ladykelia

Congrats!

Basically read the guides about the differences between the spousal (K3) and and fiance visa (K1) and ask canadian specific questions on the Canadian forum. If you and your family are already in the US, there is a possibility that you may be able to get married right away and simply file for an adjustment of status.. but (someone correct me if I am wrong) you would not be able to return to Canada-- even for a visit-- until you file for and are approved for what is called "advanced parole" and this can take several months. You should definately get some legal advice about this kind of move though, because you would have to be able to show that you did not enter the US on this trip with the intention of marrying.

Your other choices include:

1) get married immediately and apply for the K3 spousal visa

2) don't get married yet and apply for the K1 fiance visa, but you cannot get married until you recieve the visa

As far as I know the differences between the two visas are not all that vast but require a couple of differences in procedure and wait times. Neither way is stress free. Both ways normally result in you and your fiance spending most of the time apart during the application processing, unless he can visit you often. Unfortunately the process is rarely very fast and can take anywhere from 4-9 months on average.

After you put in your petitions though, your travelling across the border from Canada to the US for subsequent visits may be more limited or risky, so many people suggest that you be very careful about it and bring proof of ties from Canada such as a letter from your employer. Otherwise you can file your paperwork now and stay in the US for as long as possible (until your visitor status is up.. 3 months at time I believe), return to Canada and remain there until your paperwork is processed. For both visa applications you will need to return to Canada eventually.

I've never heard of any POE unable to activate a visa. I have, however, heard of POE's not used to processing a visa and having to consult manuals and such.

I went through at Pembina, not only were they not familiar with the K-1 visa but the guy doing the paperwork had been on the job for about a month. There ended up being about four other agents standing around helping him get everything done.

Ha we went through at Pembina too, and the woman who worked with us seemed to know something about the K1, but she didn't know that it was only good for 1 entry! And a few of the other guards helped her a bit too. Its a bit suprising considering that its a fairly big POE, but some of the people there are definately more experienced than others.

There's no guarentees of course, but theres nothing illegal or wrong about her visiting you in the US. The thing I'd worry about is getting denied entry at the border, but that shouldn't hurt the visa process. My fiance and I have never had any problems (which is not to say you won't) crossing the border either direction. Personally, I would be honest with the border guards, but not disclose more than they ask. ie she should say that she is visiting her boyfriend for a few months and plans to return at christmas, but should not tell them that you are planning on getting married and she is seeking to immigrate UNLESS they ask for such information. As long as she doesn't lie and has her story straight it should be fine. Good luck! And Congratulations!

For how long did you spend together when you travelled? Would 4 months be excessive you think?

And thank you for the congratulations We are so in love!

-Jonathan

I'll admit, I don't know about the 4 months thing, but Canadians are allowed to visit the United States for up to 6 months without a visa. Like Liz said, you should check out the Canada forum as I'm sure there already exists many threads about peoples experiences crossing the border. I was lucky because I, the usc, was a student in Canada and was able to stay with my fiance during the entire process since I filed the I129F before we graduated.

There's no guarentees of course, but theres nothing illegal or wrong about her visiting you in the US. The thing I'd worry about is getting denied entry at the border, but that shouldn't hurt the visa process. My fiance and I have never had any problems (which is not to say you won't) crossing the border either direction. Personally, I would be honest with the border guards, but not disclose more than they ask. ie she should say that she is visiting her boyfriend for a few months and plans to return at christmas, but should not tell them that you are planning on getting married and she is seeking to immigrate UNLESS they ask for such information. As long as she doesn't lie and has her story straight it should be fine. Good luck! And Congratulations!

Only a few more days now!

1. I think the panel physicians are a little over-zealous. They swore up and down that I needed to bring my x-ray to the interview along with the medical results. I knew that wasn't true due to other reviews on VJ. What I did was I did bring it to Vancouver with me but left it in the hotel room "just in case". They didn't for my x-ray at the interview (just the sealed medical). Another girl did bring her x-ray and the woman taking the documents told her it wasn't necessary for her to have brought it.

2. As the USC, bring your passport too so they'll let you into the consulate. I think you have everything there. That's plenty of stuff and you being there is a bonus.

3. See the new Vancouver thread! Some great suggestions there.

One last thing, Vancouver is awesome to deal with. It'll be a piece of cake.

thanks for the reply!

Hey, My fiance and I are going together for the interview at the Vancouver consulate next monday. OMG! I'm excited but really nervous and anxious to get it done with. I'm all frazzled about making sure i have everything that I need. But that being said, I have a few questions--

1) X-rays- Many people on VJ have said that we do not have to take the medical X-rays with us to the interview. And we emailed the consulate and they said only bring them if there is something wrong (which there isn't), but I'll admitt, I don't hold a lot of stock in the consulate's answers. Since the x-rays are akward and fragile and we are flying, I really don't want to bring them. However, I had my fiance call the medical dudes in Edmonton and they said "you absolutely have to bring them, otherwise why would we give them to you?" But I honestly can't really see a reason why. So... who's right? Has anyone *ever* been asked for them in Vancouver?

2) Other things to bring- we have everything on the checklist, so besides those obvious things, what else do we need? I am coming with him to the interview, so that is proof in itself that we have some kind of relationship but I also have: bills with both our names on it (evidence that we have been living together for the past 4 years), university transcripts (we both went to the same university), pictures from thoughout our years together and from our recent graduation, engagement ring and wedding dress reciepts. Does this seem sufficient? Are we missing anything?

3) We're staying in Vancouver for 4 days, so what are some sights we should definately not miss?

Thanks guys!

Whoops, I should have done some more searching. Apparently other people have gotten this letter. It still is very weird . I just think that the fact that there is an account named "US Treasury" at Scotia Bank is hilarious beyond belief. I am easily amused though.

Today my fiance and I recieved a letter from the Vancouver Consulate. It informed us that effective July 1, 2007, instead of bringing $100 cash to our interview to pay for the visa application fee, we will have to print out deposit slips from www.amcits.com/deposit.pdf and visit a Scotia Bank to deposit the funds into their bank account instead.

It seems legitimate, as the URL is indeed the US consulate website, and they have our case number. Otherwise though, I would have thought the thing to be a huge scam. "just deposit 1 million dollars into our swiss bank account, when we hit it big you will get your money back 3 fold!" I also find it strange that they decided to distribute this letter only a couple of days before the change. Our interview isn't until the 9th, but imagine if we had missed this memo. yikes!

Has anyone else with an upcoming interview recieved this letter? And can anyone explain why they might do things this way? If they are afraid of theft at the embassy, why don't they just get a credit card machine and join the modern world? I find this sooo bizarre.

For us it was just a matter of choosing one country over the other. We were both up until very recently students going to the University of Regina in Saskatchewan. There are a variety of reasons why we are chosing to move to Minnesota rather than stay up here:

1) Almost everything is cheaper in the US than it is here (in Saskatchewan anyway)-- books, food, clothes gas. Almost everything except real estate and rent. Now that the exchange rate is #######, everything just seems so much more expensive up here.

2) this might be a naive myth-- but I think there are more employment and educational oppurtunities in the States. More people, more cities, more urbanization. Though I realize said oppurtunies maybe be just as or more competitive.

3) *Good* Mexican food-- well... its true. Can't speak for the rest of Canada but Regina has no actual full-menued mexican resteraunts, and I didn't have much luck finding anything good in Saskatoon or Edmonton either.

4) My parents have been very financially and emotionally (in the sense that my mom has done tons of research on the immigration process and such) supportive about our relationship, and will continue to support us until we can stand on our own feet. That's not to say that his family hasn't been amazing as well, I would just feel more comfortable living next to my support base, while my fiance seems indifferent.

All that being said, I am really going to miss Canada a lot. It's nice to feel more-or-less safe taking a walk around the park or walking to my car at night. And it's nice to only have to drive 10 minutes to get out of the city and see beautiful plain lands and valleys. The people here are friendly, and Regina has sort of that small town feel but with all the city conveniences. So.. yeah.. I love Canada, but the US won out-- for now!

Hi! I got Packet 3 from Montreal really quick but as I moved to Vancouver and my file was trasferred I am waiting for packet 3 from them now and browsing the website in the meanwhile. So many questions again!!! I would appreciate any answers!

As far as I understand, I will have to fax them form 230 and the checklist and complete 156 and 156K online, right?

Do I have to mail them 156 forms or just complete them online or to fax them???

Do I have to attach photographs to the forms?

Do I have to provide anything for my son mentioned in the petition if he follows me later?

Does I-134 have to mention my son or do we have to have a separate I-134 for him?

Will I need the original birth certificate and original tax returns of my american fiance at the interview?

Thank you guys!

Heh, I was going to reply, and then I realized I have no idea about most of your questions At least you can rest assured that I also faxed back the DS 230 (part 1) and the checklist-- so at least we interpret the instructions the same I'm pretty sure the DS 156 and the DS156K are to be saved for the interview, so you don't need to do anything with them right now. Since my fiance has no kids, I'm not really sure what special things you need to do to get the K2 visas... Maybe they will send special info? Well, I'm sure someone here knows. If not, they seem to always respond to your e-mail inquiries (calling does no good for us K1 people). Good luck!

Hooray! We finally got our Packet 3 from the Vancouver consulate, and we faxed it back right away, so I hope we get our interview date soon

But I was looking at the consulate information, and was a bit confused by the "order to put stuff in" list.. So my question is:

Is the OF-156 the same as the DS-156 or are they for different things? Since we are applying for the K1 Visa do we need to worry about it? I can't find much information about it.

The reason the EAD and AP fees are shown separately are for those poor souls that filed the AOS and/or EAD and/or AP before the fee increases and will have to pay the new fees for EAD and AP for renewals, as or if needed while awaiting the AOS adjudication.

What's the source for your information on the EAD and AP being included on the AOS? I trust you, but theres nothing on this form that indicates that this is true, and I would like to see for myself. Thanks

I would go for the K1 in your case, though unfortunately theres really no way to be with her for the entire term of her pregnancy. As someone said, you should apply now because you will still be able to visit her in the US as long as you can prove ties to the UK, and you would hopefully get the visa before she has the baby. By the way, congratulations if she is pregnant!

That is truly amazing. Thanks for sharing your story!

Relax, I'm sure the petition is soon to be approved or is already in the pile to be sent to the NVC. I've heard that lots of people haven't been getting their NOA2s due to some system glitches on the USCIS's side. And besides that, you aren't that far behind, if behind at all. My petition just reached the NVC last week and I had an NOA1 date a good 3 weeks before yours. That being said, I (and probably most people here) have felt the same worry and panick at at least one point in the process. But it's no time to panick yet.

I understood most of those... Gawd, I've been in Canada way too long. I've even heard an "eh" slip out of my mouth a few times. I've been living and going to university (NOT college!) with my babe in Canada for the last few years, but we will move to the States when his immigration comes through. I think I'm going to have to be re-assimilated into American culture!

Thanks guys! I posted in a moment of panick. I feel much more reassured now.

peach

herbal essences or pantene proV?

herbal essences

ducklings or goslings?

Hello, I have a question. My fiance picked up a Criminal records from Regina Sask where he currently resides. It lists his name, date of birth, current Regina address, and says:

"This is to certify that a name search based on the above information has not disclosed a Criminal Record in the Regina Police Service's local indices or in Canada's National Repository for criminal records"

According to the checklist instructions he needs a police record from each locality that he has lived for over 6 months, however, according to the wording of this, the certificate seems to be a Canada-wide national certificate. Or am I mistaken? He has also lived in Alberta, so will he need a police ceritifcate from there as well? If so, does he need to go to Alberta to get it?

Left the NVC last friday, May 18. Woot! Hope yours made it out too Keisha (and everyone else who was there last week)

Congratulations! I think you should give me the credit... all my hard wishing for you has finally paid off! Kidding. So glad to see it has FINALLY been straightened out. Hope you have a great camping trip and that your re-adjustment back into america is pleasant! Congrats again!

Good luck guys. I hope something good comes out of this really soon. I do think its very inappropriate that they have the same woman re-reviewing your case. She obviously thought it fit to dismiss your case in the first place, so why did they think she was competent enough to understand it the second time? The whole situation sucks... I can't believe the consulate doesn't have some sort of policies to prevent these kinds of abuses, or if they do, I can't believe they have no way to enforce them. Anyway, good wishes! I'm sure someone will be able to straighten this out.

my husband just called and they said they HAVE NO RECORD OF IT!!!!!!!!!!!! :girlwerewolf2xn: :girlwerewolf2xn: :girlwerewolf2xn:

WHAT THE FAAAAAAAAAAAAACK

so i called the senator and the lady said she has record of them saying they received it. well duuuuuh, our lawyer does too and so do we, but now it seems the lady just .. i dunno... dismissed it? thrown it away? burned it? wiped her behind with it?

SO WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE IT IS OR WHAT'S GOING ON WITH IT AND THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO, SENATOR WON'T CALL UNTIL THE 3RD, OUR LAWYER CAN'T GET THROUGH, WE'RE NOT GETTING ANY INFO AND NOW THEY DON'T HAVE A RECORD OF IT?

:girlwerewolf2xn: :girlwerewolf2xn:

it's siiiiiiiix weeks laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaater. we already did our waiting time for the interview and applications, just look at it for crying out loud.

i'm so mad and frustrated i can hardly function

whoa.... wait whhhhhaaaat? This is getting ridiculous.... good luck :/

Well I called the NVC again on wednesday just in case, and they had it this time! Thank goodness... I feel so much better now

Called the NVC for the first time today. Not there. Le sigh...