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By the time I get all my stuff widdled down I'm sure I can fit it into a 10ft truck. 12 mpg! WOOT! Haha... but unless gas costs us more than $1000 it's cheaper than the uhaul pod things.

But we're only driving 18hrs too.... Through Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.

12mpg! We calculated that we got 9mpg and we drove from Washington state to Maryland. I did love the journey though.

I used Uhaul. The gas mileage is terrible, but there were no issues with the truck. I had a one bedroom apartment also and I used the 14' truck.

My new husband and I are in the process of getting our own place. Currently we live in his grandma's basement. We live in a very urban area, but in the country part of it on a gravel road. If I wanted to walk into town, there are parts of the busy roads with no shoulders and busy intersections with no crosswalks. So our goal right now is to find an apartment in a walkable area for me that I won't feel so trapped as I have no vehicle right now either. So right now, I look forward to when my husband comes home from work so he can take me out into town. Over half of my stuff is being stored at his aunt's house too, so some of the projects I wanted to work on I don't have the stuff I need for that. I admit I'm being a bit of a poopy-pants lately 'cause I miss home so much.

thought about doing that myself.. but appointment is next Wed... so no rush really..

HOWEVER, if i get of early from work on Friday.. we may try it

Yeah my appointment was over 3 weeks away so I figured if I can speed up this process by a couple of weeks, why not?

Hi there.. I would like to ask if i should go ahead and fax my complete checklist to vancouver eithout my medical exam . I am just confused in the instructions for k1 visa. Or should i email the vancouver on where should i do my medical ttest. Im from Calgary and dont know if they will have 1 here..

Im worried that if i fax the step two form appliation / document checklist, they will give me an interview date, and i dont have the medical test yet.. Pls. Help me step by step on the process in vancouver

Thanks you

Hi there,

You could go ahead and fax your checklist to vancouver without your medical exam. Then you are able to schedule your interview yourself online. You need to schedule your interview first before you can make an appointment for your medical exam anyway. There is only ONE doctor you can get your medical exam from in BC and that is Dr. Cheema http://www.drcheema.ca/ in Surrey, BC. Please keep in mind that when you get your medical exam done, you will get your results after 4pm the NEXT day. Therefore you are going to need to spend at least 3 days in the Vancouver area. I don't know if there are approved physicians to get your medical exam done in Alberta.

Once you have your interview date scheduled, e-mail Dr. Cheema's office tell them that you are coming from Alberta and you need to have your medical exam scheduled 2 days before your interview in Vancouver. You can only contact Dr. Cheema's office by leaving a voice mail or contacting them by e-mail. When you contact them by e-mail put URGENT in the subject line and put "USA immigration medical exam" you may have to e-mail them a few times as they are not the best at getting back to you.

Did a walk in for early biometrics yesterday in Alexandria, VA. No questions asked!

Can anyone share their experience about walk-in bio-metric test ? I am thinking to do the same as at the same date i have an conflicting schedule. I live in Virginia. I want to know how they behave to early walk-in people. please share.

Check out this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/219386-early-walk-in-biometrics-alexandria-va/

Glad I found this thread too. I have an appointment letter for June 10 and just received the letter on May 17, so I'd love to go early if it makes the process of my EAD go faster.

You can go in together. They don't need to grill you, you have your papers saying you're allowed entry. When you go through you just say you're moving to the USA with a K1 visa. They will send you into secondary. You can both go in and they'll process your papers and stamp your passport etc. They say to have a list of items you are moving with you, but they probably won't ask to see it. All in all I would say it probably took about 45 minutes or so and the only reason it took a little longer is that they needed to wait for a computer to become available and the guy needed a little help in processing it as he had only done a couple before.

When I lived in Canada, my fiance sent me a couple of cheques. My account was/is with Royal Bank and while they did it, they said that I should use some other method as they could hold it etc. I did get exchange rate on it, it was fairly negligible as the exchange rates were similar. Anyway, we stopped doing cheques and used our Paypal accounts and then I would just withdraw the amount to my bank account. We found that to be easy. Instead of a cheque, it might be easier for your relatives to send an international money order or to do the Paypal thing. With Paypal it doesn't cost them anything to send money.

Just received my appointment for biometrics in Alexandria, VA for June 10, 2013!

I kept my Royal Bank account open and then opened an RBC USA account and I transfer money between the two easily and pay bills. My BMO credit card I kept open with a USA address no problems, as well as my VanCity visa. I have a PC bank account and card that I just kept open with my mom's address attached to it.

The website where you booked your interview, log in and see what it says...it should say "visa issued" or something along those lines. I'm guessing your visa is in your passport waiting for you to pick up, but you won't know until you pick it up!

Exactly!!!! The guy was an A1 douche and asswipe and he did deserve it. My other regulars HATED him with a passion!!! The customers that were always polite about sending food back or who always said "When you have a moment" always got the best service and their food was never messed with.

Usually, if a regular was a complete jerk, I'd just start playing his game and giving back attitude. I worked at the customer service desk at a major grocery store chain and had some doozies. If someone was a total jerk to me, I would tell them that their behavior was unacceptable or "there's no need to talk to me in that way", or "i'd appreciate it if you wouldn't use that language". I would also tell the cashiers that if someone is being rude or offending you, that they did not have to serve them. I am a firm believer that just because you are in the service industry doesn't mean you are a doormat.

Just received my 3 e-mails saying they got my applications! May 09, NOA1 date!

LOL I am married.

Ok, sorry about that. I have a hard time seeing beyond my own situation sometimes As long as you have your EAD you're good then!

Yeah, I'm with you. I think so many people are like "oh Canada and the US are exactly the same" you'll have no trouble fitting in. But in reality Canada and the US are not at all the same. Sure, a lot of our culture is close, but there are so many unique things about Canada that I miss. I like the US, but would have been just as happy to have my husband move to Canada!

While I've only been here a month, I still feel like a foreigner. Not to mention, living in husband's grandmother's basement right now doesn't help. I'm surrounded by highways everywhere, and it takes so long to get anywhere. I know this is regional, but it just makes me miss home so much. I miss my little apartment and I miss only taking 5 minutes to get to my favourite shops. I miss the cheap rents too. The dialects or accents are so different here as well. I miss being able to find everything I need in one single store, instead of having to shop around. I'm particularly homesick today, so I miss just about everything!

Unless you read the information in a USCIS document, don't take any information in immigration from "friends" seriously. In this process, you're going to hear a million stories and opinions, but all that matters are the guides on this site and the information you get from USCIS.

I'm going to try and get a school enrollment for after my trip, Along with my cellphone bills and proof of living with my parents, Along with my previous tickets from my last visit showing that I returned on time. How much should one pack for a 2 month stay without looking suspicious I was given a hard time because I brought a bunch of luggage..

School ties are good because when they ask what do you do, you can say "I'm a student". For a two month stay, two big suitcases should be fine? I'm assuming you'll be doing laundry . I think you'll be fine. Answer their questions honestly and never give more information than they ask for and always give direct eye contact. You're not doing anything wrong, so don't give them the impression that you're trying to get away with something.

That being said, every border guard is different and it can be at their discretion to let you in or not.

I've only visited her once before, And that was during April when I was over there for 3 weeks. Like I said in my previous post I plan on going back this july. I was pulled into secondary on my first trip "The one in April" And that trip has been my only time in the US. I guess that might be my only option then, I might try going for 4 weeks and see how that turns out. I plan on bringing stronger ties when I go and I probably will since i've most likely been flagged. Do they usually tell you if you've been flagged or not?

If that was your very first trip to the USA, it's no wonder you were pulled into secondary. My fiance's first entry into Canada, he was pulled into secondary and asked questions etc. though he wasn't fingerprinted. They just want to have information in their system so that next time you enter they can see if the information you give them is consistent with what they have on record.

A round trip ticket is definitely a place to start as it shows you plan on returning. You live with your parents and that can be a tie to Canada too as you have family.

You do have 4 weeks to apply as from your last day worked, not your last paycheque. I was told it's best to apply as soon as you're eligible to apply and as long as your ROE is done electronically, you don't have to send any paper copy to EI. I was told once I get my EAD, I just have to fax it to them and I'm good. Apply for your AOS/EAD etc as SOON as you can after you get married.

I should also add to my post as NickiR was wondering, EI told me that I would be receiving the maximum allowable which will be 700 something AFTER the tax they take off and that is every two weeks. Much better than a kick in the pants!

Quick question.

Should I apply from within Canada or wait until I'm in the USA?

Last day of work is the 24th. Last pay cheque from them will be the 30th. Interview is the 3rd, passport back by the 7th, I hope and moving by the 10th or so. I have to get an inspection done on my appt before I go otherwise I don't get my damage deposit back. They way I see, from last day of work to 4 weeks after is the 21st.

So I should have until the 21st to apply for EI? Or would be be counted from my last pay cheque? I would think that would probably when they'll send the ROE. I know my ROE from Zellers is in there electronically,

I was trying to figure out hours and I haven't not been working from April 2006 to now. I'd assume I'd get the full benefits and time. I'm just unsure how much the benefits will be.

You do have 4 weeks to apply as from your last day worked, not your last paycheque. I was told it's best to apply as soon as you're eligible to apply and as long as your ROE is done electronically, you don't have to send any paper copy to EI. I was told once I get my EAD, I just have to fax it to them and I'm good. Apply for your AOS/EAD etc as SOON as you can after you get married.

mailed 4-4 cashed 4-15

Thank you, I'm just so anxious. So it looks like I'm within a normal time frame so far. I sent my cheque 7 days ago.

Approximately how long did it take them to cash your cheque? Just curious.