East Coast

I just went on the USCIS website and I can keep my GC and leave the US. I just need to apply for an exception if out for more than a year. We will be coming and going from Senegal to the US.

Thanks for all the replies

Hello,

I recently received my CR1 family green card. Moved to the US but my husbands work is taking us to Africa. I am suppose to renew my CR1 September 2014. We will be leaving the USA in January 2014 for Africa. I don't want to loose my US status as it took so much work and time. Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a waiver to leave and beable to still have keep the green card even though you are not living here.

Thanks

Congrats on your wedding.. Love the pic It was so great meeting you in Montreal!

I'm actually really surprised you got an expedite on your I-130.

But grats. That's why people say 'it's always going to be no unless you try'

Edit: I just looked at your timeline... (4) months.. that isn't really an expedite lol

Hi,

I actually didn't apply for the expedite until beginning of May and was approved within a week and the I-130 was sent to NVC. So it was an expedite just didn't ask for it right away when we applied in January. The job came up for grabs in May so we asked for it then and got it right away!

I had a bit of a weird case as well. I was a Canadian working legally on an international flagged private yacht in Florida. I met my husband and we got married in Florida. I applied for my Green Card from Canada as I needed to be able to come and go from the US frequently on the yacht! We applied early January and come May we still did not receive a reply. Myself and my husband got offered a great position working together on the Same yacht! The problem was that it was and American Flagged yacht and that being said I needed to be legal to work in the US! We filed for an expedite and received it within a couple of days and our I-130 was approved right away! Then we started the process at the NVC. This took soooo long as we starting working on the yacht and we were in the Caribbean. We probably could have had our interview by July or Auguest but with being so far from Canada for fingerprints etc we got approved in December. So even with an expedite it takes a little longer than what one would expect. Also once the USCIS sent the expedited file to NVC, the NVC denied our case for an expedite saying work was not a cause for fast filing!! So the difference between the USCIS and NVC/your local Embassy is HUGE.. I had thought that once it was on expedite the entire process would be but that was not the case at all. Hope this helps.. There is hope that you MAY get an expedite as I did!

Oh yah! Bring your passport with Visa in it, you will need to fill out a form on the SSN website, and bring your marriage certificate. These are the only things they asked me for!

Hello All,

I have been in the US since my POE on December 8th, 2012 and I have had a few job interviews and need my SSN. I had checked the box when I filled out the DS-260. I thought it doesn't hurt to go into my local SSN office here in Washington State. So yesterday I went in and seen a really nice lady. She advised that I needed to be in the US for 10 business days, but that she would try and see what she could do for me. So she went through the process and everything went well and was approved. I can go back in the office 2 days later and get my number and in 2 weeks I should have my actual card in the mail. So if you are needing your SSN quick, I would advise you going into your local SSN office. Don't bother calling the 1-800 number as they are useless!

Hope this helps others out there in the future.

Well I went to the Embassy today as they told me too at 3pm.. By 4pm I had my passport with visa and sealed package in hand.. I was smiling from ear to ear.... So if there are any other Canadians living in the US legally out there.. You can get your passport back the day after your interview if they choose to let us.

I have an appt to go back tomo at 3 so I think so but not sure

Yes it is a foreign flagged yacht so I enter into the us on a B1 visa. All legal...

I work on a yacht which travels in and out of the us frequently so I applied outside of the us so I could travel freely in and out of the us.. I was working before I applied though..

Yah I am there legally and reside there so I dont have a home in canada so fingers crossed I get it back. If not I have a backup plan...

Thx. I planned on asking. I have a letter from my employer stating they need me there so hopfully o will get it back right away and wont have to miss work..

Hello Everyone,

I have my interview in Montreal in 2 days. I have read that if you currently live in the US they may return your passport back to you the following afternoon after your interview if you are approved. I am currently legally residing in the US and am wondering if anyone out there has been granted this passport expedite. Any suggestions etc would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks so much

In couple weeks, they will send you your Packet 4, which are instructions to make an appointment for your interview and medical. You can pick where you have your medical done, but it has to be from one of their certified civil surgeons (current list available on their website). Your medical has to be done prior to your interview as you are required to bring the sealed (unopened) envelope at your appointment with the consulate. And you will need an appointment with the consulate to book your medical, so as soon as you receive your Packet 4, book your interview and then your medical.

It's pretty easy from then on, but a long wait game. The soonest appointment available with the consulate could be months ahead, so be patient. Also, make sure you have at least 3 business days between your medical and appointment with the consulate, as they cannot deliver results faster than this. And you might want to confirm with them what they recommendation is. If you have known health issues, increase the amount between the two appointment to ensure it won't delay your process further. My own medical took 3 weeks to come back due to a false positive result to one of the things they screen for. They gave me a letter to hand the consulate and I had to mail them my medical once I received it, after my interview had taken place. It delayed my process by about a month and a half. Whenever you send anything to Montreal, it sits in their mail room for a week or two before they process it.

After your interview, you will wait for them to mail your passport back with your visa in it. You might be in AP (advanced processing) for little while, which is nothing to worry about.

You can keep calling DOS for updates on your case.

Edit: There is no portal for people at that stage with that consulate, but feel free to post your questions in the ''Canada'' forum. We pretty much all been through it

What is Advanced Processing? I go for my interview in Montreal next week and I have never heard of this before.

Thanks

What time you want to arrive depends on what time you want to leave. If you want to spend your entire morning there, and possibly the afternoon, then get there at 9am. But, if you want to leave within an hour or two of getting inside, then get there before 7am. My appointment was for 8am (if I remember correctly), but I got there at 6:15am. First in line. Left the consulate a little before 9am. It would have been even sooner, but there were problems with my fingerprints, so I had to stay for an extra 20-30 minutes getting that sorted out.

Thanks so much I will be there first thing in the morning Appreciate all your responses!

Thank you for replying.. I have most of these docs and will be getting the rest just to be on the safe side.. Another question for you 2.. My appt is at 9am.. Should I be there when the doors open or does it really mean be there for 9am?

Thanks Again My Fellow Canadians!

Hello All,

I have an interview for my CR/IR visa. I am starting to really stress out about what to bring. Do I need to have originals of I-130, DS-260, DS-261, I-864 (are there any that I am missing?)

Also what proof do I need for our relationship. We are both living in the US now as I work here already (I have to travel outside of US which is why I did not apply within the US).. We have a lease together, all bank accounts, we work together. Do I need to bring proof of all of this?

If there is anyone out there that has a list with all of the things they brought to the Montreal Embassy. I have the list from NVC, but I have read on here about other docs that is not on my list like proof of relationship, copies of all docs like DS-260.

We did all our docs electronically and paid online as well.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I think I am just overthinking things..

That's exciting. Please help the rest of us by updating your timeline. It is so helpful for us to be able to look at them and get a sense of timing for the process.

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My timeline is up to date. You have to click on in under my name though. I never put it in the conversation. Sorry!

Sooo excited I just got the email from Montreal saying my interview will be held on December 6th, 2012. Good Luck to all that are still waiting and fingers crossed to you!