Brand New Day

[Dante 0]

I felt despair for a short bit. I managed to get there early enough that I was third in line. The woman who processed my paperwork was NOT happy with me. She asked for everything on the list on her window. What I had neglected to do was bring along photocopies of all of my documents. When it came to the divorce decree for my fiancee (around 20 pages), she was ready to send me out of the building to find a photocopier. Luckily I had a copy of the papers submitted by my fiancee in the first place, including a copy of her divorce decree. I had also forgotten to fill out the DS-156K. I was sent away to fill it out and wait for my fingerprints.

Fingerprinting didn't go so well either. (No explanation other than place my fingers on the pad. Small hint. Don't spread your fingers, and make sure you press them down.)

During the interview the very friendly woman questioning me noticed I didn't have a copy of my fiancee's tax returns. O_o She went off to check to see if I could get by without it. That was the LONGEST two minutes of my life. She came back and apologized, explaining she handles many different types of visas. Apparently mine does not require the tax forms, only my word that my fiancee is working and a description of her job. The interviewer even sympathized, knowing how stressful it must be waiting to find out if I didn't have the correct paperwork.

Other than that, things went smoothly. Rather than anti-climactic, I found the interview to be the least stressful, most calming event of the entire process. It was nice to finally feel in control at some point during this thing.

Oh, and a five hour wait for my return train ride (which took 5 hours 20 minutes to get to Toronto).

Now, the biggest debate is whether to ship my possessions down now, or store them for a trip later.

January 16th is coming up fast. But not fast enough. (My trip down.)

EDIT: Not only did the woman processing my paperwork not know what a DS-160 was, but was irritated I didn't have a full printout, only the confirmation with my photo, limited information, and the barcode. However, upon completion of the DS-160, it does specifically state to only submit the confirmation, NOT the full document. Keep that in mind anyone dealing with the new form. Perhaps I'm wrong? I could've sworn it told me not to submit the full document.

Edited December 21, 2008 by Dante

[Krikit 1,163]

Now, the biggest debate is whether to ship my possessions down now, or store them for a trip later.

Congratulations! To help with your debate..... lol...... your possessions must accompany you or follow you later. They can't precede you. (If that wasn't what you meant then please ignore this message. lol)

[OBX 51]

Congratulations - best of luck and have a safe trip in January.

[Dante 0]

Now, the biggest debate is whether to ship my possessions down now, or store them for a trip later.

Congratulations! To help with your debate..... lol...... your possessions must accompany you or follow you later. They can't precede you. (If that wasn't what you meant then please ignore this message. lol)

Sorry. I did indeed mean accompany me. Not precede.

One strange incident though. I was never asked for my x-rays. I even pointed it out to the woman handling my paperwork. I was promptly told "I never asked for it, so I don't need it." Did I never need these in the first place? Anyone else have a similar experience?

[MrsCat 6]

Now, the biggest debate is whether to ship my possessions down now, or store them for a trip later.

Congratulations! To help with your debate..... lol...... your possessions must accompany you or follow you later. They can't precede you. (If that wasn't what you meant then please ignore this message. lol)

Sorry. I did indeed mean accompany me. Not precede.

One strange incident though. I was never asked for my x-rays. I even pointed it out to the woman handling my paperwork. I was promptly told "I never asked for it, so I don't need it." Did I never need these in the first place? Anyone else have a similar experience?

Only a physician is in a position to interpret xray results. When you had your medical, the panel physician would have reviewed the xrays once he received them and wrote a formal report about the xray results. This would have comprised his medical opinion that is forwarded to the consulate. The written report is what the consular officer makes his decision on when you're medical admissible or inadmissible. Mostly because a consular officer isn't competent to form a medical opinion based on results, he needs those results interpreted by a medically trained professional.

I am under the impression that xray are to determine whether there may be the presence of TB.

The gentleman at the consulate suggested that I provide the xray to my new family doctor in case they wanted to compare results from past . I threw mine in the trash at the hotel.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Now, the biggest debate is whether to ship my possessions down now, or store them for a trip later.

Congratulations! To help with your debate..... lol...... your possessions must accompany you or follow you later. They can't precede you. (If that wasn't what you meant then please ignore this message. lol)

I am not sure about this.

I mailed stuff to the U.S. over a few months before I got here.

So....perhaps it is different if you ship them all at once??

Congrats on getting your visa Dante!

[Carlawarla 1]

Congratulations Dante! Glad things worked out for you!

[BermyCat 1]

Congratulations! What a great Christmas present.

~ Catherine

[Dante 0]

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years.

My journey has had it's ups and downs. A wonderful Christmas gift of my visa approval. Yesterday I received my visa in the mail. And now I'm traveling down to my Love as a wonderful birthday gift. (Well, around my birthday anyways. ) So January 16th I fly down to Texas!

It's a whirlwind between now and then, closing out accounts, sorting out the rest of my apartment, saying fond farewells, and still working up until next Wednesday. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! So, for everyone still in the process, don't be discouraged. Your day will come!

And of course, thank you to everyone here for their knowledge and support.

Jaime

[JillA 2]

Hope everyone had a wonderful New Years.

My journey has had it's ups and downs. A wonderful Christmas gift of my visa approval. Yesterday I received my visa in the mail. And now I'm traveling down to my Love as a wonderful birthday gift. (Well, around my birthday anyways. ) So January 16th I fly down to Texas!

It's a whirlwind between now and then, closing out accounts, sorting out the rest of my apartment, saying fond farewells, and still working up until next Wednesday. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! So, for everyone still in the process, don't be discouraged. Your day will come!

And of course, thank you to everyone here for their knowledge and support.

Jaime

Congrats Jaime!! Good luck with the move!!

[♥Stiggy♥ 0]

congrats!!!