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I was able to track online only after I did fingerprits-next day or so. It was about 1 month ofter NOA1. So, maybe it takes them months or so to enter case into system. Or they do it after actual fingerprints are taken.

Thanks. I'll keep cool then til after the biometrics are actually taken.

I received my NOA last week with an untraceable "WAC" receipt number. Today, I received my biometrics appointment letter with the same "WAC" application number. I thought I'd be able to track my account online once I got my biometrics letter. Is this normal?

I applied through Nebraska and my service center is now showing as WSC, if that helps.

It really means a lot to me that the VJ crowd likes my article. Thanks again, guys. You're a great group!

Aw, you guys are so nice. Thanks so much!

Hi there,

I thought some of you might enjoy the full story of my K1 journey. When I was going through the visa process I read everything I could get my hands on, so I hope you'll find this interesting.

Family Immigration: My Experience Filing for a Fiancee Visa

Thanks for reading,

Jen

I work for a global company and did this with no problem. I continued working as a contractor for the Canadian company after I moved down while my AOS was pending. As soon as I had my green card I was "hired" by the American company.

My husband's in the National Guard so we didn't have much of a choice. Both he and I would rather be up in Canada but even if the Guard wasn't in the equation we probably still would have chosen the US. He's a NICU RN in his civilian job and from what he's seen himself and heard from my mom (who's an RN in Canada) hasn't been very impressed with the wages and working conditions. I can definitely see us retiring in Canada, though.

I recently filed for a new Canadian passport to change to my married name. Even though I applied in early December, I didn't yet have my passport in mid-February which I needed to fly to Toronto on business. While talking with the passport rep in Quebec who was expediting my passport so I could make my trip, I asked if I could enter the US just using my green card. She said she had checked on that for another Canadian caller earlier in the day and was told that the green card only has your country of birth on it which isn't necessarily your citizenship, so you'd still have to have your passport to show your citizenship to the US authorities. Made sense to me.

I showed my Cdn passport to get into Canada (showing a Cdn passport when your purpose is business makes it a breeze to get in!) and my green card to get back into the US. I had my passport on the counter if they needed it, but they only took my green card.

I've heard that they haven't prevented eligible residents from returning to the US if they don't have a passport, but they will take them aside to investigate further.

Jen

Thanks so much! All your assumptions were correct. I've got a good handle on the process now.

Sorry if this has already been asked, but I can't seem to find a simple answer.

For 2006 I have a T4 for my Canadian income, an NR4 form from cashing in my pension and a W2 from my US income.

Do I file Canadian taxes using the T4 and NR4 and then also file separate US taxes using the W2 form? Does my Canadian income appear anywhere on my US taxes or vice versa? (I thought I had to claim "world income" on my US taxes). If I have to file separate Canada taxes, do I file as single since I wasn't married until after I left Canada?

We'll be getting professional help, but I'd just like to get the basics straight in my head before our appointment.

Thanks much,

Jen

I crossed over at Blaine a year ago. I called the immigration number given for that POE *twice* before I crossed (one month and two months beforehand) to see if they'd issue the EAD stamp when activating the K1. *Both* times they assured me they did.

On Feb 12/06 I brought my U-Haul, USC fiance and a couple of cars with a few friends through Blaine and lo and behold, NO EAD STAMP!!!! I even asked for the supervisor who was kind enough, but quite adamant that they don't give out the stamp...sorry for the misunderstanding, and all that.

I'd say you can probably count on not getting one at Blaine.

Good luck!

Jen

*Edited to add we went through Peace Arch (not the truck crossing) with the U-Haul no problem.

seavan,

My fiance (now my husband) and I were in exactly the same shoes (he's from Seattle, I'm from Vancouver) so let me tell you about our experience.

My fiance works shiftwork as an RN whereas I had a regular 9-5 so it was much easier for him to visit me than it was for me to visit him. From August '05 when we mailed off our petition until Feb '06 when I moved down, he must have crossed the border on average three times a week to come and see me. Each time he'd cross the Canadian border he'd say he was going to visit his fiancee. He'd get the standard questions (how long are you staying, are you bringing any gifts), and once or twice they asked him which one of us was going to be moving, and he told them that I would be moving to the States. They let him in no problem. The Canadian border agents never asked him for additional evidence which is good, because he never brought any! But he is a member of the National Guard so all he needed to show for evidence was his military ID and I'm sure that would have proved a strong tie to the US Coming back, well, of course since he's a USC, they let him back in with no problem.

I crossed the border only twice during the process, both times before the visa was issued. I told them I was visiting my fiance. They asked me who was moving I told them I was, and that we had applied for a K1 visa. Both times they let me in no problem. I always brought my business cards and a personal letter from my direct supervisor that confirmed my position and stated my company was aware that I was engaged to a USC and they were aware that I had applied for a K1 visa and had the intention of moving once it was approved. I was never asked for additional evidence.

Our visa was issued Dec '05 and while I didn't try and visit the US after it was issued until I moved in February, when I received the visa, the consulate advised me that while it was a visa for a one-time entry, I could still cross into the US without activating the visa. However, because the decision would have been in the hands of the border officer to let me in or not, I played it safe and didn't chance it.

I wouldn't worry about crossing the border during the process for either you or your fiance. Just be completely honest, bring evidence to show ties to your country, and accept the fact that the final decision rests in the hands of the border officer you're faced with that day and there's always the possibility of being turned back.

Good luck! If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me.

Jen

WOOHOO!!! My green card came in the mail today, backdated to our interview date of 06/06/06! My husband's having a bit of a laugh at the date..."666, huh? Is that bad news for you or bad for the US gov't?"

We were told the day of the interview we were approved and could expect the card in 14 days, so on Day 17 when it hadn't arrived, a quick infopass appointment found the problem (we'd been approved but no one had put the file through for processing). I was feeling silly at the time because really, it was only 3 days overdue, but BOY am I glad we went now!

Thanks to all the VJ'ers for the info and good luck to everyone!

Raymaga, check this out: http://www.canada-americasociety.org/index.html

Canada-America Society - The network for Canadians in Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. It also includes a link to the Consulate General in Seattle.

Thought I'd give an update...

I made an infopass appointment for this morning. Told the officer that I had been approved on the 6th and was told to expect my green card in 14 days, but that I hadn't received anything and although my case was touched on the 12th, nothing was updated.

He asked me for the name of my interviewing officer, printed off some pages from the computer, and told me to have a seat for a few minutes while he investigated the case.

About 10 minutes later he called us back up to the window and said, "Your case is being processed NOW. Your case status will be updated and you'll receive your green card in 14 days. If you don't get it in two weeks, make another appointment and come back and see us."

I figured I probably shouldn't rock the boat at this point by asking him what the hold up had been, so I just echoed, "Ok, so it's being processed and I'll get it in two weeks." He gave me a look, and repeated the information. He gave the impression that the interviewing officer hadn't done the necessary things to get my card processed, because he kept emphasizing the point that there's no problem and processing has now started.

Just received an e-mail - my case has been updated with today's date and my welcome letter has been mailed out.

Way to go, Seattle!!!!!

My AOS interview on June 6th was short and sweet. We were told I was approved and would receive my green card in the mail within 14 days. Well, today's day #14, and no card, no welcome letter, nothing! The case was touched on the 12th, but nothing was updated. I'm freaking out, although I know I probably shouldn't. Should I just be patient for another week and then maybe make another Infopass appointment?

Had our AOS interview this morning at 10:30 at the Seattle office...arrived about 9:45. Didn't take very long to get through security. Brought a book to concentrate on something else besides our nerves, and before we knew it, it was 10:30. About 15 minutes later my name was called and we were taken to an office and sworn in. The officer flipped through our packet and asked me very basic questions including my address, date of birth and date we were married. After that she explained she'd be asking us a few questions. They included: how did you meet; when did you meet face-to-face; how long were you dating before getting married; and have you consummated the marriage. Then she asked each of us if the other had any brothers or sisters and asked for our financial evidence. I had my whole binder colour-tabbed by section and went straight to copies showing our joint bank accounts, lease agreement and my husband's request to his company to put me on his health insurance.

And that was it.

She said, ok, that looks good. You're approved and we'll be sending your card in the mail in the next 14 days, and then explained about removing conditions.

It was all over in 5 minutes.

She never asked to see the photo albums and scrapbooks we brought in, never asked for our W2's, employment letter, birth certificates, marriage certificate, my passport or I-94...nothing except our joint financial documents. Now, I know she had copies of all of that except the W2's in the AOS packet we submitted, but I thought for sure she'd at least want to see the originals. Nope!

I'm so glad it's finally over, but I have to admit, it seemed pretty anti-climatic after the nervousness I've built up over the last few days.

We haven't posted very much, but we've been here a lot since last August. VJ has been a wealth of information and provided a level of sanity throughout this immigration madness. We don't know how we would have done it without VJ!!! Thanks to you all and wishing the best for everyone!

Jen and Court

Wow! I don't know how the interview came up so fast (3 mo from applying), but I'm not going to complain!!!! I find it really strange that I haven't even received my AP or EAD, yet I have the AOS interview in a month.

Does anyone know what happens if I don't receive my AP/EAD by the time I go to my interview? If I'm approved that day, can they give me some kind of document right then so I can start working, or will I have to wait until I actually have the green card? I've got a job waiting for me, so I'm anxious to start!

I was having the same problem last night and again this morning.

Try clearing your cache. That's what I did and it's working now.

All of your dresses look so lovely!

We chose to have a small courthouse wedding, and I have to say, it turned out beautifully! I didn't want to spend a lot of money on my dress, but figured this was my first and only wedding so why not! And with hubby looking so dashing, I had to look as good as him!

Well, no worries after all!

The mail today contained all three NOA 1's dated March 3rd. Now I can relax a bit! Thanks all for your replies!

Thanks. I tried the number in the online case status but it couldn't be verified. I thought I might have the wrong number, but it looks like I'm just too early.

Our AOS/EAD/AP cheques were cashed today. I checked the back of the cheques thinking I could get the receipt number like we did for the fiance petition, and I found what I think is the right string of numbers...3 letters followed by a 10-digit string. Problem is, the 3 letters are MSC and I don't know of any service centres with that abbreviation. There are no other coding strings on the cheque that would work. Anyone else have MSC on theirs? Can I even track it this way, or do I just need to sit tight and wait for the NOA1?

Thanks!

Jennifer

Good question....I think you want to attach separate copies to each application. At least that is what I did. I think the AOS and EAD packages get split up and are handled by different departments, so you definitely want each one to include all the required documentation.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking, but reading the guides it's not clear that's the way to go. I haven't heard a lot of buzz around needing 6 photos for the whole packet and I just thought I would have at this point.

I'm a little confused - I'm putting together the AOS/EAD/AP packet and am not sure if I just send one copy of the evidence they request on each form, or copies for each form.

For example: the I-765 asks for 2 passport photos. The I-485 wants 2 photos and the I-131 wants two photos. Does this mean I have to send in 6 passport photos in the package? Same with the copy of the I-94, do I need 3 copies, one for each form or just the one since I'm sending it in altogether?

Thanks for your help!

Jennifer