EricM

You might want to email/call Vancouver and let them know that you haven't received the letter yet and confirm that an email is good enough.

That's what I did last night, after resigning myself to the fact that I won't have the letter. Hopefully they'll respond quickly. I'm flying out tomorrow, but I'll have wireless internet at the hotel, so we'll see!

Thanks guys! I feel a lot better knowing that I'm not missing anything without the letter.

One last thing, if anyone knows - before I transferred Consulates, Montreal's checklist said they wanted the $100 USD fee in cash, US dollars. Is it the same at Vancouver?

Here in Canada, at the medical, I got:

No immunizations (I had my vaccination records from school, so I didn't need any)

Blood test

Quick physical (listened to my breathing, took my blood pressure, etc)

Chest x-ray

I also spoke to the doctor and he wrote down any past medical history I had. What he writes there will go in the sealed medical envelope (don't open it!) along with the blood test results (I can see through the envelope in good light, so I saw what he wrote ).

Not sure what immunizations are required, but my records had Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Hep. B, so you don't need any more than that, at least.

So, my interview is this Friday (15th) in Vancouver.

My friend in Coquitlam STILL hasn't received my Packet 4 from the Consulate - I got my interview date from them through email ("We have received your fax. Please be advised that you are scheduled for an interview December 15th, 2006 at 10:00 am").

I've read that I can print off that email and use it to get past the guard at the door, but is there anything in Packet 4 that I need - any information that I should know? Would anyone happen to have a scanned copy of their Packet 4 if there is info on it that I'm missing? I already know the correct order of my documents (thanks mercy!), but I hate feeling like I'm going in blind, so to speak.

Thanks for any help you guys can give!

My fiancee also had trouble with her bank. Bank of America (hers, at least) gave her a letter with:

- Current balance

- Average balance

- Date opened

At the bottom, it says, "If total amount deposited or withdrawn in the above accounts is requested for the past twelve months, please refer to copies of bank statements."

The problem we had was the same one you're having - my fiancee doesn't have any bank statements, because she went for the paperless (electronic) account option. So there's no way for her to get the statements (they don't keep 12 months' worth, online) unless she pays $20 per statement or something, and we just can't afford that.

So, here's what we did. Keep in mind that my interview's this Friday, so I will let you all know how well it worked:

First of all, my fiancee wrote a letter explaining the issue.

"Because I do all of my banking online, I do not have paper copies of any of my bank account statements. I have included a printout of my YTD earnings at <job>, as well as a paycheck model of my bi-weekly paycheck showing my deductions for taxes and insurance. My paychecks are also paperless, and are direct deposited into my checking account.

My YTD total with <job> is <amount> before tax, with <amount> in deductions. Prior to my employment with <job>, I was with <former employer>."

Then, she got her payroll department to make a paycheck model showing her year totals, how much she pays for company insurance benefits, etc. Then she went to http://www.paycheckcity.com/ and got it to calculate her 'take-home' pay (it deducts taxes, social security, medicare, dental, medical, vision, etc). She printed this out.

So, in total, we've got the affidavit of support, plus the bank letter, plus an additional letter from my fiancee explaining the situation, her paycheck model, and the printout from paycheckcity.com.

Hopefully this'll be enough to satisfy them. I'll let you know!

Six days until my interview! Anyone else have theirs this Friday?

My case was transferred Nov 29th to Vancouver. At that time, I requested an interview date before Dec 16th (since my fiancee's company holiday party is that evening and I want to schmooze for a job opportunity), and they gave me an interview date of Dec. 15th. Talk about taking things literally!

Definitely request a date when you send in your checklist.

Hey gang! I've seen here and there my fiancee will have to file some sort of tax return before she moves to the States. Is there anywhere I can find out what she needs to do/what forms to fill out? Thanks!

I did some googling on this a while ago in anticipating of leaving, and I *think* this is the only form you need to fill out and send to CRA:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/nr73/nr73-04e.pdf

That's all I know, so far, but I'm sure other helpful people around here have some more answers!

Congratulations!!

Thank you for all your help with the transferring info. I'm glad your interview went well!

-Foot in mouth-

Just found that out.

Another question though..

When they want educational institutes, do they mean every school? Or just Universities?

The book that I have (Fiance & Marriage Visas: A Couple's Guide to U.S. Immigration), which gives examples of filled-out forms, only shows universities listed on the example form. I only put universities on my DS-230 Part 1 and they accepted my Packet 3 without issue.

Got the visa - well, I have to go back later for it, but it was approved.

The officer asked me a couple of questions, expressed regrets that I had to leave my job to move, and then said congratulations. I clapped my hands and said "yay!" like the geek I am, and now I am back at work, and I really need to pee.

I will post something useful to others as soon as I get some work done!

I can't believe that after 7 months, it is finally over! Well, still 2 months to a move, but this part is easy. I am so happy! Now I need to track down snugglebunny.....

Congratulations! I just got my interview date at Vancouver, for the 15th.

I'm just curious (forgive me for derailing your congrats thread!) - did they have your visa ready later the same day, or the next day?

Congratulations! I quit smoking last December and haven't looked back. I've felt so incredibly healthy ever since, it's really great.

You can do it! Just take it one day at a time and concentrate on how much healthier you feel. I found that imagining my body & lungs cleaning all the ####### out of my system really helped keep me motivated.

Good luck!