Janshark

If someone wants to add me to the list (I don't know how to edit it)

Mailed my I-751 on Friday, June 13th

Biometrics was done on July 14th

Application approved on August 6th (California) (I just happened to check online and there it was!)

I was so amazed that I called USCIS to make sure it was real. I picked up the letter at our post office box today. Can't wait to get the GC.

I'm still in shock.

Cheers,

Jan

My nephew did my taxes for me on both sides of the border (Canada / US). His name is Peter Ingram and he runs Cen-ta in North Vancouver, BC. Cen-ta was started by his father David Ingram and they specialize in cross-border taxes.

He did a regular Canadian tax return for me with an exit date

He did the US federal return and included my Canadian earnings on that. (the U.S. guy my husband wanted to use wasn't going to do that and it would have screwed me up) I filed as married but filing separate.

He did the Arizona State return for just my US earnings and it was a Part-year return, form 140PY. Also married but filing separate.

Using Cen-ta ain't cheap. I got the family rate but I believe he charges at least $800.00 and mine was just a basic return (no kids).

www.centa.com I think that's the website.

Good luck with it

Jan

Thank you everyone. I'm in Richfield, Utah and getting closer to Douglas/Bisbee, Arizona. Hope to be there by Saturday. And for the person that asked me how I drive this thing... I've been living in it and driving it for a couple of years now. It's second nature to me. Just find a big #### 18 wheeler to follow and stick to him/her like glue!! Arizona or Bust - I wrote that in the dirt on the back window of my jeep! Cheers!!

After much tension regarding importing my vehicles and not receiving the compliance letter in time (and finding out I could do the paperwork later), I made a run for the border on Monday.

I got to DHL/Loomis in Burnaby around noon and picked up my package including my passport and a big envelope marked "do not open". I got to the Pacific border crossing around 1 and had a 45 minute wait to cross. The reason I picked Pacific over Peace Arch is that Peace Arch was under construction the last time I went through. My mode of transportation is a 40 foot motorhome towing a Jeep for a total of 58 feet and with the way my Jeep is attached to the motorhome, I can't back up. I knew from many years of experience that I wouldn't have to worry about that at Pacific.

I pulled into the check point/booth thing. The CBP guy asked me the purpose of my visit. I handed him my passport and said I was activating my K-1 Visa. He asked me how many people - just me. He asked me if I had any pets with me - yes, my dog. What kind - chocolate lab. He gave me a sticky slip of paper attached to my passport, pointed me over to the holding area and said that someone would be there to direct me. I saw him radio ahead (although it was probably only 400 feet). Another border guard showed me where to park. I opened the door and he said he needed my keys so they could search the motorhome. He also needed the keys to the Jeep and the key (and directions to) the onboard safe. I showed him where it was, built into the night table and behind my horse saddles (2) on a saddle stand. i said good luck getting to it. I told him what was in there, a bank draft for $9800.00 U.S. I was directed to take my dog over to an outside kennel area for safekeeping while I went inside to do the paperwork.

I went inside with my purse, passport and the envelope that I picked up at Loomis. Got in line and waited to be called over when it was my turn. After a few minutes I was called over to another guard who asked me why I was there. I said I'm activating my K-1 Visa and handed over the package and my Passport and the piece of paper I received outside. He took a look and said, well, I haven't done a K-1 before so give me a couple of minutes. He left me standing there and wandered off, I assume to find out how to do one. He told me later that he'd been there 6 months and never seen a K-1 before.

I could try and describe everything that was said and done but it's not that interesting. My main guard and pretty much anyone else that came over to see what we were doing kept asking me how I met my fiance. I got laughs when I said he picked me up in a bar in Tombstone, AZ. I wondered later if it was to see if my answer was consistent. I know that at least 3 and maybe 4 dogs went through the motorhome and jeep (drugs, weapons, money (yes currency, they have dogs to smell that) and I can't remember what the 4th one was for, bombs maybe?

So we finished the visa stuff and then it came time to do the paperwork for the vehicles. The motorhome was easy. It was made in the U.S. and I had imported it to Canada so it was just a case of taking it back. The Jeep, as it turns out, was made in the U.S. so it wasn't a problem at all and my guard did all the paperwork and I'm good to go. I paid my $6.00 at the cashier (have exact change - she likes it better and no coins) and went back out to the RV and Jeep and headed off.

I had to turn in the sticky piece of paper at a guard booth and I was out of there. I did notice later that night and the next day (today) that my saddles had been moved (back on the saddle stand in the wrong order) and boxes in my Jeep had been opened. I had nothing to hide so I got a kick out of the whole dogs seaching my stuff thing.

Congratulations to anyone that makes it out of Customs in under an hour. I was there for 90 minutes, just standing there while he filled out computer forms. And I have to admit I had fun kibbitzing with any of the guards that came by - they were all curious to see what we were doing. I joked about my guard having to do his first K-1 and how it was his lucky day.

In the end I shook hands with him and it was all good. I waved goodbye to the other guards that were in there who had been watching the proceedings from their stations. Now keep in mind, I'm not a kid - I'm a 52 year old woman and I really wasn't nervous about the whole thing, other than not having a compliance letter for the Jeep, which I didn't need anyway.

So tonight I'm in Mountain Home, Idaho, at a lovely rv park that I have stayed at before. Tomorrow it will be Provo, Utah, then somewhere in northern Arizona on Thursday and not sure of my timetable after that except I expect to see my man again on Saturday after a full year apart. We haven't actually picked a wedding date although I'm voting for May 5... what better day to marry an Hispanic man than Cinco de Mayo!!

Thanks to everyone on this website. I couldn't have done this without you. I feel very lucky to have found this forum. And when it comes time to do AOS in a couple of weeks, to quote Arnold S. "I'll be back"!!

Cheers,

Jan, formerly of Canada

Soon to be of Bisbee, Arizona

Hi everyone, I've searched this topic and haven't found an answer and I'm running out of time.

I'm planning on doing my POE on Monday morning in Blaine, WA. My Visa is ready for pickup in Burnaby so I'm going to grab it and head for the border.

My only problem is that I haven't received the compliance letter from Chrysler for my Jeep. I requested it in early March, they mailed in on March 19, it hasn't arrived yet so they said they'd fax it last Friday - and it didn't arrive. I can't wait any longer because my car insurance on my motorhome (I tow the Jeep) is going to run out on April 22 and I want to get to Arizona (my final destination) before that.

Here is my question... If I don't have the compliance letter can I do the documetation to formally import the Jeep later after I receive the compliance letter? I'll be living close to the Mexican border and I'm sure i'll have no trouble finding a border office to take care of that. I'm just not sure if I need to do it where I cross? Or can i do it later?

Sorry if this is scattered... it was a long day and tomorrow will be even longer, trying to get all my ducks in a row before leaving. And my doctor wondered why my blood pressure is elevated.

thanks to all who've been there and done that. You're the best.

Jan

I got mine at the local RCMP station. The only thing I would watch for is if you've been married before, make sure that your maiden name is on the form to show that they searched it. After my interview, I had to get a new police check reflecting my maiden name. My visa was approved on Friday and I'm heading to AZ on Monday!! Woo hoo.

I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row. When I finally do my POE I'll be driving a 40 foot motorhome and towing a jeep. I CANNOT back up.

When I do my POE, do I have to stop at the Canadian side first or do I go straight to US Immigration/Customs? If I don't have to stop in Canada, I'm thinking Pacific would be better. I've been pulled in there before and it's more user friendly for big rigs.

Any input?

Thanks for your help.

Jan

I know the RCMP checked my maiden name because she asked me what it was but it doesn't show on the form they gave me.

I just went and got a Police Certificate from the RCMP in the town where I'm spending the winter. The only trouble I had was convincing the woman that she could do it even though I'm not in the town I live in. (At least I didn't have to go into the whole song and dance to explain that I live full time in an r.v. so I don't have a fixed address and just use my ex-husband's address because it's easier, it used to be MY address and he doesn't mind.) It's a national search so it shouldn't matter where you get it. I get so sick of arguing with petty bureaucrats. And I paid $40.00.

Thanks for your replies.

I just re-read Woking's website - I don't need MMR - I'm too old. You stop needing it at 50 and I'm 52. yaayyy one more thing i don't have to worry about. Although out of curiousity I'm going to contact the health clinic and find out what I vaccinations I had.

Cheers,

Jan

Holy ####### this is confusing.

I just got approved on Monday so now i guess we're waiting for my american fiance to get the NOA2. Anyway, after reading this website I tried to be pro-active regarding the medical. Didn't know if I had chicken pox, got the blood test and turns out I did have it. Got a tetanus booster a couple of years ago, called my doctor's office, turns out it was just Td so I'll get her to give me another one with Tdap.

Regarding MMR how do I find out? I'm 52, born in 1960. I live in BC. Who has these records? I doubt my doctor does - I've only been seeing her a few years.

So how do I find out if I had MMR and if I need the booster?

Thanks

Jan