devotional

Hello!

I had my interview this morning at the Montreal consulate- and we got approved!!!

Good Luck to all who have their interviews coming up!

Hello Everyone!

Just wanted to update that my interview was originally scheduled for March 4th at the Montreal embassy, however extra spots opened up and we were able to get a January 22nd interview date! Very nervous and excited about this!

Hoping to be with my future hubby by end March!

Hi,

I'm just about ready to send my packet 3 to the consulate in Montreal. At this point, our process has been going on for a little over 7 months. I'm wondering if anyone who's been processed through the Montreal consulate can share their experience with me. Once I've sent the packet 3- how long till I hear back from them? How about scheduling medicals and interviews?

I'm not sure if there is a forum or portal for people who are in the same stage as me with the same consulate- if anyone can lead me that way- it would be much appreciated!

I just got home today from spending a few days with my sweetie on a cruise and decided to check the status of our case. This is what I found:

On October 25, 2012, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service at 1-800-375-5283.

Even though we had signed up for text and email notice- I never received anything!!!

In any case- I'm super happy about this!!! Yay!!!

**Sigh** Another day with no news I leave tomorrow to spend 4 days with my fiance( really really really hoping to hear something by the end of the week!)

I'll be on vacation next week ( cruise to the Bahamas)_it would be kind of nice and special to get our approval while we're together!!! At least that way, we could celebrate next to each other!!!

Nop, not yet for us... going crazy over here! But thanks for remembering we are still here!

I'm waiting right along with you....the last couple of days or so have been really hard. But it's been really exciting seeing April filers at VSC get their approvals. It gives me some hope that mine is right along the corner as well!!!!

Lol....I found that Mondays are always a slow day.....

I've been checking this list multiple times a day for the last 4 weeks...

I'm hoping to get my NOA 2 by weeks end!!!!!!!

It's hard to believe that after all these months of waiting and worrying and getting upset at how slow things were moving, April filers are FINALLY getting approvals at VSC.

I only hope that they continue moving through April and not move backwards or come to a standstill!

Good Luck everyone!

Who else is waiting for vsc?

I'm still PATIENTLY waiting( well... not so patient, but waiting...)

I was worried at first that my American fiance would be insulted or upset with me for not wanting to change my citizenship. But I worried for no reason... when I brought the topic up with him and explained how I would ALWAYS be Canadian at heart, and that it just didn't "feel right", he totally understood. I can travel just as easily with my Canadian passport, and right now I see no need for the change in citizenship.

But maybe after living there for a few years, I'll have a change of heart.( who knows how I'll feel 20 + yrs from now!!!)

I'm just trying to get through a week at a time!!! I believe I saw a late Feb filer at VSC get their NOA 2 today- thats hopeful I guess

I think that if I can be with my loved one by Christmas time- I'll be VERY VERY happy

Congratulations!!!!

Looking forward to the day I feel as you do right now!!!

Woot! Congrats!

Hi Everyone!

Just checking in. Looks like VSC is about a month behind in processing petitions.....hoping that it'll change.... October seems forever away!!

Hope everyone is patiently holding up and getting through this easily enough!

Hi!

I just came back from spending a few days with my fiance, and I also had a letter from my employer. It basically went something like this " She has worked with this company since April 2005 and has taken x vacation days( insert dates). We expect her back in the office on (insert date). If you have any concerns/questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (xxx-xxx-xxxx)."

I had my boss sign it, and it was written on a company letterhead.

Hope this helps!

I don't understand how an attorney can "slow things down". We hired one, and so far- we are extremely happy with him. It takes about 5 minutes to send an email to him with everything he requires. He then prints everything up and mails it- the very next day. For original copies, I overnight a package to him so that he can receive it the next day. I don't really see how that slows anything down.

Our attorney is quick to answer our emails and calls, and has provided us with MUCH information and guidance. I couldn't find one place here in Montreal that would translate my birth certificate to English in a timely manner, and he did it in a few days. So he actually SAVED me time.

Although I think that VJ can provide just as much information and guidance, I feel reassured knowing that if i have a question, I can speak to a professional who does this as his job. I feel bad for anyone who has had a bad experience with a lawyer- but there are ways to see their rating and standings to see if they are reliable or not- a little research can save you from hiring someone who is not qualified.

Also, keep in mind that although the procedure can be fairly simple- it is time consuming to put together the package. And as my fiance and I both work extremely long days, it was just simpler to open our emails, print out the requested forms, sign them and scan them back to him.

Although there is a chance that he may make a mistake because he is human, it is far less likely that he would make one because he's done this hundreds of times compared to us only having done this one time.

Hi!

I just came back from visiting my fiance in Florida. I went prepared with a copy of my current lease on my apt., as well as my new lease which begins in July 2013, a letter from my employer stating how many vacation days I would be taking and when I would be expected back, as well as some bills that proved that I DO live at the address on the lease.

I flew from Montreal to Orlando. Although i was taken into secondary, the agent there was actually really very nice and was satisfied with only seeing a copy of my itinerary which showed my return flight. They asked the basic questions- " how long are you staying?", " where are you staying?", "purpose of the trip?". he asked for proof of a return flight, I handed him my itinerary- and that was it. I was even a little surprised! And asked if he wanted to see copies of my lease, or letter from employer, and he just said that it wasn't necessary.

We are going through the process, with a lawyer. He had us send a couple of photos from each different trip/occasion, stating who the people in the pictures were, date and location. So in total, we've sent maybe 20-30 selected photos documenting our 3 year relationship. I don't think sending in 300 pictures will matter if none of them are documented properly or show the progress of your relationship. Same goes for receipts, chat logs, etc.

I also don't think that ALL lawyers are just out to get your money- a good lawyer will explain everything to you and listen to your concerns. So far- I haven't had any issues with mine and am quite pleased with how quickly and efficiently he has handled our case. With that said- do what you feel is the right thing to do. if you want to send 100 pages of photos and documents, then do that. It may or may not help your case- but at least you'll have done what you think is needed and necessary.

Good Luck!

Hi!

I'm a Canadian planning on moving and marrying my American fiance. We decided to go the K-1 way. We chose this option for numerous reasons, but mainly because it would mean not having to be seperated once I did get there. I believe that visiting each other is possible throughout the process, however there are risks that the border patrol/custom agent won't allow me into the US- they basically make that call. ( I plan on flying to Florida in 2 weeks to spend some time with him for his birthday, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there won't be any issues).

Although I won't be able to work right away, I think it takes only a few months after applying for AOS to be able to work, etc.

Good Luck!

We opted to go with a lawyer, even though we think we have a pretty straight forward case. So far, our lawyer has been pretty easy to deal with, and I don't feel as if he's wasted our time or money. From the moment we hired him, he explained what the process would be like, emailed us all the documents that needed to be signed and filled in, double checked them with us, and sent them out the day after he received them completed from us. He also found someone who could translate my birth certificate, and all I had to do was send him a scan of my original one. I can't complain as he's been efficient and answers all questions in a timely manner.

As my fiance and I both work long hours during the week, it's kinda nice to know that someone is helping us make the process as easy as possible.

I guess it all depends on how much you both have to invest into getting all the paper work done properly and understanding what needs to be done.

I'm sure many couples have been successful in completing the process without a lawyer, however I guess I'm in the minority who went ahead and hired a lawyer, hoping that it's facilitate things!!!

Well, I'll be living about 45 minutes from Disney World in Florida....so I'm opting for something/somewhere I haven't been to yet in the US. maybe Washington...maybe Boston....

Are you Indian?

No. (but neither is Peter_Pan who made the comment)

She also stated that she's disgusted when she sees an older woman with a younger man, because it means that the woman has "low self-esteem".

Wonder if you will say the same when your barely legal daughter brings home a man in his 60s.

You have got to be kidding me!!!! If my "barely legal" daughter were to bring home a man in her sixties- I'd have the same thought process as anything that applies to her life after she's "legal" and considered an "adult" which is " You are an adult, make your decisions and be ready to suffer any consequences that may come out of it". My fiance and I are 12 yrs apart in age, but as I'M the one in the relationship and I'M an adult, other people's concerns or opinions swayed me very little when our ages were discussed. You can't help who you fall in love with. If age was always a priority to you- then you would date someone close to you in age, if education was a priority- then you would date some with university degrees. As individuals, you make up your mind about what is important in a relationship and what is not. Age was never important to me, as I'm sure it isn't to many people who happen to fall in love with someone older/younger than them.

I just heard from my fiance that he received a letter today as well! Woot! ( it was dated April 24th )