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jassynicholas

Cats at POE Windsor/Detroit Tunnel By Car

By jassynicholas in Canada

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Not a Tailor Proficient

Not a Tailor   1,370

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

Haven't crossed yet, but one thing I've done to avoid the need for sedation is crate train my cat. I have his carrier set up at the end of my bed and every morning and night I toss a few treats in for him. He'll now go in on his own when I throw in a treat and often chooses to nap in there. I've also been taking him on a short trip every couple of weekends so it's not so scary. He now lives the carrier and I truly think this will help on our journey.

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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Loki_Go Collaborator

Loki_Go   126

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I'm in Windsor too and I cross with my dog all the time; every other weekend. She's in a crate and I bring a vaccination card given to me by the vet. I see cats are exempt from this requirement but I'd get one if I were you anyway, just in case.

I'd guess about 1/5 of the time they bother to look at her card or even ask about her. I have a blanket over her wire crate and the crate sits on my backseat (she's smallish) and they do look to see what's inside, so I pull the blanket off when I go through.

2015-03-07: Got engaged (L)

2015-03-30: Sent I-129F to Dallas lockbox

2015-04-14: NOA1 Packet received, sent to CSC

2015-05-07: NOA2 Approved!

2015-06-15: Received Packet 3 by mail

2015-06-17: Sent Packet 3 to Consulate

2015-07-14: Received Packet 4

2015-08-10: Medical in Toronto

2015-08-16: Received medical envelope

2015-08-24: Montreal interview- APPROVED!

2015-08-27: Visa arrives at Loomis location

2015-08-28: Visa in hand!

2015-09-17: Entered USA

2015-10-23: Married!

2016-01-11: Sent AOS Package I-485, I-765, I-131

2016-01-21: NOA1 Package received

2016-02-19: Biometrics

2016-04-01: AOS interview- APPROVED!

2016-04-07: 2 yr cond green card in hand

2018-03-12: sent ROC

2018-03-19: NOA date, 2018-03-24 letter rec'd

2018-05-18: Biometrics appt waived

2019-06-04 New biometrics letter received

2019-06-10 Biometrics

2019-06-18 ROC Approved
2019-06-25 10 year Green Card in hand

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Ms Hogan Proficient

Ms Hogan   295

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

They don't care much about cats. No paperwork but you might as well have their current vaccinations handy in case someone doesn't know what they're doing.

When I did my entry the guard got pissy with me because my cat wasn't in his carrier. He wanted to LOOK at him (this is the whole making sure they look healthy thing) but wasn't willing to have me open the hatch and put him back in his carrier. So I think he looked in the window and told me to go ahead. Not much to it. Same things when I broth my fish tank across a few weeks later!

Your cats being nervous is nothing to worry about.

USCIS - 40 DAYS
2012-10-30: FedEx delivered I-130 to Chicago Lockbox Mail Room
2012-11-01: NOA1 by email - MSC
2012-11-02: $420 (x3) debited from our account
2012-11-05: NOA1 hard copies received, Priority Date 2012-10-30
2012-12-11: NOA2

NVC - 26 DAYS
2013-01-02: Rec'd case#, IIN, BIN & OPTIN emails for EP sent
2013-01-03: Submitted DS-261 (x3)
2013-01-07: AOS bills invoiced and paid & OPTIN for EP accepted for each of us
2013-01-08: AOS bills appear as paid & AOS packages sent by email
2013-01-08: IV bill invoiced & paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV bill appears as paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (kids only)
2013-01-11: AOS received -notified by email
2013-01-11: IV bill invoiced & paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV bill appears as paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV Supporting Docs received for kids - notified by email
2013-01-14: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (me only)
2013-01-18: IV Supporting Docs received for me - notified by email
2013-01-18: Son#1 CASE COMPLETE - Son#2 checklist - saying $ on I-864 don't match tax return (but they do)-resubmitted
2013-01-23: AOS 2nd submission for Son #2 received - notified by email
2013-01-25: My CASE COMPLETE
2013-01-28: ALL 3 OF OUR CASES ARE NOW COMPLETE
2013-02-06: Packet 4 Received by email

MEDICAL ~ CONSULATE ~ POE REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS - 160 DAYS NATURALIZATION
2013-02-13: Medicals 2014-12-17: Delivered to California Lockbox 2015-12-15: Delivered to Phoenix Lockbox
2013-03-06: Interview 2014-12-19: 1 I-751 + 3 Biometrics Fees debited from our account 2015-12-16: Fees charged to Credit Card
2013-03-08: Visas in-hand 2014-12-22: Received NOA1 by mail. Receipt Date: 2014-12-17 2015-12-17: NOA
2013-03-12: Paid USCIS Immigrant Fee 2014-12-24: Received Biometrics Appointment Letter 2016-01-02: Biometrics Letter 2016-01-11: Biometrics
2013-03-14: POE 2015-01-06: Biometrics 2016-02-15: In Line for Interview 2016-02-19: Letter
2013-03-25: SSNs arrived 2015-05-27: Approved 2016-03-22: Interview
2013-04-01: Green Cards arrived 2015-06-03: New Green Cards arrived 2016-04-15: Oath Ceremony

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VeeNDee Rising Star

VeeNDee   44

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

They don't care much about cats. No paperwork but you might as well have their current vaccinations handy in case someone doesn't know what they're doing.

When I did my entry the guard got pissy with me because my cat wasn't in his carrier. He wanted to LOOK at him (this is the whole making sure they look healthy thing) but wasn't willing to have me open the hatch and put him back in his carrier. So I think he looked in the window and told me to go ahead. Not much to it. Same things when I broth my fish tank across a few weeks later!

Your cats being nervous is nothing to worry about.

Wow you transported a fish tank? Brave! I'd be so paranoid it'd break and rupture. It almost sounds like the guard wanted to take your fish out of the aquarium to look at them. Haha good luck with that one!

VeeNDee

April 23, 2013 - AOS interview - Approved!

January 26, 2015 - Mailed off ROC Application

June 30, 2015 - 10 year greencard in hand

January 25, 2016 - N400 Application Mailed

May 11, 2016 - Citizenship Interview + same-day Oath ceremony!

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Ms Hogan Proficient

Ms Hogan   295

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Wow you transported a fish tank? Brave! I'd be so paranoid it'd break and rupture. It almost sounds like the guard wanted to take your fish out of the aquarium to look at them. Haha good luck with that one!

Yep, it wasn't very big but i had to do it. Drained it halfway and crossed my fingers. They were fish I bought for my son when he turned 2. 3 of them were the SAME fish 5 years later if you can believe that! They already made a move once when I moved within Canada but that was only an hour drive. Their POE drive was 5 hours but somehow they made it. I actually couldn't believe it myself but I had to try. It was stressful listening to the sloshing lol.

USCIS - 40 DAYS
2012-10-30: FedEx delivered I-130 to Chicago Lockbox Mail Room
2012-11-01: NOA1 by email - MSC
2012-11-02: $420 (x3) debited from our account
2012-11-05: NOA1 hard copies received, Priority Date 2012-10-30
2012-12-11: NOA2

NVC - 26 DAYS
2013-01-02: Rec'd case#, IIN, BIN & OPTIN emails for EP sent
2013-01-03: Submitted DS-261 (x3)
2013-01-07: AOS bills invoiced and paid & OPTIN for EP accepted for each of us
2013-01-08: AOS bills appear as paid & AOS packages sent by email
2013-01-08: IV bill invoiced & paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV bill appears as paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (kids only)
2013-01-11: AOS received -notified by email
2013-01-11: IV bill invoiced & paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV bill appears as paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV Supporting Docs received for kids - notified by email
2013-01-14: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (me only)
2013-01-18: IV Supporting Docs received for me - notified by email
2013-01-18: Son#1 CASE COMPLETE - Son#2 checklist - saying $ on I-864 don't match tax return (but they do)-resubmitted
2013-01-23: AOS 2nd submission for Son #2 received - notified by email
2013-01-25: My CASE COMPLETE
2013-01-28: ALL 3 OF OUR CASES ARE NOW COMPLETE
2013-02-06: Packet 4 Received by email

MEDICAL ~ CONSULATE ~ POE REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS - 160 DAYS NATURALIZATION
2013-02-13: Medicals 2014-12-17: Delivered to California Lockbox 2015-12-15: Delivered to Phoenix Lockbox
2013-03-06: Interview 2014-12-19: 1 I-751 + 3 Biometrics Fees debited from our account 2015-12-16: Fees charged to Credit Card
2013-03-08: Visas in-hand 2014-12-22: Received NOA1 by mail. Receipt Date: 2014-12-17 2015-12-17: NOA
2013-03-12: Paid USCIS Immigrant Fee 2014-12-24: Received Biometrics Appointment Letter 2016-01-02: Biometrics Letter 2016-01-11: Biometrics
2013-03-14: POE 2015-01-06: Biometrics 2016-02-15: In Line for Interview 2016-02-19: Letter
2013-03-25: SSNs arrived 2015-05-27: Approved 2016-03-22: Interview
2013-04-01: Green Cards arrived 2015-06-03: New Green Cards arrived 2016-04-15: Oath Ceremony

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jassynicholas Contributor

jassynicholas   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks for everyone's responses! I appreciate it. :) Makes me feel a little better for our big day!

I will take some pictures and post them here when they make it across :)

Ms Hogan - So funny about the fish!! I am nervous just taking fish home in the bags! Lol! My fiancé has a big fish tank. It will be interesting when my girls meet his fish lol. Hopefully no issues. :)

Thanks everyone! I will update once we cross and how it went!

K1 VISA: Canadian Fiance


Mailed via Fed-Ex: 19-Jan-15


USCIS Received: 22-Jan-15


NOA1 (Electronic): 26-Jan-15


NOA2 (Electronic): 5-Feb-15


Case # Received: 21-Feb-15


Consulate Received: 27-Feb-15


Packet 3 Received: ****


Packet 3 Sent: 27-Feb-15


Packet 4 Received: 11-Mar-15


Medical: 18-Mar-15 - Complete!


Interview: 10-Apr-15 - Approved!


POE: Hopefully April 24.


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Chalandrae Enthusiast

Chalandrae   29

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Keep us updated!! I am crossing at the Champlain border and am wondering if I should sedate my cat Or not.

August 2011: Started talking to Brian
June 1st, 2012: Started dating (L)
July 29th 2012: Saw each other for the first time, met Family
August 2013: Got engaged
July 2014: Sent 1-129F petition
July 29th, 2014: Received NOA1.
February 5th, 2015: NOA2!
April 16th, 2015: Medical in Montréal
May 15th, 2015; Interview- APPROVED!
June 22nd, 2015: POE at Champlain Border

September 4th, 2015: Wedding! :dancing:

AOS/EAD/AP

February 20th, 2016: AOS/EAD/AP Package sent! (Received 2/25, yay for USPS delays!)

March 4th, 2016: NOA 1 for all 3 applications

March 11th, 2016: Hardcopies with all 3 receipt Numbers received

March 30th, 2016: Biometrics (as a code 2, Maybe have to go again?)

April 25th, 2016: Walk in for the SECOND Biometrics appoinment (Code 3 this time, Officer was not the happiest but told us to come back at noon and he'd let us in.)

May 16th, 2016: Submitted Service Request for I-765

June 8th, 2016: Called USCIS concerning delay, officer put another request in and said the previous one would like be ignored as it was created through their website.

June 21st, 2016: Contacted both NY Senators.

July 1st, 2016: RFIE for I-485.

July 8th, 2016; Sent Evidence Requested by USCIS. (Received July 13th)

July 15th, 2016; Emergency Advance Parole due to Family Emergency

July 27th, 2016; Contacted USCIS Ombudsman as my I-765 has been pending for 5 months.

July 30th,2016; EAD/AP have been approved!

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Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

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

Keep us updated!! I am crossing at the Champlain border and am wondering if I should sedate my cat Or not.

Always risks to sedation......I would take your cat out for a short drive first and see how it behaves!! Some cats travel very well!

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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  • 2 weeks later...
jassynicholas Contributor

jassynicholas   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Hi Everyone!!

Just wanted to update you all with the good news. We crossed with the K1 visa yesterday afternoon and everything went incredibly smoothly! I put both cats in the same carrier (I bought a big one - which is for dogs to keep it roomy for them.) And we had a trailer attached to his truck full of stuff. When I crossed they had us pull in. I told each guard I had two cats in the car.. they didn't seem to care.. just asked if they were in a carrier. I was dying leaving them in the car while we went inside. Luckily we only waited around 30 minutes and they let us go!

I had no paper work for my cats. They didn't want to see the lists I made of all the stuff I was bringing and it really didn't look like they went through any of our stuff.

The girls didn't even cry at all during the 30 minute car ride from the border. All in all my worries are gone and we are happy in our new home!! :) :)

K1 VISA: Canadian Fiance


Mailed via Fed-Ex: 19-Jan-15


USCIS Received: 22-Jan-15


NOA1 (Electronic): 26-Jan-15


NOA2 (Electronic): 5-Feb-15


Case # Received: 21-Feb-15


Consulate Received: 27-Feb-15


Packet 3 Received: ****


Packet 3 Sent: 27-Feb-15


Packet 4 Received: 11-Mar-15


Medical: 18-Mar-15 - Complete!


Interview: 10-Apr-15 - Approved!


POE: Hopefully April 24.


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