awkwardsoul

I had contacted customs about listing my articles with CBP Form 3299 (my things being shipped without me there) and they told me to put the value of each box, completing all of Part IV - D

Another person I knew who did a move from Japan mentioned to me you could even get away with $1 value listed for each article.

I shipped mine via upack in a moving cube - I only had an apartment worth of stuff, so not much. I did have to fly in first, and once I arrived, fax in my visa/customs forms before the shipping company could cross the border with my things.

I was considering uhaul, but cost of rental, gas, 22 hours on the road so lodging and food was much more than having a company ship it for me and a plane ticket.

Late Sept filer here. My lawyer did a service request last week as USCIS said my case was outside processing times. It sounded like to me from what my lawyer said that I'd get my GC or interview notice 30 days, but so far all I got the "Might take 6 months, don't bother us until then" USCIS letter. BOoOOOOOO!!!! Kind of ####### "my case needs additional review" as my AOS case is pretty dry and uncomplicated.

I'd be very concerned for any medical coverage interruption - a disruption with any HIV medication could make it not effective, and get more costly for newer cocktails (I've heard as much as $10k a month). I'd make sure you got a good float of money or cash coming from the divorce. I'd also check any HIV+ groups in your area for more suggestions, support and counselling. There you could also meet more people.

Another vote for K-1 - I was based in Vancouver, and didn't want to fly out the Montreal for the interview. Just seemed like a pain in the butt and costly (though, I didn't run the numbers if a lack of AOS > going to Montreal costs).

Also, while in the K-1 process, it was hella annoying of having to explain everyone "I don't know when I'm getting married, whenever my case is processed" vs. I can see being more annoying explaining why one isn't living with their wife/husband. Twice now, my husband has met people are in LD relationships, and they think simply getting married gives you an instant greencard without paperwork, fees and wait time.

yeah.. they are the ones with the goods crossing the border!

I did a separate packing list - 2 pages extra. You have to put the estimated value and whats in each box. I just guessed really for value. One of my friends had to do similar when she moved from Japan, and she just put $1 for everything that wasn't valuables (ie, clothes).

WOOOOOT! Hmm, it's a few years for ROC, right? Until then, go on vacation?

(hopefully they get to my case sooon!)

I found this form VERY stressful, so no worries! I didn't want my stuff lost during my move and didn't help the form isn't very clear.

Date of arrival: day YOU are entering the country, not your stuff.

Importers port arrival: I put YVR airport on mine, as I went through customs there

Arriving Vessel: I put my flight info

Question 7: not sure, I was by myself

Question 8 is for the moving/shipping company. I left it blank for them.

this video helped me.. somewhat

all fails - contact US customs. I did through email.. it took like a couple weeks for them to get back to me.

What kind of work in addictions?

Depends what state too. I have my addictions counselling certification from Canada. Here in California, they don't recognize my training, so I have to get certified with the state to be an A&D counsellor. Which means i have to do my schooling all over again, plus non paid internship for 6 months. Doesn't help the schooling is pretty expensive here too. I have my BA. If I went onto get my MA, I'd still have to do that addictions training again if I wanted to do counselling.

I went with http://www.upack.com/moving-services/moving-container.asp

and got a cube. Kind of depends how much stuff you have and how far you need to go. I only had a 1 bedroom apartment and it all fit in the cube. I moved last year and figured out it was cheaper to go this way for me and fly down, vancouver to california, than uhauling it because of gas + driving time. Also upack gets cheaper if you can get your stuff from their lot vs them parking it at your house and moving during the week.

Though, if you go with your stuff unattended, you will need to fill out customs forms for unaccompanied goods.

I was surprised coming from Canada to the US how healthy choice foods weren't as common in grocery stores / walmart and more money. If I want whole grain produce, good produce, vegetarian meat options and such I have to go to specialty stores like Trader Joes/Sprouts/local Farmers Markets.

But yeah, junk food is SOOO cheap here in the US. And the canned meat and vegetable isle is 3 times the size in Canada, most of it stuff I didn't know one could can, with a day or two's worth of sodium!

Doesn't effect the visa process, though there's some hiccups once you are out of Canada.

If you are in repayment assistance - being out of canada one doesn't qualify you for it anymore.

For repayment, they do accept US checks but cannot auto-pull your payments through a US bank account. So, either you pay with a canadian bank account, or mail in US checks. What works for me, since I'm too lazy to wire money around to my Canadian bank account, is mailing 6 checks for 6 months of payments at a time.

what are you missing on your packet 3? just police cert, documents, and new passport? Have your medical done?

And, well it was last year for me, but interview dates for Vancouver are pretty good. I could of gotten mine the next business day as there was spots available. I scheduled mine a few days later while documents from my fiance were being overnighted to me. I think if you began scheduling end of Jan you'll be fine.

Does your passport have your I-94 in it? When I had my AOS interview they wanted the I-94 back. Also, the IO crossed out the K-1 visa and wrote AOS through it. So in my experience, having the passport was necessary.

Did you receive any notices indicating where your file is? If it was transferred to CSC you probably wont have an interview. Otherwise, you probably will. You can get a good idea by studying AOS time lines for your local office as well. Some offices rarely have AOS interviews, others almost always do. For example, my local office is Denver and it seems like everyone ends up with an interview. If you think you'll get one, I would make sure I had my passport.

Passport Canada will give your old passport back if you request it. There is a check box on the application. They gave mine back last time I renewed.

Are they seriously raising the fee to $260?!

Here are the new rates for passports http://www.ppt.gc.ca/publications/consultations/index.aspx?lang=eng $260 if you aren't in canada for a 10 yr, 5 yr is $190.

My passport does have my I-94 in it, along with my K1 visa. I've been checking online on the USCIS case status thing and nothing comes up - bleh, I guess I need to call them to see what is going on. I haven't heard anything except my EAD coming in the mail.

Hey all,

I'm in the process of waiting for my GC (via K1 and filing for AOS). I got my EAD combo card recently. Now that I can get outta this country, I would like to finally go on our honeymoon cruise before the summer before I start working. But, my passport is close to expiring, June 2013 - luckily before the passport fee hikes up to $260 this July. We haven't booked anything yet, and not sure to get the passport now or after our trip.

With no word from my GC progress, if I sent off my passport for renewal and I got called in for my GC interview... would that be a problem if I was lacking my original passport with my visa stamp? or lacking a passport entirely?

If I filed for a new passport now, would they 100% return my old one if I asked?

A lot of physical banks and credit unions offer free to low-cost checking options, especially if you have a direct deposit or automatic checking withdrawal on a monthly basis.

That only works if, you know, you can actually work yet in the US and having money coming in. Another pain is if one doesn't have a large float to leave as a minimum balance to save on fees.

I'm having the same issue with online banks - I cannot find one that will let me open an account! They've turned me down not having a previous US address, state ID, not having a bank account in the US - I had issues even being added to my husband's online account and still dealing with that.

But yeah, I understand why you want a particular bank, I want to have an online bank - after living in Canada paying $14-$40 a month in banking fees, I want a freaking deal!

Did you ever apply for EI? Even though a k1 can't collect until you get EAD--one still has to apply ASAP. could always cal them and ask.

I applied before I got married, but haven't done anything after that. I'll call them.

Then yeah, I tried logging in, but it hates my access code and overall issues trying to get into my account online.

I entered on a K-1 and it took me 6 months to start my AOS paperwork, would I still get benefits, or did I take too long to apply for AOS?

I thought american brown bread would taste better than white bread... nope. Its overly squishy (magic of preservatives?) despite being sitting a few days on the counter in a bag. I toast it and it tastes like overly sweet sawdust.

*barf*

1. at the interview, they want a photocopy of your birthcert. I brought the original only and they asked for a photocopy and I was like "omg what?" but they photocopied it for me. So bring the original + copy.

3. no. But consider paying the extra fee at Woking for extra copy of your medical incase they lose it for when you are doing your AOS.

I got added to my husband's medical insurance, however I needed my SSN and I had to wait to apply until I got my number.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!

I got my homemade nanamio bars chilling in the fridge and drinking DavidsTea "Oh Canada"! http://www.davidstea.com/our-teas/rooibos/oh-canada

Is this going to clog up the system for people who are filing AOS or greencards? (in other words, if you haven't started your next stage of paperwork, do it now before hundreds of thousands of people do?)

Hurray, went to the office and got my SSN number with my card to be mailed out.

Apparently I was assigned my number, but they never mailed my card.... for unknown reasons

Now to wait 2 weeks for the card to arrive.. it better arrive *shakes fist*