We're finally filling out the DS-230 after getting it nearly three weeks ago. We left for a visit to my parents' place in the States soon after receiving it, and just got back Saturday night. (And no, we had absolutely no problems at the border which had been a big concern before we left.)

Three questions:

1. When it asked for dates of visits to the US, my husband and I got concerned... we've had numerous visits down to the States over the last five years, most of them to my parents' place, and around two per year. We haven't the foggiest idea how to track down the specific dates for all visits and were wondering how others handled this. We don't want to make up dates, but how else do we complete this section?

2. It asks if my husband will be applying alone, or with me... we didn't realize we needed to make this decision before learning of the actual interview date. In a perfect world, my husband would go by himself... if I go along with him, we also bring our two year old and four month old, and what should be a quick and easy trip would become a much more complicated, tiring and expensive one. Is the sponsor ever called into an interview? Is there any reason for me to need to be there?

3. I understand that we only submit the DS-230 and the checklist for now. Are the other documents listed in the checklist to be submitted in person along with the I-864? Or will we be asked to mail them at a later date? I'm sure I've read this somewhere but can't seem to find any info on it. I can't remember if we receive a letter regarding our interview date after the DS-230 submission or if there's another step we need to complete before that.

As always, any info would be greatly appreciated... thanks much.

I am no expert here but for your question # 2 - if you have to go with your husband to the interview - I think this depends on the country. In Ecuador I am absolutely NOT allowed to the interview but I think in other places you have the option. I would ask the specific embassy where the interview will occur.

I went to my husband's interview with him in Australia! I'm glad I was there with him.

As for visits, Stewart also had LOTS of visits (2 per year for the past five years). He put months instead of days...like May 2000 - September 2000. He had to add an extra sheet to accomodate them all. The interviewer checked the dates with his passport stamps.

Nevermind... just called the Embassy and spoke with a very nice woman. As for the visits, she told me to have my husband write the following:

"As a Canadian citizen, I have visited the US numerous times over the last X years. My longest stay was X."

No need for specific dates - yay!

AND, even better, she said there would never be a need to call a sponsor into an interview, so I, nor will my children, need to fly to Montreal. Thank goodness... that saves us a few thousand dollars on airfare and bigger hotel rooms. Oh, she did joke that if my husband screwed up our anniversary date and I wasn't there, that he would automatically be turned down. At which point I replied that he'd be in trouble at home, too.

hi Laura, LTNS!
For your question 2, you don't say what "it" is, but you might want to review that question and the way it is worded. You may be on a part that does not apply to you, but would be if your husband were immigrating with a spouse who was *not* his sponsor (like he was coming via a parent, or the DV Lottery). Remember that the forms are used for many different kinds of cases, so read carefully.

However: only the visa applicant need appear for the interview, so you got the answer to your real question, but be careful with the forms.

Typically you bring all the documents to the interview and only submit the visa app and the checklist. Do that unless you are instructed otherwise. The letter you would get after DS-230 submission would be the instructions for the medical and the interview date (Packet 4).

Great to hear from you!

To reply to question 1.. the Consular staff in Montreal know that Canadian citizens visit the US frequently all the time and there is no way that they can remember all of them.. They recommend that you put down "Frequent Visits of no more than X days in duration".

BTW.. how did you make out with the Consular Records of Birth... Do you have them yet?

Hey Meauxna!

"It" was referring to the DS-230 form, and yes, we've learned that I do not have to go. Yay!

Thanks for the info on Packet 4. It's usually just a few weeks until you receive it after submitting the DS-230 and checklist, correct? We finally got downtown today to the police station to get my husband's police certificate (name check), but learned that it will take a few weeks to arrive. We're anxious to send off the application. Part of me says to wait until we have everything in hand, but I'm sure we'll have it in plenty of time for the interview, as it should still be a few months off, I'd imagine.

Hi Zyggy...

That sounds quite similar to what they told me when I called. Makes sense - there's no way we'd be able to recall every trip in detail.

Regarding the Consular Records of Birth... funny you ask. We'd planned on heading down to the Consulate today, but the place where we thought we'd get the kids' passport photos taken (we're applying for their passports at the same time) doesn't take kids' photos, so there was no time to go somewhere else AND make it to the Consulate on time (closes at noon to the public). I'd wanted to go before we left on holiday, but I didn't get my school records (proof of physical presence) until the afternoon before we were leaving. Seeing as how we were leaving on the 6:30am flight the next morning, there was no time. Thankfully, however, we had no problem at the border. Birth certificates were fine, and at no time were we asked about their citizenship and/or whether we had documentation of such. We should apply for them next week and have them before the next trip, however (around late July, I imagine).

Just a tip.. you should get the passport photos for the kids done when you're in the US... I remember all the trouble there was when we went to a Passport Photo place in Canada. They had a devil of a time getting the fact that US Passport photos were of a different size...

You know, we may do that. We might even have time to do it on this next trip. I actually printed up an instructions sheet for the photographer to take with us b/c I had a feeling the specs might be different, but it would be even easier to do it where they take US passport photos all of the time.

You're already back from your trip to the US.. if so, I wouldn't wait until July.. I would try to get the Consular Records of Birth before then.. When dealing with the US Government.. it's not good to procrastinate...