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thatangela

What to pack, what to toss

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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I'm wondering specifically about food. I'm trying to burn through as much of my dry foods as possible, although I'm not sure I want to crack open a box of pasta or that big bag of oatmeal now. (I haven't gotten my NVC case number yet, but my fingers are crossed so hard every day I can barely type.)

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge on what we can't or shouldn't pack. I know about the usual stuff, like certain meats, fruits and vegetables. I'll be getting rid of all that stuff.

But should I just open the oatmeal and toss it before I go? And what about my collection of spices, oils and vinegars? Most of them are open.

Will all that stuff be OK as long as the box is labeled and itemized?

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Poland
Timeline

I'm wondering specifically about food. I'm trying to burn through as much of my dry foods as possible, although I'm not sure I want to crack open a box of pasta or that big bag of oatmeal now. (I haven't gotten my NVC case number yet, but my fingers are crossed so hard every day I can barely type.)

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge on what we can't or shouldn't pack. I know about the usual stuff, like certain meats, fruits and vegetables. I'll be getting rid of all that stuff.

But should I just open the oatmeal and toss it before I go? And what about my collection of spices, oils and vinegars? Most of them are open.

Will all that stuff be OK as long as the box is labeled and itemized?

Hey Angela,

It would help everyone to know you transportation details, flying, driving or taking the train as you are in Canada which is relatively close to the U.S.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

Break into that big thing of oatmeal. Nvc is backed up...

Met in 2010 on a forum for a mutual interest. Became friends.
2011: Realized we needed to evaluate our status as friends when we realized we were talking about raising children together.

2011/2012: Decided we were a couple sometime in, but no possibility of being together due to being same sex couple.

June 26, 2013: DOMA overturned. American married couples ALL have the same federal rights at last! We can be a family!

June-September, 2013: Discussion about being together begins.

November 13, 2013: Meet in person to see if this could work. It's perfect. We plan to elope to Boston, MA.

March 13, 2014 Married!

May 9, 2014: Petition mailed to USCIS

May 12, 2014: NOA1.
October 27, 2014: NOA2. (5 months, 2 weeks, 1 day after NOA1)
October 31, 2014: USCIS ships file to NVC (five days after NOA2) Happy Halloween for us!

November 18, 2014: NVC receives our case (22 days after NOA2)

December 17, 2014: NVC generates case number (50 days after NOA2)

December 19, 2014: Receive AOS bill, DS-261. Submit DS-261 (52 days after NOA2)

December 20, 2014: Pay AOS Fee

January 7, 2015: Receive, pay IV Fee

January 10, 2015: Complete DS-260

January 11, 2015: Send AOS package and Civil Documents
March 23, 2015: Case Complete at NVC. (70 days from when they received docs to CC)

May 6, 2015: Interview at Montréal APPROVED!

May 11, 2015: Visa in hand! One year less one day from NOA1.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

Sadly, yes

Met in 2010 on a forum for a mutual interest. Became friends.
2011: Realized we needed to evaluate our status as friends when we realized we were talking about raising children together.

2011/2012: Decided we were a couple sometime in, but no possibility of being together due to being same sex couple.

June 26, 2013: DOMA overturned. American married couples ALL have the same federal rights at last! We can be a family!

June-September, 2013: Discussion about being together begins.

November 13, 2013: Meet in person to see if this could work. It's perfect. We plan to elope to Boston, MA.

March 13, 2014 Married!

May 9, 2014: Petition mailed to USCIS

May 12, 2014: NOA1.
October 27, 2014: NOA2. (5 months, 2 weeks, 1 day after NOA1)
October 31, 2014: USCIS ships file to NVC (five days after NOA2) Happy Halloween for us!

November 18, 2014: NVC receives our case (22 days after NOA2)

December 17, 2014: NVC generates case number (50 days after NOA2)

December 19, 2014: Receive AOS bill, DS-261. Submit DS-261 (52 days after NOA2)

December 20, 2014: Pay AOS Fee

January 7, 2015: Receive, pay IV Fee

January 10, 2015: Complete DS-260

January 11, 2015: Send AOS package and Civil Documents
March 23, 2015: Case Complete at NVC. (70 days from when they received docs to CC)

May 6, 2015: Interview at Montréal APPROVED!

May 11, 2015: Visa in hand! One year less one day from NOA1.

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

I packed up everything that I could that wouldn't spoil.

Spoiler

Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

I'm wondering specifically about food. I'm trying to burn through as much of my dry foods as possible, although I'm not sure I want to crack open a box of pasta or that big bag of oatmeal now. (I haven't gotten my NVC case number yet, but my fingers are crossed so hard every day I can barely type.)

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge on what we can't or shouldn't pack. I know about the usual stuff, like certain meats, fruits and vegetables. I'll be getting rid of all that stuff.

But should I just open the oatmeal and toss it before I go? And what about my collection of spices, oils and vinegars? Most of them are open.

Will all that stuff be OK as long as the box is labeled and itemized?

Hey Angela - I'm using a moving company and had the same questions. I've been told it's best to leave spices behind, a few dry goods are ok.

Apparently spices can cause issues if they decide to run sniffer dogs around your shipment - IF you're using a moving company. I can't speak to uhaul or such.

Despite this recommendation, I have a small box of dry goods and spices (I am absolutely not going to find Garam Masala in Holland Michigan! LOL) but am packing the spices in ziplock bags. I can't imagine there will be a problem. I will label box as 'kitchen items' as per the moving company's suggestion.

I've only kept a few dry goods, given most of all my open stuff to friends who can use it, and donated a whole bunch of unopened stuff to the local food bank.

You can get most of the same stuff once you're stateside, so it's probably pretty silly to transport it. (aside from the very Canadian things you can't get down there)

Cheers!

(F)

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I moved a box of spices and it was fine. But that was in a uhaul.


Pretty much if there was more than 1/3 of a box of something, it was moved. We even told the CPB that we had apples and bananas when we crossed and they had no issues.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

YOU CROSSED WITH APPLES AND LIVED TO TELL?

Holy moly. I made the mistake of crossing with tomatoes once and got a stern talking to by an AG officer.

Since I live in Kelowna, one of the neighbours gave me a big box of Spartans from his yard. I was figuring on cooking them down into apple butter, because I think I can get preserves across.

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

YOU CROSSED WITH APPLES AND LIVED TO TELL?

Holy moly. I made the mistake of crossing with tomatoes once and got a stern talking to by an AG officer.

Since I live in Kelowna, one of the neighbours gave me a big box of Spartans from his yard. I was figuring on cooking them down into apple butter, because I think I can get preserves across.

Reminds of my visit to last year to the US. crossing with Kiwis (God Forbid you do that). got them confiscated, cause they were not produced in Canada.

Bought at Costco in Montreal.

Found the same damn box of kiwis at Costco in Chicago.

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NVC doesn't do much with K-1's, I wouldn't worry about a backup there.

We brought Thanksgiving leftovers back last week. He asked why we had been in Canada (visiting family for Thanksgiving) and asked if we were bringing anything back, I said "Just leftovers!" No questions beyond that. Though my MIL said she had to sit there and eat a bag of oranges once because she didn't want them confiscated...lol.

Odds are, if its all nicely packed in a U-Haul, they won't even open it, or look at your list of things you are moving with. Check with the reviews for the location you plan on crossing to see whether that location is super picky or easy peasy.

2011-05-21: Matched on eharmony (clearly not in my 60 mile radius preference!)

2011-07-30: Met in Ottawa

2011-08-28: Day I knew I wanted to spend my life with her

2012-01-21: I proposed, outside in the freezing cold!

2012-02-06: Mailed out K-1 via FedEX

2012-02-10: NOA1

2012-08-01: NOA2

2012-08-17: Packet 3 received (email)

2012-09-10: Packet 3 sent

2012-09-12: Packet 4 received (email) with request for 2 photos

2012-10-29: Medical in Toronto

2012-11-06: Interview - Approved!

2013-04-05: POE Thousand Islands

2013-04-20: Wedding

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline

YOU CROSSED WITH APPLES AND LIVED TO TELL?

Holy moly. I made the mistake of crossing with tomatoes once and got a stern talking to by an AG officer.

Since I live in Kelowna, one of the neighbours gave me a big box of Spartans from his yard. I was figuring on cooking them down into apple butter, because I think I can get preserves across.

Every time I go through customs there are large piles of apples and bananas at the customers desk (In Edmonton anyways), yet they let me cross with apples once. i always found it funny since so many of our grocery store apples are from the US and then the US confiscates them.

K-1 visa doesn't really go through NVC, just gets a case number I thing and then off to consulate. Mine took 3 weeks I think? Spousal visas are a different story though. Hopefully yours is fast.

Interesting note on the spices. Good to know.

My understanding is you can pack whatever, but make sure to itemize the list so it is declared and be prepared that maybe it will be taken away. Don't see most dry goods being an issue especially if they are sealed.... From watching border patrol, leave your raw meat behind ;)

--------------------------

K-1 Visa Timeline

--------------------------

04/21/2014: Submitted I-129F

05/29/2014: NOA2 via email

01/20/2015: Visa Received

03/15/2015: POE

04/01/2015: Married!! (L)

04/11/2015: Submitted AOS / EAD / AP

10/09/2015: Green Card Approved

07/20/2017: Submitted I-751 ROC

07/27/2017: NOA1 Received

10/14/2017: Biometrics Waived

10/27/2018: ROC Approved

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

I think it depends on your destination state. If you're going to Washington, apples are strictly forbidden.

Today marks four weeks since we got our NOA-2. According to NVC, our case file hasn't even gotten there yet.

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We went from AlBerta into Montana using sweetgrass/Coutts crossing.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Filed: Country: Canada
Timeline

Brought her spices, vinegars, and oils over last weekend when we moved her (peace bridge) - not sure if its allowed but we did. Packed it all up nice and in a uhaul. She went across first in my car, told the officer she had immigrated the week before and was moving her goods and that her husband was in the uhaul behind her. she was sent through no issues - guys asked me if I was a US citizen, and if I had my wifes belongings in the uhaul - I said yes and offered the key to unlock the back and "manifest list" if he wanted - he said nope...just wanna scan the uhaul plates. he did so then told me to have a great day. :) YMMV

I am the USC/Petitioner

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