honnybear

We do every 2-3 weeks go up and back.  Haven't had my new green card in almost a year.  Seems computers are updated (they don't even ask for my extension letter but I have it in case they do).  If you are Canadian they can not refuse you entry in to your country and coming back the computers are up to date.

Appears from talking with others and our local site office that new green cards may not have been issued to save money.

What I did was go to the post office in the US for the address USCIS had and got the mail forwarded to our new address so USCIS didn't have to deal with more than one address at their end. If USCIS can screw something up they will!

As for SSN we could not get it until we had our temporary green card about 4 weeks after our final interview. It only took the time to wait in line at the Social Security office and our cards for me and the kids arrived about 5 days later. But we did not have to go back once we got our final green cards.

You didn't ask but we did our drivers licenses the same day but they out the expiry to match the temp green card and we had to go back when the final one arrived to update the expiry date on the DLs.

A brief overview - Myself and my two children are AOS following my marriage in July. We have been in the US for 4 years on F visas...

AOS for the three of us received at Chicago Lockbox Sept 12 (I-485/130/765/131)

The 2 kids' files were returned for sending wrong fee - ERROR on their part. Sent the file right back to them with a cover letter and emailed. They acknowledged by email it was their fault and that the kids would be backdated accordingly. (Proof cover letters are not read where I put in bold their ages over 14 years old to support the correct fee was sent - they had thrown the original cover letter away as soon as they opened the package)

New MSC # were issued for the kids.

Our files were sent to the National Benefits Center in Missosuri

My biometrics appt was Oct 22nd. I brought the kids with me to pass at same time since our files should have been processed at the same time to begin with. Also calls in to immigration and speaking with supervisors suggested this.

They did not want to let them pass as walk-ins but finally did - the supervisor in Manchester field office huffed and puffed and finally said "fine but Im only signing off for the 485) Whatever, kids got their biometrics done.

Now all three of us are in the "interview scheduling" phase BUT I just received a notice for both kids to go for Biometrics on Nov 13th even though their biometrics were already done. 3 calls to the 800 number - 2 say ignore the appt notice and a supervisor said go anyway to the office 2 hours away to be told yes or no because there is not enough time to write them and we can not contact them any way to check. The kids files show biometrics done at supervisor's end and also the new appointment.

So my question is can we ignore the biometrics appt for the kids or not? It seems like a delay internally between setting appointment for them and them getting the biometrics done.

What happens if they really do want to redo their biometrics and we dont show?

Thank you for your help

Btw USAA insured my car no problem once I had a US DL.

I would double check the state requirement of 60 days by calling twice and speaking to two different agents at the local DMV office where you will be.

Many will tell you rules that do not apply for Canadians in the US as I found out. As long as I was a temporary resident and not permanent I did not have to transfer my car within 60 days like most from other countries as long as I kept my Cdn driver license.

I've had this battle for 4 years but it suddenly got much easier with TD. I'm with you on wanting to avoid RBC but didn't have a choice initially.

RBC can work Bc of the Georgia RBC accounts. You transfer your funds online between the two (Cdn/US) and then withdraw your money at a US ATM and deposit in your local US bank. Or pay your immigration fees with US RBC checks and save some fees using more than one bank.

Or TD got on the band wagon last year. I've been with TD since the 80's so closed my RBC accounts. Opened a US TD and can transfer online immediately. And same as above withdraw at an ATM and deposit in local US bank of your choice or pay with your US TD account. Advantage of this is if you need to get access to a large sun of money quickly. Otherwise you can do the following...

To save additional banking fees you can bypass the US account with either TD or RBC and just withdraw your max withdrawal limit at an ATM every day and deposit in your local US account of your choice.

Get TD to increase your max withdrawal limit at ATMs in the US daily AND weekly before you leave if you can. That avoids another monthly fee for an account you may not use ultimately once settled if there is not a local branch where u will be living.

Contd... To read her book and call DMV 3 times. In the end I did not have to show any letter because once car is regstd/imported 10 days are given to do a state inspection.

Well other experiences may well differ but here's mine...

I am in NH. Some say I had to import within 60 days some say I don't - and that within the same dept of DMV! So I didn't for 4 years because I am back and forth to Canada every few weeks and still had a CDN drivers license and residency as an F-1. When the turn came to renew Cdn DL car registration etc I figured it was time. He deal was as soon as I have up my Cdn DL I had to do something with the car too. So I got my US DL. Then went to local town office where I live to register he car as a non-resident. Makes sense since I was still F-2 until out AOS got sent in. That's where the fun began. The town clerk was CLUELESS. Took 3 hours for her to read her b

My husband was able to add us to his health plan.

On the other question being referred to as "immigrant" has been less uncomfortable than being referred to as "alien".

The kids quickly learned not to tell anybody they weren't native as ppl were not nice. DMV treatment has been the worse so far - I walked out in tears three times. Hubby went with me the last time.

Thats very helpful. Thank you

What do you mean by the pictures have to be "Canadian" size?

Thank you for cleaning that up!!!

My apologies if it has already been discussed but I've looked through the forum and can't find something specific to my question...

We were married in July and I am sending in our AOS this week. In the US and on our application I am using my married name and my maiden name as a 2nd middle name (first middle maiden married).

For my Canadian passport their website and this forum indicate I can change my Cdn passport to my married name as well.

However, I was in Quebec before I came to the US. I realize I can not use my married name in Quebec but I won't be a resident of Quebec anymore, just a Canadian citizen. Since passports are federal and the rest of Canada can change their passports to their married name if they choose to....so does this apply for me as well? Can I still change my Cdn passport to reflect my new name if I was previously in Quebec?

GoldMember - somehow reassuring to hear of another Canadian with this problem of destroyed records. Good to hear you had a doctor for your medical who was supportive. My concern is that the civil surgeon did not tick the "may be eligible for a blanket waiver" and then referred them to her notes which we do not know what she wrote.

StarMember - I tried through the general medical unit since Quebec was going digital for records in recent years but they do not have my kids. The adverse reaction was not reported either - that I know because at the time I was shocked it was not. But in Canada doctors have to put their name on the line to report it. Their careers can become very difficult. I found out when we moved here that in the U.S. parents can report.

It is truly unbelievable that they have a law allowing for destruction of records in Quebec. I find it hard to believe that all doctors do that even if they are allowed to.

I hadn't gotten copies of anything and even left the vaccine booklets with the ped because I thought having it all in one place with the doctor was best. Boggles my mind. I did learn a lesson and am starting our own medical records at home going forward.

Hopefully people moving think to get medical records. I never appreciated how critical it can be.

Harpa, I was thinking that too - to just send it in as is. It just bothered me that she did not include the proof that there are no records.

Since I do not know what this lovely CS wrote in her private notes I was wondering if I could make it worse by adding a letter clarifying since she did write contraindicated even if she suggested I was just "one of those mothers" who refused vaccines.

I'll find out I guess when/if an RFE follows.

update...The CS has been a nightmare. I asked her what she would recommend considering the history and what I have been told as mother. She would not vaccinate herself and sent us to our PCP. Our PCP "cant say yes and cant say no" because our original pediatric files were destroyed. I was treated like I was lying or looking for a vaccine exemption loophole bc nobody seemed to believe medical files could be destroyed. So I got a letter from the pediatrician stating that indeed according to Quebec, Canada law files can be destroyed after 5 years and their files have been destroyed. So docs only have my word and a picture of my son I have with his head wrapped during seizure time.

I asked the PCP what it would take to either vaccinate my kids or write a letter for the CS. She said she would consult with another ped and if he said No then she would write the letter. He said unlikely for my son but for my daughter that she should get me to sign a waiver to vaccinate her. PCP then wanted to give her ALL vaccines (9 vacs in 5 shots) at the same time.

Considering I was told their whole lives bc of family medical history not to give any this was extremely alarming to me. I myself got an MMR booster bc my titer showed not enough for mumps without question and did not need to sign a waiver so if PCP was so concerned about vaccinating my daughter then why not write a letter? And she changed her mind about supplying a letter for immigration. And then she said same for my son including the original vaccine that gave him seizures!!! bc we dont have the original vaccine history, only my word. This is insane! Applying for religious or moral waiver is not fitting bc that is not the case and would b lying.

So I went back to the CS and asked her what she recommends or what she would write on our file for USCIS. She replied that she would write what she could legally if I refused to vaccinate and that "Im a civil surgeon, NO ONE questions me". She outright refused to tell me what she was writing to USCIS on our files. This is bizarre to me as it is our file. I do not have another $1000 to go to a different CS.

So yesterday feeling defeated and disillusioned by the medical community I went and picked up the sealed forms. She did write that I am complete now but contraindicated boxes are ticked for both kids. She did not tick the box "may be granted a blanket waiver". And in the notes she wrote that mother "says" son had a seizure following DPT and refused all other vaccines and for my daughter that mother says brother had a reaction so mother refused all vaccines. She said see "notes" for both but I do not know what she wrote.

She returned the letters indicating their files were destroyed to support that my testimony is all we have to go on, no doctor records anymore so obviously did not include those. She did include the contraindication letter for each that we got in 2011 when we arrived here for school. But when we met her initially she wanted updated ones within 12 months which our PCP and the consulting ped would not provide. It seems to me bc now for immigration not just schoool.

I was advised not give my son any more vaccines and not to take the chance with his sibling. Docs agree but would not put it in writing for an updated letter now that it is for immigration. The CS seems to be suggesting that I am refusing to vaccinate with no mention that it was based on medical advice their whole lives up til immigration is almost offensive.

I realize this is an unusual situation but I dont know if I should just sent the I-693 in as is and see what USCIS does or write a brief letter to include to explain that I am not just refusing to vaccinate for no reason but based on medical advice their whole lives up to now. I have put a call in to an immunologist to consult but no time before sending in our AOS pkgs but hoping to have info or additional updated letter for interview if we get that far.

We did discuss it with our children (14 and 16) and my son has decided to return to Canada if docs force them to be vaccinated. My children are involved in doc appts. They have heard their whole lives that they are contraindicated. I feel like I am having to choose between my husband or my children to stay here. I never expected this to come up or happen.

Thank you for your reply.

really hoping others post to this...I am sick over this as 2 of my 3 children have had severe reactions to vaccines. One anaphylaxic to Hep B and another seizures for 18 months following DPT. We were told my son is high risk for permanent brain damage if we were to vaccinate him again and not to vaccinate the youngest considering the sibling history. Today the CS agrees but said INS will refuse us and that all medical exemptions she has had to do like chicken pox for an 8 month old patient for immigration are refused.