Canadian in the US before interview

[ChristieLindsay 1]

Ok, so here's the not-so-short version......Bear with me please, I have a lot of questions and I'm REALLY hoping for some guidance here.

We have NOA2, we have Packet 4 from Montreal. We have not yet scheduled our interview, but are planning somewhere around the end of March/Beginning of April (depending on a later question).

Canadian's are able to visit the US for up to 6 months. My fiance currently lives outside of Toronto and we get to spend 1-2 weeks together every 2-3 months, but due to some various issues such as financial among other things, we want to spend a more significant chunk of time together BEFORE the interview and him moving here. Primarily, he is going to be a stay at home dad when he comes to my two kids, and we are planning on adding a third very soon, which is a vast difference from his solo bachelor lifestyle. He can't wait. I want to make sure he knows what he's really in for - BEFORE he leaves his job and home and life behind. I'm a realist. Also financially, he makes jack ####### at his very physically demanding job, especially given how the canadian dollar has tanked recently. Couple that with the fact that I pay $1600/mo for childcare for my two kids, and it makes more sense for him to come and have a go at being a stay at home dad while we save up for his move and the embassy fees.

So basically, he is taking a leave of absence from work, and coming down to visit in a couple of weeks..... He'll be staying until our interview, and we'll drive up to Montreal together.

He will maintain his residence in Canada while he stays here, and is not 'moving' on this trip, continuing to pay both his rent and his child support while here. Beyond clothes and his guitar, his stuff will all stay there. He's just coming for a 6+ week visit, well under the 6 months.

First question:

Are there any potential problems with this that I am not seeing that will come at the time of the interview?

Second question:

Also. my attorney (which I should not have hired as he is completely useless, a waste of money, and I don't trust at all) has told me that our NOA 2, which expires March 25th, will "automatically renew" when we schedule our interview if it is past the 4 month mark. Is that accurate? It seems logical because they just issued packet 4 a couple of days ago, and that's cutting it pretty close to the expiration date since we have to schedule it withinin the next two weeks to meet the deadline, but I'm not sure if I can trust that information? Ideally, we'd like to postpone the interview until the end of April. Him returning to Canada long before the expiration of allowable visitation... I will be travelling with him to Montreal and then home to Toronto while we wait for the visa to pack up his stuff and say goodbye to mutual friends. He doesn't really have family.

Third question:

Medical exam. How does the timing of the exam work with picking up the results? Should he have his medical BEFORE he comes to visit if we're planning on the interview within 6 weeks? Should we just go to Montreal a few days early and have it done there? If its before he comes to visit, can they mail the results to his home there or do they have to be picked up? What is the wait to pick them up in Toronto vs Montreal?

Fourth:

Vaccination requirements? I've seen some places say that vaccines aren't really required until AOS. Is this true? Cause his clinic is giving him a very hard time. The medical doctors website states they'll take a verbal declaration of having had chicken pox, which is good. And serology shows he does need, and will receive, the MMR. The problem really is the tetanus. Requirements show that you have to either have A) Proof of Tetnus series as a child + a booster within 10 years. He does not have this. OR B) A series of tetanus as an adult; 2 vaccines given within 8 weeks of each other, plus an additional one a year later. As current as possible at time of medical. or C) A booster within 4 weeks of the medical.

He had a tetanus booster about 4 months ago. It was NOT the series. It was a single shot. They will not repeat the vaccine as he 'doesn't need it'. But what he's had doesn't fulfill the requirements. He has printed the requirements off of Montreal's website and taken them to him, and they will not perform an additional vaccine. If he's here, i suppose we can go here and pay for it, but then we're looking at $200+ for a single vaccine. If its not required yet, then we can wait until he's married and on my insurance.

Any help can be appreciated it. We're getting down to the wire here and ARGH! Stressing out.

[TBoneTX 42,991]

There are enough country-specific elements in this thread to justify its move from the K-1 Process forum to the Canada regional subforum.

[NikLR 13,220]

All Canadian kids get a tetanus vaccination as small children and again as a teen unless they either missed school or had parental permission not to get said vaccination. I would just bring proof of his Tdap shot.

As for the medical, I hear it takes 10 days to 2 weeks to get the results back from Toronto area doctors while the Medysis in Montreal is 3 days after the medical (so 4 days including the medical day.)

Your husband may have a harder time visiting than you think because he will have a lack of ties to Canada, which the CBP may ask for. Partially because of the length of time he will be staying as well.

As for your NOA2 expiration, I'm not sure. You can always book your exam interview and reschedule it further out if needed.

I do not see any problems for the interview overall.

Also as per the medical, he cannot get it done until after you have the interview booked. And he will need to spend an unknown period of time waiting for his passport and visa package back from the interview. It can happen as fast as the next day but it can also take 6-8 weeks.

Edited January 20, 2015 by NLR

[Ms Hogan 295]

One of the things I noticed in your post is that you said he'd have a go at being a stay-at-home-dad while visiting. I believe this can raise a red flag at the border as well because it is like he is coming to work as your babysitter/nanny. I know it sounds strange but there have been discussions in the past about this. He isn't allowed to work while he is in America visiting. Just keep that in mind as well.

In terms of the vaccinations, I don't understand why his doctor isn't just giving him all the vaccinations and boosters he has requested. If for some reason he has to start a new series and it isn't complete at the time of his medical I believe the doctor there just puts that in the waiver indicating that timing did not allow for it or something along those lines. He can call the office of the doctor providing the medical for more details also. That is the best bet.

You are also asking about getting the medical results in. He should also call the offices for those pieces of information as well. It is always the best bet to get straight to the office for those details.

[thatangela 134]

I just spent a month in WA, only coming back for my interview and to pack up the house.

No issues at the border. I said I was coming down for a few weeks vacation (coinciding with the holidays). I've never been asked to show ties but I would never say it couldn't happen.

[Flames9_RN 358]

One never know when crossing..I would just say visiting.....I keep to the KISS principle..keep it super simple...just keep ur answers short and to the point and be confident.....I traveled almost monthly to DC, never had an issue, but my visits were normally short..longest was 3 weeks! Most don't have any problems, but a few do. One should always have ties to Canada with them....don't hand them over unless asked.....I always had them, but was never asked for them. best of luck

[Rhaenerys 16]

Make sure his package of ties to Canada is really robust. Print everything you can think of. Also make sure he packs as light as possible. I got turned away at the border over the holidays because I "had too much stuff" and they decided it looked like I was moving in early (I wasn't). Then they didnt like my ties to Canada, there wasn't enough proof. It was terrifying. So be careful, and be prepared!