N&DSanow

No car, just shipping! 

So I went to the POE (at Niagara) and it went smoothly. I forgot to mention my list of goods to follow and they didn't ask anything about it so... I don't know. But I really don't have that much stuff. I shipped a few boxes (what would fit in the car on that drive) in the US. They didn't even ask.  I still have a few I'll probably send from Toronto, I hope I don't need any kind of paper or anything.

My anxiety is stupid considering I've shipped more stuff than this I the past to the US when I was there on a student visa. 

Okay I think I answered my own question

 https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1227/kw/moving

But any help is good because I'm doing this alone while being yelled at by a 7 month old and I'm likely to miss things. 

Planning on crossing by car, shipping items within the us, driving back to Canada and then flying. 

I know I need to make a "goods to follow" list but I don't know if there are official documents I need? I'm sure there's a link somewhere with all this info but I can't find it and im in low key chronic panic for the past month so that k you for help and patience!

My interview is tomorrow at 8 am! Travelling alone by train with my 6 month old to the embassy. Feels like the whole world is on my shoulders. Here's hoping to goes smoothly and I have everything I need. 

Good luck to everyone else too!

2 minutes ago, Ulovelexy said:

I called my embassy in regards to a question I have and they wanted my case number or husbands passport information. I did not provide that information because i don't understand why they would need it for a general question. 

I had a similar issue, when my case wasnt scheduled for an interview yet, the embassy wouldn't answer any questions. I think it's just their way of not wasting time answering a million questions from people who would rather phone than just look at their website. Means people who have specific and legitimate questions have to jump through more hoops but saves them time processing. 

5 hours ago, wholetthedogsout said:

Hey folks – sorry if this is a stupid question, but if I had a case complete on May 16, when should I expect the email from NVC with the interview date? Right now my case still says "at nvc". Thanks in advance.

I just got the email today after waiting about a week and a half from when I phoned (turns out I phoned the day it was scheduled!). I would suggest waiting on scheduling flights or whatever though. The email says my interview is three days later than the NVC guy said it was on the phone!

Edit: CC date was April 17.

I'm in the same boat. I called and they told me that my interview was scheduled and that I could expect the actual snail mail package in about a week or a week and a half.  It's been a week after a half and no email, not snail mail, and it still says "at nvc". Hm.

Thank you both!

I will be travelling alone with my 6 month old when I go for my interview. Does anyone know if they allow strollers in the building? 

Also any word on how long it takes to get your visa after the interview? I've seen estimates of 1-2 weeks, 2-3 weeks, and longer!

congrats!!

good luck!

i didnt realize it was a CC as soon as they tell you youre in line for an interview, i thought i had to wait for it to be scheduled!

priority: May 31 2016

CC: april 24

Interview scheduled: May 5 (today! eeeeeeee!)

scheduled for: june 16 (montreal)

CC april 24, and just called and found out they scheduled my interview today! it's in about a month and a half

my CEAC status still reads "AT NVC" but i'm not too worried about it.

i just found out today that my interview is scheduled! CC on april 24th, interview on the 16th. when i called (my first time calling them!) the guy on the phone said that they'd just scheduled it 2 hours ago! so who knows maybe yours is on the way too! i havet had any email notification yet.

We paid all our fees and submitted all the documents and paperwork online (what a lifesaver!) around 3 weeks ago. got this email today. I think it means that so far everything is good and we're just waiting for an interview? does anyone know roughly how long it should take to be scheduled? it seems like the anecdotal info on VJ is more accurate than the vague assurances from the official NVC websites! i suppose it's consulate specific too? i'll be going to MTL.

3 minutes ago, phillamb168 said:

Better to hear the bad news sooner than later: NVC processing (after receiving the required documents you send in) is currently clocking in at around 10-12 weeks, assuming you don't get a checklist for missing or 'wrong' paperwork. Unless you can do electronic filing, which appears to significantly speed up the process? I'm not sure.

Yeah the gov't website said 1-3 months. Assuming we don't botch our paperwork, that'll still be much much faster than processing the i-130! i don't think you can file electronically from Canada

FINALLY!

Our I-130 NOA1 was may 31 2016 and our case was just approved on feb 7th 2016. ours was one of the cases that was moved from nebraska to texas. We submitted an inquiry a few weeks ago and they told us we'd have to wait up to two more months for them to sort out our case. i'm glad we didnt have to wait that long.

Honestly though, this took eight months and a bit, and our case is pretty much as easy to rubber stamp as a case could be. It sounds like the next steps go by much quicker, but with a two month old, my husband and i are pretty anxious to put this behind us! as i'm sure everyone else here is...

anyways, wish us luck in the next steps and i hope everyone still waiting hears back soon!

Isn't processing time from NSC supposed to be around 5 months? if you filed in july you can consider yourself lucky t be approved already.

Yeah our NOA1 was May 31, and today our case status finally changed only to tell us that it's been moved "to a local office". Some ferocious googling later and it seems like it could really be any number of things, some seem good, some seem terrible. At least it means someone has touched our paperwork. But i'm 7 and a half months pregnant and would really like to have a solid idea of what my future is going to look like beyond waiting to see my husband.

All complaining aside, it looks like they're just trying to spread the work around a but. Hopefully that means faster processing. Fingers crossed.

Ah the expedite... I am canadian waiting for my NOA2. I'm also 5 months into a high risk pregnancy. My husband called USCIS to ask about requesting an expedite and they said they would email us to request our evidence and info within five days. They wouldnt allow him to submit any actual information. In a few days we DID hear from them, saying our request had been denied. Despite never having actually made our request. When he phoned back to ask what had happened he got a bunch of stock answers and was told he could re-submit his request to expedite in a week. it was mega frustrating and we're still working on it.

They (NVC and the rmbassy) need yo see a birth certificate with names of both parents on. Or a space where a parent name would be if one of your parents is unknown and you only have one parent named on your birth certificate.

In the UK we have two versions of birth certificates. Little ones about the size of a postcard with just the bare minimum of details and full birth certificates with both parents, father's occupation, mother's address, etc.

yes it's that same in canada. That's why people have been saying to get the Long Form, since tat's the one with all the info on it.

that's what i thought too. seems like i have every possible bit of paper except the one i need! thanks

Oh okay, I didn't know that. What I have is a certified copy of a "statement of live birth". I'm usually pretty good at finding information online but I'm struggling to find anything clear about whether or not that is the same thing as a Long form Birth Certificate.

Get the long form birth certificate. Make sure your passport is updated with the name you want to use as well.

I saw a thread about the long form but it was from a few years ago. It turns out I do have a ---certified copy--- of the long form. the VJ guide says that an "Original or certified "long" birth certificate.*" is required, but I can't tell if my certified COPY will do the trick? Or if that's just what they mean? it's got an embossed seal from the registrars office on the bottom and a signature, crest at the top of the page. I'd feel really silly ordering a replacement just to receive something I already have. I might call service Ontario and just bug them on the phone about exactly what I'll be receiving in the mail if I order a long form.

I'm putting off any name changes for now, this paperwork is complicated enough already!

Oh excellent. That's a great resource, thank you!

Time to get all those ducks in a row...