ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
CanadaFiling AOS on Monday
I was going to send in EAD separately but after reading a few accounts in the Working/Travelling Prior to Greencard forum, it looks like people who filed separately aren't getting approved. Decided to buckle down and just get all the paperwork together and send it off at the same time.

Denise, I hope you get something regarding your EAD soon! It's already been 2.5 months!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-14 11:13:00
CanadaFiling AOS on Monday
I hope for our sake the Norfolk office is better now! :P

The Wachovia on Cary St. let me open with just a passport and $100 cash! They put in a dummy number in lieu of an SSN or ITIN. It totally depends on the branch and who you're dealing with. They said when my status changes to come back and give them my SSN. Hopefully your banking woes will be over soon.

Glad the girls are doing well.

Yup, 6 animals. 5 cats and 1 dog. I brought 3 cats and a dog with me. The other two cats are my husband's cats. :)
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-12 11:50:00
CanadaFiling AOS on Monday
I didn't want to risk it so I paid the $45. Then again, you'd have to do it for yourself and your girls. Uh oh, what Norfolk horror stories have you heard?

I hear you on the not being able to get out to do much. I don't drive (don't have a license) and the city isn't set up for a whole lot of walking unless you live in the heart of The Fan district. I am within walking distance of Carytown but nothing to do there by myself.

When do you expect a bank statement? I just set up an account with Wachovia (they're everywhere here) and the location in Carytown didn't require an SSN or anything from me. I hope you get your bank statement soon!

I'm settling in okay and keeping myself busy with some design work I'm doing for some people in Canada. Plus having 6 animals here keeps me busy too so my days go by very quickly during the day. Plus I'm still not fully unpacked!

How are your girls liking their new home?
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-12 09:54:00
CanadaFiling AOS on Monday
Amanda-Lise, I was literally JUST at Dr. Patel's office 30 minutes ago! His receptionist is very nice and she did the I-693A and got him to sign it. She'll transcribe it directly from the vaccination supplement that you should have received at your Canadian medical. Took all of 3 minutes. She'll give you a photocopy and also a sealed copy in an envelope. It doesn't say "do not open" but I'm submitting it sealed just in case.

It'll be interesting to see our cases side by side since we're filing around the same time and will be going through the same local USCIS office (Norfolk, about 1.5 hours away) for things like biometrics, etc.

How are you enjoying Richmond? :)

Edited by misa, 12 April 2007 - 08:29 AM.

misaFemaleCanada2007-04-12 08:27:00
CanadaFiling AOS on Monday
Finally getting my AOS & EAD paperwork together and mailing it off to the Chicago lockbox on Monday. Any other Canadians filing next week?

Also a note on the vaccination supplement. I know that most of us received a copy from the panel physician in Canada but after reading people getting RFEs for not submitting an I-693A vaccination supplement, I'm biting the bullet and paying $45 to get it filled out tomorrow. I'm sure I could have found a cheaper civil surgeon but this one is closest to me. I still think it's ridiculous when USCIS has our original medical records AND most of us have the vaccination supplement from our medicals in Canada.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-11 22:07:00
CanadaTime for flames9 to be UN_Canadian!!
Congrats!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-07 11:18:00
CanadaTies to the US
That sucks. But were you physically searched by CBP or TSA security? I thought that CBP only searched when you are pulled into secondary.

Edited by misa, 15 April 2007 - 06:12 PM.

misaFemaleCanada2007-04-15 18:12:00
CanadaTies to the US
My husband came to Canada twice: once to visit me in Toronto and once to accompany me in Vancouver. He brought ties to the U.S. (letter from employer, car papers, apartment lease, pay stubs and all my immigration paperwork) both times. He was pretty much waved through in Toronto with no question. In Vancouver he was asked a few questions but was admitted without problems.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-15 15:12:00
Canada/wave
Hi and welcome!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-15 13:38:00
CanadaMy Interview at Montreal on Friday, Apr 13th
Dear Montreal Consulate,

I'd like to file a formal complaint about 2 security people at the consulate. One is "they lady with the black curly hair" and the other is the lady "that looks like Kelly Osbourne".

:P
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-16 10:23:00
CanadaMy Interview at Montreal on Friday, Apr 13th
Glad to hear that the actual interview process was painless. Sucks that the security folk at the consulate were such jerks!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-15 12:24:00
CanadaCanadian tax softeware and my US husband

What I did was I put in his U.S. income so the application would know that I would NOT be claiming the spouse credit. If you leave it blank, it will give you the spouse credit. I ended up redoing the T1 General with the figures generated by the tax application so I could write in "US Citizen" and a note that his income stated is U.S. and that we were NOT filing jointly. The other sheets generated I put into the package with the new TI General form.

Damn, when I don't put in my husbands income, that spousal credit gave me approx $2000 more returned. Would that credit make that much of a difference?


Makes a huge difference. When I left the spouse income blank, it gave me a spouse credit and whatever other calculations and my refund was over $2,000 which I know is wrong since I'm not claiming him at all. So I put in his U.S. income and didn't give me the spouse credit and my refund is $190 which is correct.

I also called Revenue Canada (the international tax office) and asked them where I'm sending my return and if I do anything differently. See, I only left Canada a month ago so my 2006 taxes are completely Ontario-based. They told me to send to Sudbury this year (even if I have a foreign address now because as of December 31, 2006 I was still an Ontario resident) and that 2007 would be different. Hope the person I spoke to was correct since I mailed off my taxes yesterday!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-17 10:15:00
CanadaCanadian tax softeware and my US husband
What I did was I put in his U.S. income so the application would know that I would NOT be claiming the spouse credit. If you leave it blank, it will give you the spouse credit. I ended up redoing the T1 General with the figures generated by the tax application so I could write in "US Citizen" and a note that his income stated is U.S. and that we were NOT filing jointly. The other sheets generated I put into the package with the new TI General form.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-16 19:22:00
CanadaPOE @ YVR
Duh! I'm sorry... CONGRATULATIONS! I totally missed where you said you had your interview and got your visa in hand! My eyes are still blurry from AOS paperwork. :P
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-16 18:14:00
CanadaPOE @ YVR
CDancer went through YVR with her K3 in January. Hopefully she'll see this thread.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-16 17:51:00
CanadaCanada funds check in the US
TD has a presence on the east coast. I saw a TDsomething somewhere here in VA but only one location in the suburbs.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-07 10:46:00
CanadaCanada funds check in the US
Oh the Canadian cheque woe... I called around and mostly it's up to the discretion of each branch manager at each bank chain. So to avoid all that, I get my sister to deposit Canadian cheques for me into my Canadian account. Does Craig still have a Canadian account? He can mail it to his home branch to deposit.

Speaking of Wachovia, I opened up an account today. I was concerned that they'd need an SSN or an ITIN but (again up to each branch manager), they didn't.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-06 17:29:00
CanadaGood Luck Michael
Good luck! :)
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-17 12:08:00
CanadaMade it safely to the US
Glad you made it safely after that very very long drive! :)
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-17 10:08:00
CanadaInterview

Oh, by the way... does Canada have the "shoe carnival" across the country? What I mean is, do Canadians and visitors have to remove their shoes for x-ray at airport security stations like we do in the United States? I'm asking because think I had to do it once while in Canada, but not another time. I don't quite remember though.


Depends on the airport I think. Every time I've flown out of YYZ to the U.S. and Canada, I've always had to take off my shoes. YYZ has extra security if you're flying to DCA - Washington National as well (but not IAD - Dulles). In Vancouver going to back to Toronto, I didn't have to take off my shoes but I did anyway because they were steel-toed boots and I would have set off the metal detector.

The worst was when I was flying to DCA and I was all dressed up because my husband (then boyfriend/fiance?) was meeting me there, so I wore knee high TIGHT pvc boots with 4" heels. I had to struggle to get them off twice at YYZ. Once at the first TSA screeners and the second at the boarding gate where they did additional security for anyone flying to DCA. Needless to say, I never wore those again while flying!

Edited by misa, 18 April 2007 - 12:10 PM.

misaFemaleCanada2007-04-18 12:08:00
CanadaInterview
You know I just thought of something. No, they can't deny a visa for yelling at security. HOWEVER, security can bar you from entering the building and have the power to remove you, thus screwing up your interview since you wouldn't be there to attend it and you'd end up be marked down as a psycho (:P) or as a no show... Both things are BAD!

Edited by misa, 17 April 2007 - 10:23 AM.

misaFemaleCanada2007-04-17 10:22:00
CanadaInterview
To Cutie's husband. Remember, if you ###### up, she will kill you, clone you, then kill the clones. :P
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-16 22:38:00
CanadaAttention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border

.......and you have no bedbugs.......that could get ugly


True. Bedbugs are the worst I've heard. A friend of mine was living in a bedbug infested building. Apparently it's becoming a problem in certain areas of Toronto especially buildings around University of Toronto.

When we were packing my stuff I was half tempted to just leave the mattress because we were so tired from packing and running around. But the mattress was fairly new (bought last year) and expensive! Thankfully I brought it since our futon couch isn't very comfortable. The mattress was the only "furniture" I brought with me.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-18 12:13:00
CanadaAttention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border
Oh, interesting... I guess I am lucky that my stuff made it across anyway without any problems! :)
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-18 10:28:00
CanadaAttention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border
I took a queen sized mattress across. It was in my moving cube which came after I did. Had it itemised on the customs form and never had (or heard of) any problems.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-17 21:39:00
CanadaAttention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border

No need.. the form is for unaccompanied articles.. and it isn't valid until they receive a copy of your I-94. So your articles can't go ahead of you, something that you need to discuss with your moving company...


I moved my stuff separately with ABF Upack and they didn't ask for a copy of my I-94 (I crossed a few days before my belongings did). My stuff made it here just fine and they never called to tell me there was any problems. A fluke? Did someone there screw up and not tell me I needed to send them a copy of my I-94? I had given them photocopies of my K3, my birth certificate and my passport biographical page.

Edited by misa, 17 April 2007 - 10:20 AM.

misaFemaleCanada2007-04-17 10:19:00
CanadaAttention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border
I paid $1,100 USD for one relocube with ABF Upack to ship my stuff from Toronto to Virginia (Richmond). Look for a Upack thread here. I posted a full review on my experience with them.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-16 20:18:00
CanadaAttention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border
I just estimated what it would be worth.
misaFemaleCanada2007-03-31 11:25:00
CanadaAttention Canadian folks...question about Moving and crossing the border

Should I have the Customs form 3299 with me if I am moving my stuff down myself, at the time that I am activating the K1? Thanks in advance for letting me know!


If you're bringing stuff with you when you cross the border, you don't need a form but you should have a sheet listing everything you have with you, their value and the total. We called Peace Bridge the day before we crossed about this and they told us there was no form (only for unaccompanied articles), but to itemise everything in case we were asked (we weren't).
misaFemaleCanada2007-03-30 09:19:00
CanadaArea for medical and interview

Ooo, which places only ask for one??? Does anyone know?


Where do you plan on getting your medical done? I have no idea what province you're in. As of February of this year, Dr. Seiden's in Toronto only required one but as flames9 mentioned, requirements change from time to time.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-08 10:32:00
CanadaArea for medical and interview
Depends on the doctor. Some require 1 and some require 3. They will usually tell you how many to bring when you book your medical.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-07 11:25:00
CanadaArea for medical and interview

Panel physicians I belive is an actual company!! There are other Dr's (http://www.visajourn...da&cty=Montreal) in canada that are not part of Panel Physicians that do the medical physicals!! ya, I know this post is #######,lol!!


Stop being so #######. ;) Yeah, "www.panelphysicians.com" is a company but the medical thingy in packet 3 refers to all the doctors as "panel physicians".

I still need to unpack. When are you driving down to Richmond to help me? :P

Attached Files


Edited by misa, 06 April 2007 - 06:15 PM.

misaFemaleCanada2007-04-06 18:15:00
CanadaArea for medical and interview
You can get your medical done as soon as you have packet 3. Most panel physicians in Canada will want to see the cover letter in your packet 3 since it shows your NVC case number.

It doesn't matter where you get your medical done as long as it's by an approved panel physician. Depending on the panel physician, you can pick up or have them courier it to you and you bring the sealed envelope with you to the interview. I don't think any in Canada send it directly to the consulate.

Your packet 3 will list all the panel physicians in Canada.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-06 17:33:00
CanadaAbout to file AOS
I sent them both short and long! My long form was photocopied onto an 8.5 x 14 legal size sheet of paper and folded for submission. I sent both because my long form from Ontario is a certified copy of the original which was handwritten by my mom and looks really ghetto. I didn't want USCIS to send me an RFE because it didn't look "official" (the Canadian consulates are used to them but maybe not USCIS) so I sent them a copy of my short form too.

Did you get an I-693A vaccination supplement filled out?

Edited by misa, 18 April 2007 - 02:29 PM.

misaFemaleCanada2007-04-18 14:27:00
CanadaIs there a US consulate in Calgary?
Vancouver schedules about 1 month from receiving your checklist (send it back right away) to your interview date. Give or take a week.
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-18 22:32:00
CanadaActivating CR-1 tomorrow
There's no form for goods that are accompanying him. Just have him make an itemised list with their approximate value and to total it.

I went through the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie. A review of mine is in my signature.

Good luck at the POE!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-19 18:29:00
CanadaConsulate will have Our Case in 2 weeks
We'll definitely be crossing our fingers for you!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-19 11:23:00
CanadaWedding Photos
Good stuff, congrats! :)
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-19 16:00:00
CanadaCalled the Montréal Consulate...
Sorry to hear about that. Seems they will only go by receipt of checklist.

Have you told Rejean how all of these hiccups along the way have affected you?
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-18 17:51:00
CanadaAPPROVED IN MONTREAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I looked at your timeline and your interview took exactly 365 days from filing!
misaFemaleCanada2007-04-18 12:19:00