ionoone

No worries, it looks like the parent thread has been deleted and there's a lot to sift through.
Unfortunately that old guide was more thorough than I can be, but I'll try and hit the main points.
 
CR-1 and K1/K3 visa holders are eligible for EI based on needing to voluntarily leave work to relocate with/for your spouse (more info here under circumstances ). You are correct in that you don't start getting money until you receive your EAD, and as far as Ive gathered you get paid from your EAD approval date up until you get your first paycheck.
They do say you need to file a claim within 4 weeks of leaving your job, however others in this thread have successfully made a claim outside that period, so I'd give it a shot. It is also required that you have at least about 700hours of work in the last 52 weeks to be eligible as well, and there are other specifics about self eployed individuals and EI, so peruse here if needed.
 
There is an Out of Canada Claims office - specifically the interstate US unit you can reach here: 1-877-486-1650
It's a small team that's very friendly and should be able to point you in the right direction
OR you can try the EI customer service line: 1-800-206-7218
 
If you haven't already Id suggest updating your Services Canada account online with your current address. You can then apply online and check the status of your application. The application does require quite a bit of info, and can time out but it does have a save button, so make use of it! I'd suggest gathering everything mentioned here .
 
The process I found was pretty streamlined.
You finish the application and it will be pending for a few weeks while they create a file. From there you should receive a letter in the mail with a questionnaire about your status in the US. You mail/fax that with the required documents (usually your I-94 and a scan of your visa). Once that is processed and your case is finally accepted, you will get a letter with an access code. Shortly after that you start to receive bi-weekly report cards which you can either mail in or call in (*you will need that access code and your SIN when calling). If your EAD is taking a while from when you apply they may send you a notice putting your case on administrative hold, however it was suggested to me by them to keep doing the report calls as the hold can take up to 2 weeks to reactivate. Once you receive your EAD approval letter you can either fax it to them or mail in a copy and they'll start your payments back-paying from the date on the approval letter. Note that they can only direct deposit to a Canadian bank. So you can either go that route OR remove any direct deposit info from your account and they will mail you cheques (in canadian funds which will likely take some time to clear). From other users it looks like the pay period maxes out between 20-36 weeks, plently of time to find work. Hopefully that helps clarify things.  

Yes, only the petitioner’s letter of intend to marry is required. The same template can be used, but this time address it to the Consulate (though I don’t think it is relevant). Make sure that the letter is signed within 30 days of the interview date.

Question regarding the "Intent to Marry Letter" required at the interview. 
 
Do we use the same template as for the one provided with the I-129F (but for the petitioner only)?

i.e. "I, XXXX XXXXX, do hereby state that I am legally able and willing to marry XXXX XXXXX, and intend to do so within 90 days of "her/his" entry into the United States with a K-1 Visa."
 
Thanks!

This situation happened to with me and my husband. We had everything set in stone before applying for the K1 visa, but TSC ended up having a huge backlog at the time that didn’t line up. 
 
We ending up having two “weddings”. The  first “wedding” day was the one we planned extensively. Our pastor agreed to do a betrothal service which is committing yourselves to each other (not a marriage). Knowing our predicament, he wrote a nice long letter explaining that we weren’t actually married in the event we were questioned about it. 
 
My now-husband stayed for a couple weeks after and then went home to wait out the visa process. The packet he received at the time his interview was scheduled did have remarks about us possibly being married but that letter came in handy. Once he came into the US we had our official wedding with the same pastor and close family and friends. 
 
Sorry for the long winded response - hope it helps! Looking back I probably would have tried to reschedule the wedding and waited out for the K1 to come through. Lord knows this process is stressful enough! 

11 days from consulate received to first "ready" and then a status update 2 days later, which we later saw was the date listed on our snail mailed P3.  

I know, right?! Hahah! 
 
How long did it take for your CEAC status to get to ready after the shipment was delivered at the consulate? I know it can vary. But I just want to have an idea so I'm not constantly checking on CEAC. 

DELIVERED! 
 
We can start keeping an eye on our CEAC status. 

Further update: Out for Delivery!

DELIVERED! 
 
We can start keeping an eye on our CEAC status. 

For anyone whose case was part of the NVC Shipment of April 2, 2019, be advised that it will likely take longer than normal for the shipment to make it to the Montreal consulate. 
 
"Why?", you ask. It was sent to Puerto Rico by mistake, and now has to make its way to Canada, slowly but surely. 

Looks like things are changing from a few months ago. In January and February 100% of people who sent in P3 for the first ready (which happened within a day or two of in transit) were being rejected. Maybe they caught up on some back log! Looks like great news either way for everyone at the consulate arrival stage! 

You will only be able to pay the fee once you have received the P4 from the consulate and are able to schedule your interview.

Yeah, tracking should be available soon, but either way history says your case will arrive tomorrow  Normally CEAC status may stay "In Transit" for a bit after that too so don't worry if it doesn't update right away.

Got my Packet 4 today. Just booked my interview May 22 ( 3 appointments left) and 29 (3 appointments left) Sending in your Packet 3 ahead of time works, and I suggest do it. Worse case they'll say you can't and then just submit it when you get the 2nd ready like others have suggested.
 

 
👍

You maybe in a slightly odd timeline due to the batch DHL shipping dates, but I dont think you need to stress yet. We submitted a inquiry online and we were sent all the info they had so far which did include our case number. Also make sure both of you are checking your junk mail just incase. Also if the petitioner did not sign up for email notifications, you may get the letter after its in transit  or even arrived at the consulate. (Its what happened to me).

Received a few email notifications about VJ Timelines I follow that were updated to "NVC Received" today. 
 
Decided to call the NVC to inquire about our case. Guess what? NVC RECEIVED! Yay!
 
If you are still waiting for your case to be received at the NVC, you may want to call. It looks like they may have received a chunk of February NOA2s today!

Received a few email notifications about VJ Timelines I follow that were updated to "NVC Received" today. 
 
Decided to call the NVC to inquire about our case. Guess what? NVC RECEIVED! Yay!
 
If you are still waiting for your case to be received at the NVC, you may want to call. It looks like they may have received a chunk of February NOA2s today!

Received a few email notifications about VJ Timelines I follow that were updated to "NVC Received" today. 
 
Decided to call the NVC to inquire about our case. Guess what? NVC RECEIVED! Yay!
 
If you are still waiting for your case to be received at the NVC, you may want to call. It looks like they may have received a chunk of February NOA2s today!

Thanks! That reassures me. 
 
Yes. I have been calling almost every day! 🤣 I'll continue calling and keep my fingers crossed. 

thanks to ionoone i got my nvc case number and receipt number from the nvc staff, now awaiting packet 3 😃

In western NY banks will add a spouse (who doesn’t qualify for the Lon) as a “non-obligated” borrower, which allows for both to be listed on the title (deed) to the house.
 
If your bank doesn’t allow for this, you can be on the mortgage alone and then quit claim deed (qcd) to both of you.  (Our firm usualy waits about 45-60 days to do a qcd based on bank regulations.)
 
Edit:  You can refinance when she is able to qualify, but honestly the closing costs on a refi are almost as much as the regular transaction, whereas a qcd is generally $500 or less (inclusive of legal and county clerk filing fees). 

YOu press 1 for english, then press for checking you case status, then you press 2 for lost or do not have the receipt number; you will be given the option to enter your receipt nb and talk to a rep. Took me a while to figure it out, good luck!

I don't believe it currently takes 3 and a half months. It should be up to 6 weeks for the NVC to receive your case, and about 3-4 week of processing time at the NVC according to VisaJourney processing times. 

But you are right. Nothing you can do at this time. You want to call the NVC once it a while until you have the confirmation that your case was received, and obtain your case number. 

You can get your police record now. I did; the police record is good for 6 months. I wanted to get it out of the way (you never know if your case will be one of the ones that beat all the trends and gets to the consulate/embassy quickly. 

You will have to wait until you have your case number and interview date to schedule your medical exam. 

You can only check your case status online once the NVC has received your case, and has given you an MTL case number. Until then, your only option is to call and provide your receipt number (WAC, if you filed your I-129F in California). 

I confirmed the above with an NVC agent this week on the phone because I was tired of having to call and wait for up to 45 minutes (we are 4 1/2 weeks post-NOA2 and still waiting for NVC to receive our case).
 
The NVC agent advised that if your case does not reach the NVC after the 6-week mark from the NOA2, you can email them and they will inquire with USCIC (NVCResearch@state.gov).

For our I-129F, we listed the physical address of where I work at (even though all my employment documentation lists the headquarters with a different address). And for both the petitioner and the beneficiary, we listed different positions within the same company as different entries (we both levelled up within our respective companies, and listed each position separately).
 
We did not get any RFE with regards to the employment information, and our I-129F was approved. 
 
Therefore, I would recommend listing the address of the store you work at (rather than the headquarters), and listing your previous position and your current position as separate entries.