ricnally

Oh - should have clarified that I stopped and went in to USA Customs and Immigration figuring that I had over $10000 and had to declare it just like the forms at the border crossing say...and no, they were clear that I didn't have to in this case. Bank drafts are traceable unlike cash. But it made me feel better that I had the discussion with them. I had to put up with their humour "oh if you needed a husband, you should have picked me!" hardy har har *gag* but for what I saved not playing the bank rip off exchange rate it was all worth it.

so you just brought in a stack of cash?

I got a *way* better exchange rate using the Western Union Business dollar exchange for my money after my Canadian house sold, compared to what TD Bank offered me. Like talking 3% better!! Who would have thought? My mortgage broker in Calgary gave me the contact. Ask around.

and then how did you bring it over the border?

you need to have a US social security number to open a bank account here. once you have it you can do a wire transfer but it will cost money to do that, I would just open the new account and write a check to yourself and deposit it in the new account. after it clears close the old account.

cheques can take forever to clear from Canada (could be months). I'm bringing mine as a bank draft. Ask your bank about it.

I had to get one from Japan and had to apply for it in person, with passport in hand, at the nearest Japanese Embassy/Consulate. It's going to take 2 months (but will be in English, which is nice--otherwise you have to get it translated), and has to be picked up in person as well.I'm 5 hours away from the Consulate, so they allowed me to name a proxy (a friend I have in town) to pick it up for me. You have to be there, yourself, for the application part, though. Don't know whether it's the same for Israel.

Oh, and I didn't need any case number or anything. Just said I needed it for a US fiance visa.

Well I know that you need a police cert for any country that youve lived in for 1 YEAR (not 6 months) or more since age 16, but I was just curious if the fact that she has been a Canadian citizen for 20 year was worth anything. Especially since she hasnt even been to either of those countries in tose 20 years.

It's 6 months for Canadians.

Hi Everyone,

This is my first time posting to this site!

So, My fiance is from Turkey and we have received our NOA 1. We sent in our application on Sep. 14 2012.

In this light, our visa should have been processed by now... today is 3/7/13 and I have still not heard one word as to what is happening.

We have been checking our case status like crazy and checking the boards for updates and all it says is that California Service Center (CSC) should have our visa processed within 5.5 months. This date has come and gone.

However, when I go onto the master list for CSC it says that the processing time is July 18th, 2012. I called USCIS to have them explain to me what is going on and why there is this major over-site. They said our case was still ongoing and they did not know how much longer it would take and to call back on April 6th. I cannot do an e-request to see what is going on with my case either, because it says our case is still within posted processing times..which is not true.

So here are my questions: What would they do after April 6th? Has anyone had this problem? Has anyone had their case way off of the actually posted processing time? If so, how long did it take after the posted dates to get your visa?.... I hope this makes sense, please help!!!

Yes, almost everyone has had this problem! Check the timelines on this site.

Officially, the present date they're up to is July 18th. So if your filing date is after that, then you are "still within posted processing times."

sorry what is AP?

Advanced Parole; so the beneficiary can leave the country while waiting for AOS. (and you're aware that AOS is applied for after you're married, right? Not as soon as he arrives).

Hi,

VJ timeline is based on the average time taken for the approval of I-130/I-129 and it calculates this average after taking into account the timeline of all the applicants whose I-130/I-129 has been processed. It was showing mine to be approved by mid June'13 but it was approved on th 5th of March 2013.

So do not worry. Be patient

No, I think the OP is talking about the "petitions are currently being processed with the following filing dates" (or words to that effect) on the Immigration Timelines page, underneath where you click to go to Igor's List.

It will take a dog's age to clear, if they even accept it.

Newbie please do not highjack my thread thank you

LOL

Is Police Cert. requires to all applicants? My Fiance is not travel out or lived outside my country. Is he needs one? Anyone? Please advise. Thanks.

Are you the USC, and your fiance the alien (and he has only lived in his country)? If so, he needs a police cert. from his country, (but not until after NOA2).

Yes, only Canada (only from countries lived in since age 16).

True. Costs $340 and the EAD expires with your I-94, about 2-3 weeks after you get the EAD if you file for it immediately on arriving. Then you lose your legal to work status until your green card arrives. Great idea.

GET MARRIED...file AOS and add the applications for the EAD and AP for FREE with the I-485, then they will be valid until your green card comes.

Ohhh, didn't realize that the EAD expired with I-94, if you do it this way. What a stupid rule! (Thanks for pointing it out, though!)

Actually, I believe you can apply for the EAD as soon as you enter the US. You don't have to wait until you're married and pursuing AOS.

I did that too, and wondered the same thing. Then I ended up going to the commissionaires and getting it there. It takes about 1-2 weeks and then they call you to pick it up.

you can get the police cert(s) right away. They are good for a year, and take a bit of time, sometimes.

It starts when he/she enters the US

Hello,

Maybe someone had to deal with the same issue I do and could help me.

I am a Ukrainian citizen, I have been in Argentina on a tourist visa for about 6 months and need to get an Argentinian Police certificate. The big issue I dont have any national Argetnine documents... i was there simply as a tourist..Has anyone went through the process of obtaining this document?

I am waiting for answers from US embassy, Argentine consulate, but would like to know if someone would share their experiences with me!

Thank you in advance for any help!

If you were there anything less than 6 months, you probably don't need it.

I shouldn't imagine you'd need any police checks for living in the USA. As for Canada and your time in Asia (or anywhere else for 6 months or more), you'll need police certs/ clearance.

It's also 6 months for New Zealand.

OK, just found it in the fine print: I DO NOT need police check for time in U.S. Whew!

This doesn't help your specific situation but might help someone else.

If the USA is one of the countries you have lived for 6 months, you do NOT need a police record for there. - I had lived in the USA for 6 months on a tourist visa and I just needed my New Zealand police record for my K1.

That might seem like silly advice but as i've found out on this journey, there are so many little details that you are expected to know and not everything is spelled out for you along the way.

Oh, great to know! I've also lived in the US (but for 18 months--on a media visa), wonder if I need the police check in that case?

Actually it's more than 12 months outside of your home country.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_3195.html (scroll down to the bottom for the table).

It's 6 months for Canada.

In other words....read the instructions.

Of course this is good advice, but honestly to absorb the WHOLE process is pretty overwhelming, so I've been going at it in smaller more digestible chunks.

The visa is not the END, it is the beginning. You will need a lot more stuff along the way and the visa interview is just the FIRST examination of your relationship. There will be three more over the next 4-5 years.

Read ahead, this is a long process that STARTS when the visa is issued.

Police certificates are valid for 1 year at any consulate regardless of what the certificate may say. We had ours before we filed the I-129f petition. BEFORE you file a petition you should be aware of everything you need for the process and get it prepared. You are moving here for life.

Great point Are you sure for the 6 months thing for Canada though?

Here is the rule in France:

For countries you lived in for at least a 12 months

For your home country (country you are a citizen of)

and for the country you currently live in, if you have been living there for at least 6 months (if different from your own country)?

I don't want to give you false hopes. This is the rule for France... I know the UK states it a bit differently ("more than a year" instead of "at least 12 months"). But I find it so wierd that the requirements (specially for police certificates) varry with the embassy? I just don't understand...

Anyone has any idea why it would be like this?

Yes, sure that it's 6 months for Canada.

Hi All: just warning you of something I just found out, and wish I'd known sooner. I am the Canadian fiancee and it seems, for the final part of the K1 process, I need a police check not only from Canada, but also from Japan because I lived there (more than 6 months) many years ago. I have to go to the Japanese embassy with my passport to ask for the police check, and then it takes TWO MONTHS. This is going to slow us down, considerably I'm afraid. (we're expecting NOA2 any day/week now). It's likely there's a similar wait time for other countries, so if you've lived anywhere else, get going on that police check as soon as possible. Word.

Hey everyone!

So I am a 23 year old male Canadian. I'm known as a man who knows what he wants and Never has regrets. When it comes to love It's rarely that I meet someone I feel I can trust fully.

I met a beautiful smart girl online and we have been talking every night on Skype for some time now. She invited me to come see her for a couple weeks. I took the chance and traveled from Toronto (where I was born) to California (where she is from) to spend time with her. As soon as I saw her at the airport I knew it was love at first sight. We were inseparable the entire two weeks I've been with her. Every single person sees the way we look at eachother and agrees we're a beautiful couple and everyone agrees we should never be apart.

I'm absolutely crazy about her, and she is of me..

Now re trying to figure out how to be together. As a Canadian citizen I'm only permitted a 6 month visit per calendar year. We plan on having me come for the last 6 months of this year and then continue for the first 6 months of the next year and after that we hope to get married and be together forever.

My QUESTIONs are these:

As a visitor I won't be able to work here legally for the time being here.. Is it difficult to get a work visa? I'm a professional artist in trade, with desired skills and no doubt will be able to achieve work here. Although I don't have an employer to pay a mass sum for a work visa. If its a small fee I could possibly work that though.

HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT YOU'LL GET A WORK VISA.

As for the 6 month calendar year rule. I've heard you can stay 6 months and return for a day and do another 6 months right away but I find it hard to believe.

AFTER A 6-MONTH STAY YOU'LL PROBABLY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING BACK IN THE 2ND TIME, IF YOU'VE ONLY BEEN OUT A FEW DAYS. I'VE DONE STAYS OF 1 MONTH, FOLLOWED BY 2 MONTHS BACK IN CANADA, FOLLOWED BY A 3-MONTH STAY BACK IN U.S. WITHOUT INCIDENT--AND FOR THE 3-MONTH ONE, THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR (NOR DID I HAVE) A RETURN AIR TICKET. BUT I'M OLDER (IN MY 50S) SO PERHAPS THAT KEPT RED FLAGS FROM BEING RAISED.

She's jokingly suggested we just get married after a few months but that also seems unlikely to solve our issues as I'm sure something wouldn't fly for the government and we would need to spend a large amount of time away from each other regardless.

She's mentioned she knew someone a while ago from out of America who was young and had married several times in the states before and she said he made it sound easy.

Please if anyone has any suggestions, I'm absolutely in love with her and the thought of not waking up beside her kills me. I really want to find a way to be with her while we sort our our future together, and in no means do I want to marry her for any other reason but love

HERE'S A SUGGESTION: YOU GO THERE FOR 6 MONTHS, THEN HAVE HER COME TO CANADA ON A WORKING HOLIDAY VISA. SHE'LL BE ABLE TO STAY UP TO A YEAR AND CAN WORK WHILE SHE'S HERE.(UNFORTUNATELY, THERE IS NO RECIPROCAL WORKING HOLIDAY VISA FOR CANADIANS GOING TO USA).IT TAKES A WHILE TO PROCESS THE VISA, I THINK, SO YOU COULD GET STARTED AS SOON AS YOU START YOUR 6 MONTHS THERE. WHILE SHE'S HERE, MAYBE YOU CAN START WORKING ON THE K1.

I suppose college was a bad example, since after our K-1 is approved and ( long in the future obviously ) we get his immigration and whatnot done with he'd like to continue his education down there. I actually found a really helpful story from the above link, the one about Michele and Adam ( Adam in England, Michele in U.S ) They both visited numerous times, saying that they were visiting to see their boyfriend/girlfriend. Were told not to get married while visiting, obviously they agreed, and were able to visit without a hitch, no "proof" of ties were needed each visitation. As long as you're truthful and show that you don't plan on getting married while you're visiting.

I do have one more question though, I'm still visiting Canada, can I apply for the K-1 while in Canada? Or does it matter.

Hopefully, visiting "without a hitch" is in the cards for both of us!

I understand. However the first time I went to Canada to visit ( having never visited before ), they just let me right through ( only questions were why I was visiting, how I met my boyfriend whom I was visiting, etc. ). So I'm crossing my fingers for the same outcome for him seeing as he also has never visited the States. Depends on what POE officer you get though, hopefully we'll get a cheery one ><

However if he needs a reason to how he has ties to Canada, will the fact that he's attending college help?

Coming in as a tourist is no problem, but now, with his visa pending, if they look him up and see he's in the system as a K1 applicant, that would be a red flag. BTW How's he going to visit you for 6 months if he's going to college?)I have a special interest in this because I'm hoping to visit my fiance in the US to go to Coachella, which we already have tickets to. To prepare for the worst, I'm a) getting flight insurance, and b) flying out of Vancouver where you pass US customs before leaving the ground, and where my car will be parked, so if I'm denied entry, I won't be stuck in California with no return flight and several hundred dollars out of pocket.