evilcanuck

this was overheard today in a bar ..... i wanted to scream!

a few were beginning to rant about 'immigrants' when I politely interjected I love when they are caught offguard by the white girl who speaks perfeck english claiming to be an immigrant hehehe Of course they question me, and finding out I am from Canada, they inform me that I am not really an immigrant because I am 'just from Canada'. I'm like....well tell that to DHS because they dont treat me any differently than the asian guy you were just mouthing off about!

Anyways.....this isnt the first time someone has tried to convince me that immigrants dont have to pay taxes for 7 years after immigrating.....can someone point me in the right direction for documentation on this so I can print it and show people?

I am so tired of the misconceptions ...but I sure love putting (racist) people in thier places when they think they are 'safe' just because of a light coloured skin crowd LOL

I recieved my biometrics appointment letter today for next week, wo0o0ho0o0 !

I just recieved my NOA thingie saying they are going to send me a letter with an appointment for biometrics...yippeee (also recieved my application for AP back, I checked off one wrong box ,...sheesh)

We are finally planning the honeymoon, we were married a month ago then things went to hell at my husbands work and he couldnt get away....so we are finally locking down a date to go and now I am worried they are going to schedule the biometrics for when we are gone or something!!!!

they didnt even know what to do with mine at the poe...he guy did some typing, handed me my passport and siad..$6 please...i had to show him the envelope and ask him what to do with it...he grabs it looks at the 'do not open' thing, then rips it open! i almost died...he then asked a colleague to come over and asked him what to do with it....he 'thinks' i was to leave it there and they forward it somewhere for me.....i swear, if its lost or something, im hunting him down LOL

and what is with the $6???? or did I just pay for his cut in the pizza they were all ordering for dinner????

hehe

I had my prints done in feb 2005, had them back in may, so less than 150 days, but they have it posted all over the place tht it does take that long...when i asked the officer who was printing me why that long, he said it because ottawa handles it and they have to handle them for all over canada (so it doesnt matter what detachment you go to)....i had no convictions or arrests tho...but I think the turnaround time is the same regardless of that...

The long form birth certificate is the actual papers your parents filled out at the hospital when you were born, not the cute little blue wallet sied certificae thingie we are used to producing when asked for it....

I had problems with getting my papers together also because of the hold up with the prints and birth certificate, I simply called the consulae in montreal and explained and they granted me an extention.

You will have to get a new passport, I dont believe Canada issues renewals, you gotta start from scratch as if it were a new one...pain in the @$$ ...zi had the same thing happen, but it was the least of my concerns as it came in within like 6 weeks.

good luck

I am not sure why you HAD to get the fingerprinting name check, it specifically states in the package 3 letter from the consulate that it isn't necessary unless you have a police record. Normally the "name only" check is sufficient.

*shrug* I dunno either, but when I went to the RCMP office and told them what it was for this is what they did, fingerprints and background check. Like I said, it was only $25...better safe than at the consualate without proper information.

page 3 of the letter from the consulate states 'police certificate' doesnt state 'name search' or anything about a name check etc. It was sufficient at the consulare interview, they didnt question any of my documents....

here is the passage from page 3 regarding....

6. POLICE CERTIFICATES: Please obtain police certificates from the police authorities of each locality, with the exception of places in the United States, where you have resided for six months or more since attaining the age of 16. A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any lace where you have been arrested for any reason, regardless of how long you lived there. Certificates must cover the entire period of residence in the area. A certificate issued by local police authorities must be of recent date, when presented to the consular officer. The term 'police certificate' as used in this paragraph, means a certification by the appropriate police authorities stating what their records show concerning the applicant, including any and all arrests, the reasons therefor, and he disposition of each case of which there is a record (see OF-169 Suppl.)

RCMP fingerprints are not necessary unless they are specifically asked for, if you have had problems with the law in the past then you might want to look into getting the fingerprints but otherwise I wouldn't bother... this is just my opinion

http://www.rcmp.ca/crimrec/finger2_e.htm#Application

its only $25 better to be prepared than ready to go and have to wait 5 months, trust me, this was required and I have never been in trouble with the law so I wasnt red-flaged for it, anyone under 16 on my application had to have one, I also got a background check from my local police department, because I had to get one for my job so I had it handy and included it, I believe it was $25 also.

I also (finally after a year of screwing around with te registrar general) had my birth certificate ...then realized that they need the long form, not the cute wallet sized ones they typically issue, so...order that ahead also.

I scanned in the letter I got from the consulate, I will post it.

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?

Ya thats what I am saying...start now. Get your passport, get your RCMP fingerprints, police checks, etc etc, so that when you get your package from the consulate you have everything ready and boom you cna send it in to them then just ait for your appointment in Montreal.

My son opted to remain in Canada to finish the school year as he had already started when we had the consular interview and we wouldnt be crossing until December, well into the school year. I listed him as 'follow to join' at the consualte, the lady there told us just to send in his passport when he was ready to come over. He will be coming at the end of the school year so he is sending in the passport. The wedng has taken place and I filed for my AOS, now I am thinking I should have waited until he got here and done it all at once...but I would like to hear from anyone else who took this route.

Will he have to have an AOS interview of his own when he gets here, I know I will have to file an AOS thingie for him, ....at least I wont have to do an AP or EAD for him.

Also....I cant seem to find any information on bringing pets over the border. He has a cat, and I cant find anyting on what papers we need to prove she is healthy or if they even care etc. If anyone knows, please advise!

thanks

it really doesnt take all that long...it does seem overwhelming when you strt to do all the paperwork nd it seems like its going to take forever.

now here is the thing...canadians can cross legally into the usa without a visa but there are limits on how long you are going to stay...you can stay up to 6 months, if you prove ou can support yourself etc, like the 'nowbirds' who go to florida every year. or you can just do what we did and visit a LOT

I came here every weekend for 2 years, this was all part of the dating process, when it was time to file the fiance visa petition it really wasnt all that bad.

I would suggest to you to fie the I-129 right away, then start getting all the stuff ready for your consular interview. We filed in july and had the package in September...however my sister whom I was living with 'forgot' to give me my mail until the end of October (yes she is evil). If I would have had all my paperwork together I could have sent the checklist off to the consulate immediately, but I sort of had some problems geting things so it took some time, when I did send bck the checklist it ws only a matter of month or so before I had the appointment. I believe I sent the checklist back in July and the appointment ws October 11, my visa was in within a week and I w good to go.

You could probably have it all done and be living here within 6 months...

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.

I have no suggestions about the address thing....and as far as 'hanging out' in the usa...its really risky, I mean, its easy to cross over and say you are going for the weekend yet not go back for a month, there are so many people crossing over daily you wouldnt likely get caught, and you could use a family members address n Canada to maintain residency and keep the lie going...but yes, its shady, and risky....you have gone 4 years, whats another 6 months!

how far are u apart?

I was married in Ontario in 92, and was told that there are 2 ways to change your name, 1 is assuming your husbands name, which is 'like an alias' I was told, the 2nd was to change my name legally by filling out a form with the office of the registrar general...I ws told this was the only was to change it legally...so I complied, and ended up with a new birth certificate which reflected my new married name nee maiden name. How ridiculous!! Anyways, no big deal until I decided to revert to my maiden name following my divorce. I Paid the fee, something like $25 and waited, and waited and waited. I waited over a YEAR for my birth certificate to arrive to reflect my maiden name, so that I could apply for my passport etc, it held everything up! I applied for the name change and certificate in September 2003 and received it in October 2005 after phone call after phone call after phone call, I finally got so frustrated I wrote to the MP where I had lived when I got married/divorced, the MP where I resided at the time, the MPP, Ombudsman, Minister of Consumer and Corporate Affairs, a few others, and finally the Prime Minister LOL. I also filled out the form on the Ministry of Consumer and Corporate Affairs website that they have for reporting bad businesses, and I reported themselves to themselves ) Needless to say, within 2 weeks of writing to everyone...I had my new birth certificate with the name change Sometimes it just takes persistence!

wo0o0o0 ho0o0o i got my license!

I went back to the place where I wrote the test and did the road test and manouverability test and told them what happened, they recommended that I go right next door to the license office there (i didnt go there last time due to the business of that office) and they took care if it all right away.

I thik the big issue was familiarity with how to do a license for an immigrant....so, for others in the Cleveland area...stay away from Independence and go to the office on Chevrolet Road blvd or whatever in Parma. The wait was worth it...actually I was there less time than I was at the other office!!!!

yipee

o and, also, marriage license photocopies arent good enuf to change name, they wanted originals but when I told her the trouble I had so far she let it slide

Hope this helps others so they dont have to wait forever for a license!

i read somewhere that the 'a' number was the number in RED on the visa in my passport, i was just browsing along the forum, and apparently its the one that starts with an "a" ( big surprise) that is in black on the visa and also would be above my name on the 1-797 in the benificiary section.

can anyone clarify before I mail this all out wrong!?!?!

thnx

well i guess thats why i get the funny 'look' from my mother-in-law when i mention finding a duvet cover for the futon mattress in the guest room, regular sheets pop off ll the time, i thought this a brilliant idea, she didnt seem to share my joy...now i know why, it was the polite 'idonthaveacluewhatyouaretalkingabout' reaction...sister countres, yet so many differences...

i'll have to add duvet to my canadian to american dictionary and get it back up online....it has helped!!!! LOL

We will be moving to Ohio in March of this year. Does this mean i cant even get a learners permitt until i have either gone through AOS or have my EAD ??

Tom

if your country has reciprocation with usa, (you dont need a special license to drive here) you apparently are allowed to drive here on you home country license until you can get your ohio one. I had to do the written and driver test, and its extremely easy, but they didnt issue me a learners permit, just told me to use my ontario one until i can prove 'permanant residency'

I am going to go back to the office where i wrote the license to try to figure some things out, I think the k-1 visa coupled with the marriage license should be enough to prove residency. The us govt allowed me to move here on the cndition I marry, i can prove I married, ...whats the problem?????? I'll keep u all informed tho.

my insurance is requiring my licence by the 28th!!!

if it takes time ok i can always wait till i get the ead or aos....my real issue is...am i driving legally???? i was added to my husbands insurance with just my name, they didnt even ask for my licnse # from ontario (?????) but I dont know if my ontario license is legal since i dont reside in ontario anymore...the girl at the bmv said 'you should be ok' ...thats not reassuring enuf!!!

I guess I have to wait for the EAD or after the AOS....whold have been nice if they knew this when I was running to the other side of town and all around doing the test and stuff tho. The girl at the BMV was very nice to me, but very uneducated in the proceedures regarding immigrant licenses, and it seemed everyone she talked to had a different answer, and thier manual had different rules than what she was finally told by someone at another office....that why I am so confused. I just hope I dont get in trouble for the out of country license if I get pulled over, becase there is really nothing I can do. The BMV website just says to show proof of legal residency...i thought thats what my k-1 visa and 1-94 was :/

I just went thru the most ridiculous time trying to get my Ohio drivers license.

In December, I went to the BMV to get my license, they sent me to a different office that does the actual tests....there I was told I would have to do the whole test as if I was a new driver...ok, I did the written test, made an appointment for the drivers test, passed that, oops failed the manouverbility part....I have to parallel park every day in my own driveway but I couldn't handle 5 pylons in an open parking lot...go figure! The wedding date was set and there was all sorts of things to do so I never got around to going back to do the manouverability test until today. I figured it would also be easier once we were married and I could change my name at the same time...so today I went and passed. Ok so they send me back to the office I went to in the first place to get my actual license......and hour and a half and several phone calls to supervisors and a trip home to get a copy of my i-797 I was informed that I cant have an Ohio license until my AOS is complete!!!!! #######?!?

So now I am still driving with my Ontario license and ave no idea if I am really valid or not because I am no longer an Ontario resident! The license place seems to not really know what to do about it, just said come back after AOS...and they are going to schedule a meeting with thier field rep to train the girls there on how to handle immigrants looking for licenses...meanwhile I am soooo confused!

When I wrote the test and took the road test I was told that was all I needed to do and to bring my passport with my K-1 stamp with me.

grrr

anyone else have this hard of a time or am I being jerked around????