notrepetiteashley

I think the same disbelief happens with Americans as well as Canadians. No one in my family or circle of friends could believe the beauracracy and paperwork involved in moving here. There was a belief as well, that after marrying an American citizen, I would be, by virtue of marriage, an American myself. lol

By the same token, my fiance, the US citizen, has been telling people at his work about what we've gone through, in response to various questions about my arrival, and they are astounded themselves! They had no idea about the process. Many have been disgusted by the whole process, and it's been really nice to hear , since there is a strong belief, (from my part of the world here anyway!), that there should be a different process for Canadians.

I don't get any snide or nasty remarks, but people do sigh when I tell them I can't come back until I get a greencard, or if I apply for EAD. Usually the nasty comments are related to the "fees", and that it's all a conspiracy to get money. hehe

I don't know anyone, on either side of the border that thinks this is in any way, a fair, just, or smooth process.

Carla

Haha, I know, right?! Many people were like, well doesn't he just automatically get a green card because he married a US citizen? They've watched too many movies...

It's these people that cause problems for us! I am a US Citizen, and my wife in Cambodia! She's struggling for survival there, and I can't do anything to get her out as quickly as possible!

I know what you mean. It's sad and it makes me angry. I wish there was something we could do about it. Any thoughts? Report to ICE?

I hope so much you will be reunited with your wife very, very soon.

When my Canadian and I were first married, everyone in my family acted like we were nuts for going to the USCIS local office. "But he's Canadian, why would he need a visa, can't he just move down here and live and work?" I got so sick of hearing that.

After a while (it took him a long time to get his EAD and everything) the family started getting much more snippity about it. As though we were just stalling or something. My own brother even had the audacity to say to me, "Well, this is ridiculous, you need to get in that immigration office and tell them he needs his work authorization, immediately!" Ha! So it's that easy, is it???

Anyone else have people treat you like you're an idiot because they think Canadians don't need visas?

I know that on that Vancouver website there is a warning when you post that says something along the lines of, "Illegal activity will be reported to authorities, we will hand over your ISP to officials..." And it also said something about the RCMP coming into the website's office all the time because of suspected illegal activity. I hope they get in trouble, it makes me so mad. These sites, as someone pointed out, are all over the place. People looking to get into the US or Canada through fraud. I hope they all fail miserably. Every time I read about someone on this website (VJ) getting depressed or missing their SO, I want to slap those fraudelent people whose applications are taking up space and time. Sadly, this is the reality and at least the penalties for marriage fraud are pretty high. Not every criminal can be caught, but let's hope.

Kinzaza, I know you weren't saying anything bad about gay people. Not sure how someone could have misinterpreted what you said, but hey, it happens. We're all okay. I wonder what VJ would be like for 1 day without arguments. Seems like so many have "something to prove." Take care, all of you.

Sorry to hear that. I'll be hoping for you that it will be much sooner than June. I know how heartbreaking it can be to wait and wait and wonder what's going to happen to you.

Best of luck.

Hi Notrepetiteashley,

Good luck on your immigration journey. Yes, I do like that "Road to Avonlea" show. Olivia and Jasper, now those were interesting characters, indeed! I also like the "Anne of Green Gables" books (and yes, believe it or not, I'm in the midst of reading the "Anne of Green Gables" series books all over again) and movies (though the movie is kind of inaccurate in comparison to the book). Anne, that's a really interesting character, too! Remember Anne's "red carrot hair"? Gotta love Prince Edward Island (Anne of Green Gables Land, I call it) and the author L.M. Montgomery!

Other Canadian shows that I like besides "Road to Avonlea" are "Royal Canadian Air Farce" and "Mr. Dressup" (yes, I'm a kid at heart). Lol...I can't get CBC or Canadian tv here where I am living at (unless I drive to my Mother-In-Law's house and watch CBC there).

In the meantime, I've been getting my "Old fashioned/Pioneer Life" fix by watching "Little House on the Prarie". Still, it's not the same as old Canadian "Road to Avonlea/Anne of Green Gables" life on Prince Edward Island!

Ant

Anyone else love it as much as me? I adore that show.

You should pick up a season or two of RtA on ebay! Priceless.

Also, if you're interested in that time period, as I am, summers here in the US public television broadcasts a show where they take regular people and send them to live in another "time." There was Pioneer House, I think it was called, and Regency House, and one where they were in the wild west and had to take care of cows or something. Really good stuff. In fact, I think I'll go over to the public broadcasting website to see if there's a new one coming out this summer! Yay!

My guess would be about a week. Some wait much longer, but it seems to be rare.

Thanks everyone:) one more question is it a week from approval mail? or the welcome notice? I am kinda of confused

I'm thinking a week from approval notice.

If you were legal for 15 years, why were you removed?

I was wondering the same thing. If you were here legally...why would 9/11 have anything at all to do with your immigration status and result in your removal? Call me ignorant, but I don't get it.

I'm sorry to hear that, it's heartbreaking, isn't it? Not to have a honeymoon.

Well, it'll get better. Stay strong.

Best of luck.

That's messed up.

Hooray! That sounds like a good experience.

1.5 hours with a border patrol officer is nothing. lol.

never cried so much in my life.

Well, he was never given an I-94. At our AOS interview I told the officer that on travel.gov (a government website) it states that Canadians are often allowed into the US with just an ID for visits. This is all they asked my husband for, they didn't ask to see a passport, nothing like that. Therefore, he had no stamp in his visa, no I-94, nothing. He accepted this answer, but said if we had been from Mexico he could not have approved our application because we technically could not *prove* he came to the US legally. I said, well, don't you have all the info in your computer from when he was inspected at the border (POE)??? He said, No! It was scary. I'm not saying this is the way to go, I'm just saying it's what we did. Looking back....what an adventure it was! A very, very stressful adventure.

One (from any country) can not with INTENT goto the States and then just AOS, it is illegal. If by chance ur in the USA already, then decide to AOS, that is fine. Doin git the right way takes time, and you have just started the journey , one just has to be patient. Best of luck

I clearly understand the INTENT part, no doubt about it. That is why I am on this K3 journey. But how can someone just "happen" to be in the US? You either are on a student visa/TN to AOS other than that you may be visiting - but you can only stay for so long before you fall out of status. Can a person who is out of status file an AOS - just asking - go on easy - it's just a question...

Thanks for your reply though! ;-)

Yes. My husband came to the US from Canada on a visit (we were not married at this time, just in love) and we decided to marry. Due to crazy circumstances, he became out of status for like, 2 years and we didn't even know it (long story)...anyway....Yes, a person who is out of status can file AOS, we did it and the proof is in the green card stored in my husband's wallet.

Why do so many people think Canada is a participant in the VWP??? Not being rude, just wondering why this is such a common mistake. Is it possible that people arrive and don't understand their status? Weirdness. Oh, wait...maybe when someone says "I came to the US as a visitor" people assume it means VWP. ???

Check out this thread: http://www.discovervancouver.com/forum/top...amp;whichpage=2

Some of these are jokes, but not all. Some of those people are serious, too! I hope they track their ISPs and get in trouble...but it won't happen. Have they committed a crime yet? Is posting an ad for what is basically an illegal visa a crime? I would think so, but don't know for sure. It makes me ill to think how many sham marriages take place for visas...and how many of them are taking up space at USCIS or Canadian Immigration...so many here at VJ are separated from their loved ones, waiting for their visas the legal way, with true love, and ugh! I can't even form a good sentence. It just makes me furious. Just had to vent to someone I thought would understand. Thanks.

J received his 10 days after getting approved...I think. I'd hold tight for a bit as you just got the approval emails. Congratulations on your approval!!!

I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. That is a terrible thing. I can't believe she didn't even try to give it a new home or even talk with you about it. That's pathetic. My heart goes out to you, truly. Just ignore the rude comments...some people, in case you haven't noticed, will disagree with basically anything and I'm pretty sure they come to VJ to make themselves feel smarter. If that seems cryptic, I'm sorry. I've just really been unimpressed lately with the amount of arrogance I see from certain parties...but I never thought I'd see them do it on a thread about someone's greif. If she would have abandoned you she would have had more money!?!? What kind of a statement is that??? Very telling about the author of that quote, I think.

Anyway......I'm sorry for your loss and I hope you will feel better soon, I know how much it hurts for a cat to die just normally.

Yeah, it's totally cool. Yesterday around 5:30am Nkhoro time I saw some ants and their ant holes. The person operating the camera was moving it around and zooming in on little ants.

Not taking a phone call does *not* mean you have fallen out of love with someone. Good Lord. Everyone reacts to stress differently. My only advice is to keep looking out for yourself and as you have, express the way you feel to your SO. Before my husband got to the US we had some major fights over the phone about immigration. It's freaking stressful! And anyone who claims they have never or thinks they will never have an argument with their SO over something that stresses either of them out is a liar or extremely naive. You'll be fine. It's fine to vent...wherever you want to! That's one nice thing about the US, right? Free speech. Ha.

Wonderful! Congratulations to you both.

My dear dont play with your staying here in the United State, how can you file for adjustment of status while you dont have marriage certificate proof? I must let you know that is only God that can help you out, just go on your kneels and pray hard b4 you go for the interview and i believe God can do wonders. But to file for AOS you must be married. Take care

From what I read, they are married.

Anyway, to the OP: Use the checklist that came with your interview notice letter and make sure you have everything they ask for. You basically need proof that you are eligible to adjust your status and proof that your marriage is real. Like others have said, take proof of the reasons you aren't currently living together. Being honest is great, but also having the hard evidence to back it up is essential. The officer is going to want to see that you have assets together...do you have car insurance in both your names or any other type of insurance where your spouse is listed as the beneficiary? Do you have a joint bank account of some kind? These kinds of things.

Most importantly, good luck to you both.

The law was made to protect the people. Not to punish them. This topic is enough for me. I rather see everyone treated equally. It's the most important lead to world peace.

Well, if everyone was treated equally, I should be buying my husband a plane ticket right now to come over and no one will question him about his immigration status, but welcome him instead with a college invite! It ain't his fault that he wasn't born here!

By your previous logic, yes it is his fault. His parents are from a foreign country. He should just stay out. According to your logic....parents are criminals so the children are criminals. Ha. Well, let's all go hunt down the kids of Jeffery Dahmer, they have some explaining to do! Let's all get paranoid and freak out.

Don't bother replying that you're trying to do this legally and blah blah blah it's so unfair. That's not what I'm talking about.

You're all so very right. Very, very right. I appreciate the input. Always nice to get it.