US Embassy or Consulate

[kccb 10]

44 minutes ago, broppy said:

That link's for adjustment of status when the alien spouse is already in the US. You want to follow the instructions at http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1 (which is the "standalone" I-130 application). You'll need to complete separate I-130s for your husband and daughter, and an I-130A for your husband only.

okay. and then I sent in the fee for both my daughter and husband with the forms?

 

[broppy 204]

6 minutes ago, kccb said:

okay. and then I sent in the fee for both my daughter and husband with the forms?

 

Yes. And copies of any other relevant documentation from the checklists (your birth certificate or passport, marriage certificate, daughter's birth certificate, etc.).

[Courtney86 29]

10 hours ago, Dee elle said:

Have a relative or friend write a check for you.. it must be a USD check drawn on a US bank.. they dont care who pays it!!

Yeah, that's my easiest option, will just take time to get the check here. I don't understand why mail from the US to Canada tends to take forever! I'm finally ready to submit all of this and will now have to wait another couple weeks for a check. Not a huge deal, but it seems like this will take a year (maybe more?) and we wanted to move Sept. 2018 so just trying to get things rolling asap. :o)

[Courtney86 29]

6 hours ago, broppy said:

I was in Calgary too. It really sucks to be in the Prairies for US immigration - you can't get the medical done anywhere locally either. You've basically got a choice of making an extra day trip to Surrey, BC or spending a week in Montreal. Surrey will courier the results to you the day after the medical - the one in Montreal needs three days before you can pick up the results.

 

It's probably pointless going to the consulate - the fee for filing I-130 needs to be paid in USD with a cheque or money order drawn on a US bank. And later on when it comes to paying fees to National Visa Center, you'll also need US bank account details to make the payments online.

Oooh man, good to know about the Medical! Though I wouldn't say 10 hours to Surrey from Calgary is a day trip :-P May as well tack it on to Montreal if we have to go anyway. 

 

My only reason for going to the consulate was that the paperwork says re payment "If you live outside the US, contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate for instructions on the method of payment." This made me think that maybe if you were abroad they gave you another option, like paying at the consulate and receiving a money order from them or something? I tried to call and find out but since they only give you an automated system to make an appointment, I did that. If this is a total waste of time, I'll just cancel it. 

 

I can get a US check from my parents, I just didn't want to wait for it to arrive in the mail now that I'm finally ready to send this off and Canadian post seems to take forever. 

 

When you say paying NVC, you can do it online as long as you have a US bank? I've got the accounts, just not any physical checks. Thanks!

[Courtney86 29]

2 hours ago, kccb said:

I saw for payment it payment mentioned getting a money order. that is probably what i'll do. do you have to go to the consulate to file the papers? I've read that you can mail them? i'm hoping i can mail them because the consulate is 8 hours one way for me.

 

Wow! this week. My goal is to have them done the beginning of novmeber. Good luck!!

But can you get a US money order in Canada?? I would definitely do that if it's possible, but I only know of money orders at US banks/ post offices. Yes, you are supposed to mail the paperwork. The consulate thing was per the directions of 'if you live outside the US contact the consulate for payment instructions'. I was hoping they'd give me another option besides US check/money order.

 

And yes, I really wanted this in two weeks ago but you know how it goes! Finally ready, minus the check. Good luck! 

[TamaraN 72]

2 hours ago, kccb said:

I was told that my I-130 will go to the Montreal consulate, I"m supposed to send it to Chicago? I can open a US bank account while still in Canada?

 

No i moved to Canada when I was 7, been here for 19 years other than living in the states for 8 months in 2012. 

 

2 hours ago, kccb said:

Thanks for all your help! I have one more question. I'm reading theres a stand alone I-130... who is eligible to submit this? I was under the impression I had to do everything under the "Assembling the I-130 Package: Checklist " on this page. http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide2 for both my husband and my daughter

Are you sure they need to send it to Chicago?? I think they are doing a direct consulate filing because the USC is living in Canada... if I read correctly.

[geowrian 22,335]

7 minutes ago, TamaraN said:

 

Are you sure they need to send it to Chicago?? I think they are doing a direct consulate filing because the USC is living in Canada... if I read correctly.

DCF is not available in Canada.

[broppy 204]

18 minutes ago, Courtney86 said:

Oooh man, good to know about the Medical! Though I wouldn't say 10 hours to Surrey from Calgary is a day trip :-P May as well tack it on to Montreal if we have to go anyway. 

Well, I didn't drive it! First flight out of YYC and a taxi to Surrey - still had time for a Timmy's before 10 o'clock medical appointment. A nice 30 minute stroll down the road to their blood lab and x-ray place, cab back to the airport and flight back around 5pm. The flight was cheaper for me than spending extra time in Quebec (and I don't speak french, so preferred to spend as little time there as possible).

 

Quote

My only reason for going to the consulate was that the paperwork says re payment "If you live outside the US, contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate for instructions on the method of payment." This made me think that maybe if you were abroad they gave you another option, like paying at the consulate and receiving a money order from them or something? I tried to call and find out but since they only give you an automated system to make an appointment, I did that. If this is a total waste of time, I'll just cancel it. 

If you've got time to spare, it can't hurt to find out if they have other options - would be nice if you can handle it locally - I'd never thought to try as wife had US cheques available.

 

Quote

When you say paying NVC, you can do it online as long as you have a US bank? I've got the accounts, just not any physical checks. Thanks!

Yeah - the highly secure US online banking system - as long as you know your name, routing number and account number, you can pay online.

Edited October 12, 2017 by broppy

[TamaraN 72]

Just now, geowrian said:

DCF is not available in Canada.

Oh ok, good to know. Sorry!

[geowrian 22,335]

6 minutes ago, TamaraN said:

Oh ok, good to know. Sorry!

np. It was available a few years ago, I believe.

[broppy 204]

9 minutes ago, geowrian said:

np. It was available a few years ago, I believe.

It changed back in 2011 - since then, only countries with a local USCIS office are eligible for DCF. Last I heard, though, there's a chance that USCIS will expedite processing if US spouse is living outside the country and mails the package to the lockbox from overseas. No guarantees, unfortunately, but there were several reports here of receiving NOA2 within a month or two in that situation.

Edited October 12, 2017 by broppy

[Courtney86 29]

18 minutes ago, broppy said:

Well, I didn't drive it! First flight out of YYC and a taxi to Surrey - still had time for a Timmy's before 10 o'clock medical appointment. A nice 30 minute stroll down the road to their blood lab and x-ray place, cab back to the airport and flight back around 5pm. The flight was cheaper for me than spending extra time in Quebec (and I don't speak french, so preferred to spend as little time there as possible).

3

Ah fair point, I was thinking flying is expensive but one flight + one day off work compared to the extra 3 days off plus accommodation could be cheaper. We've got some time to figure that out but thanks for the heads up. Are Surrey and Montreal the only two spots? And/or do you have a link to where the info is? I'm guessing there are places in the US she could get it done if she happened to be visiting during the process? 

 

18 minutes ago, broppy said:

 

18 minutes ago, broppy said:

 

4 minutes ago, broppy said:

It changed back in 2011 - since then, only countries with a local USCIS office are eligible for DCF. Last I heard, though, there's a chance that USCIS will expedite processing if US spouse is living outside the country and mails the package to the lockbox from overseas. No guarantees, unfortunately, but there were several reports here of receiving NOA2 within a month or two in that situation.

This is what I'm hoping for! Just considering it a bonus, but would be really nice if true :-) 

[broppy 204]

32 minutes ago, Courtney86 said:

But can you get a US money order in Canada?? I would definitely do that if it's possible, but I only know of money orders at US banks/ post offices.

OP's in Toronto - it's not too far to nip over the border and get a real US money order from the post office.

[broppy 204]

11 minutes ago, Courtney86 said:

Ah fair point, I was thinking flying is expensive but one flight + one day off work compared to the extra 3 days off plus accommodation could be cheaper. We've got some time to figure that out but thanks for the heads up. Are Surrey and Montreal the only two spots? And/or do you have a link to where the info is? I'm guessing there are places in the US she could get it done if she happened to be visiting during the process?

Those two are probably the most convenient for those out west, but there are three other offices all in ON. Details for all five on the last page of https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Medical/MTL - Montreal.pdf

And no, I don't think you're allowed to get the medical done in the US.

[Prystine 184]

No, the medical and the interview has to be done in the beneficiary's home country and they have a specific list of where/who can even do the medical which is provided once you get further in the process from the embassy once it gets to that point. There is a lot to this process and it would really benefit the OP to read the guides and the wiki regarding the IR1/CR1 process and the steps it takes as there are several different steps along the way that have to be done.

 

This might help clear up some questions if you read these:

wiki: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php?title=IR1_and_CR1_Immigrant_Visas

Cr1/IR1 Guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/i130guide1