ErikaB

Nope, she didn't take my EAD (I don't have AP). She gave it back to me. It didn't sound like she was going to talk to others about it (she said that she specifically was going to review it at some point and then make a decision) - but then again, few would admit that they don't have authority if they don't need to admit that. But she certainly might be new, she was very much disorganized.

There is no quicker way of finding out whether or not you are approved other than waiting for a letter coming through snail mail -- you can't call the local district offices or email them. You just have to sit tight and get anxious.

That's really frustrating, but ah well. She definitely didn't say she was missing anything though, just that she wanted to review.

Thanks

I had my AOS interview yesterday in Portland, OR. The interview was fairly short and straightforward, though the lady doing the interview was extremely scatterbrained and had to ask several questions over and over because she kept mis-writing dates down and was just generally really disorganized.

She seemed a little perplexed about some of our answers, like the fact that we're not going to have another wedding for my parents who live in eastern Canada since my husband and I (and my family as well) don't care much about weddings (and my parents haven't gotten their passports yet so they didn't come to the one we already had). We had a very simple ceremony here in Oregon which was good enough for us. She also seemed a little miffed when we both said we were atheists and didn't want children (but at least we share the same values, in my opinion), and that we met online.

Anyway, we brought information about a shared bank account and other proof of shared address and such, but I was never put on the lease because our landlords are titchy (it costs money to get added, they do a background check, they don't like people being added to the lease even if they can't do much about it, etc...) and we might not even live here longterm. I haven't learned how to drive, so I wasn't put on his car title or insurance yet since that wouldn't make sense at the moment. We also have no health/life or any other kind of insurance aside from car insurance, so there was nothing to add me to in that respect. In general though, she seemed to have a pleasant demeanor and relatively few questions aside from what I mentioned. There were no issues with my vaccinations or about income because my husband makes six figures, and we're also pretty close in age (4 years).

But at the end, she came back to the fact that I wasn't on the lease, and then she ended by saying she was going to review our file some more before she made a decision, and she wasn't sure when she was going to. From most of the threads I've read here, I got the impression that most people (who were approved) got approved right at the interview and weren't told that it would be under review. Is this actually more common than it seems, or is it something to be concerned about?

When I asked when I would find out, all she said was that if it was approved, I might receive the card in the mail in two weeks. Is there no quicker way to find out whether or not it was actually approved or denied? I'm rather concerned about her "review" so I'd like to know for sure so I can quit stressing about it. If there is a denial, for some crazy reason, is it a straight out denial or is there just a second interview?

Thanks everyone.

Can you set it up so they will post payments against your US Bank Debit/Check Card? That by far would be the cheapest and you typically get a good exchange rate on top of it as well....

Pretty sure that's not possible, that it only works through my bank account. With that said, I don't want to do that anyway. I'm currently only paying the interest on this line of credit (it's a student line of credit), but I'll have to start paying down principle within a couple of months. And money is far too tight to be putting those kinds of automatic withdrawals on my husband's only bank account. The joys of not being allowed to work. Ah well.

Yeah, that's the same reason I need to do it too. Ugh. Though the exchange rate barely makes a dent anymore.

I'll look into your suggestion, Emancipation. Thanks. (Though any other options are always good )

I'm pretty ignorant about the US banking system. Does anyone know how difficult it is to deposit money into a Canadian bank account (specifically, Royal Bank) from their spouse's bank (specifically, US Bank)? I assume it's possible. What information is needed other than the account number?

Thank you.

Sigh, three weeks and still no cheque cashed. I lost the tracking number, so now I'm just paranoid about whether or not it even arrived or got lost.

Thank you, these answers were very helpful.

I'm wondering if it's possible to get a civil surgeon to transcribe the I-693A/vaccination supplement form without having the vaccination worksheet that was received at the medical? Long story short, I can't find my vaccination worksheet, it was apparently misplaced in all of my paperwork (though I still have the handy X-Ray kicking around), but I do have my vaccination record from the Ontario Ministry of Health. Does anyone know if this is acceptable evidence for the civil surgeon, or will I have to try and get another copy of the worksheet from the Ottawa doctor, if she'd even still have one? Or what are my options?

Thank you.

Paperclipped to the outside of my sealed envelope and x-ray envelope was an extra copy of the vaccination worksheet, which I didn't even ask for. So apparently, Dr Stewart just automatically gives one.

Glad it all went relatively well. The blood work was the worst part for me as well.

That arm is fine now, but now my other arm where she gave me the Tetanus shot hurts although it didn't hurt at first

How long did it take you to get your results? Did you have to pick them up or did they mail them?

All my vaccinations were up to date, thankfully (for now anyway, I need my Tetanus update in December ).

They were ready for pick-up within 3 days (I went Monday afternoon, they were available Thursday). I live like 5-10 minutes on a direct bus route to Riverside, so I never even asked about the possibility of having them mailed.

Glad it all went relatively well. The blood work was the worst part for me as well.

That's a pretty excellent product, thanks!

She'll go slightly under the gown (through the top) for any chest exams, but that's very quick as well. Nothing about it is overly thorough, that's for sure.

I can definitely understand why you're uncomfortable, but it is a female doctor doing it and it is very, very quick. It literally takes 2 seconds, and no matter what, you're going to have to strip down and put on a paper gown for her to check over the rest of you as well. She's very... motherly, I guess is the way to describe it, somewhat older and very friendly. If I was you, I'd do my best not to worry so much about it, it's not AS terrible as it seems, and you're just going to overstress.

I mean, they can't just take your word for it that you've never been sexually active. That doesn't work for the STD blood tests they do, can't just say "I haven't had sex/used unclean needles, I couldn't possibly have HIV, etc..."

Damn. Okay, thanks.

My fiancé is driving up from Portland, so he'll have to definitely be there on time so we can get out of there. That's why I was especially hoping there'd be somewhere outside I could take her if I had to wait at all.

I'm flying into YVR on May 15th, and I'm flying with my cat. I've never flown with an animal before, and I don't know the airport. What I was wondering is if anyone knows if there are any patches of grass, or anywhere at all, just outside any of the terminals where I could take her so that she could relieve herself? If anyone's taken a dog or anything else through there?

I imagine that after a longish flight and all other wait times, she's not going to want to wait until I can get to a hotel and set up a litter box, heh.

Really? It cost me $285, and that was only three weeks ago.

I got looked at and checked out from Dr. Doane.. Better to be prepared that a check would be done I think.. I was under the impression it was "no biggie" .. and I ended up really uncomfortable when i was told to strip down... Not fun..

Yeah, I expected it ahead of time since it's listed on the medical info in my packet 3, but it's definitely still uncomfortable, especially since it'd be the first and only time encountering this doctor, heh. It's the main reason why I went to Dr. Stewart, since she's female.

It took about - literally - 3 seconds. She just checks for obvious infections/problems. No stirrups or anything like that, just up on the table where she checks reflexes etc... as well.

And I imagine they all do. It was listed as a necessary part of the exam in my packet 3 info.

Dr. Stewart was great. Friendly and to the point, it was a rather short exam. Some basic health questions, goes over your vaccination record, checks your vitals, eyesight, and then does a quick physical checking reflexes and genitals (very quick and painless).

There was almost no waiting time for me, and her secretary was knowledgeable. No waiting time to get bloodwork done (in the same building). Short wait time at the Riverside Hospital (on-site as well) for the X-ray, but nothing significant. Results were ready within 3 days.

Good luck, hopefully it's not just a mix-up. They definitely should send a few more cases out there to even things out.

I'm curious as to what kind of address you have to have in the west if I wanted to consider this route? Do you have to have something that's in your name, or could it be a trusted friend's address?