trailmix

touchy crowd.

Yeah, this is similar to the riots in Toronto, I guess we all need to settle down. <yawn>

Hi and welcome

Touches mean someone has updated the status on your case (ie: someone is using the file) you would see this on the case status page you are viewing at the USCIS webpage.

NOA1 is the receipt you received (Notice of Action)

NOA2 means your petition has been approved (looks just like the NOA1 - basically just the info on the notice is different).

Things you can do now, not much really except ensure she has proof of all of her vaccinations. You can see the age appropriate list at the panel physician's website, also gives other info on the medical, like what you have to bring.

http://panelphysicians.com/Pages/Immunizations.htm

Check out the VJ Wiki Canada page here: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada down at the bottom is a link to the package 3 - you will want to see if there are any documents on there that you don't have yet.

You can check out common terms used on VJ here Acronym Summary

Good luck!

Sorry trailmix, sounds like a misunderstanding then.

No problem Sousuke

I'm not necessarily talking about mind games here. She likes the Mini for looks only. I'm trying to find reasons why she might like the Fiesta better or at least level the field.........

Judgment about things unknown is NOT welcome here. Thanks.

Wow - that's not the way your question came across, so I just gave my opinion. Didn't realize it would rankle so much, my only error was stepping in to OT.

I'm kind of anti-insurance - but, there are things you insure because you can't afford to replace them out of pocket. How about sewer backup in the basement? Don't know if you personally have a basement Ant, but it's a consideration if you do - it's pretty common.

Here you can pick and choose a bit, for instance the 'premium' insurance will cover you if something 'mysteriously' disappears, or if you drop grape juice on your carpet or if you are moving your tv and drop it and break it. Those are things you can choose not to have.

But, if you think you could handle the payment required if your house did burn down (as an example) and you have no mortgage (any bank I have dealt with requires proof of insurance) then why not cancel it. If you can't afford to replace your house out of pocket then it's probably a bad idea.

What I did was set up a time with the first person immediately (and let them know others were interested but they could have first shot) then emailed the other people back saying someone is coming at <whatever time> to see it, if they don't buy it it's yours.

And the sheriff guy is the heavy breather?

Obviously he's trying to be funny...butttt he's not.

Or, would you rather your Husband played mind games with you....or not?

Yes, they will know.

I'm hearing different people saying different things. Zenaxe said they email you when your interview date is assigned. Could it be that this is only for people signed up for "electronic processing"? Does DoS stand for Department of State? What role to they have in scheduling interviews and what is the web site / phone number?

Also... what does DCF stand for?

DCF = direct consular filing - it's a common term here for filing your I-130 directly at the consulate as opposed to mailing it to USCIS in the U.S.

The email thing is for everyone who mails in their application, their documents are sent to NVC, processed then forwarded to Montreal. NVC (national visa center) then schedules the interview, in conjunction with Montreal, as opposed to those that DCF, their interview is scheduled by the actual consulate only.

The phone number for the Department of State is 1-202-663-1225 - press 1 then 0

No, he should use the I-864. It is not employment income, the instructions state it must be.

Unless otherwise noted, references to Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, include Form I-864EZ, a short form Affidavit of Support to be used by certain petitioning sponsors who rely only upon their own employment to meet the affidavit of support requirements. Regulations governing the use of Form I-864 are located in 8 CFR 213a. link

Also, for the I-864 you can use your income, not sure if you know that? The immigrant spouse, which you will be when you submit the I-864 can use their earnings and assets as well. Although the business is in Canada, as long as you can prove it is continuing - you should be stating that on the I-864 in U.S. dollars, of course.

Hi,

Seems reasonable to me that they would.

While your lack of income historically and short work history doesn't work in your favour, the fact that you now have a profession that you are working in earning well above 125% of the poverty guidelines does work in your favour.

And we can put away the "they only schedule during the first 2 weeks of the month" VJ folklore too! For the moment, until more new people come along and read the same - folklore/hear it from the uninformed NVC operators

Congratulations chikarakobu! also Angie'nMark (added to timeline list), added shewolf as well.

Member...........NOA2......Case# @NVC......Sent I-864.....Sent DS-230......RFE....Done @NVC....Interview...DTI

Revenesque.....05/28/08.....--/--/--........12/21/09........12/21/09........N.....01/07/10.....04/27/10....110

ZansGirl.......03/09/09.....03/19/09........04/07/09........04/08/09........N.....09/25/09.....02/05/10....133

biglos.........03/30/09.....--/--/--........06/12/09........07/16/09........-.....08/28/09.....01/27/10....155

intuitionsys...04/01/09.....06/24/09........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....09/24/09.....02/10/10....139

justcheckin....04/06/09.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....08/04/09.....01/13/10....162

hisgirl........04/17/09.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....07/30/09.....01/20/10....174

americana2009..04/20/09..<-date filed I-130.--/--/--........--/--/--..sent pkt3>..07/23/09.....02/01/10....193

thund3r........04/21/09.....08/02/09........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....09/11/09.....02/08/10....150

Cindy&Greg.....04/07/09.....04/23/09........08/19/09........06/01/09........-.....09/28/09.....02/09/10....134

Blitz..........05/04/09.....--/--/--........11/04/09........11/04/09........N.....11/25/09.....03/18/10....113

andylans.......06/08/09..<-date filed I-130.--/--/--........--/--/--..sent pkt3>..07/22/09.....01/14/10....176

fifo...........06/22/09.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........Y.....09/25/09.....02/24/10....152

lgg............06/25/09.....07/08/09........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....08/12/09.....01/26/10....167

MSPtoYYZ.......07/11/09.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........Y.....03/01/10.....05/20/10.... 80

Bern...........07/14/09.....08/11/09........10/30/09........10/30/09........N.....11/19/09.....03/26/10....127

Malrothien.....07/15/09.....07/22/09........08/07/09........09/08/09........Y.....11/24/09.....03/01/10.... 97

Kuds1..........07/17/09.....07/23/09........--/--/--........08/28/09........Y.....10/01/09.....02/01/10....123

Lyn & Lisa.EP..07/22/09.....08/08/09........08/30/09........08/31//09.......-.....10/09/09.....02/09/10....138

La Souris.EP...07/30/09.....08/14/09........09/15/09........09/25/09........N.....10/02/09.....03/24/10....173

redBlue........08/13/09.....08/17/09........09/12/09........09/16/09........-.....09/26/09.....02/05/10....132

kballtex.EP....08/21/09.....09/01/09........09/15/09........09/25/09........-.....11/06/09.....03/11/10....125

Pauley.........08/21/09.....09/09/09........10/26/09........11/23/09........Y.....12/10/09.....03/18/10.... 98

sdhiman.EP.....08/26/09.....09/08/09........09/17/09........10/21/09........N.....11/02/09.....02/24/10....114

mike777.EP.....08/28/09.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....12/11/09.....03/03/10.... 95

sdw..EP....... 08/28/09.....09/08/09........09/12/09........09/26/09........Y.....11/12/09.....03/02/10....110

Gordons2009....08/28/09.....--/--/--........12/27/09........01/27/10........-.....02/22/10.....05/27/10.... 94

helvetica_bold.09/03/09.....--/--/--........08/06/09........05/20/09........Y.....09/03/09.....01/19/10....138

andyw1.........09/09/09.....--/--/--........03/16/09........05/12/09........Y.....09/23/09.....02/24/10....154

Frequent Flyer.09/10/09.....09/25/09........10/26/09........11/02/09........N.....12/11/09.....03/25/10....104

redmen99.EP....09/11/09.....09/28/09........10/09/09........10/27/09........N.....11/09/09.....03/01/10....112

K & I..........09/11/09.....09/28/09........10/21/09........11/20/09........-.....12/23/09.....04/27/10....125

Salnik.........09/14/09.....09/29/09........10/06/09........10/24/09........Y.....12/23/09.....04/09/10....107

gladiator80....09/14/09.....09/29/09........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....01/04/10.....04/09/10.... 95

mast3r12.EP....09/17/09.....10/01/09........10/17/09........10/22/09........Y.....11/12/09.....03/09/10....117

wmtc...........09/18/09.....09/30/09........11/11/09........11/11/09........N.....12/01/09.....03/11/10....100

jmd32499.......09/23/09.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....12/05/09.....03/10/10.... 95

JaJo08.........09/24/09.....10/07/09........11/10/09........12/29/09........-.....01/13/10.....04/15/10.... 92

She_Fitz.EP....09/26/09.....10/06/09........11/19/09........11/19/09........N.....12/10/09.....03/16/10.... 96

heljan.........09/29/09.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....04/08/10.....06/18/10.... 71

WyattsTorch.EP.10/01/09.....10/14/09........10/26/09........10/26/09........Y.....11/12/09.....03/05/10....113

lonie.EP.......10/03/09.....10/06/09........11/13/09........11/23/09........N.....12/21/09.....04/27/10....127

Jeremy&Kathy.EP10/22/09.....11/02/09........04/10/10........03/27/10........Y.....06/04/10

Edmontongirl...11/02/09..<-date filed I-130/Approved Dec 30 --/--/--........N.....01/05/10.....03/11/10.... 65

birdnerd.......01/26/10..<-date filed I-130/Pkt 3 Mar 25....03/26/10........N.....04/28/10

mtlgato........02/05/10.....02/12/10........04/11/10........04/09/10........N.....05/12/10

chikarakobu....02/05/10.....--/--/--........03/18/10........03/30/10........-.....04/29/10.....08/16/10....109

Angie'nMark....02/11/10.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....05/05/10.....08/25/10....112

ValerieA.EP....02/10/10.....02/17/10........04/12/10........04/12/10

Married2009.EP.02/11/10.....02/18/10........03/09/10........04/06/10........N.....04/14/10.....07/13/10.... 90

CanadiandggalEP02/18/10.....02/25/10........03/23/10........03/28/10........Y.....05/18/10

Jadenjewel.EP..02/19/10.....03/02/10........04/28/10........04/28/10........-.....06/04/10

Saad&Sumera....03/01/10..<-date filed I-130

cndwife.EP.....03/09/10.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....04/09/10.....06/23/10.... 75

FireRay.EP.....03/12/10.....03/19/10........04/04/10........04/12/10........N.....04/22/10.....07/26/10.... 95

Bwoo.EP........03/17/10.....03/23/10........04/05/10........04/12/10........-.....04/22/10.....07/27/10.... 96

leonsgal70.....03/18/10..<-date filed I-130/Pkt 3 Apr 26....04/26/10........N.....05/10/10

kimberlyk21....03/18/10..<-date filed I-130.--/--/--........05/10/10........N.....05/12/10

zenaxe.EP......03/24/10.....03/30/10........04/05/10........04/16/10........N.....04/23/10.....07/27/10.... 95

Musi.EP........03/24/10.....03/30/10........04/27/10........--/--/--........-.....05/19/10

Aklem..........03/25/10

CraignJacquie..04/02/10.....04/15/10........04/22/10........04/22/10........-.....05/19/10

shewolf........04/07/10.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....04/07/10

ChrisCon.......04/12/10.....04/20/10........04/22/10........04/20/10........N.....05/03/10.....07/26/10.... 84

CanAmBride.....04/19/10.....--/--/--........--/--/--........--/--/--........-.....06/04/10

CAN2US.EP......04/22/10.....04/26/10........05/05/10........--/--/--........-.....05/19/10

jdcole.EP......05/03/10.....05/11/10........05/17/10

Martine&Dana...05/04/10.....05/12/10........05/18/10........05/21/10

DTI - Days between completion at NVC and interview

DCF - Direct Consular Filing

EP - Electronic Processing

Timeline page for 2007, 2008 and 2009 interviews Montreal: link

CR1/IR1 interview letter: link

For the answer to this you need to look at the Child Citizenship Act of 2000

Here are the provisions for children born outside the U.S.:

•At least one parent of the child is an American citizen by birth or naturalization.

•The American citizen parent has been physically present in the United States for a total of at least five years, at least two of which are after the age of 14. If the child's American citizen parent cannot meet the physical presence requirement, it is enough if one of the child's American citizen grandparents can meet it.

•The child is under the age of eighteen.

•The child lives abroad in the legal and physical custody of the American citizen parent and has been lawfully admitted into the United States as a nonimmigrant.

I'm no expert on this, but at the very least they probably don't qualify for the I-864W based on that last item. Have you been physically present in the U.S. for at least 5 years?

As my Dad always told me, if you can get more info for the same price, do so. Since the IRS transcripts are "free", and it doesn't cause any delay asking for 3 vice 1, I say - go for it, get 3.

I agree with you, in fact that is exactly what we did and my Husband was asked for the other 2 at the interview and that worked well.

My point above, not specifically directed to you, is that I personally don't think it's a good idea to just give a blanket answer when it is VJ folklore we are talking about, not the facts.

NVC/the consulates request 1 - the other two are optional, when we answer someone about that fact we should direct them to the facts (as you have Bobby), not just give our personal interpretations of the facts.

I would think that putting "Error in petitioner's name MTL# ##########" would get a better response than "urgent" because everyone that emails Montreal believes their issue to be urgent and you want yours to be read and dealt with because they can do so without opening the email and just reading the subject line.

Good point

Good luck leons!

It's a requirement of the I-864. I believe you when you say that your job in Japan has no bearing on your ability to support your fiancee', however, it is a requirement of the I-864, it's not optional.

I will use our situation as an example, although it wasn't in Japan. I am the sponsor, I was not employed at the time we submitted the I-864. I had never filed a U.S. tax return, when I found out that I had to I filed 3 years worth.

I submitted the most recent with the I-864, plus proof of assets - all good.

At my Husband's interview in Montreal they wanted to see the previous 2 years, which he had with him. If he had not had those with him, I doubt they would have issued the visa that day.

All that aside, as I mentioned above, it's a requirement. Question 25 asks:

"I have filed a Federal tax return for each of the three most recent tax years. I have attached the required photocopy or transcript of my Federal tax return for only the most recent tax year".

How do you plan on answering that?

You should have 3 most recent years of tax transcripts and the most recent years W-2 copies

This is not correct. 1 tax return is required, the other two are optional, but probably a good idea. If you have transcripts you do not need to take W2s.

Yes it was, here is the current list:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/ineligibilities/ineligibilities_1364.html

Not sure what actual page you were pasting from Sunshine as you link just goes to the main page.

Hi Doug, congratulations! No, don't worry about the website not updating, it might still say that 6 months from now.

Yes, it is NVC you call to see if they have received it yet.

Hi Huggles,

It was actually TD Bank.

Yeah I understand that your insurance history is the most important factor, I just personally think that your credit score should have exactly nothing to do with it. This isn't actually a 'personal' thing with me, we both have excellent credit scores, so it actually probably works in our favour, still just doesn't seem like the right kind of criteria to be looking at.

Previously, I was working in Japan and making less than $80k/year so I was only being taxed by the Japanese government. I don't have American tax returns from those 2 years I was working in Japan and before that I was a full-time student and still dependent on my parents.

Hi,

Making less than 80k a year is not a reason to not file your U.S. tax return.

Each year, on the 1040 instructions there is a table. That table lists what the cutoff amount is for having to file a return, it all depends on how you would have filed, married filing separately, single etc.

So, have a look at the instructions for the years you did not file, if you are over the cut off amount (convert your foreign income to U.S. dollars at the average rate for that year, xe.com is a good site for that) - then you need to file your returns now.

THANKS, Birdnerd, for the quick response.

I thought a NAFTA work permit would make the cut too but just wanted confirmation from other members. Do you know (or read about) any NAFTA temp. worker who actually successfully went through with DCF?

So it will take four months from filing the I-130 to getting the immigrant visa (ready to travel)? That is still faster than filing in the US. Would you still recommend DCF after the fact?

Thanks again!

I also don't know of anyone who was resident in Canada on a NAFTA visa and filed DCF, but that certainly shouldn't stop you from trying. They are trying to weed out people who are only in Canada temporarily, say with (or without) a tourist visa. IE: Don't come to Canada to visit and expect to file DCF.

You should be fine.