Chicken_Little

If you move back it would be considered abandoning the status anyway.

Right, and I'm fine with that, because we know it will be at least 10 years before we'd want to move back to the US anyhow. If I wanted to keep my status, I'd pay the money in a heartbeat and just wait another year and apply for citizenship before moving back to Canada. But since I don't care about the status, I don't know what to do. I need to work while living here so that we can afford our rent, so me living here out-of-status for a month or so or me moving to Canada ahead of my husband won't work.

I don't want to pay the money in December only to have the status come through the next month for us to move to Canada...USCIS doesn't do refunds. But I've already been accepted to start school in September 2008, so I don't want to put off school for a year so I can maybe be a citizen before moving...

Do I have to apply exactly 90 days before it expires? Could I wait until 60 days before it expires? Would that work? Or even 50 days? Cuz then I could wait and see if the Canadian PR come through by then and if so, I won't even bother applying.

I received my CR-1 back in March 2006. I have been living in the states with my husband ever since. However, I have decided to to back to school, and we decided I would do this back in Canada (my home country). So we are applying for PR for my husband to move to Canada. We are in the final stages, but it looks like it will not come through until mid-January. After we get it, we will need a few weeks to tie up loose ends, etc.

I just realized my CR-1 will expire March 2008. So I need to apply in December 2007. But I don't want to shell out $500 to extend a green card I plan to give up as soon as we get hubby's PR for Canada. But what if PR for Canada doesn't come through when we expect it, and still isn't here by March?

I have no idea what to do. We have no extra money as we are trying to save for my tuition, and paying out the wazzoo for Canadian immigration. USCIS just took $400 of my money in July when my wallet containing my greencard was stolen, and I have no desire to give them another $500 for nothing.

Any advice? I don't know what to do, but really can't afford to pay $500 right now...is there any way to call them and explain or something? I need to keep working until we move, so I can't just let it expire...*sigh* This sucks.

Well, I have an InfoPass appointment tomorrow morning to get a temporary stamp in my passport so that I can visit Canada as planned in a few weeks and get back into the US. I filed an I-90 online, so hopefully that will be processed fast. I replaced my license (and changed the #), ordered new credit cards with new numbers and a new bank card with a new number AND my photo on it. Now I just need to replace my wallet, and all my store cards that I had.

No one turned it in yet. I really think it was stolen. Thankfully, I cancelled the cards before anyone tried to use them, and I signed up with Equifax and TransUnion to let them know what happened.

Still sucks A LOT, but at least I'm starting to replace things.

Thanks for all the posts, and sympathies.

So I was having a good day. Then I went to go home at the end of the day and when I got to the Subway station, reached for my wallet to get my pass. It was gone. I went back to my office and tore it up before coming to the conclusion that some jerk pick-pocketed me.

I feel so incredibly violated.

And how do I get a new greencard? What if someone steals my identity?

Hi all,

I got my greencard last March, and at the time I was still going by my maiden name. Well, after some thinking, I decided to change my name to take my husband's (hyphenated, actually so I now am Maiden-Married) and now I am having the headache of trying to change everything over.

I have already changed my name legally (have to court order and everything) and have my new driver's license, and my new SSN card, and now I am figuring out whether to change my passport first or my greencard. For the passport, all I do is go the Canadian Embassy here in Boston, and for $12 they will "add" my new name. A new passport is not required, they just add in an "observance". This is done while I wait, and should take about 45 minutes they said.

For the green card, I have to fill out form I-90. This is where it gets confusing: they don't specify WHICH name they want me to put on the application: my "new" name, or the one my card was issued in? Also, they ask where the original petition for the green card was filed. Do they mean where I was living at the time, or where my husband, the petitioner, was living since he was the one who sent it in?

I'm so confused.

Also, should I wait to get my passport done until I know when I have to get my fingerprinting and photo done? My concern is that we travel to Canada pretty much every month for a weekend to visit my family. Jan.1st 2007 they started requiring passports as well as greencards be shown, so if my passport has a notation in it, saying I've changed my name, but my greencard is still in my maiden name, do you think they'll give me a hard time?

I don't want them to be all like "This passport says your legal name is Maiden-Married, but you green card says Maiden. You can't come back into the States, sorry".

Anyone else been through this? *sigh* I'm kicking myself now for not chaning my name when I first got married. Had I done that, my greencard would be in the proper name and I wouldn't be going through this #######!

I have it too.

Sucks a lot.

OK- then next question...

When Dave moves here, we're staying with my family until we find something we want to buy.

What the heck would prove residency then here? We're not going to have a lease or utility bills for the moment... would immigration documents work possibly?

My god, it seems like such a headache to switch it over. How long can one use their canadian license before you HAVE to switch it over?

HAS to be something like utility or lease.

RMV sucks that way. Maybe you could put a second phone line in Dave's name? A landline would work as a "utility". Either that or ask your parents if maybe Dave's name could also be on the gas or water bill? You could always change it again later, but for the time being it would work for proving residency.

I converted mine.

I went to Ontario's Ministry of Transportation, and requested a driving record that covered the past three years.

It listed when I was licensed first, any speeding tickets, etc.

They took and kept it.

I also needed proof of residency (I used a copy of our lease with both names on it), but any utility bill will work as well.

I also needed one form of photo id, something with my signature on it, and something with my birth date on it.

The whole process took about an hour. I went around 3pm. I'd advise going a bit sooner if possible, but I guess it depends on which location you go to.

You won't hear a peep from Montreal. Your case is only sent to Montreal after your interview has been scheduled.

Montreal doesn't schedule interviews for CR-1, the NVC does. So if your case was completed just a few weeks ago, Montreal certainly won't have it yet.

Okay, here's a question for Canadian taxes...do I file as a non-resident? I only moved here in March 2006. The whole of the tax year I was in Canada as a resident....so...do I just wait til NEXT year to file as a non-resident?

I watched as the CBP opened ours. Nothing thrilling in there from what I could see, just a bunch of copies of paperwork and a printout with my photo. Stuff like that. Nothing looked too exciting.

Just watch as they open it. Or, better yet, if the CBP is friendly and chatty like ours was, ask him/her. Just say "Just out of curiosity, what's in those things? Secret documents?"

Some CBPs are very very serious and dour, but others are awesome. Ours was joking with us (and the other CBPs around him) and they were chatting about their weekends, and something they'd watched on TV the night before. Then again, we were crossing via the Quebec/Vermont border and I doubt seriously that that is a high traffic/high stress POE.

I wouldn't open it though. I'd be too afraid that I'd have to start over or pay a fine or something.

I guess it really depends on what you're looking for, because I just did a quick search on Monster and there were plenty of receptionist and IT jobs (what myself and hubby do, respectively).

I'd suggest checking school board job boards too. They don't tend to post on places like Monster or Workopolis.

Waterloo Dark.

You can get it at any beer store or duty-free shop in Ontario, Canada. Sooooo good.

Also, Alexander Keith's is good.

For American beer, I like Wachusett Blueberry. I also like Blue Moon. It's a Belgian White.

In case you can't tell, I LOVE my beer.

But let me also remind you, it behooves ALL OF US ON THIS SITE to fight for immigrant rights--because believe it or not, it would more likely speed up the process for us who are legally filing if visas and work permits work EASIER to obtain.

I am all for immigrant rights. The folks that came here illegally, or overstayed their non-immigrant visa and take up employment illegally often stealing someone's idendity to do so are NOT immigrants. Their ####### has NOTHING to do with immigrant rights. Nothing.

It would behoove all of us to keep this straight.

Do you think there should be no legal channel for these people to come live and work here, though?

There should be an assessment of how many workers of varying qualifications are needed in the US. There should be a sufficient number of visa available worldwide to meet the needs of the economy. I do not believe that special treatment ought to be afforded to those that snuck across the land border. They should be given a window of opportunity to leave so they may apply for one of the available visa back home. Give it two years and then crack down seriously on employers and employees still breaking the laws. Those employers caught pay stiff fines (the kind that takes you out of business) and those in charge go to prison. The emloyees are fingerprinted and taken back to the point of entry and released back into the place where they came from with no chance to ever return.

Get the visa out there, give some adjustment time and then get serious and see the issue work itself out.

*Applauds* I totally agree.

I belive they are stating, that it isnt a 100% sure thing that he will be allowed into the USA while the Visa process is ongoing. Always that chance as you already know. Just as there is a chance you won't be allowed into Canada. best of luck

Oh yeah flames, I got that part, I meant I didn't understand where they were saying we should meet, at the border?

You mentioned making sure he has copies of the letters withdrawing the petitions from the NVC, but I'd also make sure he's got proof that you're applying to move to Canada. And, it will probably go smoother if he doesn't have a lot of stuff with him when he crosses. I know it'll be a pain, but it will probably go a lot smoother if you just pick up stuff in Canada next time you visit and drive it across the border yourself.

I'm afraid that if he shows up with a bunch of your stuff in his car, they'll think it's HIS stuff and take it as a sign he's going to move, especially paired with the moving contract you have -- they may think he's moving to Detroit with you or something. Seriously, if he flies from Toronto to LAX, and tells the ppl at Pearson that he's going to help his wife move closer to the Canadian Border so you can visit each other while she waits for her Canadian visa, I imagine that will go over a LOT better then if he tries driving across with a car full of stuff, telling the same story.

Congrats on the new apt, btw!

When did you guys file?

I've been having similar problems and as such joined a few temping agencies. That way I'm getting US experience, references, getting my face out there, and making money while I do it. In Boston the pay isn't bad, generally for office temp work it's between $10-13/hr.

I actually just got a long-term assignement for three-four months, with permanent potential.

I'm chicken sh*t.

I considered using that as my screen name...then I decided I really like "chicken_little" better.

Yay!

Glad it went smoothly!

I can give you advice for what to do AFTER you get him home to your place.

1)Put down all bags, lock the door, turn off the phone

2)Pounce on him and kiss him sensless and whatever else strikes your fancy.

3)rest

4)repeat steps 2-4.

Go you!!!

hummingbirds are cool..i like them too

If they could be had as pets, I would have several.

I love spring!!!!

(Running Naked thru the woods)

Naked in the woods is dangerous. Mosquito bites in really horrid places. I've been bit on the nipple twice, and inner thigh once and I wasn't even naked those times!

That's awesome news! Congrats!!!

Way to go!