MonopolyMoney

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I just realized that we're interview date twins.. which means..

1. I'll be seeing you in line at the Embassy.

2. There's six days, 21 hours and 10 minutes until our interview! EEP!

Thanks to your countdown I'm officially panicking now.

Has anyone recently filed for employment insurance after moving to the US? On service Canada's website, they state that you must provide proof that you are legally authorized to work in the US.. soo... you need to wait until you have an EAD?

Any insight into this would be greatly appreciated.

*breathes*

Thanks everyone! It helps to know that I'm not the only one that is/has worried about stuff like this.

We have 22 (!!!!!) days until our interview in Montreal for the K1 visa. All of our paperwork is in order, boxes are being packed and arrangements are being made for an October 31st legal marriage.

All I have left to do now is worry about the visa being denied. I can't seem to find any information on what the process is once you've left the Embassy with a denial. Could someone point me in the right direction?

I like to be prepared, and if we are denied, then having a plan of action will make the devastation a lot easier to bear. The only thing I think we could be denied for is the financial aspect.. and even then, my Dad co-sponsored and he makes more than the government's standard for a visa issuance.

Is anyone else in the same boat right now with an interview coming up within the next month? How are you feeling?

I can't wait until the interview is over and I'm back at home in Massachusetts with my soon to be husband and our cat.

Kurtis had his medical appointment on September 11th in Toronto at the Medisys office. It was about a 3 hour trip there, we waited in the office for about 2 hours before he was seen. He saw Dr. Siet--it was pretty much an in and out exam. The staff wasn't exactly friendly, but they were civil. This office has the option of a courier delivery, instead of coming back to pick up the results in 3 days. It's $20.85 for this service; the exam itself was $191.50. We chose this option because I *despise* driving in the city, especially foreign ones.

After the exam, we were sent about a half hour walk away to get the chest X-rays done. The wait time there was approximately 20 minutes. The X-ray took 2 minutes and we were out of there just in time to hit the lovely Toronto rush hour traffic. It took us about 4.5 hours to get home, and upon arrival, we found out that we had to go back to the X-ray place. The technician that had taken Kurtis's Xrays had managed to hit 'delete' instead of 'send' on their computers. Thus, the image was lost.

We spent the better half of Wednesday calling around to get a straight answer--finally the technician admitted to her mistake. We then spoke to the manager of the clinic, who told us we would be compensated for our gas/parking when we return. Um, that's nice and all, but what about the nearly 8 hour drive???? Not to mention that Kurtis's schedule doesn't allow another trip out there, so he'll need to take time off.

I understand that mistakes do happen, and the technician's mistake wasn't out of malice, but ARRRRGH! This whole thing is incredibly frustrating.

When/where/how do we get the I-94 form?

Does anyone know if EADs are issued at the border by Buffalo?

Thanks in advance.

Jeeze.. I never thought it would happen. I think I'm solely responsible for the Montreal Consulate no longer accepting phone calls for case status--sorry everyone! They kept telling me that our interview would be in November, but surprisingly, it's in October!!

So.. panic arises. I feel like we're down to the wire now (ohgodohgodIhopehesapproved!), and we're gathering everything we need for the interview in Montreal.

Here's what we have- original and 1 copy:

DS-156K (unsigned!)

I-134 Affidavit of Support

Letter of intent from me

Proof of ongoing relationship (photos and proof of visits)

Birth certificate, long form

Police certificate

DS-156 (only have 2 copies, sent in original)

DS-230 (only have 2 copies, sent in original)

Name change document

Original tickets to support evidence of our relationship (from the I-129F packet)

Photos (same as above)

His passport

Passport photos (although they are dated in May--does this matter? If so, we'll get them re-done)

*We'll get the mailing folder closer to the interview date.

*His medical is on September 11th.

Is there anything we've overlooked??

How did everyone else arrange their documents? Right now we have the originals in one manila folder, copies in another, and the whole I-129F packet in yet another. Then all of the folders are put in one big mailing packet. Does the Montreal Consulate prefer that the documents are in any particular order?

It's true that the consulate works on a first come, first serve basis, correct? So even if they named a time for our interview, we can show up at 7:30 and be helped first?

Ahhh! I can't believe this is finally happening!!

Do we send the DS-156k to the consulate? Do we need to attach photocopies of all our evidence (birth certificate, passport, police certificate, etc)? Or do we just bring all of that in on the interview day, along with the unsigned DS-156k?

Please correct me if I'm wrong: we send in the completed checklist, we do the DS-156 online, print two pages and send them to the consulate, and then complete the DS-230 and send that in also.

I guess when you don't look at the immigration paperwork for a while, it's hard to start back up again.

I'm taking a 3-day to see my Canadian, and we've decided to visit Niagara Falls. Does anyone have any hotel recommendations (or warnings!) for the Canadian side, near the falls?

It would be most appreciated.

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if I should post this here or in the regional discussion. Kurtis (Canadian) has received his packet from the Montreal Embassy. The Embassy sent Kurtis a checklist to check off things he'll need for the interview. This includes the police certificate, a passport, long form birth certificate, and other things.

He doesn't have a passport that has been updated with his legal name change yet. The passport website says that it will take 10 business days for him to receive it, plus some additional time (up to 25 days) for the volume increase that the office is experiencing.

The birth certificate takes 6-8 weeks normally, but with proof of urgency (such as a letter from the Embassy confirming an appointment), the ministry will process it in 2 days.

The police certificate (from http://www.fingerprintingservice.com/index.html) will take 5 days.

SO, my question is:

Could Kurtis send in the checklist now (after he applies for the passport because that will take the longest) or should he wait until he actually obtains everything that he needs for the interview?

Honestly, I'm sick of waiting. I feel like if we wait for him to get all this stuff (and for us to get the money saved up--our kitty needs surgery so we're saving the majority of money for that--that's life, right?) then we'll be waiting for even longer than if he just submitted the checklist and got everything afterwards.

I just want to get our interview date! I want to be done with this part of the immigration process. I want to have him *here* with me.

But I also don't want to screw ourselves over by not having any patience. What do y'all think?

Hi everyone!

Kurtis received his packet today. I guess it's time to start looking into where to stay in Montreal. I've never been, but I've heard that it's gorgeous in the summer. I hope that there's absolutely no snow when the interview date rolls around!!

So, I have a few questions:

1. Where is the best place to stay, close to the Consulate?

2. How is the public transit? Is the airport accessible by any transit methods?

3. If we were to drive, are the road signs/roads confusing? I hate driving even in Boston--one way streets will probably be the end of me.

4. When do you normally get the visa?

5. Where can I find more information about the Montreal Consulate? I'm reading just about anything I can get my hands on, so any particular post/link that you've found helpful would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for any responses. I'm looking forward to making this Montreal trip a nice getaway (provided it's warm, of course!).

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to read the pinned topics but I can't seem to log into the archive. It says that the archive is offline and then when I try to log in, it doesn't recognize my screen name. Does anyone know what's going on?

So we're onto the next step (woohoo!)--getting the documents prepared for the interview. He hasn't gotten his packet yet (still have a while to wait on that!), but I have a question regarding passports and name changes.

Kurtis (beneficiary) had his last name changed a couple of years ago. His passport (unexpired) is still in his old name. He's travelled before with it--he just brings a copy of his birth certificate and his name change document.

Is the lack of a passport in his new name going to affect the visa process? The guide says that he needs to bring his passport to the interview--what for?

I know in reality that the best thing would be for him to get a new passport with his new legal name, but that takes time and money (that we don't have at this particular time).

Yep, it is the long-awaited and desired NOA2. Congratulations!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is all.

*** DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS E-MAIL ***

The last processing action taken on your case

Receipt Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On January 24, 2007, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Is this the actual approval?????? *so hopeful!* So now they send the packet to the National Visa Center?

K1s are only interviewed at in Vancouver and Montreal. Since you're in Toronto, it will be Montreal. The NVC will forward to Montreal regardless of what you put.

Oooh, okay. Thanks so much! That's one less thing to worry about.

Hi everyone!

Sent in our I-129F packet and the check has been cashed! Just a quick question.. when I went to update my timeline on this site, there was no section for a Toronto consulate.

Under where the visa would be sent on the form, I put Toronto. Was this incorrect? Should I have put an embassy, not a consulate? Does it matter?

Haha, sorry, this seems so trivial but I'm a bit concerned.

You're still good to go. That is the current version and will be until USCIS issues a new one, which they have not done yet.

Are you sure? I'm sorry, I don't mean to second guess, but I'm very anxious about this whole process. I just want to send the packet in and be done with it for now. I'm stressing myself out more than I should over this.

I'll be checking the website for the new forms up to the date that I send the I-129F in.

Darn. I was just going over the packet (everything is dated for January 1st--I like to plan ahead!) and I realized that on the I-129F petition, there's an expiration date on the top right hand corner. Mine expires 12/31/06. Darn. So much for planning ahead!

Just a heads up for anyone else planning ahead.

Hi everyone!

Just putting the finishing touches on the I-129F packet. I have a birth certificate, but it doesn't seem "official" enough. It's not notarized and it's just a copy of what they gave my parents at the hospital. It has my name, date of birth and location, my Mom and Dad's names, occupations, birthdates and birth locations. Is this acceptable or should I copy my passport?

If I copy my passport, do I need to copy ALL of the pages and the front and back cover? It just seems like a lot of photocopying, especially since the middle part are "stock" pages that everyone else has in their passports.

Thanks!

check peoples timelines that pretty much explains it

Oops, sorry. I'm still learning to navigate this site. Don't mind my silly questions in the meantime.

Hi everyone!

I'm getting ready to send the fiance packet in on the 1st of January, but I was wondering when they normally cash the check?

My Dad so graciously agreed to help my fiance and me file for the K-1 visa by being his financial support. I'm a college student, so I don't even begin to meet the poverty standards. I understand all the directions on the visa (the notary, evidence, etc), however, I'm a bit unclear on something.

I shouldn't need to file the affidavit of support myself, because I'm not the one that would be financially responsible for him, right?

This is all still quite a while away, but I'd rather worry about this than finals right now. We plan to send our I-129F packet in on the 1st of January (it's all set and ready to go, signed and pre-dated). I'm getting so excited!

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the responses to my last questions. Here are a few more:

1. I went to college in Pennsylvania for one semester (4 months) and then later on lived with my fiance in Canada for just under 6 months. I never considered either of those two residences my home, and there were always plans to return to my home in Massachusetts. No utility bills were under my name in Canada, if that helps. Do I need to list those under the former residences section?

2. No matter how hard I press, I just can't seem to get the information all the way through to the 4th page (it's very very faint). How critical is it that I find a way to do that? Any suggestions?

Hi everyone!

I just have a couple of questions about the I-129F application form. I know some of these are silly, but I just don't want to make a mistake and have the whole thing sent back to me!

Firstly, what is a 'certificate of citizenship'? My citizenship was acquired through birth in the US, so I shouldn't need a certificate, right? (dumb questions, remember!)

Second, my fiance and I have met several times over the course of two years. The form says to "describe the circumstances under which you met." I plan on sending original copies of plane tickets as evidence, but should I start from the beginning and how we FIRST met? Or should I just start with the most recent time?

I honestly don't know what I would do without this site. Thanks in advance for bearing with me!