biggish data

Maybe I'm thick, but I don't see it...

Big ugly uncontrolled area in the middle, the main road is curved, there's a building right at one of the corners killing the sightlines from one of the entrances, and you just get the general feeling that cars could roll through that patch of ground from just about anywhere.

With the increasing urban sprawl of Chicago, apparently it's fairly high traffic too, apparently.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-10 17:37:00

Ooohhh, real-life Frogger!

Or better yet, Activision's "Freeway" for the Atari 2600!

http://en.wikipedia....ay_(video_game)

Edited by HeatDeath, 10 March 2010 - 05:29 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-10 17:27:00

This is apparently the worst intersection in the US, and if you look at the satellite view, you'll see why:

http://maps.google.c...e...mp;t=k&z=19

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-10 17:10:00

Salt Lake City is pretty normal: only weirdnesses here are single point urban exchanges:

And continuous flow intersections, which are quite interesting:
oVI3Ledw7mc

There are also collector-distributor roads on the interstate in a couple of places:
http://en.wikipedia....istributor_road

But those are bog-standard by comparison.

[I know Tom Cruise was making fun of interstate highway traffic engineering in Mission Impossible III, but everything he said about it mockingly sounded really cool to me

]

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-10 16:44:00

"I want to see mountains again. Mountains, Gandalf!"

Salt Lake City is the largest city in North America with real proximity to real mountains. (Don't talk to me about Denver. I flew through there. The city is on a plain. The mountains must be an hour away!)

Winnipeg is flat like a freakin' table top.

Winnipeg -> SLC = TOTAL upgrade!

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-05 15:15:00

Sending additional documents to the consulate

Congratulations!

I have no idea what courier companies Vancouver will accept, if any.
Email them at VancouverK@state.gov. Include the Vancouver case number from your Packet 3. They'll get back to you in a day or two, tops, with the authoritative answer.

Then let us know

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-10 21:07:00

Education vs Employment

When I finished my computer science degree I realized 3 things:

1 ) I loved coding for myself.
2 ) I hated coding on deadlines for other people's projects.
3 ) There were very few jobs for CS majors in Winnipeg except as network sysadmins, which I had no interest in at all.

So I went back to University for two years and got a two-year after-degree Bachelor of Education, and started teaching computer courses at the middle school and high school level. High demand skillset. My math education prof remarked that me and the two other CS majors in the class "might actually get to teach your majors in the first few years of your career." [The implication being that everyone else would be teaching math, no matter what their other subject matter specialty area was

]

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-09 20:40:00

Medical Examine/ Consulate Appointment in Vancouver

Hi,

My fiance and I are just finishing up the paperwork for the consulate in Vancouver. I have a few questions to anyone who can answer.

*How can you get a medical appointment BEFORE you know the date of the consulate appointment? And any advice relating to this

*How long will be have to wait for an appointment? As in, when is the soonest we could get one? Do you think its possible to have an appointment before April 17th?

*Do they really take into account the proposed wedding date? We are supposed to be getting married May 22, 2010 (a date we picked months ago.) Of course, if the visa isn't appoved by then, we will go ahead and have a ceremony on that date still, and do it legally asap...

*How long do the police certificates take from RCMP? He is in the US right now, but would it be faster to go to Canada to obtain one vs mailing in prints? Can you receive the certificate in just a day?

Any answers or other advice is great!

Thanks,

DoniRae

I had emailed Vancouver about this prior to faxing in my Packet 3 checklist, so on my checklist, I wrote that "Per our email, medical appointment will be arranged once interview date is assigned." The medical clinic only does immigration medicals once a week, Wednesdays at 6:30 am. so request a Thursday interview if you can get it, or Wednesday afternoon if necessary, and then the medical clinic will slot you into the nearest Wednesday morning before.

I ended up doing my medical on Wednesday morning, going to my interview that afternoon at 1:30, then hiking back to the clinic to pick up the results, then delivering them back to the consulate (which closes at 4). Busy Wednesday!

I was approved, and told I could pick up my passport+visa after 2:15 the next day. So you can do the whole thing in two days. I would rather have had a Thursday interview, and done the whole thing over three days, but the consulate was booked up on the Thursday and anyways I didn't want to miss more work than necessary.

Useful piece of advice, BTW: There is a hotel called the Burrard Inn literally next door to the medical clinic. Budget rooms: very very basic, but INCREDIBLY convenient for the early morning medical exam appointment lineup. (You really want to be there at about ten to six. That way you can get through quickly and be out of there by 9:30ish.)

When I got my Packet 4, the interview was scheduled for about 6 weeks later (this was April-May 2009). Because the school I taught at was already wondering if I was returning in September, and I couldn't tell them either way without having the visa in hand, I asked Vancouver if they could move me up from the end of May to somewhat earlier in May, and they gave me April 29th, only 2 weeks from then!

I spent an extremely busy hour trying to figure out if I could even get decently priced flights and hotel rooms on that short of notice!

As noted above, Vancouver was really nice, easy to deal with, and accommodating for me. [You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw how prompt an interview they were willing to give me!] I'm sure they'll try their best, given a proposed wedding date, to get you an interview a reasonable amount of time in advance, if at all possible. It wasn't really relevant for us. This was in mid April and our planned wedding date wasn't until September.

My understanding with RCMP police certificates is that if you don't have a record, they can be done in minutes to days, depending on the office. I went to the local detachment and showed them my Packet 3 checklist. They knew exactly what i needed and the whole thing took less than 30 minutes. Some people I've read here get told to come back in a few days, but it's still pretty short. OTOH, if you have a record and they need to check your prints, it can take several weeks to 1-2 months. I have no idea if you can order one without being physically present in the station/detachment, or how that might affect processing times.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-13 02:09:00

No Quick Turnaround after POE?

I lugged mine across Vancouver from the medical to the interview, and they didn't want to see it. But they did say the PoE would want to see it. So I kept it all nice and made sure it wasn't packed when I drove down. The PoE wasn't the slightest bit interested to see it. So now it's in the top of my closet, where it will happily expire at the end of April without anyone in officialdom even having had seen it except the CS in Vancouver who checked "Xray normal" on the medical report.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-02-12 10:04:00

No Quick Turnaround after POE?

CBP officer? I was referring to a ConOff, or Consular Officer (also known as a VO, Visa Officer/Official) - ya know - the USCitizen worker that INTERVIEWED YOU ON INTERVIEW at the Embassy/Consulate's Immigration Visa Unit.

Lol. Oops. Actually, that reinforces my point

If the CBP officers, the guys at the front lines who actually admit you to the country, are fuzzy on the rules for K-1 and immigrant visas the vast majority of the time, how much more should we expect that from the consular officers, who are that much farther removed from the entry and admittance process?

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-02-11 13:26:00

No Quick Turnaround after POE?

The CBP officer is probably just thinking of the K-1 visa, for which that is perfectly valid and very important advice. Remember, they don't see a lot of K-1 OR immigrant visas, particularly at the smaller highway PoEs, so they almost certainly don't keep the fine details of each one in short term memory. That's what the reference binders in the office are for

I crossed at Pembina, ND, the busiest highway crossing between the Great Lakes and the Rockies. It still took the guy (who wasn't a newbie) 90 minutes of flipping through binders to process my file, and even after that he needed an older guy to show him how to make an I-94 that wasn't multiple-entry. I was also advised not to return to Canada without the GC in hand. I knew the AP would also work, but it didn't seem wise at the time to quibble with him about a technicality

If they're fuzzy on the process (which is the vast majority of officers the vast majority of the time, I suspect) then it makes sense that they'd give you the safest, most conservative advice applicable. No one entering on a K1 or CR1 visa will go wrong by staying, but K1s will screw up their lives quite badly if they hit a Starbucks and then go back to Canada. It's actually a good stretegy for us to remember when we post here: If you can only be bothered to remember one rule, remember and quote the one that won't screw up people's lives

Edited by HeatDeath, 11 February 2010 - 01:18 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-02-11 13:17:00

K1 interview, documents and doubts! And money.

Several points:

I interviewed in Vancouver for a K-1 at the end of last April. Neither myself nor my USC now-wife had been previously married, and I don't have my Packet 3 handy, so I don't know about needing previous marriage certificates. [It stands to reason, though, and it certainly won't hurt to have them handy.] I do know they definitely need final divorce decrees for all previous marriages from both partners. The defining requirement of eligibility for a K-1 is that both the petitioner and the beneficiary are legally "free to marry". They check this requirement at each step in the K-1 process - I-129F (via your letter of intent), visa application, PoE, AOS (making sure you now are married) - and you need to be able to prove the appropriate status at each step.

I was not asked for a copy of my USC now-wife's birth certificate by the consulate at any time. They already had a copy of it from the I-129F petition packet that was sent to them form the NVC anyways. I did bring a copy of my I-129F packet, just in case, so I had one on me, but neither the Packet 3 nor the interviewing IO asked for it.

To amplify B+U's correct advice: an IRS tax transcript contains all of the information about a person's tax return for the given year. No other tax documentation is required. It contains the information from the 1040, the W2s, the 1099s, and any and all other forms and schedules that were included with that year's tax return. Copies of the actual W2s, 1099s, etc, are only necessary if you are sending a copy of the completed 1040. The completed 1040 by itself is not a complete record of your taxes for that year, and requires the additional documentation. A tax transcript already contains all of the information from all of those forms, so no additional documentation is required.

I can vouch for customhouse.ca. Just like Paypal, except they have way better exchange rates, no fees if you use EFT as the payment method, (transfers take about 10 days though, so plan ahead) and amazing customer service: light-years better than the useless indifference of Paypal's "customer support" droids.

If you have sent a I-134 filled out by you, the documentation you listed for you, and an I-134 filled out by your mother, and the documentation you listed for her, and she is reasonably above the poverty levels for a household that includes you two, then yes, that should be fine for Vancouver. Your Mom's W2's are probably extraneous, since, as noted above, the transcripts will contain all of that information as well, but including them will not hurt. Not listing her property should make no difference if her income is sufficient. While we listed my now-mother-in-law's property on her cosponsoring I-134, we did not on her joint-sponsoring I-864, and it was approved without difficulty, and the I-864 is both more strict and more legally binding than an I-134, so I think that part should be fine as well.

Edited by HeatDeath, 20 March 2010 - 07:27 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-20 19:25:00

I-134 and the Vancouver Consulate

As long as you include the 1040, all W2's, and all 1099s, I do not believe Vancouver has a strong preference. We did not order transcripts. We used photocopies of these tax forms and were approved at the K-1 interview without mention of the tax information.

My understanding is that when you order the transcript, they can be faxed to you almost immediately, or sent out in approximately one week. As I stated, Vancouver expressed no preference to me, and accepted and approved the application with the photocopied tax forms without any comment about the tax documentation.

Edited by HeatDeath, 20 March 2010 - 07:36 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-20 19:33:00

Medical results at interview

I have type 2 diabetes (very mild and under tight control, thank G-d), which I duly reported to the CS at my medical examination via a doctor's letter (which my doctor really, REALLY didn't want to give me, and ended up charging me $26 for, but that's another story). This is apparently a "Class B" condition, which probably means "not a public health risk, but requiring ongoing care and/or followup upon arrival in the US". The IO was slightly concerned that I had no immediate method of getting health insurance, but approved me anyways.[She said, jokingly, something to the effect of "If we start denying people just for having diabetes the whole system would collapse!

] I ended up actually having "Medical: Class B" put in the annotation field on the bottom of my K-1 visa. Whether that was a procedural necessity or up to the IO's discretion, I don't know.

The general upshot is that, as you have experienced, Class B conditions are not an obstacle to approval. Depending on what the medical condition is, and whether or not you knew about it before, it's nothing to worry about.

If you want more info about what the actual medical report says, there is an option. The guy at the consulate who handed me my visa packet told me "This envelope contains three copies of your medical report. Ask the border officer for one of them when you enter the US." I did so, explaining about the guy at the consulate and saying that I probably needed it for AOS. The CBP officer was already a little crusty at that point (dealing with my papers for a hour and a half(!) will probably do that

), but seemed to have no real problem with it, and I ended up with a full copy of my medical. It will explain in detail precisely what the Class B condition is.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-21 15:39:00

Vancouver interview question (K1)

My USC now-wife was unemployed through the whole process. When they asked me what she made I said she was between jobs right now. The IO expressed some concern about how I would get health insurance with an unemployed USC spouse, but as the co sponsor (my now mother in law)'s I-134 showed her to be well above the poverty thresholds, it wasn't a problem for approval.

The IO's overriding concern is whether your fiance meets the legal requirement "not likely [in the estimation of the IO] to become a public charge." Work in retail is still work, and shouldn't be a problem, especially if he already has work experience in the field.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-26 22:57:00

Expressport Envelope!

I know this question has been answered probably a thousand times but I was just wondering if someone could tell me what size express port envelope do we need for the interview?
Thank you in advance for your answers!
KnR

They're going to use the expresspost envelope to mail you a sealed envelope containing an approximately half inch+ stack of normal letter sized paper documents, in addition to your passport, so the expresspost envelope needs to be fairly large.

It may not be necessary to actually bring the expresspost envelope to the interview. I interviewed at Vancouver last April. There is a post office right across the street, so I didn't bother, figuring I could always run and get one if I was told I needed it. Turned out I didn't - they said I could just pick it up the next day. I think Montreal might not do this, and I don't know if even Vancouver have been doing next-day pickups recently.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-25 18:49:00

health insurance in usa

My USC now-wife was unemployed at the time of my K-1 interview in Vancouver. We had a cosponsor - her mother - for the I-134s. I was asked about medical insurance at the interview, and answered honestly that we probably weren't going to have any for a while, in all likelihood until after I filed for AOD and EAD and found work. The CO did express concern about the lack of medical insurance (particularly in regards to my (very mild and under tight control, but she had no real way of knowing that) Type II diabetes), but acknowledged that it was not, in itself, any kind of valid reason to deny the visa.

Just be honest about the situation, and everything should be fine.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-28 12:19:00

Long Form Birth Certificate

I've been reading about long form birth certificates but the ones I got from Italy are really just slightly longer than an 8x10/11 sheet. That's all they give you so I'm hoping this won't be an issue....it's as good as it gets.

...

If it has your parent's names on it, it should be fine. That's primarily what the US/Canada/UK mean when they call one format "long form" vs. "short form" - the "short form" birth certificate lacks the parent's names.

The US Consulate in Italy should be able to give more localized advice on exactly which format to order from the Italian government.

Edited by HeatDeath, 30 March 2010 - 02:05 AM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-03-30 02:04:00

Need knowledgeable U.S/Canadian About Border Crossing

I take great joy in the fact that it obviously bugged the snot out of him that I was as clean as a whistle :lol:

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-03 13:46:00

Need knowledgeable U.S/Canadian About Border Crossing

The risk of getting caught in a lie and banned from the States from any amount of time is truly not worth it.

It is common for the Canadian border patrols to ask where she has been and for how long, the value of any goods she has brought back, etc, but "grilled" is more than most of us have seen. Perhaps give a little more insight into what went on there. Did something she say possibly trigger a concern?

I don't know if I'd call it a "grilling", but the last time I came back to Canada from the US (on my last visit prior to getting my K-1) Canadian customs pulled me into secondary, went through my suitcase and did a cursory search of the photos on my laptop. It was more scrutiny than I've ever received from US Customs, even when I PoE'd a few months later. [At PoE the border officer took an hour and a half going through my file, and asked a pointed question or two about why my fiancee wasn't with me and my relationship with her parents, but didn't look in any of my stuff at all.]

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-03 12:02:00

Preparing to book flight for med/interview in Vancouver, quick question

I've told garnet about this in another thread, but for the benefit of future readers I'll repeat: There is a cheap hotel called the Burrard Inn, which has budget rooms for 60-70 per night, which is located right next door to the medical clinic, on the very same block. VERY convenient for getting to the medical before 6 am. You'll want to request a room in the back, away from the main street. A bunch of older reviews online claim that it isn't clean, but it's been renovated, and may be under new ownership, and it was totally totally fine when I was there. But even for all that, the location simply CANNOT be beat.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-06 23:06:00

Preparing to book flight for med/interview in Vancouver, quick question

My interview was at the end of April last year. [Almost a year ago now... wow...] Anyways, both my medical and interview were on a Wednesday, and I was able to pick up my visa on the day following the interview, in the early afternoon. Apparently sometimes they can do this, and sometimes they can't, depending on how busy they are and if all of their background check computer systems are working properly.

When people have the medical done the same day as the interview, which is very common for Vancouver, the medical results are never available prior to the beginning of the interview. You go do your interview, then you go and pick up the medical results and bring them back, and then they finish the interview. Sometimes they will tell you that you are approved pending the medical results before you go to pick them up. So having the medical after the interview is a fairly common practice for them. That shouldn't be a problem, if it comes to that.

But it probably won't. The medicals are very much an assembly-line process. Unless they are ridiculously overbooked on that particular day, they can virtually always squeeze one more person into the lineup, even at fairly short notice. It sounds like you should be fine.

Edited by HeatDeath, 06 April 2010 - 08:45 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-06 20:43:00

Is there a Refund for I-129f visa?

USCIS is a big fan of the Ferengi's First Rule of Acquisition:

"Once you get their money, you never give it back."

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-08 18:40:00

Our documents for Vancouver K1 Interview

Looks good to me garnet

As far as requesting a copy of your medical goes, I've never heard of that before. What would having a copy of your medical really do for you anyways? Your medical results don't contain an I-693, only a DS 2035, which is what the foreign panel physicians use to record vaccination records. Either way you need to take a copy of you vaccination supplement (which the doctor gives you after your medical anyway) and have it transcribed. Maybe if it gets lost? I guess you would have a copy to send in if that was to happen. I just seriously haven't heard of that before.

Yeah, I'd never heard of it either, and I'd been reading here for quite a while before my consulate interview.

I'm glad I was able to get a copy of my medical, but I admit it has no real use beyond satisfying some intellectual curiosity.

Interestingly enough, the form my medical was recorded on wasn't a DS-anything. Neither the main medical form nor the photocopy of the vaccination supplement had a DS- number on them. At the time I filed my AOS, there was some discussion that you could just include a copy of the DS-3025 vaccination info page instead of needing a signed, transcribed I-693. But the lack of any DS- number on my vaccination info page, or any other part of the medical report, prompted me to get my info transcribed onto an I-693 by a local civil surgeon, just to be sure, which turns out to have been the right thing to do.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-10 00:43:00

Our documents for Vancouver K1 Interview

For the medical, is there a form he is supposed to request to make the AOS easier? I thought I read this, can't find it...

After my consulate interview, I returned to the medical clinic to pick up my medical results. The medical clinic gave me three items: my chest xray, a sealed envelope marked "Do Not Open" containing 3 copies of the medical report, and an unsealed envelope containing a copy of the vaccination worksheet. I took these back to the consulate. They took and opened the sealed envelope, kept all three copies of the medical report, but had minimal interest in the xray and no interest in the unsealed vaccination info, which is a photocopy of a page from the main medical report anyways.

When I returned the next day to pick up my visa, I was advised by the guy I talked to to say to the CBP office that they guy at the consulate said I should ask for one of the copies of the medical. The guy then gave me my passport with the visa glued to one of it's pages, and the visa packet. The visa packet consisted of 2 large white sealed envelopes, both marked "Do Not Open." The thinner one was labeled to indicate that it contained the medical reports. The two envelopes were stapled together, and an elastic was wrapped around the two. There was a cover letter attached to the two with the elastic, that repeated the warning to not open the envelope, and described the upcoming requirement to file AOS in order to receive a GC.

When I went to PoE, I followed the consulate clerk's advice, and told the border officer that the consulate had told me to request a copy of the medical. The way I worded it made it clear that I was asking based on the consulate's instructions and authority. Someone recently posted here that they requested a copy of their medical at the PoE and were denied. I think that PoE's will not usually give you a copy of the medical, or anything else from the sealed visa packet, unless you imply or state outright that you were advised and instructed to ask by the consulate. Insert standard warnings about lying to CBP officers here

After I moved to the US, I took the vaccination worksheet to a local civil surgeon to have them transcribe the it's information on to an I-693, which I included with my AOS packet.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-09 22:40:00

Could someone please double check our map? Vancouver consulate & Working Medical

I covered 6 kilometers that day.

Burrard Inn to Woking Medical. //Half a block. Show up for medical
Woking Medical to Travel Clinic (W Georgia & Burrard). //Medical finished, go get TDap shot for inclusion in vaccination list in medical report
Travel Clinic back to Woking Medical //Give them proof of TDap shot
Woking Medical to Consulate //Show up for interview
Consulate to Woking Medical //Interview approved pending medical. Go pick up medical results
Woking Medical to Consulate //Give medical results to Consulate. Approved.
Consulate to Burrard Inn. //Done walking. Order pizza, go to bed.

Woking Medical to the US Consulate is 15 minutes at a brisk walk, 20 if you mosey somewhat. I had beautiful weather, but make sure you've got a good jacket and head covering if it's raining. In that situation, I'd have seriously considered dropping some cash on cab fare for one or more of the legs, particularly the last 3, after the first visit to the consulate, around 2-3 pm, when time becomes a consideration.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-14 21:44:00

What can I do to prepare for my interview while I'm visiting the U.S.?

When I visited my now-wife after the NOA2 but before the interview, we took the opportunity for me to pick up several things that would be needed for the interview, just to avoid having to mail them. In particular, I brought back signed updated letters of intent to marry, all of the evidence and documentation for the I-134 and I-864 affidavits of support, and updated evidence of our ongoing relationship - more items from since the I-129 submission: updated phone logs, emails, photos, the ring receipt (if you have one, if you don't it's ok), etc. The relationship evidences should be signed and dated by both of you.

Check again from your Packet 3 checklist, but that should be everything from it that needs your fiance's direct personal involvement. Unlike the initial petition, the visa application is much more by and about you than your USC fiance.

Have a great trip!

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-17 08:39:00

Canadian degrees?

It is going to depend wildly on what kind of institution you are applying with, and for what purpose. I have a B.Sc in Computer Science and a B.Ed in Computer Science and Math Education from the University of Manitoba. These got me my new job (just started last week, yay!) doing software development, no problem. They didn't even ask to see a transcript, let alone a credentials evaluation report. Canada is fairly close to the US: most employers will recognize that a credentialed-university Bachelor degree here is pretty much the same thing there, and vice-versa. There is far more variance amongst schools within the US, and within Canada, then there is between Canada and the US, and I think most private employers will recognize that.

Where credential evaluation becomes far more important is in licensing and certification for heavily regulated, professional positions [not sure if college level teaching would count - it isn't as heavily regulated by the state, generally]. I am in the process of getting certified to teach high school math and computer science here in Utah (it's just a fallback now though - I started the process before this new job came up) and they want me to give them a transcription/credentials evaluation report and do a math skills test. The Utah State Office of Education has a list of credentials evaluations companies they trust, and you get to choose which one you have do your transcript evaluation. I posted the list in this thread:

http://www.visajourn...dential-review/

Now be aware, different institutions trust different credential evaluation companies, so don't have a transcript evaluation done until specifically requested by an employer or certifying institution, and don't drop any cash until you find out from them which company(ies) they want you to use.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-18 23:26:00

Faxing to the Vancouver embassy

When in doubt, read the instructions carefully, interpret them literally, and follow them precisely. Also, keep a copy of everything.

Fax the form to them as requested. There are also two other forms they want faxed in almost immediately (they're in the Packet 3 checklist, towards the end). Keep a copy of everything you fax them, and bring it all to the interview, along with (as goes without saying) everything else on the Packet 3 checklist.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-20 09:41:00

Storage locker near the MTL Consulate??

Where I stayed at Vancouver I checked out at about 9 in the morning, but they had a locked closet where they would store your luggage for the day if you asked. Seemed pretty standard.

Edited by HeatDeath, 22 April 2010 - 07:20 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-04-22 19:20:00

POE Detroit

What everyone said: flights from Canada to the US are pre-cleared in Canada and are handled just like domestic US flights at the US end. You get off the plane, grab your luggage, meet your pickup and walk to the car. You don't have to talk to anybody or do anything specific. All of the immigration business was taken care of before you got within 100 yards of the plane in Canada. Just make sure that your packet has been taken and your I-94 is totally in order before he leaves the Customs area in Edmonton.

On the AOS forms, you will list his Port of Entry as Edmonton, not Detroit, because that is the location of the US Customs and Immigration posting where he cleared US Immigration, and where they took his packet and issued his I-94.

[Except for Dublin, Edmonton must be the US PoE located farthest from the actual United States.]

It occurs to me that even though I have flown to the US numerous times to visit my USC now-wife, I have never actually seen the international arrivals section of a US airport

Edited by HeatDeath, 02 May 2010 - 07:54 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-05-02 19:53:00

example aos cover letter

Contents include:
- Payment in the amount of $1010
- I-485
- I-485 Supplement: Part 3, C: Organization Membership [My list wouldn't fit on the form, so I did an attachment.]
- Birth Certificate
- Copy of passport page with K-1 nonimmigrant visa
- Two (2) passport-style photos
- I-693: Medical Examination Report Vaccination Supplement [in sealed envelope]
- G-325A and G325A Supplement: Employment Last Five Years [Four (4) copies of each][Four copies probably unnecessary now]
- I-864: Affidavit of Support: [Petitioner]
- Written Explanation of Federal Tax Returns: [Petitioner] [She didn't file in 2006 or 2008. This explains that.]
- Income Tax Return: 1040 EZ for 2007: [Petitioner]
- I-864: Affidavit of Support: [Joint Sponsor]
- Proof of Citizenship: Photocopy of biographic page of passport: [Joint Sponsor]
- Employer Letter: [Joint Sponsor]
- Income Tax Return: 1040 for 2008: [Joint Sponsor]
- Income Tax Return: 1040 for 2007: [Joint Sponsor]
- Income Tax Return: 1040 for 2006: [Joint Sponsor]
- I-797: Fiancé Petition Approval Notice
- Marriage Certificate
- I-94
- I-765
- Copy of passport page with K-1 nonimmigrant visa
- Two (2) passport-style photos
- I-131
- Official Photo Identity Document: biographic page of Canadian passport
- Documents issued by USCIS showing present status in United States:
- Photocopy of page of Canadian passport showing stamps from previous entries to
United States
- Copy of passport page with K-1 nonimmigrant visa
- I-94
- Two (2) passport-style photos
- Copy of passport page with K-1 nonimmigrant visa

Copies of documents submitted are exact photocopies of unaltered documents and I understand that I may be required to submit original documents to an Immigration or Consular officer at a later date.

Signed,
<My Name>

Edited by HeatDeath, 16 May 2010 - 03:17 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2010-05-16 15:17:00

Interview letter showed up today. Interview is on March 28.

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1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting.
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5. Always use [Courier New] font and font size [2]
6. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen"!

N-400: October 2012 Applicants
======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Beth..............|10/01/12.|10/10/12.|10/10/12.|10/30/12.|10/30/12.|10/30/12.|11/28/12.|01/07/13.|Jacksonville, FL..|
Parixit...........|10/01/12.|10/05/12.|10/03/12.|10/24/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ........|
Angus28...........|10/10/12.|10/16/12.|10/15/12.|11/02/12.|12/07/12.|--/--/--.|.........|02/04/13.|Philadelphia, PA..|
ACINLOVE..........|10/12/12.|10/18/12.|10/18/12.|11/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Holtsville, NY....|(Walk in Bio)
andyl526..........|10/13/12.|10/18/12.|10/15/12.|11/16/12.|12/11/12.|01/14/13.|.........|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX........|
SunShineFL........|10/15/12.|10/23/12.|10/19/12.|11/06/12.|12/17/12.|01/17/13.|.........|--/--/--.|Jacksonville,FL...|
Good Luck All.....|10/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Hialeah, FL.......|
mn10..............|10/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Boston, MA........|
PRJelly...........|10/19/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|01/14/13.|.........|--/--/--.|Jacksonville, FL..|
ankurborn82.......|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|12/06/12.|01/03/13.|02/08/13.|.........|--/--/--.|Virginia,VA.......|
DaliaBakken.......|10/24/12.|10/29/12.|11/03/12.|11/29/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA.......|
BSDL..............|10/18/12.|--/--/--.|10/23/12.|11/08/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Kentucky, KY......|

==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Delje.............|09/27/12.|10/03/12.|10/06/12.|10/18/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|California, CA....|
MsDelila..........|10/09/12.|10/16/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|12/13/12.|01/14/12.|.........|--/--/--.|Minneapolis, MN...|
HeatDeath.........|10/11/12.|10/19/12.|10/18/12.|11/08/12.|02/21/13.|03/28/12.|.........|--/--/--.|Salt Lake City, UT|
JB007.............|10/13/12.|10/19/12.|10/18/12.|11/15/12.|01/03/13.|02/12/13.|.........|02/12/13.|Portland,OR.......|
vicmo.............|10/15/12.|10/23/12.|10/20/12.|11/14/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL.......|
Starbella.........|10/15/12.|10/19/12.|10/22/12.|11/15/12.|12/13/12.|02/14/13.|.........|02/14/13.|Detroit, MI.......|
Jonesie...........|10/26/12.|11/02/12.|10/31/12.|11/19/12.|--/--/--.|01/16/13.|.........|--/--/--.|California,CA.....|
EricC.............|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|11/03/12.|11/26/12.|01/05/13.|02/04/13.|.........|02/20/13.|Sacramento, CA....|
His_Wifey.........|10/27/12.|11/05/12.|10/31/12.|11/14/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Honolulu, HI......|(Walk in Bio)
Islandgirl79......|10/29/12.|11/07/12.|11/09/12.|11/20/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Guam, GU..........|
clarkkd...........|08/27/12.|--/--/--.|10/10/12.|--/--/--.|01/04/13.|01/07/13.|.........|01/09/13.|Honolulu, HI......|

=================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Military Filing)
=================================================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Marikiya_dhr......|09/27/12.|10/11/12.|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|02/06/13.|.........|--/--/--.|Overseas/Italy?...|
imaback...........|09/27/12.|--/--/--.|10/02/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Overseas/Japan....|

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2013-02-21 23:59:00

I got an email from USCIS last night saying my interview has been scheduled. No notice yet to say precisely when it is but that may show up today.

'Bout time too. They're a week past 90 days from my biometrics and I was starting to contemplate calling them to see what's up.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2013-02-16 12:10:00

My application was placed in line for interview scheduling today, November 12, 2012. So we're still moving.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2012-11-12 14:07:00

At some point the list lost my biometrics appointment date, which was this morning. Restoring it.

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:
1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting.
3. Click "Reply" on the most recent/updated posting version of this list.
4. Remove the "Quote Coding" at the top and bottom of the list.
5. Always use [Courier New] font and font size [2]
6. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen"!

N-400: October 2012 Applicants
======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Beth..............|10/01/12.|10/10/12.|10/10/12.|10/30/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Jacksonville, FL..|
Parixit...........|10/01/12.|10/05/12.|10/03/12.|10/24/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ........|
Angus28...........|10/10/12.|10/16/12.|10/15/12.|11/02/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA..|
ACINLOVE..........|10/12/12.|10/18/12.|10/18/12.|11/27/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Holtsville, NY....|
andyl526..........|10/13/12.|10/18/12.|10/15/12.|11/16/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX........|
SunShineFL........|10/15/12.|10/23/12.|10/19/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|New Orleans, LA...|
Good Luck All.....|10/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Hialeah, FL.......|
mn10..............|10/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Boston, MA........|
PRJelly...........|10/19/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Jacksonville, FL..|
ankurborn82.......|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Virginia,VA.......|
DaliaBakken.......|10/24/12.|10/29/12.|11/03/12.|11/29/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Atlanta, GA.......|
BSDL..............|10/18/12.|--/--/--.|10/23/12.|11/08/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Kentucky, KY......|

==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Delje.............|09/27/12.|10/03/12.|10/06/12.|10/18/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|California, CA....|
MsDelila..........|10/09/12.|10/16/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Minneapolis, MN...|
HeatDeath.........|10/11/12.|10/19/12.|10/18/12.|11/08/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Salt Lake City, UT|
JB007.............|10/13/12.|10/19/12.|10/18/12.|11/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Portland,OR.......|
vicmo.............|10/15/12.|10/23/12.|10/20/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Chicago, IL.......|
Starbella.........|10/15/12.|10/19/12.|10/22/12.|11/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Detroit, MI.......|
Jonesie...........|10/26/12.|11/02/12.|10/31/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|California,CA.....|
EricC.............|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Sacramento, CA....|
Malteser..........|10/27/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|..................|
His_Wifey.........|10/27/12.|--/--/--.|10/31/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Honolulu, HI......|

=================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Military Filing)
=================================================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Marikiya_dhr......|09/27/12.|10/11/12.|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Overseas/Italy?...|
imaback...........|09/27/12.|--/--/--.|10/02/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Overseas/Japan....|

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2012-11-08 12:22:00

I think that's gonna vary considerably depending on how busy and big your local field office is.

Biometrics appointment today went very smoothly. The appointment was for 8 I entered their office about quarter to and was actually out at 7:57!

The study guide has an audio CD with the 100 questions and answers, each in a separate track, so you can play it on shuffle in your car to study while you drive. Pretty cool.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2012-11-08 12:16:00

Instructions for adding/updating yourself (or assisting others) to this list:

1. DO NOT DELETE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
2. Please make sure you are using Rich Text Editor as your message setting.
3. Click "Reply" on the most recent/updated posting version of this list.
4. Remove the "Quote Coding" at the top and bottom of the list.
5. Always use [Courier New] font and font size [2]
6. Red Font="I'm A United States Citizen"!

N-400: October 2012 Applicants
======================================
USCIS Dallas/Lewisville, Texas Lockbox
======================================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Beth..............|10/01/12.|10/10/12.|10/10/12.|10/30/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Jacksonville, FL..|
Parixit...........|10/01/12.|10/05/12.|10/03/12.|10/24/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Newark, NJ........|
Angus28...........|10/10/12.|10/16/12.|10/15/12.|11/02/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Philadelphia, PA..|
ACINLOVE..........|10/12/12.|10/18/12.|10/18/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Holtsville, NY....|
andyl526..........|10/13/12.|10/18/12.|10/15/12.|11/16/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Dallas, TX........|
SunShineFL........|10/15/12.|10/23/12.|10/19/12.|11/06/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|New Orleans, LA...|
Good Luck All.....|10/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Hialeah, FL.......|
mn10..............|10/15/12.|--/--/--.|10/18/12.|11/06/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Boston, MA........|
PRJelly...........|10/19/12.|--/--/--.|10/29/12.|11/09/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Jacksonville, FL..|
ankurborn82.......|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Virginia,VA.......|

==============================
USCIS Phoenix, Arizona Lockbox
==============================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks....|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|===========|=========|==================|
Delje.............|09/27/12.|10/03/12.|10/06/12.|10/18/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|California, CA....|
MsDelila..........|10/09/12.|10/16/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Minneapolis, MN...|
Mark Hewitt.......|10/10/12.|--/--/--.|10/26/12.|11/06/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Sioux Falls, SD...|
HeatDeath.........|10/11/12.|10/19/12.|10/18/12.|11/08/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Salt Lake City, UT|
JB007.............|10/13/12.|10/19/12.|10/18/12.|11/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Portland,OR.......|
vicmo.............|10/15/12.|10/23/12.|10/20/12.|11/14/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|EB.10/29/12|--/--/--.|Chicago,IL........|
Starbella.........|10/15/12.|10/19/12.|10/22/12.|11/15/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Detroit,MI........|
EricC.............|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Sacramento,CA.....|
naqz_mrn..........|10/25/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Fresno,CA.........|
Jonesie...........|10/26/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|San Francisco,CA..|
Malteser..........|10/27/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|...........|--/--/--.|Honolulu, HI?.....|

=================================================
USCIS Lincoln, Nebraska Lockbox (Military Filing)
=================================================
UserName..........|Sent.....|ChkCashd.|NOA......|Bio......|Int Ltr..|Intview..|Remarks..|Oath.....|Field Office......|
==================|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|=========|==================|
Marikiya_dhr......|09/27/12.|10/11/12.|10/22/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Overseas/Italy?...|
imaback...........|09/27/12.|--/--/--.|10/02/12.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|--/--/--.|.........|--/--/--.|Overseas/Japan....|

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2012-11-01 20:00:00

I think I sent the N 400 application a bit early as 90 days before become 5 yrs is only on 17th oct but I signed the N400 application on 15 oct as my MIL got her GR on Jan152008 and I calculated 3 months and on 15 jan I applied via express mail and they recd on 16 oct in Levinville,TX..I did not get the NOA nor my ck was cashed and I was looking somewhere in another forum and they feel I applied early ..not sure what will happen now? any commments ir advise pls? I feel so bad ..Thanks

The worst case scenario is they take your money, process your application, and only much later notice the premature timing of the application and deny you. In this case you're out several months and approximately seven hundred dollars. But I think this is unlikely.

The check not being cashed is an encouraging sign. It could mean that they've simply rejected your application and are sending it back to you unprocessed. That's very good, because it means that, now that you are comfortably within the 90 day window, you can just put it in a new envelope and mail it right back to them, and you're only out a couple bucks postage. I think this is the most likely case. I'm virtually certain they won't accept an application that is too early, but I think in that case they'd just reject it altogether and send it back, rather than denying it later.

Edited by HeatDeath, 31 October 2012 - 02:47 PM.

HeatDeath

Male

Canada

2012-10-31 14:45:00