already. Congratulations!

QUOTE
Make sure all your forms are printed off from the computer and not handwritten!


Does the I 134 have to be filled out on line? I just tried doing it this morning and my employer does not fit in the "name of concern" box. FFS, I work for the State of Illinois, which is not exactly a lengthy name! Can I change the font on it so there are no serifs on the I and it fits? *Perplexed now.*
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-02 15:00:00
CanadaPacket 3 checklist question
QUOTE (rae_and_scott @ Apr 3 2008, 10:58 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
We actually filled out the online form for the long-form birth certificate ourselves, online. Then they (whoever "they" are) contacted my SO saying some form needed to be signed by his parents. I'm not really sure. But that form is on it's way to his parents to be signed, then back to him, then back to "them", and then they will issue the long form certificate, apparently. With his adopted parents (real parents for sure, as a few of you have pointed out) names on it. So I hope we are on the right track. I really don't understand what the confusion is about either, as no one else seems to have had to do this step... but I guess we'll find out!


Okay, I think I misunderstood what you meant when you said his parents had to sign something--I thought you meant the birth parents had to sign something to release information. I don't know why his parents would have to sign something to release his birth certificate to him. This is a pure guess, but it may simply be that some of the information they ask for as a security feature is unapplicable to an adopted child (like the hospital he was born at or his exact time of birth) and the form from his parents takes the place of those questions as a security measure. That is still kind of stupid, though, becuase most kids raised by their biological parents wouldn't know that stuff either. I only know it from seeing it on the long form of my birth certificate!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-03 11:46:00
CanadaPacket 3 checklist question
Rae, I'm not sure what is going on with your fiance's birth certificate exactly, but what it SOUNDS like is your attorney is trying to get the birth certificate that was issued before he was adopted. There should also be a birth certificate that was issued after he was adopted, with his adoptive parents' names on it. Depending on the form used by his province (or city or county), there may be some blank spaces. My birth certificate, for example, lists the exact time I was born, my weight at birth, the obstetrician who delivered me, and some of my mom's medical history (previous pregnancies). None of that will be on his birth certificate even if there are spaces for it. But none of it is necessary. The instructions say the birth certificate should include at least the names of both parents (parents = adoptive parents).

I'm not sure what to suggest doing, but I think what you really need is the post-adoption birth certificate. When you filled out all your forms, you must have listed the names of his adoptive parents in spaces for parents' names (because they are his parents!).

If there is some reason THAT birth certificate can't be obtained, then you have to look at what your checklist says to bring in the case of an unobtainable birth certificate.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-03 10:33:00
CanadaIs this okay?
I, too, was going to suggest calling now and booking your medical appointment for May 20. No reason you can't do that. I don't know if Montreal's checklist has a section where you can put a requested interview date, as Vancouver's does (and I also don't know how good they are about honoring a request), but if it does you can try saying "anything after May 27" just to make sure you have time to get your medical results before going to your interview. As slow as Montreal is, I doubt that is going to be an issue, but you may as well try to guaranty it if you can.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-02 10:12:00
CanadaDS-156, question 29 supplement
Thanks. I know I'm probably being ####### about this. We just did a supplement for the same question on DS 230 and made an extra copy for the DS 156 (why the frig do they ask the same question 900 times??????). I was just wondering if they really insisted on it being on that extra page with the bar code because they want it to have the stupid bar code.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-03 13:09:00
CanadaDS-156, question 29 supplement
Is there a trick to making all the "additional visits" fit in the box on the supplement page? If not, is it okay for him to use a separate sheet for a supplement listing them the way he did for question 25 on the DS 230? On the DS 230, he had a list of 14 specific trips (one was a three-week road trip, 6 or 7 were visits to see me) and then "various weekend visits."
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-03 11:56:00
CanadaVancouver Interview Yeah!
QUOTE (Carlawarla @ Mar 31 2008, 07:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Congratulations! The only question I don't think was answered was what happens if you don't get the hard copy of your interview date and time? Just print off a copy of the email you received.


devil.gif

I suppose you could also try asking them to send you another copy--who knows if it would get to you in time, but it might.

Good luck at the interview!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-01 13:09:00
CanadaVancouver Interview Yeah!
Penn, congrats!

A-Team, have you still not gotten your date? I wonder if they have sent it out and just not bothered emailing? This is why we are going to ask for a late May interview. If they drag their feet, we will still get plenty of notice. But I'm starting to think they can drag their feet enough that we won't get much notice anyway. Grrr. Anyway, I really hope you get your interview date soon--like maybe today would be nice!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-31 10:20:00
Canadawhere does it says i need the original noa2 + USC original birth certificate ???
I know Montreal is different from Vancouver but I am pretty sure all you will get from Montreal in packet 4 is an official interview appointment letter.

You are not going to have to submit a copy of your fiance's birth certificate to the consulate for exactly the reason fwaguy said. VJ recommends having it in the guides because all he had to submit in the I-129F was a photocopy of his birth certificate and they can (but likely won't) ask to see originals of any documents that were included as photocopies in the I-129F.

The NOA2 is needed when you apply for adjustment of status. I don't think the consulate needs that at all. VJ guides do recommend sending it to the non USC fiance(e) though.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 14:35:00
CanadaI Love You, Vancouver!!! I'll Miss You!!!
Wow, that's about twice what it was when I lived there! But it is less than housing in Vancouver.

FYI, there is a pretty good public transit system from the East Bay and Peninsula (BART). There is also a pretty extensive network of buses within the city (MUNI) but I never really used those (I lived in Berkeley and commuted to South of Market, so just using BART was easiest). The few times I did, I found them to be a little erratic (ie, you wait 20 minutes before a single bus shows up and then four show up in a row) but at least they provide pretty good coverage. Driving in SF is HELLACIOUS. I moved away 9 years ago, so I'm not much help on anything specific; just wanted to point out that you don't have to drive into town if you don't want to.

Enjoy your move and your life with your SO!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 16:46:00
CanadaMontreal wedding locations
What I meant was a printed bridal magazine for your local area that is specific to the city or region. I would think Montreal might have some (being a large city). I'm in more or less the same situation--we are having our wedding in Bellingham, Washington, where my parents live. I have a friend who works in a place that does weddings and events so I have access to all kinds of resources locally, but they don't help me any!

A wedding planner can be a good idea if you do not have anyone who can help with some of the stuff that needs to be done in advance locally. If nothing else, they will know all the options for venues, catering, cakes, flowers, whatever you need or want, and you may be able to find quite a bit of that online, but it won't be nearly as complete.

Our venue has recommended local vendors for almost everything you could want, so we are just going with them. Personally, I was a little wary of using a wedding planner because the whole wedding industry seems so geared towards a lot of frou-frou fluff that I don't really want. According to the one I did talk to, I am supposed to have a theme and colors for my wedding. And a goal for the day beyond getting married and having a lovely party to celebrate. And this was in the very casual pacific northwest! #######?
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 13:13:00
CanadaMontreal wedding locations
I'm not familiar with Montreal, but I can make a few kind of generic suggestions. First of all, what kind of places did your fiance's friends use for their receptions? Many reception venues also have facilities for ceremonies as well.

Hotels are often a good place for weddings, as your guests can stay in the same place the wedding is held. If you find a nice historic hotel, you don't have to worry so much about decor, since it will already look lovely. Our wedding is going to be in a historic manor that essentially just rents itself out for weddings and music recitals and other events. Many cities have similar facilities. Parks can be nice for outdoor weddings. In St Louis, you can have weddings at the botanical garden! If you want something really simple, you can even have it in the backyard of a friend or relative.

Wedding guides, goofy as they are with their "you've dreamed of your wedding day since you were a little girl" and "indulge your inner princess" #######, can be a good source of ideas for locations. Find a local guide next time you are there. There is a good local one here that gives a list of local venues and tells for each whether it includes ceremony facilities, the minimum and maximum number of people it can accomodate, whether it has its own caterer, and so on. They aren't all like that, though, unfortunately.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 11:30:00