Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Africa: Sub-Saharan	Anyone awake I need help now	Hi sorry to hear what you are going through, but I would suggest that you do not send any money as you could be asked for more & more, what you need to do is contact the Consulate General of Nigeria in New York & speak to them about your husbands situation. Brian As hard a situation as you're in, I agree with what blk said.  You and your husband are in my thoughts - hoping everything gets resolved!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-04-10 20:43:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Bad customer service from NVC	Thanks for the info. I am on hold right now for yet another talk with one of them. I got the invoice ID to pay my visa processing fee but it isn't available to pay online :/ There's a whole group of people in your exact situation, over at this thread: http://www.visajourn...5#entry5306219. It seems everyone's invoices are broken. On the upside, they're now $230!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-04-16 18:26:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Bad customer service from NVC	Actually, over in one of the other threads, we've started a list of the good and bad operators. Gus is mediocre. Frank is....well, we like to call him Frankbot. Riley has actually had a complaint lodged against her (wow, right?). Jim is amazing, Nigel has a fabulous accent, Brooke is efficient, Donna has no sense of humor but is nice. We also love supervisor Jen, and Kat is helpful but can be cranky lol. Edited by Trav&Shell, 13 April 2012 - 07:30 PM.	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-04-13 19:29:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	NVC E-mail	Thank you! I called NVC during my lunch break and they told me the same thing. To scan and email my passport biographic page and my birth certificate to NVCinquiry@state.gov. I REALLY hope this does not God-forbid delay my case! There shouldn't be a horrible delay at all - if there is one. NVC seems to be quick at responding to emails. Very glad they could tell you what to send in!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-04-23 12:11:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	NVC E-mail	Hi everyone, I just wanted to make sure if this is a big deal or not. I received an e-mail this morning from NVC stating that I should pay my AOS bill and other bills (WOOOOHOO!! ), but my last name is spelled wrong in the e-mail! in ALL parts of the e-mail!! What should I do???????? is this going to delay my case when I tell NVC that it is spelled wrong?! Thank you VJers!!! Good Luck to everyone on here!!! Oddly, something similar happened to me - they spelled my name so wrong that it turned into a completely different last name! I started throwing documents at them to fix it immediately, and two weeks later - I was able to fix it by giving them the biographic page (color copy) of my passport as well as my marriage certificate (birth certificate would also work if it's the same name on it). I emailed everything to the NVCelectronic@state.gov email address, with the subject line "(NVC case number)- Update Name On File". The next day, it was updated. If you have the documentation ready, take care of it quickly and it shouldn't be an issue... Edited by Trav&Shell, 23 April 2012 - 10:09 AM.	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-04-23 10:08:00
Canada	Incredibly surprised with Montreal	So...it's the TIME TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS. Yay! There are none available, but that's okay, because Montreal has been disturbingly fast. I sent PKT3 in on Wednesday of last week and they've already sent out PKT four. Anyone else in the process of getting an interview? Hope they open some up for March. You have no idea how happy your post makes me! Not ready to get one quite yet but NOA2 should be any day now...keep us posted how quick you get in!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-01-31 12:35:00
Canada	I'm still here!	actually that is not a surprise to me..when i was activating my k1 they interogated my fiance while he waited. asking him when he got his passport where he was living when he got it where his parents were born etc. i was like #######. Really? Did you activate in Winnipeg too? Winnipeg airport seems to have fun giving people grief...when it's time, I'm either driving with Trav or flying out of Toronto...*sigh*	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-06 21:10:00
Canada	I'm still here!	He flies in and out of Calgary since that's where he lives now. I've never had issues with Calgary except for the last time when they stamped my passport. Winnipeg is where I was taken into secondary a few years ago and put in a little room while they played good cop bad cop with me. I was never so scared in my life!! They stamp Trav's passport every time here, and he always gets put through the scanner and gets grilled to no END by the people at customs here! The first time, they confiscated his saskatoon jam (a present from my mom, but I can see their point - it's a gel lol). The second time he pretty much had to fight the guy to get allowed back into his own country (and they lost his luggage)...the third time was more of the same. I think we may drive over when it's time...heh... The US customs put you, a USC, in secondary here?!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-06 19:32:00
Canada	I'm still here!	Hiya! I'm still around and kicking and still waiting on our NOA2! After my grandmother passed, school started back up, my bathroom had to be remodeled (leaky toilet, made a huge mess) life has finally started to settle back in to a routine. Trent did make it here for my grandmother's funeral fine. They didn't hassle him at all. He wanted to stay a few more days but his boss couldn't let him leave for that long. (busy time of year for them) I called USCIS customer service again today, no one can tell me anything, other than the application is still processing. They have no idea why their web site says 'five months' and we've been waiting almost 8 months. I wrote a letter to my congressman today and included an authorization form so he (or an aide) can look into our case. At this point it's almost a blessing in disguise, since we'll be married for two years in June, Trent can get an IR-1 instead of a CR-1 and save us a few hundred bucks. I've still about had it with this entire process!!!! Oh for crying out loud. What a pain. (Really sorry to hear about your grandmother )Definitely keep us posted about the congressman's contact - we've done the same thing recently but you've been waiting FAR longer...would like to know if they're actually any help! Did Trent fly through Winnipeg, or through Toronto, to get no hassle?	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-06 15:14:00
Canada	Police Certificate	OK so it's roughly the same. Good to know - thanks!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-09 11:38:00
Canada	Police Certificate	I'm getting one done at Commissionaires (full background check with fingerprints, photos taken, all former surnames, whole nine)...fee is like $63 but turnaround time is pretty quick (RCMP in Manitoba do them, but it takes forever to go through the RCMP while the Commissionaires use the same database as they do and it takes a week). Had one done before for work and it was OK - it's a big form with my fingerprints on it and all the details. Is this even right for the consulate, if I indicate it's for "Immigration"?	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-09 10:47:00
Canada	Police Certificate	Just FYI, Montreal does not require fingerprints unless you have a criminal history. Since the OP is Ontario it's probably much faster (and cheaper) to get it done at the local police station instead of the commissionaries. I know some Ontarions have been charged as little as $30 (mine cost $45 in Mississauga) not to mention you can usually pick up the police check on the same day or the next business day... You just have to specify you that you only need a CPIC search or they might get confused and try to do fingerprints when it's unnecessary. ...you serious?!? OK, so now I feel silly. No wonder the agent was laughing at me as he tried to fingerprint me! He ended up saying "you've never done this before have you?" That being said - my actual criminal record check printout didn't display all of my surnames even though all were searched and I requested they all show up. (I was fingerprinted). I do have two reports done - one in my current name and one in my most recent surname prior to my wedding. Both were fingerprints, and both came back clear. (I'm a good girl! ) Will I still need to cover the other surname even if I was fingerprinted - twice now? Edited by Trav&Shell, 23 February 2012 - 04:13 PM.	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-23 16:12:00
Canada	Police Certificate	Hi all, Is it possible to get a police clearance done without fingerprints at the Commissionaires and how much is it? They told me when I called that I had to get a fingerprint thing done to do the check. In Christ Chris I don't think you have to get fingerprints through them - just call and set up an appointment for a criminal record check and ask their agent when you get there. They are really nice. My check with fingerprints was 63 bucks. Not sure how much it is without them but it will (of course) be less	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-23 14:53:00
Canada	Police Certificate	Depending on where you live you might find the Commissionaires as a good location to get your police check done. http://www.commissio...-record-checks/ Agreed - the Commissionaires are good, and they can do fingerprinting if you like too (for slightly more money). Their turnaround time is lighting fast! That being said, I got mine done through them and now have a question. I have a maiden name and two other surnames, plus my current surname. I was instructed that I needed them all checked, so I requested to check them all - being very clear that I wanted them all to show up on my check. I watched the officer at Commissionaires enter all my surnames into the "Aliases" field, and to be doubly sure we did my fingerprints/picture/birthday check as well. We thought all of my names would have shown up on the report, but they did not. Only my current name did - even though all of my surnames were searched. However, my record is clean after searching my names/fingerprints. Will this be OK, or do I need further checks done that literally show my other names? (I'm fully prepared to go get them all done if I need to, just didn't want to spend the money if it was going to be extra paper...with their turnaround time I don't mind going back in )	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-22 09:38:00
Canada	how to make an medical exam appointment in toronto?	Try e-mailing Panel.Physicians@panelphysicians.com They have responded via email in the past. Good luck! Good tip - using this place when it's my turn, and have no idea what to do	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-24 15:39:00
Canada	Police Certificate in Canada?	I know the RCMP checked my maiden name because she asked me what it was but it doesn't show on the form they gave me. Oh good...did you have any problems with it? *insert sigh of relief here*	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-28 20:24:00
Canada	Police Certificate in Canada?	I had them check my maiden name. I know that the main name they check should be the one going onto your immigration documents, which should also match your passport. She entered my name in like this: Jane Middlename Doe nee (Johnson) I imagine you're in the clear though. I had to get a name check done for my current job and I pretty much had to talk the guy into checking my maiden name - maybe it isn't very common? We might just be products of the "better safe than sorry" VJ code of ethics LOL...I hope you're right Well, I feel some better - the name on my passport matches the name displayed on the check. Phew. I was thinking of including a note to the effect of "the officer who performed the record check suggested I get fingerprint checks done as we were unsure if my searched names would all appear on the record. All surnames were searched and using my fingerprints, nothing was found." Well, I'd word it better anyway!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-23 07:53:00
Canada	Police Certificate in Canada?	I got mine done through Commissionaires, super fast and great service. I probably went overboard, got fingerprints and everything to be safe. Now, however, I have a question. I have a maiden name and two other surnames, plus my current surname. I was instructed that I needed all my former surnames checked as well as my current one, so I requested to check them all - being very clear that I wanted them all to show up on my report. I watched the officer at Commissionaires enter all my surnames into the "Aliases" field, I watched him hit "save" on the CPIC search engine, and to be doubly sure we did my fingerprints/picture/birthday check as well (that's why we went so overboard...wanted to make sure we got all names and eventualities covered, but I've never even been fingerprinted before so the guy was laughing at me ). We both thought all of my names would have shown up on the report, but they did not. Only my current surname did - even though all of my surnames were searched. However, my record is clean after searching my names/fingerprints/birthdate. Will this check be OK, or do I need further checks done that ACTUALLY show my other names? (I'm fully prepared to go get them all done if I need to, just didn't want to spend the money if it was going to be extra paper...but with their turnaround time I don't mind going back in!)	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-02-22 13:08:00
Canada	Medical Review in Toronto	Went to Dr. Seiden's office in Toronto ... 8:30 a.m. done and on my way home!! Everyone was very friendly, helpful and considerate. How long do you have to wait for the results to be ready?	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-03-14 11:17:00
Canada	Stereotypical Canada in TV	LOL my husband has the same rant at times. I did my 'rant' when we got our marriage certificate. We were married in Alberta, under his name it lists "Winnipeg, Manitoba" Under my name it lists "USA" I didn't even get a state! LOL!!! ours looks sort of the same - only at least they spelled out "United States Of America" on ours	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-03-29 13:06:00
Canada	May/June IR/CR-1 Interviews!!	Sensi Saylin taught me well LOL that she did	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-05-04 11:15:00
Canada	May/June IR/CR-1 Interviews!!	Woo hoo! Congratulations! Gonna join you here Awesome links - thanks for gathering them all, that's so handy!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-05-04 11:04:00
Canada	Montreal Interview Yesterday	Congratulations! Reading this helped me relax a bit...awesome review	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-05-17 11:43:00
Canada	Divorce	Well I did not know where to go to ask this question. The time has come for divorce. I'm really sorry to hear this! It's not ever an easy thing to do, and my heart is so sad for you	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-05-25 22:09:00
Canada	Divorce	Very interesting. I think in a lot of U.S. states you have to show up in court at least for the formalities. I know with my Canadian divorce, I didn't show up anywhere - not even in a lawyer's office. Just signed the papers and handed them back to the process server...	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-05-25 22:06:00
Canada	Canada day Acros America	That's amazing! I'd already told Trav we're doing something for Canada Day, so this is perfect	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2012-06-06 12:34:00
Canada	Woot - last leg of our immigration journey - daughter's citizenship!	Just out of curiosity - do adults, when applying, have to take the test (and study the 100 questions) too?	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-01-26 16:33:00
Canada	To naturalize or not to naturalize.	Ooooh, interesting topic!  We would have been doing naturalization had we been staying here.  No particular reason, it would have just been easier.  However, we're in the process of actually moving back to Canada.  So many reasons behind that (economy, health, jobs....you name it).    What do YOU figure you will choose?  Naturalization or no?	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-08-23 16:39:00
Canada	Ordering Canadian Food Products Online	if you have a world market in the area ( a few of them in Chicago) you can get Canadian stuff there too, 2$ a chocolate bar. My region's way too small and dying out for that, but the local stores (if they're big enough) sometimes carry items that are "made in Canada"...it's a nice treat!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-08-31 08:55:00
Canada	Ordering Canadian Food Products Online	ACTUALLY found Coffee Crisp and Aero bars (among other things) in the local grocery store in small town SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA.  Cleaned out said store of Coffee Crisp.  Yum!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-08-30 18:23:00
Canada	Ordering Canadian Food Products Online	I have family coming to visit from Canada next week....my sister asked me what I wanted from Canada! Man oh man....what to ask for   any suggestions? Five words:  CHEEZ WHIZ and PIZZA POPS!     You're welcome	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-04-20 21:24:00
Canada	Ordering Canadian Food Products Online	On Ebay you can actually find a lot of items - Lays or Old Dutch Ketchup chips (or all dressed...drooool...), Cheez Whiz, Dare cookies, chocolate bars...oh my!!!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-02-21 00:32:00
Canada	Ordering Canadian Food Products Online	YES! They were in the cookie aisle, but kind of in a section where they had not so common items, on the lower shelf. They were beside the Breton crackers. Good Luck! No dice on the cookie aisle but if this snow storm lets up I may be able to introduce the good husband to them on Friday   I'm fairly excited!  Now, off to EBay to buy my CheezWhiz...	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-02-12 16:52:00
Canada	Ordering Canadian Food Products Online	I was super excited to see Dare Maple Leaf cookies at Walmart in Louisville. I love those WHAT, really????  Walmart really?  I need to check this out tomorrow - see if the local one HERE has those.  Those would ALMOST make up for the lack of respectable Cheez Whiz...(what I wouldn't give for cheez whiz on homemade bread toast right now...)	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-02-06 23:35:00
Canada	Ordering Canadian Food Products Online	OK...here's my two cents (for what it's worth LOL)...    1 - If you miss plum sauce, I think that duck sauce is the name used for something similar down here (not exact, sadly, but it'll do in a pinch I guess).  2 - Canadian Cheez Whiz is SO different from the ####### they sell down here (at least in VA).  I miss Canadian Cheez Whiz on toast with butter or Becel!!!!!!  Has anyone found a state yet that even SELLS the Canadian version of Cheez Whiz????	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-01-21 16:16:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Removing Conditions! It's that time!	I never use it (showed it once to a CBP officer at a checkpoint on the I8 freeway East of San Diego, so close to the Mexican border that they have officers patrolling dirt roads and searching bushes there...), so I've never been teased about the pic. The fact that it doesn't have my fingerprint on it, however, I've stressed about for almost 2 years, even after being told at an Infopass appointment with the USCIS that it was "normal". I want my new one!!!! Wait, there's no fingerprint???  *runs to check* Now I want my new one too!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-01-26 16:23:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Removing Conditions! It's that time!	I sure hope the pic will be better... can't be worse anyway: pale girl on white background = ghost caught on camera! LOL...Mine looks similar - overexposed, over-serious.  Trav teases me about it all the time lol.  In my defense, they specifically said "NO expression" lol...	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-01-25 09:23:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Removing Conditions! It's that time!	Hey people I know and haven't seen in 2 years!    So yes the check you send with your application is currently $590. The biometrics appointment is not an interview, it's just to scan your prints and signature, take a biometric picture. I'm waiting impatiently for my appointment letter   I can't wait to have my new GC with a decent picture, a readable signature, and an actual fingerprint on it. My conditional GC looks like a toy card with the washed out pic... Hello!   Hope all is well for you!   Our new GC's will have decent pictures?  Nice.  Can't wait to not get teased about the stone-cold expression anymore!	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-01-25 00:33:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Removing Conditions! It's that time!	Now I feel exposed.  They measure your FACE??  Yeesh.  (Good security feature though!)	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-01-24 22:48:00
Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion	Removing Conditions! It's that time!	Oh wowza!    OK thanks! Can't wait to be done with USCIS forever. Me too!!!  But don't cry, he doesn't have to POE again, just get the fingerprints.	Trav&Shell	Female	Canada	2014-01-24 21:58:00