Autumnal

More timelines filled out amongst us Canadians would certainly help track these things.

The two year rule -sucked- when I had to renew my passport. I am lucky that my uncle was an accountant, and the people in his office (almost all of them qualified) knew me. Talk about a pain! I would recommend doing an expedited passport change now, since it's faster, easier, and a heck of a lot more certain to get to you intact. The last thing you want to do is try to change your passport after you receive your green card -- that's several hundred dollars all around to replace the ID, no matter that you've got a legitimate reason to do it! I actually kept my Canadian passport in my maiden name. :/

WHOA! Another Nanaimoite!? I thought I was the only one! O.O

I am going from Nanaimo to Vancouver. Dropping my stuff off in Surrey where they then ship it to Kentucky. And I am flying from Vancouver the following week.

Okay, now that I'm settled... U-Pack is a great company, I definitely recommend it. Sorry about the crappy ferry fare, though!

Canada Post is expensive and, at times, slow. Make sure that you really gauge the weight and packing materials of anything you ship through them, though you'll still probably save a fortune over FedUp and the other mainstream couriers. Another option you might look for, depending on how far you have to go, is commercial or freight services. These take a bit more digging around -- I know Greyhound famously does it -- but you might be able to send an awkward-sized item or a heavy box for much less the cost if you're willing to wait a bit. I'm pretty sure there are reviews and websites out there to long-distance ground shipping of this sort.

My strategy was to take the largest, heaviest, bulkiest, and most precious items in the car. It may even behoove you to rent a larger car/vehicle or tow something (though on a Celica, I'm not sure towing is the hottest idea) like a tiny U-haul trailer for things that don't quite fit in the trunk. Your gas mileage isn't going to be quite so good, but for the comfort of keeping your Dyson, a prized collection of porcelain figurines, or your gaming rig and fancy desk intact, I'd consider the money to be pretty well invested. Another nice thing - you can usually find really good rates online for rentals from U-Haul and Budget if you shop around for coupons, apply AAA/CAA discounts, YMCA discounts (seriously!), and other options. I found my Costco membership of all things entitled me to an upgrade with a rental car, so if you go midsize to full-size, you can be driving in comfort.

A few things that may be worth comparing:

1. Value of item vs cost of replacement - is it worth it to ship this? Can you buy it new/better?

2. Necessity - do you need it right now? Can you wait until someone comes to visit?

3. Sentimentality - if it's priceless, it should be in the car.

4. Weight - very bulky, heavy stuff sucks to ship. It's expensive.

5. Size - per weight. Odd/large objects are sometimes best taken with you.

I file in Canada regardless of whether or not I have income so that I have accounted for any/all activities with CRA for the time I'm abroad. I intend to move back to Canada at some point in the future, and a potential 10 year gap could be a problem. It takes me all of 15 minutes to prepare my taxes most years with StudioTax, fire that out the door, and all is well. So far no problems, I get my letter back from Surrey, BC noting that I've successfully filed and that's that. I did have investments in Canada that I needed to accommodate in my taxes before I transferred them to the US, and they had to be declared on my income taxes.

This should probably be moved into the Canada regional forum since we have a LOT of people over there who know exactly about this situation. You have IR-1/CR-1 and K3 visa options to get into the US. Depending on how you file, the time that it takes will vary a fair bit. K3 is an excellent choice for those who live near Vancouver as it saves them from going all the way out to Montreal, which is the sole consulate dealing with IR-1/CR-1.

The N-400 instructions and the M-477 checklist confirm what documents you need to send. It's a very small package compared to the one sent in for Adjustment of Status. You may require more or less documentation depending on your situation. I applied for naturalization as a 5 year PR, so I needed to send in very little additional documentation except for my divorce certificate.

Best advice: read the link, find out what applies to your situation and use that. You definitely do show where you've been outside the US as part of your application.

The passport card can be used as proof of citizenship. Unlike a driver's license, it's a document which establishes your nationality and naturalization status. Since it says USA, you and the children are now officially USCs in the eyes of anyone who beholds your new little slick form of ID. You don't have to carry around the certificate or your passport when using it, save if you're trying to fly in/out of the US.

NickD, your question of why a LPR is going out of the country is a little rude. We don't all have the luxury of being "parked by our mailboxes." People go on vacation, visit family, need to travel abroad, have work obligations, and dozens of other reasons to be away from home. It's holiday season and Americans still get a measly 10 to 20 days of vacation time in many cases. We submit the applications when we have the time, funds, and ability.

I sing O Canada whenever I go over the Blue Water Bridge. I don't take the Ambassador Bridge, but I *do* sing under the tunnel!

I really dread going over recommended weight. I'm always hungry, which doesn't help, and I've upped my fitness routine to combat sleepiness. Part of me really wants to duck out of swimming today.

The police certificate takes the longest in most cases. Pull that as soon as you can. The inland applications are much nicer than the US system in most cases, though you have to be committed to wait. :/

The Vancouver consulate for K1s is nice and central to you. Don't bother with a lawyer - as others have said, it's just not worth the money unless you have a very complicated case, criminal issues, or eligibility issues.

Congratulations!

As long as she meets the minimum criteria for filing for naturalization, there is no deadline she must file by. She can file immediately at the three years minus 90 day mark, or she could wait thirteen years. It's really a personal decision. Her friend is wrong, and you can do what is best for you two.

I waited seven years (!) to file, in part because I didn't realize that I could file after three years of marriage; then, because I divorced my spouse. The time had no bearing on my case. No one asked me about the delay in my interview, biometrics, etc. The only delays came from the processing centre that serves all the Midwest.

Can you use a passport or travel stamps to demonstrate when you were in the US? Are there any other records available that would conclusively indicate you were resident in the US, like being claimed as a dependent on tax forms?

It's also possible that your area does not hold oath ceremonies on a biweekly or monthly basis.

I did not work the first year I was in the US, waiting on my green card, work permit, and the rest. I did an unpaid internship and that was it. On the advice of a senior tax adviser at the IRS, and H&R Block, I filed MFJ with my (now ex-)husband. It really wasn't an option not to do so in my eyes. USCIS's instructions for tax returns at all stages of the immigration process (AOS, naturalization) make clear I need my own tax record, and had my spouse filed MFS or Single, I would have no record of my own.

Can you chance not having your own tax returns? Sure. Would I advise it? Not in a million years. You need your own papertrail for USCIS to follow in cases like this.

You're not too late to make an amendment for the past three years. All those 0s are going to be quick if you file for yourself in whatever bracket or category. Whether or not you choose to go MFS or MFJ is up to you and your spouse. I think it needs to be reiterated that you should be filing for your taxes even if you make not a jot of income, so that you're on record with the IRS. You have them in. Since you have no income or assets to speak of, it should be a breeze to plug all the numbers into a 1099EZ form; use the online H&R Block, TurboTax, Quicken, whatever software; or take it to a tax professional.

Honestly I don't know that you qualify for showing the tax records for the past three years with married filing separately, if your income will show up in its entirety or not. At the end of the day, USCIS and the immigration officer get to make the final call. Your lack of records is going to likely be of much interest. Why not cut that concern off at the pass by filing the paperwork (even MFS), submitting them, and including a note they're late because you were unaware that you had to file due to the $0 income bit.

Depends greatly on the biometrics centre you were assigned to. There is currently a thread for someone who has waited more than a month in the Milwaukee area, if I remember right, and has considered an Infopass appointment. You might want to do a search on it.

My rule of thumb: wait 30 days for correspondence. If nothing happens, see whether you can take your letter to the biometrics centre (in advance of the date if at all possible) with your green card and other requested ID, and ask politely for an expedited appointment. It helps to go as soon as they open with this strategy and be polite.

TL;DR: You can have US-Canadian citizenship. Getting USC does not make you a non-Canadian.

1. Can I have dual citizenship: Yes. Canada recognizes any Canadian (born or naturalized) as a citizen, unless you revoke that status formally. The US does not deny your right to have Canadian citizenship if you are a naturalized USC.

2. You don't have to tell Canada anything. You carry your passport when you enter the country, and you're treated as a Canadian. Note that your ability to participate in federal elections is lost after being out of the country for 6+ years.

3. Taxes: You should ask the CRA for the most up-to-date information on the tax exemptions and treaty between the US and Canada. The international tax services office is at: 1-800-267-5177.

I file my federal income taxes in both Canada and the US. Because Canada and the US have tax treaties, you are not double taxed on income earned in one country you are resident in. If you're working in the US, you pay taxes on your American wages; you don't claim the same $55,000 in Canada. I believe there's a cap to this, but call the Canadian Revenue Agency and/or IRS to be absolutely sure. I've done this since 2006 without a hiccup.

If you have investments, property, and other sources of income in Canada, you have to file Canadian taxes on those normally. The Canadian government wants its share even if you're a non-resident. Those are questions best directed to a good tax professional or CPA.

(After talking to CRA, see the IRS information here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p901.pdf and for Canada/US: http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/International-Businesses/Canada---Tax-Treaty-Documents).

Naturalization process guide: http://www.visajourney.com/content/naturalization_process

-- Also look at USCIS' N-400 site, which has a helpful walkthrough.

Daughter's Naturalization?: If she is under 18 at the time your wife is naturalized, she automatically becomes a US citizen. You will fill out the information for your daughter, as per the instructions on N-400. She doesn't need a separate N-400 application. When Mom is a USC, your daughter can apply for her passport which will be her main naturalization document.

Do I need a N-600?: You can get one, but it's not really necessary. Our immigration officer at the naturalization ceremony flat out told everyone there the N-600 was a waste of money when you can go across the street and apply for a passport book or a passport card for a fraction of the price. It's up to you. However, as long as your wife has her naturalization certificate and your daughter's got her green card, birth certificate, and other documents that show Mom is her parent, she's entitled to get that passport.

Corrections or Process First?: I'm not sure on the best route for this, whether to apply for N-400 or get the green card corrected. In a perfect world, you should be able to apply for N-400 for your wife/daughter, and then get USCIS to fix the wrong green card info for free.

My two cents:

If you have all your documentation on hand, copies of your application and whatnot, you should schedule another Infopass appointment and request that USCIS correct the 10 year green card. Be firm but polite. Do you have a photocopy of the 2 year green card (conditional green card) to show that the birth year was originally 1997? If so, bring it. Make sure you have copies of everything.

Get your Senator involved. Don't know your state; in mine, however, the office is very active in responding to immigrant issues. Call both, explain the situation, ask for their assistance in correcting the green card birth year without cost. Be prepared to show them documentation.

I'd personally start the N-400 for your wife since time's ticking on your daughter's age. Fill out the forms correctly. I hope they fix the birth year before the biometrics appointment.

What is the process for my wife and step daughter to file for naturalization?

Does my wife have to file a N-400, become naturalized then file an N-600 for her daughter (my step daughter)? (Her daughter is a permanent legal resident minor, now with an incorrect birth year on green card)

Is it necessary to file an N-600 for my step daughter? She just turned 16, will we be able to do all this before she turns 18?

Will my step daughter be able to become naturalized even though her green card has the incorrect birth year? Or do we need to fix that first, then file naturalization for her? We obviously want her correct birth year when she becomes a citizen.

As long as you have the N-400 complete before your son turns 18, he will automatically become a USC when you do. There's no special extra steps you have to do to obtain it for him, because minor children naturalize with their parent(s).

Chicago does at least bi-weekly oath ceremonies, given its size and the number of applicants. Depending on how many people they have in this round, you can expect to wait 2-4 weeks.

My interview was 5/15, and I was approved after 15 minutes or so. My USCIS office does not do same day oaths. The oath ceremony letter was dispatched 5/16, received 5/19.

Good luck!

I'm the product of a Montessori school/daycare. My own experience has been highly positive all in all, and this little one will be enrolled in one if I can find a good one in my area.

My parents enrolled me in a Montessori when I was 3. As I'm an August birthday, you can see where that falls. I attended from 8A-4PM daily, Monday to Friday, all the way to the end of kindergarten. In Canada, that put me at 5 years old, ready for first grade in elementary school. It was a blast. I feel the education I received there more than prepared me for public school, where I excelled, and just really enjoyed myself.

The Montessori curriculum factors in several important elements including cooperative play time, "basic" learning skills (reading, writing, problem solving, counting, numeracy), "child" skills like manners at the table and shopping, tying our shoes, and so forth. I also picked up language skills -- parlez-vous francais? -- and communication skills of varied sorts based on the other students who were in my cohort/grade. For example, we had a boy whose sister was deaf, so we learned basic sign language. My grade for kindergarten had 7 people; I can name them all to this day. The lower level child care cohorts were larger, but not by much. We had nap time, lots of supervision, and lots of time to just be kids.

Lots of those "soft" skills were backed up with field trips out and about. For example, we would go to the park in the centre of Victoria (Beacon Hill) to learn about totem poles, flowers, the swans and the ducks on the pond, whatever the season happened to be. We collected leaves and made art with them, but we also learned why the trees changed colour and what that meant. We went to public places and learned how to behave, or reinforced the good lessons we had. I remember specifically going to a Scottish tea house, getting crumpets and a cup of tea when I was about 5, and the owner reading a story to us. We thought that was pretty awesome.

So, all in all, I can say this is definitely a positive avenue if you can find good teachers and a positive Montessori experience.

Kindergarten starts at 3 years old here, or the year you turn 3 and since school starts in september most kids are 3 by the time they go to school. Here they learn a lot during those 3 years (it is not mandatory to put your child in school before 6 years old though, but most kids go especially for kids whom both parents who work). They learn a lot about counting, logic and they start developing abilities for 1st grade so they can go straight to learn how to read really fast. Most 1st grade kids here know how to read by christmas of 1st grade.

I guess i will have to look more into those Montessori classes.... I don't want to depend on my future husband or my parents anymore nor the government money i am getting right now. I will look into the home daycare and schools when time comes with my future husband. Thanks everyone for your advice.

no, but all the way home I was like I can't believe the deal I just got...

I found out about the deal on a baby forum I am a part of.

Ooh, which forum?