ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
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
CanadaInterview today!!
dancin5hr.gif dancin5hr.gif dancin5hr.gif dancin5hr.gif dancin5hr.gif

Congratulations, Aaralyn!!!!!

kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-08 09:43:00
CanadaChrist You Know It Ain't Easy, You Know How Hard It Can Be
I'm glad he finally has it!!

kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-07 10:04:00
CanadaOMG, OMG!!
I don't know why I'm nervous actually. We've asked for an interview date over a month from now and they are checking for things I already know he doesn't have. Unless someone sitting next to him on his flight home in February had TB, anyway.

Thanks for your well wishes everyone!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 15:31:00
CanadaOMG, OMG!!
He might be done and on his way to the lab thingie by now. I am so nervous I forgot it is only one hour earlier in Alberta than it is in Illinois. I can't wait to hear his voice on the phone.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 15:05:00
CanadaWhat can touches after NOA2 mean?
I did not look at your timeline before replying. It is common to get a touch or two in the first few days after your NOA2. I would still guess it's them sending it to NVC, but FFS that took them a long time if that's what it is!

Now I'm curious enough to see if I got any touches after February 27th....
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 12:50:00
CanadaWhat can touches after NOA2 mean?
Probably means that is when they are mailing the petition to NVC or the hard copy to you.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 12:46:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
Oh, yes, sorry about that, Mumsie. We've been sending all our worst weather to you when we finished with it. Spread the misery. Well trust me, if you get this tomorrow, heeding your sister's fashion advice would be wise.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 16:18:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
If I had listened to Len and come to work nekkid today, I would not be waiting for my socks and boots to dry. Grrrrr. I need to grow gills!

But I see you two are fighting over the wedding dress. You're not going to solve this problem by wearing matching wedding dresses, are you?
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 15:45:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
This morning I saw a paper machier Donald Duck sculpture in the window of the art gallery next to my coffee shop. I thought of this thread and had to try very hard to contain the sniggering!

Nekkid is good. That way you don't have to worry about whether your clothes match. As for Britney Spears working at the consulate, wouldn't it be a lovely bit of irony for Brit to be the one deciding whether our relationships are bona fide? Given her marital track record she should be an expert in the subject by now.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-09 11:51:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
rofl.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-07 16:53:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
QUOTE (IR5FORMUMSIE @ Apr 7 2008, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (rae_and_scott @ Apr 7 2008, 01:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
laughing.gif
hey, Donald Duck gets away with it. tongue.gif

Wasn't he was a male Go-Go dancer? laughing.gif


Yes. But he couldn't fit the go-go boots over his big webbed feet and eventually he was let go due to safety concerns about go-go dancing barefoot. That also explains the lack of pants. The weight of all the money tossed into them essentially pantsed the poor duck.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-07 16:32:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
Cheeky, cheeky!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 16:21:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
QUOTE (liz_legend @ Apr 4 2008, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey, it was my picture, hence my @ss!!!!



You must be very flexible to be able to take that picture of your own butt.

I'm kind of impressed. innocent.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 15:57:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
During one of the rare moments it isn't pressed against the window of your car while you are driving down the freeway, that is! jest.gif


rofl.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 15:53:00
CanadaDressing for your interview
Hahahahaha!! This thread has made my day!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-04 12:44:00
CanadaVancouver medical office to Consulate
Thanks, J&B. That's good to know for us too. Neither of us is familiar with the area.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 11:59:00
CanadaVancouver medical office to Consulate
I'm glad it worked out!

I don't know how hard it is to find parking in the area. If it is like most large US cities, you are probably better off walking from the medical office to the consulate so you don't have to waste time looking for parking, but maybe someone more familiar with Vancouver will correct me on this. I mention it only because my fiance says that parking in downtown Edmonton is never an issue and was taken by surprise when we could not find an on-street parking space in downtown Minneapolis.

Anyway---April 22 is SOON!! Good luck at the interview and have a wonderful few days in Vancouver with your fiance!!! kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 10:48:00
CanadaMedical exam in Calgary
I thought the spa-doctor office combo was really odd too, but when I mentioned it to my coworker (whose husband is a chiropractor) she said that is pretty typical for medical offices whose main specialty is cosmetic, as Dr Viljoen's is.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-15 10:42:00
CanadaPeace Arch POE question
QUOTE (Krikit @ Nov 29 2007, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And now for the really important questions, Jun. Has anyone commented on your Honourary Pass and did they make the biometrics connection? laughing.gif


Hey, I was going to comment on it! good.gif

Jun, two things to consider if you want to come in through Vancouver: (1) the lines to cross the border are stupidly long because Canadian stores have not lowered their prices to reflect the fact that the Canadian petrodollar is above parity with the US peso, and (2) he might not be allowed to enter Canada on a one-way ticket with enough luggage that he is clearly moving. I did this without even thinking about it when I moved home from Europe--I flew into Vancouver on a one-way ticket from Warsaw carrying two suitcases that were both quite close to the 32-kg limit KLM had to avoid overload--but that was pre-9/11 and it was probably pretty stupid even then. It might not be a big deal--maybe he needs a transit visa to go through Canada or a round trip ticket he will only use part of--but you should check into it first.

I almost said the Canadian dollor is above "parody" instead of "parity"..... rolleyes.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2007-11-30 12:30:00
Canadayes! have an interview tomorrow morning !!!
QUOTE (~Laura and Nick~ @ Apr 16 2008, 02:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Okay, wanna know how blonde I am?
I've seen this thread many times but for some reason when I read it just now my heart jumped into my throat, I thought you got an interview!!! ha!
LOL
I'm a goober star_smile.gif


Hahahahaha! That was the same reaction I just had! And I'm a redhead so I have no excuse.

Melusine, second interviews are always a good sign. Good luck!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-16 15:39:00
Canadayes! have an interview tomorrow morning !!!
Yes, good luck!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-10 15:16:00
CanadaVancouver Interview Review!
Aww, congratulations!

I'm sorry I forgot to check in sooner. We've been having earthquakes in the midwest so I sort of forgot about everyone's interviews (plus ours is a ways off and all we need to do is print out some photos and make travel plans so it's all been pushed to the back of my mind for a bit).
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-25 13:40:00
CanadaGood luck with your interview tomorrow kcmetzy!!
Woohoo!! Congrats! kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-28 12:23:00
CanadaGood luck with your interview tomorrow kcmetzy!!
Yes, good luck! Now you can finally be together.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-21 10:56:00
CanadaI have arrived!
kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif kicking.gif

Congratulations and welcome!!

Wedding planning includes tasting wedding cake samples. That's the fun part.

QUOTE (TheATeam @ Apr 27 2008, 12:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The most nerve wracking part of the day was wondering how my dog was making out on the plane trip! I was so happy to get in last night.


As a dog mama, I totally understand that sentiment!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-28 12:10:00
Canadabirth certificate original
Lona, thank you. That's what I thought, but I wanted to be sure.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-03 10:28:00
Canadabirth certificate original
It needs to be an original or certified copy. I have no idea how you would go about getting one from Pakistan, but Lona's suggestion sounds like a good place to start. Best of luck! And good luck on your interview, too.

I have a related question. I know that they ask for one original or certified copy and one copy. We have my fiance's original birth certificate, but we only have one, no certified copies or anything. Will they just ask to see the original and keep the copy or will they need a certified copy submitted?
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-03 09:47:00
CanadaK-1 interview in Vancouver tomorrow
Good luck!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-28 12:50:00
CanadaColumbia Ice Fields (Alberta)
Oooh!! Enjoy your trip! The Rockies in Alberta are stunning! (Why is he moving to the midwest instead of me moving there, again?)

I've only been there twice, so I'm not exactly a font of wisdom and advice, but I will say I enjoyed Banff a lot more the first time I was there--off season in May--than I did when my fiance and I were there in August, mainly because it was sooooo crowded the second time. Preferred Jasper quite a bit for that reason.

Some stuff I enjoyed there that I can remember: 6 bridges hiking trail (I don't think that's the actual name, but it's close--I'll look at our pictures tonight and see what it was called), the Jasper tramway (but it was COLD at the top!!!), the Columbia Ice Fields glacier snow coach tour, and there is an abandoned mining town with a self-guided trail in Banff that isn't likely to be very crowded (can't remember the name but maybe someone here knows what I'm talking about).

When I went to Banff in 2004, we stayed in Canmore, which was very nice. I have never stayed right in Banff so I can't really compare, but I would recommend it. There were actually some rather nice restaurants both in Jasper Townsite and in Canmore.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-05-01 12:12:00
CanadaPicking up your visa the next day in Vancouver
Oh poo. That's what I thought, but I was hoping that was for people with morning interviews picking it up the same day. That means we can really only safely plan on taking the 5 pm ferry. Well, better to know that ahead of time.

Thank you, Stacey!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-30 11:27:00
CanadaPicking up your visa the next day in Vancouver
For people who have had afternoon interviews at Vancouver, when the next day do they want you to pick it up? We're trying to arrange a vacation on Vancouver Island around the interview, so there is a difference in which ferries we can take.

Thanks.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-04-30 11:11:00
CanadaRunning lights - importing your car in to the U.S.
Oh doink. It actually SAYS to disable them. No idea in that case. I might try looking that up (if it's in the Code of Federal Regulations, which it may not be). I was under the impression that daytime running lights are required on cars manufactured after a certain date (what date, I don't know). If you do have to disable them, would it satisfy Alberta law to drive with the headlights turned on manually?
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-20 13:24:00
CanadaRunning lights - importing your car in to the U.S.
I think you have to have daytime running lights in the US as well. To be honest, I know virtually nothing about the car import issue. My fiance dealt with it and it turns out his Japanese import was designed to be compliant with both US and Canadian standards, so there is no issue with it. But before realizing this, he looked into the specific requirements and I just remember him saying something about daytime running lights being a requirement for cars manufactured after some specific date. The car I drove until two years ago did not have them (and it was a 1996 Saturn, not all THAT old) so I was surprised. According to him, anyway, both Canada and the US require them but you required it first.

I realize that is not at all helpful, I mention it only because I don't THINK disconnecting them will solve the problem. I could be wrong on that, though, and I'm sure someone on here will know. Can you get a different type of bulb?

It is a bit mind-boggling that there would be a brightness standard for DAYTIME running lights.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-03-20 13:18:00
CanadaVancouver airport shuttles
I know that I have seen a link for this before. I remember looking at it and reading the "border crossing information" section. But I cannot find it now. I need a shuttle from Vancouver airport to Bellingham, Washington (I am going to visit my parents in Bellingham after we have our interview). Anyone know what it is called or have a link?
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-05-06 13:04:00
CanadaAnyone have in interview in Vancouver next week?
Ours is two weeks after yours. Not sure who else has one coming up, aside from Daly, who has her interview the same day as ours.

Good luck! And yes, I'm sure you will do fine.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-05-07 11:56:00
CanadaAutumnchik's Happy Baby Boy
Awww! What a cutie! Congratulations to all three of you (including Declan, of course!).
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-05-19 13:31:00
CanadaLet's Wish Laura a Very Happy Birthday
Aww, happy birthday, Laura!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-05-19 13:26:00
CanadaHappy Birthday
Happy birthday!
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-05-20 10:25:00
CanadaJust found out didn't get a June interview....how disappointing!
I'm sorry to hear that, Linda. But on a happier note, happy anniversary!

You share an anniversary with my parents, only they will be celebrating their 45th anniversary.
SonoranSongbirdFemaleCanada2008-05-20 10:30:00