CécileMai

Oh yes... sorry... I’m at work... I made mistakes in my dates : 
timeline Corrected: 
27th March 2017 : entering the us with k1
17th June 2017: wedding 
June 2017: filing for aos
then I received EAD and AP
18th June 2018: moving back to Canada 
 
i’m so Sorry guys for this mistake 😓

Oh yes... sorry... I’m at work... I made mistakes in my dates : 
timeline Corrected: 
27th March 2017 : entering the us with k1
17th June 2017: wedding 
June 2017: filing for aos
then I received EAD and AP
18th June 2018: moving back to Canada 
 
i’m so Sorry guys for this mistake 😓

I'll add to triple-check you are submitting everything. Our I-131 was rejected outright because it was missing the last page with the signature (which I presume USCIS lost since I have complete copies of the whole packet and haven't found the 'missing' signature). When we re-submitted they expected us to pay the separate fee on top of the already cashed $1,225. 

Hi there, 
Adjusting from k1, filled January and got my EAD already. 
Just one check of $1,225 for everything. 
AP and EAD are free of charge. 
No need for additional fee and yes use the c9 categories to adjust from a k1. 
Good luck !

You entered in Montreal because of preclearance. Once you went through customs you were legally and technically on US soil despite being in a Canadian airport. 

ELIS Account Number is not for K! visa holders. it is for other categories. Kindly ignore that and fill all other relevant information.

Hello forumers!
 
It's been a little more than 2 weeks that I'm in Brooklyn and I come back to give you feedback about my journey.
 
So I activated my K1 visa the 24th at YUL airport as a POE. I arrived there really early (3 hours before the flight which was 1pm this friday) to be sure that I would have enough time to do all the procedures stressfree. So after the security check, I made the line for customs and the officer in the booth took the sealed enveloppe and my passport. He sent me to a waiting room. I was alone and had to wait only 5-10 min to meet the CBP officer. She was neutral, looked at my file, typed some things in her computer. She only asked me if I knew what was the conditions of a k1 visa (the 90 days, and the fact that I have to marry my fiancé within this limit) and it was good! I was so relieved that I forgot to ask for i-94.
Of course when I noticed it, it was too late I was already in the terminals, so i had to come back through the forbidden doors, and a cbp supervisor explained me kindly how to get an electronic version online.
 
Concerning my moving from MTL to Brooklyn, I suscribed with Atlas Van Line professionnal movers. Paul Kasner was the contractor in Montreal and he was really helpful, answering questions about items I'm not supposed to pack, helping filing forms, etc... They picked up my stuff the 23rd of march and I received everything the 4th of april at the exact announced time. The price was 2100$ US and it was a package price for up to 2000 pounds (not related to volume). I didn't pay anything until the delivery. They had to move some pretty heavy pieces of furniture from a 3rd floor to a 4th floor without elevators. I'm quite satisfied with the service, except the delivery team who were not really nice, but well, they were efficient. Also a little wooden desk had been slightly damage. In spite of that, I would recommend them for their efficiency and professionalism.
 
Once in Brooklyn, I didn't have problems to open a bank account, even without a SSN. I went to Capital One, after checking different banks, they have pretty good reviews and they don't ask you to keep loads of money to avoid fees. Also I was able to get a temporary debit/mastercard the same day. They only asked me for my passport/visa and to put 50$ on the account. Then I made a transfer of money from my canadian bank, it took 2 days.
 
Other tip: I shopped for a mobile phone contract but I found everything really expensive compared with Canada. I found a good solution: prepaid card (I already have a phone)! First time in my life I'm trying this and I'm more than satisfied: no contract, no credit history to provide. I paid 40$ (tx incl) for unlimited us calls, free unlimited texting worldwide, 4Go of internet connection.
 
I also want to give review about my SSN experience but I will have to switch for another forum I guess
I hope this can help some fiancés! Good luck to everyone! Things are happening!
 
Cecile
 
 
 

Hi,
I just applied for my Social Security Number (K1) and would like to suggest the following information for inclusion in the guide:
1. Be prepared to spend a long time waiting - especially if you are in an area with a lot of immigrants. I waited 2 1/2 hours in line in Orlando.
2. More documentation than is listed (i.e. passport only) may be required.
- birth certificate (with translation if needed)
- any documentation to explain why your name at birth is not your current name. This would include marriage certificate, but also divorce certificates or legal name change documents. (I needed my divorce decree)
3. Be sure that your mailbox (especially if it is a super/group mailbox) has your name on it. The post office will not leave the card in your mailbox if your name is not on it (this includes (apparently) new spouses and children). If the name is not on the mailbox, they are instructed to leave/send you a notice that your card is ready for pick-up, and you will have to go back into the office to pick it up in person.
Just thought this might help.
I was also in the wrong office initially...coming from a country that doesn't actually issue "cards" for their social, only a number, "Card Processing Services" wasn't clear to me. Check to be sure you are going to the right service office (our area has 4 of them, but only one processes new SSN applications).
I leave it for a moderator to determine best location for this post.

Dear VJers,
 
I'm flying to meet my fiancé next friday 
I will activate my K1 visa at Montreal Trudeau Airport and I'm preparing for that.
So, correct me if I'm wrong, these are the documents I will need:
 
1- Passport with K1 inside
2- One big yellow sealed enveloppe that was sent with my visa.
 
What confusing me is something I read, browsing through the forum: some people bring with them a white sealed enveloppe from their medical exam. I just have the Chest Xray CD in a brown sealed enveloppe on which it's written "this should not be given to CBP at US POE". So ok, i will keep it for later but I wonder if I'm missing something. Should I have a third enveloppe, or am I good?
 
Thank you for your help or any tips
 
I also planned to take with me the copy of the vaccines I got at the medical exam. And crossing fingers that everyhting will go smoothly...
 
Cecile
 
 

I fly back and forth between NY and YUL every week and mornings can be surprisingly crowded!! :-)

Also, as a side note, your POE won't be JFK but Montreal. We go through US customs at Trudeau and land domestically. Allow a bit of time before your flight as you will have to go through the non-US non-Canadian line (you can't use the machine when activating a Visa). Let the officer know that you're activating your visa. But yes, be ready to go through US customs in Canada before your flight and not when you land 

The government will know where to find you as you file your last tax report, put your new adress in the US on it. For all the administrative services (healthcare, income tax) in Quebec we can do it online once and it will give your new address to all administration services. It probably exists in all regions