GermanCanadian89

Having to move all your stuff must be a real pain in the #######! And it's not like you could get a head start on anything because, they suggest not to do anything until you've been approved! And then you're given 90 days to get married.

If it was still sitting in quebec today, I was going to call. I checked this morning, and it finally made a move. I've arranged for home delivery but, I got the, "we'll contact you in two business days" twice now, and no one has yet. It's a 45 minute drive to pick it up so, which ever comes first is how i'll get it. It'll probably be quicker if I just pick it up. Because the moment I pick it up, my fiance will be on his way to get me.

I'm sure it'll sit in this location for a while and I won't see it until tuesday.

Maybe i'll just call and complain, maybe they'll push it a little quicker lol.

Lol, you're right.. My hubby is a funny guy, he thinks all our mayors are like rob ford, and the only good thing that came out of this country was me, haha.. and poutine! Oh when he tried poutine, he was so amazed and wondered why they didn't have that in the US.

Oh good! Because the plan was to hop right onto my fiancés health plan to start covering the doctors and birth costs. They keep saying once we're married we're covered but, I think there might be a little more work then that, like getting the SSN. And apparently you need the social to obtain your drivers license as well because the state of PA won't recognize my canadian one.

Actually, I think I only got one thing in the mail. To start my DS 160 I believe. I wasn't here at the time, I was in the US, and my fiance got most of the mail anyways. Once you do the DS and sumit everything it asks for, everything is electionicaly. So, make sure your fiance has a valid email address!

VeeNDee very cute picture. Starting foods can be fun. Sorry you are still having sleep issues.

Lilac I can't imagine what it is like with twins. I always felt I had my hands full with mine. Making strange is tough at times, and just when you think they are over it it starts again.

Why did your husband need to renew his passport? I just use the US passport, too expensive for both.

My older 2 boys have their naturalization interview on the 29th. Hoping they pass the test.

Welcome GernanCanadian, Congrats on the boy! I also dealt with food tasting off. Nothing look good nothing tasted good or smelled good it was terrible. Sleeping was rough that we all can relate to.

Now technically our babies are born dual. You can apply for the certificate http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/proof.asp I still need to get it done for my two born here in the US I've been slacking.

Thank you for that!!! I'll have to make sure I do that right away!! My husband won't like the idea but, SOL for him... He doesn't see the point of dual citizenship. I don't either but, you never know what the kid will want to do when he gets older.

LOL... But if you can get your packages across, and drop them off to a greyhound, I think that would be your best bet!

When you apply for your SSN, all you need to prove is that you're working on your greencard?

Nope because Canada sucks!

The greyhound is retarded over here. I would always make sure I would book my ticket in advance to assure seating. One time I got screwed. They had three seats open to cross over the border, I was fourth in line and you know what the driver told me? "Should've got here earlier, there is nothing I can do" I almost told him to go yourself.

I ended up taking a taxi over because I don't drive and that cost more then my round trip. Grey hound in the US actually reserves the seat unlike canada. And it's way cheaper to in the states to take greyhound. If I bought my tickets in canada, it would be 80+ dollars so, what I would do, just buy my ticket from canada to US, I knew my transfer times, booked for that bus, saving myself 40 dollars! I don't understand how we get raped in cost over here. Just to cross from canada to US it was 14 dollars I think, from US to canada, 5bucks. It's non sense!

I just did a quick quote. 2 boxs a total of 100lbs (which is the min.) is 60 dollars, station to station. I'd say that's a lot cheaper then uhal

USA Greyhound will deliver your package to the nearest station.

So, if you can cross over with your things packaged, and find a greyhound station, just have it dropped off closest to your fiance and they can pick it up. I don't know cost, or details, I just remember seeing ads around the terminal, I'm sure a lot of students use this. I don't know cost or anything but, it's worth looking into!

http://www.shipgreyhound.com/e/pages/Home.aspx

Hey everyone!

New to all this! A little background:
I'm 33 weeks pregnant, first baby, it's a BOY!!! Thank god! The day we were told we're having a boy, I was super happy!!!

Before I got pregnant I was a solid 155lbs, I was body building. Had some pretty amazing lifts. Stronger then some guys out there! (My husband is into (or should I say my future husband) bodybuilding as well; main reason how we met.) My last weigh in I was 185lbs which really depresses me because, I can see I've lost all my gains that I've worked years into getting but, I have to keep remembering it's for the baby!

My pregnancy was a little tough at the beginning. Once we found out, I decided to stop with the gym, I kind of had to force myself to stop going just because, I was so strong and it's not suggested to lift, it would just be best to stay away from the weights and even the cardio for the first little bit. At this time I was staying with my fiance, and we thought it was the best idea. Getting up in the morning was really hard by month two, and by month three, the smell of food; so repulsive, even eating, nothing tasted right! All I wanted to do was sleep. 2nd trimester things got easier! I was able to start eating again, I even started going back to the gym, doing some light cardio, watching my heart rate and lifting a little (Which kind of depressed me, I couldn't squat my normal 270lbs, no leg pressing 600lbs, can't do any back exercises).

Slowly hitting my 3rd trimester, I then had my interview date! March 27th, a day before my birthday so, no more gym while I'm in canada, trying to save, and it's a little expensive to join a gym for a short period of time. Not really one for walks either. If my dog was here, I wouldn't have an issue with that but, I don't like walking alone lol.

Now with being in my third trimester and only a few weeks away from my due date, the baby moves SO MUCH! The hardest part is sleeping! He always seems to want to workout when mommy wants to rest! Laying on my back is my best position but you can only do that for so long. He will not let me lay on my right side, which is the side I need to sleep on since I have a minor heart condition and laying on my left isn't suggested. But, I am forced to sleep on my left side which is starting to get really uncomfortable! Only a few more weeks and I bet it's only going to get worse!

I have a doctor's appointment here today, hopefully all is well. The little guy gets hiccups everyday for a few minutes. I had a 3D ultrasound done a few weeks back and everything looked fine, and it was nice seeing him as well, it's weird how you can already see whos features he's got already!

That's my pregnancy journey so far!

Question for the ladies that gave birth in US. Did you file for dual citizenship? If so, how was the process? Do you think it's worth it? I know I want to file for dual but, my husband isn't really for the idea...

I'm glad I found this thread!!

I was unaware of the whole EI benefits after you leave the country.

I just filed today. I left work in Aug 2013 so, I could see my fiance and stay there for longer visits (months at a time). I told work I was going to school so, I knew I wouldn't be eligible for EI anyways and never bothered with it.

But we ended up getting pregnant and I am due in June. I'm back in Canada now, waiting for my passport to arrive, hopefully it should be here any day. I called to assure that I was eligible even though I am moving and they said I can apply.

I applied here in Canada and I am dropping my ROE off at the office today. Will I have any problems in the next few weeks when I leave? Everything is connected to my Canadian account as well, I was just going to paypal everything over to our US account.

I see that there is a 25% tax, she never mentioned anything about that to me. If someone can chime in and enlighten me about the subject a little and taxs that are being deducted, I would really appreciate it!

Also what happens when tax return time comes around? I spoke to my accountant and she said just to call when it's time? And she informed me to stop HST cheques through Service Ontario. Any other tips on that subject?

Here in Canada our carrier to deliver our passports is Loomis.

I'd just like to know other people's experiences with their carrier and how fast it came.

My passport has been sitting in the Loomis facility for a few days now, so much for that "express" mailing.

Sending the consulate documents was right away, receiving them seems to be another story.

employment authorization document.

When you file for you AOS, you can file for AP (advance parole) and EAD (work authorization) at the same time for free. It takes about 90 days. You cannot collect EI without being available to work. However if you're pregnant you may be able to just collect maternity and/or parental benefits. You may want to inquire with Service Canada if that's possible for you but I have read on their website that it is.

Well, I was able to contact them this morning. I am eligable for a claim so, thank you so much for bringing this to my attention! I apperciate it so much!

employment authorization document.

When you file for you AOS, you can file for AP (advance parole) and EAD (work authorization) at the same time for free. It takes about 90 days. You cannot collect EI without being available to work. However if you're pregnant you may be able to just collect maternity and/or parental benefits. You may want to inquire with Service Canada if that's possible for you but I have read on their website that it is.

I just read that too so, Thank You!! I will give them a call tomorrow morning and hopefully they will have some answers for me!

Actually YES you can collect EI once you leave Canada. http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sc/ei/interstate/outsidecanada.shtml

For YOU however, you'd have to apply within 4 weeks, but wait until your EAD to actually get anything. I was able to collect right away since I had a green card upon arriving in the USA.

EAD?

Sorry not up to date with these short forms...

But Thanks so much! I will have to save this. I was going to call in regards to claiming EI for Maternity even if I leave the country.

Yes, I remember sent him scanned boarding passes and he just printed each one from our passport. I had long thick boarding passes. If it is too small then better to pull out together and put on one page. Make it simple. And yes, he put each copy of boarding passes on one page.

Speaking about pictures, I only sent him 10 pictures together - I was the one who decided which papers needed to include and he only put those together in our I-129F-. Again, description how you met just make as simple as you can. Yes, you can write " met through internet" and you can also put noted on the pages related to your prior statement.

If you still have your first conversation together that it would be nice. You don't need to write down a long explanation just noted the pages of your first conversation online ( which social networking did you use when you were first met her) and they would understand.

I just want to add to this. My fiance didn't send in any of our online conversations. And I wrote the "timeline" of how we met and it was two short paragraphs. We added 6 pictures and bus tickets and hotel stays.

They just want hard copy proof of you physically being together and more then once, thats all.

OP, After you file the AOS, once your EAD and AP is approved you can collect Canadian EI with your valid EAD. You may want to look into it. Also make sure to stop any CCTB or GST rebate checks, if applicable, as the CRA will make you pay those back.

I don't think you can collect EI once you leave the country. I know once I leave I contact service ontario to let them know and they will stop everything for me. But as far as I understand once you leave the country your EI won't be covered. My job is season, every year in the winter seasonal I've gone on EI and one year I left for Cuba, I didn't get paid for that time I was gone. But! I will look into that!

Good Lord, I am jealous of you, lol! Get free groceries and being a chef - at least at home- was one of my wish lists every time I had finished watching cooking shows. What a lucky girl, he he he.

Ha! I wish work was like a cooking show... It was more like Chef Ramsay's Hells kitchen mixed with his other show kitchen night mare.

. Sounds perfect. My husband is fine either way whether I am working or not. Being a working woman for more than 10 years, I am enjoying my time now as being unemployed, lol. But I will still want go back to work someday or continue to get master degree or something if we don't see any sign of our future baby will coming.

I've been a cook for a major hotel for over five years so, it's nice to take the break from that. Both my husband and I bodybuild so, most of my day is spent cooking but, not for 500+ people any more - Thank god! And I was the only girl on my shift and I was getting sick of the glass ceiling. The only plus side of that job was, I never had to buy groceries!

Your fiance will only get two things in the mail and it's later on down the road. Call NVC to make the changes?

If you choose postponed your AoS, it means you will stay at home most of times. But, again, as you will the new mom soon-to-be, I guess stay at home would be the best. Congrats for the baby and a joy from the most precious gift ever!

Thank you!!!

And staying at home is fine with us. We planned on me being a house wife anyways. I haven't worked since August and I've gotten use to being home. I don't miss working that much, LOL.

Yes, you need to do AoS as soon as possible. The fee is $1070 to be exact. There are a lot people here filed AoS months or even a year after got married. But, I don't advise you to do so. Many people got in trouble especially in the borders because they did not file AoS yet after got married.

Yeah, I'm not too worried about the border. I didn't plan on coming back to canada any time soon. I don't want to travel with a new born so, if family wants to see their grandson then, they can come over for a visit. Other then that, I don't have any reason to travel back to Canada.

Alright, a little stressful but, I'm sure we will figure it out. Maybe I can call and see if there is something that can be worked out or get their opinion and suggestion on things.