canadianplum

10 year Vancouver driver turned San Diego County road test taker here

I had to take both, for the written test I just looked at their sample tests on the DMV website and then watched a cpl ppl on youtube show their tests. It was pretty simple with the exception to the CA rules we don't have in Canada, stuff like the blue, white, red, etc paint on the curbs for parking, and other CA rules, otherwise pretty simple. Road test was basic too, but of course I was nervous for both, LOL! I just moved here in April and they told me they used to not require Canadians to do the road test as well, but they changed it. DARN!

The true nightmare is registering your car and getting plates, lol. They couldn't comprehend that my title could be on the same page as my insurance *gasp*

Good luck!

This seems way more difficult than mine were, maybe I did mine wrong - but the government reviewed them and paid me, lol so I think I'm good. I did mine online, I lived in Canada and my husband in the US when I did mine. We don't have kids, so that might have made it easier. I just marked myself as married, put in my husbands income and there was an option for him being a non-resident, so I put that and it didn't ask me for a SIN, and that was it.

Just tell the CO to remove the I-864A as it's pointless.

Does that make me Alex Trebek?

AOS for $500. Question: This is the income you're supposed to use on the I-864/I-864EZ if you filed a 1040.

He is Canadian, so I think that's perfect for you to be Alex!

Hi VJ members

I just want to let you know our cases (IR5 parents of US citizen) have been completed today.

Please read our experience in my signature that may be helpful for you.

I want to thank VJs members specially Saylin, Jag and Ripu, Canadianplum and Xprecious32 for your help, support and encouragement.

kind regards

Lukiduki

Oh my goodness!!! Congratulations!! I was thinking about you the other day, hoping you guys would get your case complete soon Let me know if there are any other questions about the interview I can help with, especially now that you're on your way to that journey soon. PM me!

Hey! I'm not a K1, but was CR1 and I traveled back and forth often using my Nexus, never had an issue. Always brought my paperwork just in case but they never said anything to me, just the normal "have a nice day" as you drive through. Bring your backup to show ties to home to be prepared every time, but I doubt you'll have an issue. It's possible of course, if you get a jerk officer, but I did it quiet often (would travel every other week to get cheap gas) and always went right through. Actually I just remembered, one time I got called in for secondary screening, and they asked me a couple questions - NOTHING about my pending visa application and let me through.

You can cross without importing it, but can't register it without the proper import paper work and each state has different laws on how long you have to register your car after moving, I would check your states law on registration. One other thing I would check is how long your Canadian insurance is valid for in the US, mine was like 4 months or something like that. Good luck.

I paid my car off before I moved, as I had been told its nearly impossible to import with outstanding balance. Even at the DMV she was telling me I didn't fill out the info on the lien... I said I don't have one, I own the vehicle. She insisted I have to have the title, or it means I owe money on the car and I explained that in Canada our registration is also our title and she went and looked in their book and came back and said you are correct. I went BC to CA, so all my dealings are with the CA DMV.

Good info to know I'll be driving across Blaine!

Compliance letter anyone been able to get it for free from dealership? Mine will be Hyundai Richmond most likly

I was able to get mine free. I have an Acura, and they (Acura Canada) had me call Honda USA to get the compliance letter. If Hyundai doesn't work with you maybe call Hyundai USA. I thought it was weird that my compliance letter was straight from the states, but they had all my info via my VIN. Good Luck! Hope it goes smooth for you.

Oh and PS. The Blaine guys were awesome, was in and out quick, had a detailed list of what I was bringing across and they didn't even go look at my car or look at my list, lol. Really funny too!

Are you saying you only got the CBP7501 at the border? If that's the case, you will likely run into trouble at the DMV. Keep us informed on how it goes.

Yep! Just that one form and the compliance letter, no big issues - other than having to deal with the friggen DMV, which was a treat! lol And getting the stupid smog check even though I was just air cared.

I was approved on a Wednesday and my passport arrived at Loomis in Vancouver by Monday. I went and picked it up.

For anyone that reads this going forward.... I just imported my car through the Blaine, WA POE and all I needed was the compliance letter, I had some forms from online that I had not filled out but they didn't need any of them. They said there was one form that I probably had printed, but they wanted to type it out so they didn't have to hand write, lol. It basically included the value of my car, VIN and a cpl other things and they had me sign it. That was it. It seemed too easy.

Hey guys - what should I do? My wife's address has a "/" in the house number but the online DS-260 doesn't allow it!!!!

I would just enter the address without it. And don't worry about your green card not making it due to that, when I did my POE they reconfirmed my address like 100 times so it can be corrected there, or at the interview.

Has anyone found a place that sells Hickory Sticks? Man I miss those.

I also hate American Oreas, Canada's are soooooooo much better.

I brought tons of Crunchies, Coffee Crisp and Crispy Crunch and Maple Syrup down with me, but there are still so many things I am shocked they don't have here. All Dressed chips, seriously?!?!? This is America and they haven't thought to dress a chip with everything! lol

I only needed to get the Tdap shot, I haven't had my MMR since the 80's but they said it was only suggested not mandatory so I did not get another one. I had all my records from elementary school. I also didn't need the flu shot since my interview was in April and wasn't during the flu season dates.

I know most ppl go early and wait in line for the doors to open, but I did not. I had my interview at 10am as well, I arrived at 9:40am, there was no line, went straight up to get my number, etc, and was out the door by 10:50am, so total time from walking in the door (downstairs, before security) was one hour. Good luck!!

Finally approved..while visiting my wife...initially they responded to my request saying I had to wait 60 more days..but yesterday they sent the notice that case was approved one day short of a year...still is better than keep waiting..so on to next step...FINALLY

Congrats!!!!!

Interview in Montreal tomorrow! Biting my nails for my husband x___x Im worried about fees because I keep reading that they may ask for you to pay some at the consulate itself. Our interview letter says everything is paid though. Sending my husband with his bank card just in case. Went through all his papers tonight and hes all ready to go. 10am . Keeps us in your thoughts please <3

Good luck today! I'm sure everything is going very well for your husband. I wasn't asked to pay any fees at Montreal, the only additional fee was the visa fee or something for $165. I found Montreal to be quick and easy, hope its the same for your husband!

For any curious Montreal filers, I had my interview Wednesday and received my passport back on Monday Quebec to BC!

I talked to a woman named Gina this morning at the NVC. She checked on the computer and said Costa Rica takes the police report at the embassy. And I don't have to send it to the NVC. I asked her two more times if she was sure because my husband was planning on getting it soon. She said she was positive but now I'm second guessing what she told me because you said you called the embassy.. UGHHHHH

My husband is gonna think I'm looney because I text'd him this morning telling him he doesn't have to get it. He was happy because its a long trip to San Jose to get that stupid certificate. If I have to tell him he still needs to get it he gonna think I'm nuts.

That's the problem with NVC is you seem to get different answers I would go with whatever it states online, or just send to be safe.

Appppppp-paaa-rooved! In Montreal today.

Working on adding a review in my profile, I was asked some strange questions, lol. The guy said I had the most organized documents he'd even seen and that it seemed too easy, I said "I can try and make it more difficult" lol he said no thats OK. haha. After asking what seemed like quite a few questions, he sat quiet for a minute and then said, so you've never been arrested in Sweden then? Bahaha, I actually laughed and said I've never been to Sweden. So random. Was in and out in 1 hour! Sadly didn't meet any VJ members there, but did meet a man and his family that have been waiting 12 YEARS for a visa, not a spouse visa so they had no priority, put my 11 month wait into perspective.

THANK YOU everyone so much, so so much, and dwheels, your encouragement, support and answers are what got me through this process! Excited to continue to follow others working through this process.

VISA APPROVED!

Finally I can breathe and relax. The CO must have like me because he was firing at me like 26 questions all in all. He never asked me for any documents I had. Gosh! the skype logs, Phone logs and Text logs makes my bag so heavy. He keep smiling everytime he asked a question. He looked cute though so I was relax talking with him. When he said, looked like you have everything here and you are ready to go and see your husband. I remembered my 1-864EZ was never asked so I told him, I have a certain document that I need to submit during my interview. He was confused but still go over it. Then asked me, why are you giving this to me? I did not asked for this document. So I told him, it was NVC who instructed me to bring that on my interview to complete the process of my AOS. If I wont give it to you now, then I will have incomplete AOS. He smiled! and said, okey! I will put this together with your files..and said to come back on Thursday to pick my my passport.

While i was at Mcdonald, my phone rings and it was the CO telling me to go back inside the embassy for my fingerprinting. ON my way there, I was asking myself, how many times do I need to have fingerprints. I already did that before the interview start.

I saw him waiting for me in the same window and said SORRY that he forget to let me have another fingerprinting while taking an OATH!

For all those waiting.....just keep on praying and everything will be fine.

Congratulations!!

Congratulations !!!!!!

Interview Tomorrow ..... scared... different feelings and just waiting to get this hours passed soon with positive answer!!!

Thank you everyone and specially dwheels76 for help =)

Pray god for the best!!!

Mine is tomorrow too, I also cannot wait to it to be done with so I can relax. These butterflies in my stomach can go away soon Good luck tomorrow!

My wife interview was approved today!

Congrats!!!

My wife had an interview today. Visa approved. She was asked only 2 questions:

1. Have you travelled to any other country?

2. What does your husband do for living?

Good luck every one. It will be over soon.

Congrats!!!!

My interview will be tomorrow April 1st at 9:30a.m. and so upset and stressed. I called the clinic this morning and told me, my medical is not ready yet and they will just forward it to the embassy. What????????????????? Had my medical March 1 and not ready yet???????

Oh my gosh, good luck, good luck!!! I hope everything works out with your medical - I'm sure it will be great!!!

CANADIANPLUM. We are finally here. Wooo whoooo. You now eat a good meal, and you look that CO in the eye and say Dwheels76 said give me my VISA. hehe.

Welcome to America.

Finally indeed!!! YES I will tell them just that! HAND IT OVER!

Canadianplum: Try not to be nervous...you'll do just fine! Can't wait to hear how it went

Thank you so much, big deep breaths. I think I'm more worried that I'll forget a needed item more than anything else. I certainly know all there is to know about my husband, lol.

AHHHHHHH!!! My interview is on Wednesday!!! Ok, just needed to get that out. lol

I've arrived in Ottawa (staying with family) and then will drive to Montreal for the interview, its all real now that I'm here, and I'm getting nervous. EEEK. Just nervous that I have everything I need. Thanks dwheels and everyone for the support so far.

AND! Excited to see more interviews scheduled for everyone!!

VISA APPROVED!!!!!!

Just getting out from the interview, thanks to all for the support in helping with doubts in this process!!!

G-d bless you all, all the wait and struggle worth at this moment, so to everybody waiting hang in there, trust G-d and believe!!!!!

Wohoooooo!

Congratulations!! How exciting! My interview is this coming Wednesday - eeeek! Hope your move goes smooth.