MrsWoodsy

Hello all!

I've been talking with my husband about doing my PhD at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Currently, I am entering my junior year of university so I have a bit of time on my hands. My husband is a 2 year green card holder down here in the US (he's originally from Nova Scotia) and we were just up visiting his parents in NS. NS is starting to grow on me and I would love to be up there as soon as i'm done with my BS in Psych. Anyway, I have a few questions:

1) Would it be possible once my husband gets his 10 year green card to come up to Canada with me?

2) Would it be easier if he sponsored me on a spousal visa or to just get a study visa?

3) What is the process like for spousal and study visas (money involved, time, etc)?

4) Would my husband still be able to apply for citizenship?

4a) If not, would it be best to wait till he's a legal citizen of the US (and also have him keep Canadian citizenship) THEN study abroad or him sponsor me in Canada?

5) If I come to Canada on a study visa, would I be able to apply for citizenship or LPR status down the road in Canada?

Thank you for your help!! xx

Just went onto USCIS' website and checked my husband's cased status. His application was approved, no interview necessary! It was approved on March 24th, 2017. Overjoyed right now.

On 3/23/2017 at 4:19 PM, Ree Ren said:

I haven't looked at this topic for a while, still waiting  Like it's been said Texas office is slooooow. What actually scares me is the fact that I'll have to pass the medical exam all over again by the time of the main event since they are only processing February 2016. It's not only me who's still waiting knowing it'll be at least half a year longer right? We actually called USCIS and they just told us the same thing - February 2016.

Nipperswife and I are waiting with you!! My husband called USCIS a week ago and secondary customer service told us wait 40-45 days to hear word back, but they cannot guarantee it (to be expected I guess). Trying to be patient is so hard. News will come around eventually...sigh.

1 hour ago, geowrian said:

They should be perfectly fine. That said, there is an overall increased questioning that seems to be going on, so they are slightly more likely to be put through secondary inspection. But I wouldn't suggest avoiding a trip because of it.

So pretty much everyone is getting treated the same when it comes to coming back into the US? Alright well that's not so bad. Thank you!!

Hello all!

My husband and I had a few concerns that we would like addressed and maybe some of you can help. So, my husband is Canadian and has his EAD/AP combo card. We used it December 2016 to travel to see his parents in NS. We would absolutely love to see them in the summer, but my mom is concerned about us leaving and then trying to re-enter the US since the travel ban was imposed on Muslim countries. Yes, I know it's just for Muslim countries, but what about other people that are not from a Muslim country? Has anyone experienced problems at the border when trying to re-enter the US, specifically from Canada? Maybe we are just being a bunch of worry warts, but I don't want to risk my husband not being able to come back to the US with me. Thanks for your help!! 

16 hours ago, Nipperswife said:

When i called them about a month ago they encouraged me to do a case inquiry and told me I would get feedback within 2 weeks and that if I dont allow a month after...  the time is ticking.. NYC is processing cases as of March 2nd 2016 as of December 31 2016 which makes me assume that March 2017 they will be processing June 2016 .... the wait right now is nerve wrecking because of all of the things carrying on and then they tell you they will get back to you at x date and then they dont... I'm at a point now where I dont even want to call  

I thought the same thing!! It would make sense too, ya know? I feel for you. It's so frustrating when all you want is an answer of some kind. Let's hope for the best 

16 hours ago, snded said:

From what you're telling me, Philly is backlogged a bit. You should not yet be concerned that your file has been buried somewhere because they are not yet processing your priority date. I was told on the phone that the field offices are supposed to update monthly on the 15th of the month, but that has not been the case the last couple of months. Your priority date is the date that USCIS received your application. The NOA date should be a week or so after that. As far as medicals expiring, I don't really know. I have never read about that happening. 

See I thought that because they were processing applications from May 2016 in December of 2016, all you do is see what month you're in now (so that's March) and add 3 months onto the processing date and that would bring us to August 2016. On visapro.com they have that all the USCIS field offices are caught up to July 28, 2016. But that contradicts the government's website. Oh sigh  hoping for the best

17 minutes ago, snded said:

Hang in there. Sorry you're stressing so much. It definitely is frustrating. When I applied to be a permanent residence of Canada, it took even longer. Over a year and a half. And for my husband, to get residency in the US, we applied July 20th and just got the interview letter yesterday. So we have another month until the interview and then who knows how long... Did you check your field office's processing times? This should be your only hold up at this point. Check my field office's (West Palm Beach, FL) processing times for comparison. July 20, 2016 is our priority date and the interview letter was dated February 28, 2017, postmarked March 1, 2017 and received March 6, 2017.

Good luck. 

 

As of December 31, 2016, Philadelphia field office is processing I-485's from May 6th, 2016. They received our case July 15th, 2016 and we received NOA1 on July 25th. I'm assuming we are in the time span of when they will adjudicate. Is the priority date the time it was received or the NOA1 date? I'm hoping we'll get an answer soon...

1 minute ago, Nipperswife said:

Jeez... sorry about your experience.  that is crazy that they cut off taking calls for the day and told you they will get back to you in 3 - 5 BUSINESS days... whats going on???????

I literally don't know why they are so backed up...I'm past frustrated with this whole thing. Sigh. I just want this to be over with already

My husband tried calling USCIS and tried to get someone in secondary and they told him they are so backed up that he won't get a call back until 3-5 business days later. They told him they stopped taking calls 3 hours ago. All I want are answers. This is getting so frustrating. My husband's medical exam will expire next month. Why is this such a slow process?!  

Still waiting as well... At least we're not alone. 

On 2/7/2017 at 1:01 AM, Abbyerin said:

Thank you so much! My status went from "New card is being produced" on 02/04/2017 to "Case Approved" on 02/06/2017! Good luck to everyone still waiting! We're all getting there!

Congrats!! That's fantastic news, my dear!!  Did you get your card yet?

We are still waiting haha. I'm glad your case got approved though. Hopefully good news will come our way as well. 

I took my husband to get his permit in August. It was a few days after we took him to get his biometrics done. We took all the proper documents in and they told us they couldn't find him in the system so we would have to come back and wait till PennDOT found him in the system. We went back 3 times after (twice in September and once in early October) and they said they couldn't issue it because nothing was in the system still. We figured that we'll wait until his EAD/AP card was issued. Lo and behold, they don't put the info into the system until the card is issued. So we waited till the end of October for him to get his permit. What a run around that was 

2 minutes ago, Abbyerin said:

I did the same thing on Monday and they told me that I'm still "within processing times" but in two weeks I'll be out of the processing time. Then I can call up and request that they write to me and let me know what's happening with my case. That's if I don't hear anything in the next two weeks. I'm hoping I do It would just be nice to see my case status and it not come back with "case invalid". The guy (tier 2) assured me to not worry as he can see everything in his system because it's a different system and it's doing fine, just waiting to be processed. We shall see. I will update as I go along  Please let us know how yours goes MrsWoodsey  

Hopefully everything will be just fine with your case! PA seems to have slow processing times, but I know other places are definitely slower. We were assured as well that his case is within its normal phase. It's irritating going and checking on the case status and getting the "invalid case" for sure. I guess good things will just come in due time... But anyway, I'll let yous know when the day comes! Good luck Abbyerin!  

14 hours ago, KnightOfCydonia said:

Congrats. What number did you call? Did you ask to speak to 2nd tier?

We called 1.800.375.5283 which is the customer service line for USCIS. We told the lady that we couldn't check our case status online and she said she couldn't answer where our case was because she was seeing the same thing we were. She directed us to 2nd tier cos she couldn't help us. 

My husband and I called USCIS and they directed us to secondary level customer service. Exciting news came about!! The man on the other line told us that his case was sent to Philly on November 30th, 2016. It normally takes 90 days for the field offices to look at these applications so the end is nearing! February 28th, 2017 (estimated) should be the latest we get word from USCIS (hopefully). Fingers crossed...I'm so excited for him. 

On 1/3/2017 at 5:07 PM, Abbyerin said:

Congratulations to everyone getting their green cards! Woo! 

 

I've still not got mine and my case number doesn't even work but trying to be patient!

 

Happy new year everyone! 

My husband still hasn't gotten his either. Biometrics was completed in late August just like your situation. Being patient is so hard, but at least we have our spouses here with us  Hopefully we all get some good news soon. 

Congrats to everyone who has received their green cards! Hope everyone is having a great new year! xx

Hello all!

I have a question on behalf of my husband. My husband and I are driving up to his parents in Nova Scotia, Canada for Christmas. My husband has his EAD/AP combo card and his Canadian passport. Will he need anything else besides these two items? I asked my husband to ask his boss to see if he can write up a letter of employment. I did the same thing, only with my university stating I was enrolled in classes for the spring semester. I was thinking about bringing along his immigration folder which has all of the NOA's from when we applied for his I-129F and up to his AOS packet and biometrics.

Thanks for your help! xoxo

Check if you are entering it properly. They say the 45th day is when you are able to look it up online. Call them and tell them about that.. but I kinda believe you're not entering it properly. You are to enter it as is... the letters and all 11 numbers no space no hyphens

I just entered it again. Looked off of his NOA1 sheet. I entered it the same as the paper and it still doesn't recognize the number. My husband called a month ago about this and they said there's nothing they can do about it except wait. :/

120 days of AOS journey and status hasn't changed. Anyone with similar timeline?

My husband is on day 129 of the AOS journey. He received his AP/EAD combo card and the like. He has his SSN as well. His biometrics appointment was in August and was completed. His case status hasn't changed at all. USCIS's website won't even recognize the case number given on NOA1. Getting kind of worried

Hello!

I have a question for a friend. They applied for a K1 Visa in June and everything went quick and smooth and her interview appointment for the K1 Visa is in 3 days in Frankfurt so if everything goes well she should have it at the end of October.

Question: Is it possible that she comes to the US on her passport at the beginning of November, goes on a vacation (early honeymoon due to his work schedule) with her fiancee to Jamaica (they booked it already month ago not knowing she can't leave after she entered on the K1 Visa) and enters then on her K1 Visa when she gets back from Jamaica? Or does she have to use it right away when she enters the US?

I hope this question makes sense?! If not please ask!

Thanks!

You can only enter the US on a K1 visa ONCE. After they are married, she needs to submit an AOS packet with AP and EAD papers. AP allows her to leave the country without forfeiting the AOS. So point being, if she leaves the US without filing all of those things, she will not be allowed in. They can't go on that honeymoon.

I have a quick question for yous that have gotten approved EAD and AP's.

My husband's EAD card was shipped out this past Friday and I was curious if he'll receive the AP/EAD combo card. When we sent in the package for AOS we included EAD, AP, and obviously AOS. All were approved except for AOS (still in progress). Just his EAD says anything about a card being sent out. His AP just says it was approved and both were approved the same day (September 23rd). Will he receive his EAD card with the AP combo?

Thanks xx

Hope to help here? My Spouse from an African Country used the AP twice to go to Canada. It seems like a crapshoot on what happens. The first time by Air back at Toronto Airport, it was an automatic secondary. Waited for like 15 minutes, Then they just stamped his passport: Paroled Until etc...(what a word I thought. Sound like prison parole...). The second like was coming back by car from Montreal, in Lake Champlain. This one was a pain. Automatic Secondary of course, but what a lot of questions from the CPB officer. How did we meet, where does he live, what is my age. he got nervous and flubbed some answers. LOL

So she began looking up his information in the computer. She took 30 minutes, then asked where was the last I-94 with the parole stamp from Toronto? We both looked at her uncomprehendingly like she was from the moon LOL. She didnt believe us of course, and she felt all his passport pages for the staple marks I think.

She then stamped a new I-94 with Paroled until etc..and said welcome back LOL.

Dont mean to alarm but just dont get nervous like he did.

Just like with AP, Green Card holders aren't guaranteed entry into the States either. In June this year, I visited my home country for a week without my husband (he had no PTO and I was homesick). When I got back I got a few easy questions about where I was/what I was doing. The only annoying thing was the attitude of the officer. When I was scanning my thumbprint, my shopping bag knocked my hand sideways and he got so mad about it. Like, so mad. I assumed he was having a bad day and it made me feel better

Thank yous for your help! Jake and I will be going up by car and it seems like we'll be pulled into secondary regardless of what we do. Thank you for the pointers

He won't be denied unless he goes on an international killing spree or something while on vacation. The only people guaranteed entry to the US are US Citizens. He will need his Canadian passport to enter Canada and the AP and Canadian passport to enter the US.

That sounds pretty reassuring then lol thank you dear.

Hello all!

My husband just got approved for his AP and we plan on going up to visit his family in Nova Scotia December 21st-28th. I heard that CBP can deny entry to anyone trying to re-enter with an AP. How frequent is this? What goes on for CBP to deny re-entry? Also, does he just need his AP and Canadian passport when we go and visit his family?

Thanks for the help! xx