BC_Ed

Thanks everyone - I shall report immediately

Hi,

I hope I haven't screwed up badly but I have been a permanent resident for over two years now. I changed addresses a year and a half ago.

Was I supposed to notify someone?

Am I going to be in trouble?

HELP!!

Ed

Thanks cmartyn. I am being told it is 5% and I have no choice really so I just wanted others experience.

I am being told that because my car was made in Japan originally tha I must pay duty when it enters the US. It passes compliance but no one here has mentioned duty (that I recall). Can anyone shed any light?

Thanks,

Ed

Hi Lorelle,

You can update me as visa in hand on August 17.

Thanks,

Ed

Double congratulations!!!

To a great life for all of us - Cheers!!

Thanks everyone - you are the best!

I posted this in the Canadian forum also but what the heck......

It was almost 11 months to the day since we filed our application that I got my IR-1 in the mail yesterday.

It has been a long journey but an impossible one without the help of many here - especially aussiewench. Thanks Lorelle.

Now turn our heads to moving to the US at the end of the month.

Thanks so much to everyone.

Ed

Well it was almost 11 months to the day since we filed our application that I got my IR-1 in the mail yesterday.

It has been a long journey but an impossible one without the help of many here - especially aussiewench. Thanks Lorelle.

Now turn our heads to moving to the US at the end of the month.

Thanks so much to everyone.

Ed

Thanks everyone, you are most kind.

After being turned away on Monday August 7th in my IR-1 interview in Montreal, I immediately rallied a friend as a joint sponsor and submitted the additional 864 by FedEx on Thursday. It arrived in Montreal Friday by noon and was signed for.

I waited a few days and called on Thursday the 17th (yesterday) and was told my visa had been approved the day before and was being issued. I started yesterday to watch my tracking number from the Expresspost envelope and lo and behold today it was mailed from Montreal.

I expect to receive my visa in the mail Monday or Tuesday. I will go over the border and land as quickly as possible (a quick trip around the flag pole as they say) and return to Canada for my permanent move in two weeks.

Thanks for the help and encouragement everyone.

Ed

Thanks for the support folks. I would love to think there is a pearl inside this for someone.

Jerseygirl, at some point I would be happy to give you a more detailed summary of the discussion but I won't post it here.

Sounds like an incredibly dumb question but when you go through what I just did - well confidence in the system is not at a high.

I bought an Expresspost envelope for inclusion with my joint sponsor submission when I send it all back. Did you pre-address the Expresspost envelope (I assume you do) and what did you put for the sender's address - just US Consulate, 1145 Rue-St.Alexandre.......?

I did call back frankly and I am a little reluctant to get into too much detail here - who knows who reads this forum. When I called back I got a guy who basically without saying it outright was in disbelief that I had not been approved. He left me on hold and actually talked to the officer and came back and in an indirect way told me to just jump the hoop and it will be over within a week of them getting the joint sponsor application.

I am not sure boat-rocking will really help me.

Good suggestion about the letterhead Mermaid - no he has no board of directors.

Sure Mermaid - she is a nurse and could be working tomorrow but I think I am safer with the joint sponsor.

I told the officer at the interview I could go out and transfer enough money to the US very quickly. She DID NOT think that was a good idea at all.

It's kinda taken the wind out of my sails and robbed a little joy - but I am shaking it off and if all goes well, we will be through this mess in no time. The kicker is that I have a great job prospect firming up for September.

I have now got to go through the process of submitting an 864 for a joint sponsor to finalize my application. Amazingly enough even though we all know now that the requirement is now one year's tax return I was handed a form at the consulate (in the interview) that is out of date. It is the three year version (9/18/98). When I called back for clarification the guy at the consulate told me that I had just better do as the consular officer asked.

So, that is my moan session.

Has anyone used a self-employed business owner as a co-sponsor? One of the requirements as detailed is to indicate 'proof of current employment' - how does a self-employed person do that? I was thinking a copy of his business license or something like that. Hell, they have my head reeling and all I want to do is get it done. He has lots of income so that is no issue but hell we had lots of assets and that didn't work! Can anyone share what they did please.

In my case the sponsor (my wife - the US Citizen) has been living with me in Canada for 3 years and has no income so we were dependent on assets only.

Technically you are correct icey but the letter they hand you says denied. Then it goes on to say that your application will remain in suspension for up to one year or until you provide the necessary info.

Melissa - we had way more than enough money. It is just that the money was not in a US bank but is easily transferable. No I don't have to start over I just have another (unnecessary in this case) hoop to jump.

So, I fly 3000 miles to the interview and get run around.

The woman who interviewed was basically extremely difficult. Even though we consulted NVC three times about this we were turned down because they would not consider our JOINT assets in Canada and refused to accept that although we still own a home in the US (where my wife has been for the last month) that she was domiciled there. I asked how she expected me to prove that and she had no answer.

We have SEVERAL times the necessary assets but she wouldn't listen to a single damned argument. Why is there an I-864a to take into account the immigrants assets if they won't be considered? NO WAY!! Get a joint sponsor. So off we go. I am to say the least devastated. I am trying to be cool about it but frankly it just sucks. I could have had a joint sponsor but they assured me there was no issue. On more than one occasion the NVC repeated to us that "people in your circumstance won't have the assets in the US - we understand that". Well guess what - someone doesn't. When I called NVC they were apologetic but simply stated that they give their advise based on the general guidelines but any consular officer has the right to set a higher standard if they wish.

So now we are trying to get an I-864 together this week. The consulate assures me that once they get it they will be no more than a week in processing.

I am so dismayed it is not even funny but all I can do is jump the hoop.

I wish I could join in the party but I post this so others can beware.

Congrats Mermaid!!!!

Thanks

OMG Jill - you have me nailed. Yes I am checking my list like I am expecting Santa!!

If you find a CIBC open I believe they have bank drafts drawn on Chase Manhatten in the US.