hockeygal

congratulations!

You know, for the longest time, whenever I read "touched" on these timelines etc... I thought it meant people reunited with their sweeties for a visit!

Now you know where my mind is at!

yeah, don't let comments like that get to you.

A lot of lidiots spend a great deal of time on the internet letting their anger out - they are socially inept losers who live on the fringes of society, and now the internet has given them the means to unleash their stupidity on the rest of us!

You know what you have with your fella, that is all that matters!

so no one actually says the word "fiance"?

I haven't filed yet (it is always something, but hopefully this week!) but I have a terrible poker face. The last visit was easy because I met him to go skiing, and I had all my gear with me, so they didn't even ask if I was meeting anyone - it was obvious I was going skiing. But this time I am taking the bus across the border to the airport to catch a cheaper flight, and those road border guys have ALWAYS asked me million questions about marriage.

Last time they asked me "when are you getting married" we had no plans to do so, so I just said "you and my mother ask the same questions" and they laughed and I went through. But this time we actually ARE planning to get married, so I'd have to tell them. They scare me a little! THey are far more stringent than the airport guys who usually do a little flirting and let me through. Them, I like!

I guess that would be Daryl Worley's "Have You Forgotten?"

I had to post because I loathe this song to the point that hearing even the first few bars will put me in a bad mood for the rest of the day! My boy knows to change the station asap if it comes on!

Not to get political, but, his statements in the song are a bit off, and it irks me.

The Alan Jackson song is much better. And yes, I love country.

hee.

I am dogsitting, and one little ####### sounded like he was going to die if he didn't get relief in the middle of the night. So I let him out. Only to see him run around and play and bark and not need to pee at all! THat lying little b@stard. He ignored me and I had to run out and chase him around the yard and back into the house. In my robe! At 3AM!

He's so lucky he's cute.

I guess maybe my fiancé and I both have the same views on things...we're not materialistic, nor are we rich. I just believe that if you marry someone, you are doing so because you want to share your life with them. I can't imagine having in the back of my mind the possibility of "if it doesn't work".

I went through a nasty divorce too...I lost everything and I mean everything except the clothes my daughter and I had and a few books....but I'm not going to let that daunt me or cause me to be cynical in regards to my upcoming marriage. I guess I just have a different viewpoint....to each his or her own as to how they conduct their affairs

yes, whatever floats everyone's own boat.

I don't actually have a strong stand here - I think it depends. I guess I sort of stepped in because each time this topic comes up, words like "materialistic" and "cynical" pop up, and I don't necessarily think that is fair. About as fair/judgemental as people who think their relationship is stronger or better because they didn't meet online, long distance. ... and we all know how annoying they are.

We're not planning a prenup. To us, there are more important things than money or material posessions.

Most people have that view until they've been screwed out of a lot of money and material possesions!

I don't like the idea of pre-nups, but I also have a hard time believing that I would take something that didn't belong to me. But who knows what could happen.

My guy had to start from scratch all over again after a very ugly divorce 10 years ago, and it has been a difficult thing for him. If he wanted me to sign one, I probably would, but I would be sure to put in my own stuff, even if it isn't much! I don't take it as a sign he thinks it will fail. He would not be doing this if he felt that and neither would I. But I recognize his past has been an issue, and I'm not going to fight him on it or get insulted. There is room for practicality in romance, in my view.

Bottom line - I know he loves me, he's always incredibly generous, he does not act "mine and yours", he'd just want a safety net for what he's rebuilt thus far. I'm ok with that.

I've been reading this info and my head hurts!

I'm confused about something.... in order to qualify for EI, you best apply soon after arriving, right? But you also need to be authorized to work in order to apply. But EAD's can take up to 90 days to get....

what am I missing here? The answer is obvous and I am just not getting it, right?

(I'm trying to figure out if I should quit my job (and try for EI) or take a year of absence and keep the job security should we decide to move here... no point quitting if I an't get EI...)

The instructions on the I-129F only request "a" passport style photo.

When you get them taken though, you usually get two.

Evidence is a tough one because, well, I for one do not keep itineraries or boarding passes once I've used them.

We traveled together last week, so I kept those boarding passes that show we flew in separately to one airport, and then had seats next to each other for the next leg of the trip. Other than that, it was itineraries showing proof of payment, and a couple of photos. When I was piecing it all together, I noted that Immigration had not stamped my passport on the past two trips I took, so I didn't even have that to offer. And one of his stamps had the wrong date! One day early. Guess the officer forgot to change his stamp.

Even my credit card statements only go back so far - I am a shredder! So I did my best to compile an overall believable picture of having met the past three times with a little of this and a little of that, but the boarding passes of the last trip will probably be the best I have to offer.

I will be rolling the amount I have in mine into some sort of locked US retirement fund. That is as far as I have gotten in the research department!

I read a comment somewhere on this board that Canadians are eligbible for unemployment if they move to get married.

I've tried searching it online, and I did find some info, but it isn't very specific.

Has anyone here applied for it/was elibible?

Not that I relish the idea of doing so, but from what I am reading, it could take a while to find a job in the US. If this benefit is valid, it could be a help.

great! I will stick with the well documented most recent visits.

thanks all

I guess I am specifically wondering what people think about the 6 month gap in evidence.

Personally, I would rather not bring it into focus, but maybe it doesn't matter?

I'm compiling. It takes longer than I thought!

I know there has been lots of debate on this topic... but.....

We've met countless times over the course of 4 years, but hard evidence is hard to come by - we never kept things.

I've got boarding passes, credit card receipts and hotel receipts from our visit last week. We have passport stamps, credit card slips, e-ticket confirmations and a photo from visits in Jan. and Dec. I can throw in copies of photos from 2002, 2003 and 2004.

I would think that is enough?

The next batch of proof I have would be for a visit in late march last year. And a copy of my frequent flyer statement that shows I had a one way ticket to his town in July. But that is it.

I would rather leave it at the three most recent and not start noting passport stamps for older visits. One, I don't want to inundate them with stuff when the last 3 meetings are proven. Two, we broke up in May last year and got back together in December! So I'd rather not call attention to the 6 month hole. There were calls and a July dinner in between, but still.

thoughts?

ok, I admit, I was one of those people who had zero interest in chatting with long distance people! I had an ad online to meet LOCAL men to date, and I was getting pretty discouraged. Just as I was about to pull my ad, I got an email from someone who sounded so normal and nice and who spell-checked and everything! Before I knew what was happening, I was swept up by his assertive nature and had agreed to a date - it was only then that I found out he lived across the border. But it wasn't far, so.... once I got sucked in by his charms completely though, he up and moved to Southern California and it has been long distance ever since. Neither of us like it, and we've split up 3 times, but it just doesn't stick. My world is not ok without him.

So here we are!

according to the updated processing times..Nebraska is now the slowest service center. ... Dec. 7. Did that go backwards???

I've noted in the samples on this site and others, the terms "beneficiary" and "petitioner" are used. I assume the idea is to put in the actual name of the petitioner and beneficiary, or does that confuse the Adjudicator? We don't wants to confuse the Adjudicator!

Do I say G-325 and photograph of SMITH or of the PETITIONER?

*****

Editing to say I think this was a dumb question! I am using the names because I dont' feel like re-printing....

It just goes to show you how you can get your brain into a panicked twist over these things!!

Are you in the US now? If you were to marry and do AOS did you have intent to immigrate when you entered the US?

I'm not in the US now, we were just wondering if I could go there while we start the K-1 process. I refuse to do anything illegal, even if I am tired of this long distance stuff. It is ME who will end up banned if things go up in smoke, afterall.

You should show them at the POE that you have ties to your home country and that you won't stay illegal. If you can prove that and if you follow the laws the way you are written you should be fine.

I'd still have my job... I'd take a leave of absence.

Thanks guys. I feel better having vented and got a little feedback to think about!

The documantation for the consulate interview is probably the most time consuming, the RCMP fingerprint time is estimated 150 days...which translates into 5 months, I had mine back in 3, but I didnt realize until I went that it would tke so long so that put a hold on things as well.

I am not sure if there is a list of what you need for the consualte interview on here, but if you like I can send it to you so you can get started.

wow. I didn't realize the consular part of it took that long... do you think the check and fingerprinting is somethign I could get started in advance? Like now?

you have gone 4 years, whats another 6 months!

how far are u apart?

I know! I am willing... but when he decides he wants something, it has to happen asap. I haven't said 6 months to him either... I said maybe 3 months...

LA/Vancouver. gah.

I'm ready to do start the steps and deal with the frustration, but my guy isn't as patient. He keeps asking why we can't get married first and then apply and why I'd have to leave. Then he wonders why I can't go there as a Canadian visiting for a few months and we apply for the K1 while I am there and I could just head back when I need to. I told him this wasn't feasible because we aren't allowed to do that in this process, but then I read this in the guides:

3.15)Can I, while my fiancee will apply for a I-129F package, be with her in the US ? So we can stay together while the application is being processed or do I have to go to back home again ?

A..As long as you do not go beyond your visa expiration date and leave in plenty of time to do your part of the application then it should be ok. Many couples file the I-129F while the fiance(e) is in the US. However, the visa application itself is accomplished in the fiance(e)s home country, so the fiance(e) must return home to complete the visa application process and the interview at the US Consulate. So the bottom line is that you should follow all USCIS rules if you are here int he US and if your visa requires you to return home on a certain date that you do so on time.

My interpretation of this is that I could go hang out in the US for a while and come back for the interview.. but that doesn't jive with anything else I've read on these forums. Also, what in the world would I put down as an address in Canada if I am not there? It seems a bit shady to me.

He also thinks we should file from his intended address, even if he isn't there yet. That seems frought with potential RFE's to me!

I think the frustration is compounded by the fact that he's in limbo about where and if he's moving for work right now, and it would mean different service centers. It is just one delay after another. We've already been long distance for 4 years, and now that we are about to fix it once and for all, I don't want to jeopardize anything and end up banned!

I don't know that anyone has a solution for me. I am just venting! I want this to start already, but I can't see how to do it just yet.

Cheese Curds are illegal in the US by health code because all cheese must be pasteurized and you can't get cheese curds if the milk has been pasteurized..

what? How am I supposed to open up a poutine stand when no one will hire me because all my experience is in Canada? (I've been reading the getting a job horror stories...)

I know from visits that some things are hard to find in the US, but on the flip side, the selection of other stuff is enormous. Still, I've started making notes.....

(((Fiona)))

I'm sorry you and your son have been hurt this way.

Posting your story shows you are brave and strong - these qualities will see you through.

If anyone has any advice/experience with this.. I'd appreciate hearing about it

We are piecing together the application, but we've been dragging our feet a little until my feller moves. He is in the California Service Center area right now, but was planning to move to the Nebraska service area soon. Plans on the move are not final though, and won't be until the end of March in all likelihood.

Here is my question - if we file now with CSC to get the ball rolling and he does end up moving at the end of March to NSC area, will filing a change of address and transfer hold things up a lot? Perhaps with CSC being slower we are better off just waiting until things are set, but then if he doesn't move afterall, we are behind another month in CSC.

Another option would be to use either his parents' address in the NSC area, or the address of the house he owns there which is empty now and that he'd live in if the move goes as planned. I'm guessing as he doesn't live there right now, we can't do that though.

I'm guessing the sensible thing to do is wait until the end of March, but ...argh.

I wish he'd just take the job on the East Coast so we could apply to Vermont!

Yup, me too. I have my british passport as well. You shouldn't have a problem.

great! thanks for the info. I'll assume you guys only noted the one citizenship of the country you live in on the forms...

Congratulations! You sounded frustrated yesterday, I am glad this happened for you!