nightingalejules

It seems like they work weekends... Lots of people have mentioned that they've received information and updates on Saturday or even Sunday! Maybe they've finally got people in to work on catching up with the backlog. And more power to them, I say!

Can I have the medical for a cr1 done in Vancouver? I know the interview is in Montreal, but can Dr Cheema still do the medical and then I bring it all, sealed of course, with me to Montreal?

It looks like you're doing everything you can. Make sure you have a copy of your full itinerary, including your return flight, be clear that you plan to return home, that you're just coming for a visit, and that you have enough money that you can support yourself without trying to do any work in the US. Then you just have to hope for the best. It has been my experience so far that the border guards and customs officials can tell if you're being honest and have nothing to hide.

It looks like you're doing everything you can. Make sure you have a copy of your full itinerary, including your return flight, be clear that you plan to return home, that you're just coming for a visit, and that you have enough money that you can support yourself without trying to do any work in the US. Then you just have to hope for the best. It has been my experience so far that the border guards and customs officials can tell if you're being honest and have nothing to hide.

They do seem to be processing applications from the Phillipines really quickly, since the hurricane. Good luck and don't give up hope! (and congrats on the little one!)

Posted these questions in the wrong thread, so here they are again!!

Hello all - so interesting to read others experiences.

I had a question - our lawyer filed our I130 on Nov 8 and we got our receipt number Nov 22. Is the receipt (or case) number considered to be the NOA1?? Or just the receipt??

I had also received another comment asking why we hired a lawyer when we could have done it all ourselves - my husband and I both have full time, stressful demanding careers in our respective countries, and decided it was a worthwhile investment to use a reputable immigration lawyer who was familiar with navigating thru the process. The cost to hire the lawyer was not prohibitive for us, and it means that the limited time we get together online and our few visits a year are not used up fussing over filling in forms!!

After 5 years long distance, I am hopeful that the processing times start to improve - it's a bit disheartening to know it will likely be another year before I can relocate to live with my spouse. For a number of reasons, we had no option but to choose Consular Processing.

I'd also be interested to know what other Canadians on here will be going through Vancouver - seems most of the contributors on here are through Montreal??

best of luck to all!

We applied in October, and are also hoping they speed things up.

Most of Canada is serviced through Montreal. I think it's really just Alberta and BC that go through Vancouver. With any luck, this means that our post I 130 processing will go fast, due to Vancouver processing fewer applications!

Foreign income doesn't count, but if it turns out she owes money in the US for taxes, you could have issues as soon as you move. Besides, filing US taxes will (I would imagine) help to establish what they call "a good-faith effort" to maintain or reestablish residency in the US, when it comes time for her to fill in her portion of the sponsorship form.

It's one of the things they look for when adjudicating that part of the application, when your spouse has not maintained a residence in the US.

My husband has been living in Canada since University, and we're looking at the same problem now that we want to relocate to the US.

Just adding us to the list... we filed Oct 8 2013.

We got married in August, and would really, really like to move to the US (he's a USC, I'm Canadian) next summer - we both teach music lessons so it would be super nice to be there in time for the new school year. I know it's pretty unlikely, but it does seem like they're picking up some steam lately, so we're still holding out hope!

We're both living in Canada, which is nice, since we get to be together. (Hubby is actually a dual citizen as he was born in Canada to USC parents and then grew up in KS and OR.) I understand that there may be some issues once it comes time for the sponsorship forms, but since we're going to be moving in with my MIL when we move, we do have a US address etc. We've talked about him maybe having to move back to the US ahead of me and getting established, just for that purpose. Is anyone else in the same situation? What are you planning to do about proving residency, if your spouse is not actually physically resident?

From what I've been reading in other forums, the Vermont center is processing applications really quickly! I wish mine was being sent there!