Caleb&Ashlee

Thank you everyone for all your help. I sent my taxes away the other day with a cover letter explaining more about my situation. I don't know if it will help or not, but as I didn't work at all in 2015, I don't think my case is that complicated. I used my American address and put Ontario as my province of residence, as was suggested.

Thanks again!

Thank you everyone for your replies.

So, on the first page of the T1 General, in the box titled "Information About Your Residence" I would put Ontario as the province I resided in on December 31, 2015...even though I didn't actually reside there because I was living in the U.S.? Then the next spot down asks me to put the province or territory where I currently reside if it's different than the one I resided in on December 31st, 2015. Obviously however, I don't live in any province or territory, as I am living in the U.S.

It's the little things like this that don't make sense to me. Do I just leave it all blank and just fill in the spot for the date I ceased to be a resident for income tax purposes?

Like everyone here, I have filled out endless forms by now, but I have to say this should be simple tax return has me the most frustrated. I just want to be sure I do it correctly.

Thank you for your reply. I am still re-reading things on the CRA website. I really wish they were clearer about certain aspects of tax return expectations. Everything on their website indicates that I should file using the non-resident forms. It's that representative telling me the opposite that has me confused. But, at the end of the day, I really have nothing at all to report, other than that I moved to the U.S. and got married.

Thanks again!

Hi everyone!

First of all, I apologize if any of these questions have been asked before (and I'm sure they have.) I'm just very frustrated and obviously running out of time as 2015 Canadian returns are due no later than May 2nd 2016. I'm posting here for any insight or advice that any of you can give. I have done a good amount of research already, and I have received no clear direction or answers. I've read through the info on the CRA website and talked with an international representative about my situation as well. The problem is that the information the representative gave me and the information on the CRA website are completely contradictory.

What's especially frustrating is that my situation is pretty much as simple as it can get. I didn't work in Canada or the U.S. in 2015, so I have no T4s. I also have no RRSPs, investments, properties or anything like that to claim on a return. I'm not even sure that it's necessary to file, but the representative I spoke with indicated that I was still required to, so I guess I'll be sending in blank forms with only my name, address, marital status, SIN #, etc.

I also came across "Determination of Residency Status (Leaving Canada)" forms, which I was, until recently, completely unaware of. So, I filled those out to the best of my ability and faxed them the next day. However, when I informed the representative I spoke with that I had faxed those forms in the hope of clarifying my status for tax purposes, he said those forms will take up to 9 months to be processed. So, obviously, those are useless to me in regard to filing.

So, I was discussing my situation with this representative in great detail, hoping that he could advise me on my status for filing. I explained to him that I had resided in Canada for less than 183 days in 2015 and that I had not worked while I was living in Canada. I left Canada on June 29th 2015 on a K1 Fiance(e) Visa and I have been in the U.S. since. I did not work in the U.S. in 2015 either. Also, I have no significant ties to Canada. (No properties, dependent children, etc.) So, he told me that I would consider June 29th 2015 as the day I officially left Canada and severed ties. However, even though everything about my situation seemed to indicate that I would be a non-resident for 2015 tax purposes, he told me to file using the form for the province I had lived in before I left Canada.

Upon going to the CRA's website and looking up the tax return forms however, I noticed that it states that you must select the province or territory in which you resided on December 31st, 2015. This is where I started to realize that he may have given me incorrect information, even though my situation is pretty straight forward and simple and I had explained it to him clearly. I had even gone over it several times with him and he assured me that I should use the Ontario form (as this is the province I lived in prior to leaving Canada). So, I re-read the CRA's info on tax status and I truly believe that I would be considered a non-resident for the 2015 tax season. I'm just wondering why he advised me to file with Ontario forms when I clearly told him more than once that I did NOT live in Ontario up until the end of 2015.

So, I'm just hoping someone here can help me out in confirming this. Everything I read on the CRA's site and certain posts here would indicate that I'm a non-resident for tax filing purposes. The only thing that is really confusing me is the representative's direction in telling me that I should use the Ontario tax return forms. But it is my understanding that by doing so I'm claiming to have resided in Ontario on December 31, 2015, which, as I told him repeatedly, I did not.

Any help will be greatly appreciated, I realize I only have a few days left and if I can't get any clear answers I will be filing as a non-resident and attaching a detailed letter explaining my situation. At least I don't owe the government anything, so they shouldn't be too concerned with me.

Thanks,

~Ashlee

Yes, and unfortunately it seems that different countries have different requirements in regard to the vaccinations during the K-1 process. I was informed that I needed to have mine completed before U.S. entry and if there had been any outstanding ones at the time of my medical, then I would have needed to get them done during my appointment.

I did want to say that I believe I found my DS-3025, after all that. So, I apologize for starting yet another thread on the topic. I honestly did not believe I had it, and was getting very concerned. What I have learned though, is that many people are not given this form, and I do think that definitely needs to change. Anything that is required should be provided without question.

I truly hope everyone struggling with this situation gets it sorted out.

Wow! I cannot understand how this is such a common problem. I usually don't get so riled up about things, but if DS-3025 is required, then it should be provided. It is completely unacceptable that the medical offices that are chosen by USCIS are not supplying the proper documentation, and in some cases are even refusing to supply it when it is asked for by the beneficiary. After all, we are following their instructions. I hope everyone having this issue gets it sorted out.

And hope something changes in their policies somehow. It's clear to see from the many posts here. as far back as 2006, that this is far from a new issue.

Okay, that sounds hopeful. Thanks for all your help JACo.

Yeah, it may be that you will need to go to a Civil Surgeon and have the blank DS-3025 dealt with. I really don't know. I personally just wish this form was something I'd even heard of before going into the AOS process.

Thank you JACo. Yeah, unfortunately, all throughout the K1 Visa process neither I or my now husband heard anything about this DS-3025 form. We definitely would have at least asked for it if we had, and I honestly do not understand why it wasn't given to us by the medical office. They should know that this is required. In any case, we were reading that the entire AOS application could possibly be rejected as incomplete without the DS-3025, have you ever heard of that occurring?

At this point though, I think we will go ahead and send in everything else, along with a letter of explanation and the vaccination records I brought to the panel physician back in May (the ones I requested from my family doctor). As long as we can be sure they won't reject our AOS application completely, we can deal with an RFE if we have to. It seems to be a common occurrence that they even lose the medical records entirely.

I wish all of this was clearer. So many people deal with this and go through so much. I mean, the least they could do is to get their policies and requirements straight.

Yes, I can relate to feeling frustration. There seems to be no clear answers, even with all the searching my husband and I have been doing. There are so many forms and steps associated with this process, and there are so many unclear instructions. I mean, the medical office deals with this all the time, if they know that the DS-3025 is required as part of the AOS application, why don't they provide a copy of it for our records and future use?

I hope we can both get this sorted out as soon as possible. I'm sorry to hear they refused to give your Fiance a copy and that it was actually blank. I guess in some cases vaccinations (or some of them) can be deferred until entering the U.S., but I think it would be easier to get them done beforehand at the medical, and if your Fiance does have his vaccines up to date, then you'd think they'd be on that form and it wouldn't be blank.

Hi everyone! So, I realize from doing a search that this question has been asked a lot, but most of the posts are quite old (2006-2012) and there seems to be a lot of confusion and conflicting information in what I and my husband have been reading.

I entered the U.S. at the end of June and married my Fiance (now husband) earlier this month. We are now preparing our AOS packet and we've run into the issue of the "vaccination supplement." The I-485 instructions state that if I am a K-1 Fiance(e) "who had a medical examination within the past year as required for the nonimmigrant fiance(e) visa, you only need to submit a vaccination supplement, not the entire medical report."

My medical was done this past May and everything went well. (S0, definitely within the year, as required). I brought my vaccination records from my home clinic with me to my appointment, along with a note from my family doctor and I was informed at that time that my vaccinations were complete and I would not need to get any done. The problem is, from my reading, it seems I was supposed to get form DS-3025 detailing my vaccination records from the medical office the day of my appointment. I had no idea. The only thing I was given when I went back to pick up my results was the sealed envelope that had to be left untouched and brought to the interview. (And the cd with my x-rays that have instructions about keeping for my medical records). There was no mention of DS-3025.

Now it seems that my husband and I need this form to include with the AOS application. Other posts seemed to say that the sealed envelope we brought to the POE contained this form, and that it would have been forwarded on from there and will be added to my file when we send it the AOS. But then other posts said that often the entire medical gets lost and so a new medical must be performed all over again.

And then we were reading about needing to see a Civil Surgeon if we did not have Form DS-3025, and that we would need them to complete Form 1-693 and seal it so that we could send that in instead. And some posts even said that in order for the Civil Surgeon to complete 1-693, they need to have the DS-3025 form. I am so frustrated and beyond stressed right now! I've read so many conflicting things, and I just want to know what my husband and I need to do.

Why was there no mention of DS-3025? Every envelope we were given was sealed and we were instructed not to touch it, so of course we didn't. We had no access whatsoever to this form we now apparently need to apply for AOS. Needless to say this is a time sensitive issue. My 1-94 expires on Saturday and we need to get the AOS application sent.

Any advice and insight will be greatly appreciated.

It took me 20 days after my interview to receive my visa, but I also had to arrange to have it shipped further than the initial destination they allowed me to select. (The joys of living in the middle of nowhere). However, it still took about 18 days to get to the first destination.

I agree though that every case is different and for now you should keep your plans to be in the U.S. In August. You may have to change some things as time goes on and you have a better idea of the timeline, but that is often the nature of this process.

Best wishes!

Thank you everyone! This is what we both originally thought. You hear so many conflicting stories. Thanks for the clarification.

Thank you both for your quick replies. We did believe I would need to stay in the U.S., so thank you both for that clarification.

Hi everyone,

this may seem like a pretty straight-forward and obvious question, and I didn't have any concerns either, until just today when I was talking with my cousin. I recently entered the U.S. on my K1 Fiance(e) visa. There was no issues at the border and the border guard advised me to stay in the U.S. until I was married and had filed for adjustment of status. He said that although people do apply for an advance parole and it can work, it's very complicated and he doesn't advise it. So, the way he was talking, it sounded like I am definitely able to stay in the U.S. now, so long as I get married within the 90 days and adjust my status and follow proper procedure. And this is what both I and my Fiance thought to be the case, not having read anything to the contrary here or elsewhere.

However, this morning I talked with my cousin who has had some experience with immigration related situations, and he told me that I had better make absolutely sure that I don't have to leave the U.S. for a period of time after the 90 days and getting married, while my adjustment of status is being processed. He told me he has read of numerous situations where people on K1 visas ran into legal trouble because they got married in the 90 day period but did not leave while their AOS was being processed. Can anyone help clarify this for us? As I said, I didn't even think this was an issue. I thought I only had to leave now if I do not get married in the 90 days the K1 visa allows for. (And in fact I have read the opposite, where if you leave before status adjustment, you abandon the visa process and must start over with a spousal visa).

Any assistance is very appreciated.

~Ashlee

They gave us a VAC case # because we mistakenly chose Vancouver as our consulate. As I wrote in my opening post, I had hoped to go to Vancouver because I have family out there and I had read of other people being sent across the country to the consulate furthest away from them. Anyway, the fault was mine for not doing enough research in the beginning. Our concern was simply that they hadn't assigned us a Montreal case number after transferring our petition and documents to Montreal. So far everything seems to be going well regardless. We did contact Montreal, and they assured us the VAC case number wouldn't cause any issues.

I live in Northwestern Ontario, closer to Manitoba than Toronto by far. We did contact them, and they insisted that where I live is out of Vancouver's jurisdiction. So, our case was transferred to Montreal. We contacted Montreal and they assured us that we were fine keeping the old VAC #.

Thank you for your suggestion I think that's what we're going to do, just to make sure.

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure if anyone else has encountered this particular issue, although I'm sure it must have come up sometime before. Any information, advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

So, my concern is this; our visa application was originally sent to Vancouver (we had put Vancouver on the 1-129F because I (the beneficiary) have family out there and I live pretty much half way between Vancouver and Montreal and believed at first that I could have a chance at going to Vancouver. I know I should have done further research, but I was hopeful it would work out. I had read several stories on here that suggested there are no clear jurisdictions for each consulate, however, of course I now know there are.

Anyway, that part is what it is, the Vancouver consulate informed us that where I live is out of their jurisdiction and so they would be forwarding our case to Montreal. Montreal contacted us today with our Packet #3 instructions, the problem is that we still have a Vancouver case # beginning with VAC, not a Montreal case #. From the packet #3 instructions it seems we really do need to have a Montreal case #. I'm concerned that this is going to complicate our case and perhaps they will look at our Vancouver case # and assume it's at the wrong consulate again.

Should we be calling or contacting the Montreal consulate in some way to resolve this and try to get assigned a Montreal case #?

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thank you

Okay, thanks again for all your help

Hi Ontarkie Thank you for your reply. I will definitely be calling. I will also need to make sure my P.O.E. has a vet available. I'm very excited to think I might be able to take him with me after all. If you don't mind my asking, what was the cost for the vet check upon entering into the U.S.?

Thanks again.

Hi

I realize that this question has most definitely been asked many many times already, (I did do a search of the forums), however, I do have some specific questions and concerns relating to my situation.

First of all, most of the information I did come across, both on VisaJourney and from a Google search, involved exotic and parrot type birds. The pet bird I'm wanting to bring from Canada with me is a Ring-Neck dove. He is a pet as far as I'm concerned, however, I have read in the past that doves (and pigeons) are considered poultry, and not generally classified as pets.

So, some questions I have are:

Are doves able to be classified and considered pets? (as opposed to poultry)

And if so:

Am I then able to bring him across a Canada-U.S. land border without a required quarantine period in the U.S.?

Also,

I understand he would need a vet check at the P.O.E. , would it be advisable to have a vet here check him out also, and certify that he's healthy?

I'm really concerned that there could be problems and unforeseen difficulties in this process. I've had Sage for about 7 1/2 years now and he's obviously very very important to me. Initially I had thought that quarantine was a requirement for all birds from Canada, but the research I've done seems to clarify that he would not need to be quarantined. I was going to try to find a home for him, rather than have him be potentially stressed out during the travel and quarantine (I've had birds for many years and I know they do not do well with stress) however, if I am able to just drive to a P.O.E. and have him checked and proceed from there with him, then I would much prefer to keep him.

If anyone has done this before (and specifically with pet doves or pigeons) from Canada to the U.S., please contact me. Any help and insight would be greatly appreciated. Above all I want to do what is best for Sage.

Thank you

~Ashlee