TeamWarlock

Got my interview notice yesterday out of Jacksonville too, for 5/10, based on 3 year marriage. They're really cranking things out there, it seems!

My wife completed her interview yesterday and got the Oath Ceremony done right after. It was an easy process at our local office, and we feel lucky that it was all done so quickly.

No it isn’t. Speaking as a Canadian citizen working through this process, there is no legal obligation to renounce citizenship for countries that allow dual citizenship. There aren’t many countries that require you to renounce, but Canada is not one of them. https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/dual-citizenship-united-states-canada.html

No it isn’t. Speaking as a Canadian citizen working through this process, there is no legal obligation to renounce citizenship for countries that allow dual citizenship. There aren’t many countries that require you to renounce, but Canada is not one of them. https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/dual-citizenship-united-states-canada.html

No it isn’t. Speaking as a Canadian citizen working through this process, there is no legal obligation to renounce citizenship for countries that allow dual citizenship. There aren’t many countries that require you to renounce, but Canada is not one of them. https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/us-immigration/dual-citizenship-united-states-canada.html

Yeah most likely. My eligibility date is November 2021, and given that YSC’s processing time looks to be 16 months on the minimum, I’d rather apply and take my chances that both get processed at the same or similar times.

I have a quick question, when are you guys planning to apply for Naturalization? Are you waiting to receive the new Green Card first?

My package was sent off and received 11/23, and our credit card was charged at 4:23 this morning! The sigh of relief was unreal. Hopefully everyone starts getting some traction here soon!🙂

Ahhh! 🎉 Credit card charged today!!! Oh I'm so excited! 😁😂
Lockbox received 11/23/2020

Congrats!! This week they moved fast. Folks from 16-23 date has gotten their check cashed. 

My package was sent off and received 11/23, and our credit card was charged at 4:23 this morning! The sigh of relief was unreal. Hopefully everyone starts getting some traction here soon!🙂

My package was sent off and received 11/23, and our credit card was charged at 4:23 this morning! The sigh of relief was unreal. Hopefully everyone starts getting some traction here soon!🙂

I got the premium delivery service for my visa. Mine might have been an isolated case, but I had my passport back on the following Monday (got the confirmation email on the Thursday afternoon).

Here’s the update. We did not have to collect our bags first. Once we got to the customs area they went and got our bags for us for the check and then put them back, we never had to see them again until we got them at baggage claim at our final destination and there was a paper in each one stating it had been checked. 
 
As for the actual processing of the K1 we only had a one hour and 45 minute lay over and we figured we would miss it, but it ended up only taking thirty minutes to get through the K1 processing and I was able to stay with him the whole time. It was all smooth except for the officer processing the visa made my fiancé very uncomfortable by saying weird things about how he must have been searching online for an internet girlfriend from the US (we met online) and further gave him grief about wanting to leave Canada. He was very off put by the experience with the officer, but all and all the system they had in place was smooth and effective. 

https://www.torontopearson.com/Mobile/ConnectingGuide/Detail.aspx?arr=3
 
From what I'm reading in this link (and from what I recall of my own encounters through Pearson), your bags will be checked in Ottawa, but because your connecting flight is through Toronto, you'll have to collect your bags at Pearson and bring them through to the area where the Connecting Baggage belt is. You should be fine though, as they will have x-rayed the bags (in Ottawa and in Toronto) by the time you're at the Customs area anyway.

Background
I am Canadian. My husband is American. My interview appointment was on Dec 18, 2018 at 8am. Before arriving, I made a binder with plastic sleeves and tabs of what is included in the pre-interview checklist. This was not as necessary for the officer as much it just helped me stay organized. My husband took me to Montreal and we drove up and made a trip out of it. I recommend driving up to the embassy the day before the interview to see where to park the day of and where to stand.
 
The Appointment Day
My appointment was at 8 am. We arrived at 7:04 am. We parked in parked in lot across building for $15/day early bird price. After 8am it is $18 for the whole day. It was hard to find parking if you have an appointment before 9:30 am because the streets need to be cleared from 8am-9:30am for city cleaning.
One family arrived right when we did.  Stood in line till 7:45 am. VJ bloggers said to stand on the side with the yellow columns but that didn't matter because the building security guard asked us to line up across the right side of the building.
 
Once we were allowed in we were asked to go to the back of the line since we didn't have a 7:30am appmt and they wanted to prioritize the early ones. So we told everyone in line, if you have a 7:30am appmt move up. And then everyone was kind enough to let us stand in front of the 8am group since we were there early.
When we went in, there was a lady who greeted us and asked us for our appointment time and our passports. She handed us a laminated document that indicated our call number and what we need to have ready for the officer.  She asked out of the two who was the beneficiary and the petitioner. Then we went to security.
The security guy asked us to place our items in the bin like at the airport. Did not have to take shoes off. You hand in ur phone and keys to the officer and get a ballot to pick it up when you leave the building. We went downstairs and waited like everyone else. Then an officer came and told us we r going up to floor 19 and when we arrive we will sit and wait for our number to be called. Our waiting began, it was 8am.
 
When my number was called the lady just asked for all my documents to verify them and passport photos. Confirmed my Canadian address, phone number and then asked me the petitioners phone number and address. She took my finger prints. And then told me I am good to go and to sit and wait again and the officer will call my number for the interview.
 
The lady officer called my number and I went up. She made me take an oath of honesty on the finger print scanner.  She said you were born in Pakistan I said yes. Questions she asked me:
How did you two meet? Who is the petitioner? What does your husband /petitioner do for work? Where does he live? How often do you get to see each other? What is your highest level of education? Have you ever been convicted of a crime? Does your husband cook or do you cook? (meant to be a trick question) Have you ever been denied entry to the US? How long have you ever stayed in the US? Have you ever stayed in the US longer than 6 months?  
Then all of a sudden she pulled out two sheets and said welcome to the US and that our immigration packet is now electronic so we don't take anything to the border. If you have travel plans and are worried about getting your passport back in time, do mention it to the officer. By 8:50 am, we were done.
 
Side Notes:
- Items I brought but;
They did not even ask for the photocopies of the the original documents. 
They did not ask for a printed interview appointment letter.
They did not ask for CEAC print outs.
They did not ask to see petitioners photocopy.
They DID ask to photocopy his W-2.
They did not ask to see relationship evidence.

I went ahead and emailed them Packet 3 on Saturday since our NOA2 dates are close to each other, got Packet 4 this morning and my interview is 1/16/2019! I still haven't received the actual Packet 3 yet, but I guess I got lucky?

Just got my interview date Jan 9th!!!
I got my NOA2 Oct 13.
I never technically received a packet 3. I had emailed them about somethings including what I could do next and the replied to none of the questions except the the last question. They told me to send packet 3 info in (Nov 30). I sent packet 3 on Dec 5th.
Then received an email on Dec 8th telling me to book.
I hope that is helpful!

Hope I can join in too! Our NOA2 date was back in October, and our CEAC status is ready, just patiently waiting on Packet 3.

Hope I can join in too! Our NOA2 date was back in October, and our CEAC status is ready, just patiently waiting on Packet 3.

Hey everyone, officially joining this club! NOA2 Oct 16th, just saw the notice in the mail today   We are pretty much set to go with most of our needed interview docs and have most of the DS-160 filled and saved. Excited for this next waiting game step! 

where da approvals at?!?! Can we send some coffee and muffins to the service centers???

We've been approved!
 
NOA1- 4/12/2018
 
NOA2- 10/9/2018
 
This is such a relief! 

Will do! It's very comprehensive, that's for sure  

Congrats!!! Welcome! Check out the 1st page (lots of helpful info)