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mam521

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Everything posted by mam521

  1. mam521
    What's stopping you from getting your driving history from Austria? Insurance and driving history aren't the same thing. I had to get both myself when I moved to the US. Get an insurance broker to shop rates for you. Our broker has saved us thousands. She does the shopping, picks the best policies, presents them to us with the differences and we choose. Saves the headache of navigating different companies and then getting spammed for forever and ever, despite not purchasing their policy!
  2. mam521
    I'd also guess the argument here is highly skilled workers are in the best interest of the country when it comes to funding the federal government and the IRS. This is also a dual intent visa, so you get your skilled worker, you get the initial visa fees and you get the PR application fees. More lucrative for multiple reasons.
  3. mam521
    LOL - I feel this not because I had to travel out of state, but I did have to drive half way around Houston to get to my appointment. Anyone who's been to Houston knows you drive for an hour in Houston to get to Houston! 45 minutes one way and like $5 in tolls to do 5 minutes of work and repeat 45 minutes of driving and $5 in tolls. Apparently our interview center and where they typically do the oath ceremonies is closer to where I live, so I guess that's the silver lining for me.
  4. mam521
    Why would there be? You still have 4 days to cross. Just verify your dates are correct (medical expiration is 6mo from issuance). Save a headache and go on the 11th.
  5. mam521
    Most North American branded vehicles build in NAm or MX are compliant (there's a sticker in the door or under the hood, typically). Just pull up the import instructions and look at what is needed. Usually TPMS is the kicker. Remember, if your vehicle is financed, you'll either need permission from the lienholder to import it or you'll have to pay it off and have a clear title in hand. If you planned to exchange a vehicle, wouldn't it make more sense just to sell it and buy something compliant in the US? It saves the import headaches, duty/taxes and whatever your state requirements are (VIN inspections, emissions inspections, etc). If your current vehicle has equity in it, that can serve as a down payment on a US vehicle and you can negotiate a rate to get a good deal and build credit.
  6. mam521
    I haven't heard of Montreal accepting hard copies since covid. It's all been fully digital.
  7. mam521
    Ignore it. We had to file an I-90 for Kid2 because their greencard was issued as a CR-2 instead of and IR-2. Same thing happened - got a reminder to file ROC after we'd already received the corrected greencard. Nothing has happened. We're still keeping calm and carrying on. Haven't had any issues and we've traveled out of country and back again.
  8. mam521
    Yay! Yay! Yay! YAY!!!! Finally! I'm so delighted for you that you FINALLY get to join your wife and move forward with life! No more pause button purgatory! Most heartfelt congratulations to you!
  9. mam521
    It's ok in theory, but when push comes to shove, an independent person will often find it harder than they think. Always better to have options! I'm speaking from experience - both as the independent person (I packed up and moved 14 hours from home to a different province way up north with no supports for work independent) who thought a year off for maternity leave would be a piece of cake (LOVE my kids, but losing my identity to become Kid1 and Kid2's mom rather than myself was tough) and the person who thought immigrating to the States would be easy because com'mon...I've spent TONS of time there (still different from Canada, despite the amount of time I'd lived in the States for work, often months at a time). When I initially came, I was on a work visa, so I had a lot of freedom (driver's license, credit history) and my job. I can't imagine how challenging it would have been had I been on a TD and my ex was the only one working. I can only do so much PTA stuff for school and crave intellectual stimulation. Work allowed me to be surrounded by like minded people, many of whom are either on work visas or have pulled the trigger and become PR's or naturalized. You guys will be OK doing the CR-1. You basically continue on as you are, but add some paperwork on top of it all. You'll have tons of evidence for your application having been together so long. It's a short term struggle for long term gain.
  10. mam521
    I see updated activity on this thread and come here hoping you've managed to get your passport back with your visa issued. Still sending positive vibes and hoping you see something SOON!
  11. mam521
    If you go and search the Montreal consulate, you'll find many reviews on what to expect. Make sure all of their paperwork is in order before their respective interviews. Only the person being interviewed is allowed in unless they have an exception for assistance. Don't arrive any earlier than 10 minutes before the appointment. Avoid bringing any electronics if possible because they will have to be locked up anyway before being allowed up into the building. A book or magazine to pass the time is fine. The Consulate is a little bit unsuspecting and not super obvious as many US immigration type buildings are. They will enter and go through security that is essentially the same as airport security. Once upstairs, they will sit in a waiting room. There are washrooms and a water fountain. Good luck! Hopefully they have no hiccups!
  12. mam521
    It sounds like you and your partner are pretty independent people. Consider how that independence would change if you did a fiance visa (that you're no longer eligible for anyway) or adjusting status (fraud at this point). She goes from being independent with her own identity, in a city she loves and knows, surrounded by friends and family to suddenly, she's literally stuck in the US, unable to travel outside of the US, no longer has her job, her friend group and her family. She's essentially on your turf and goes from being independent to dependent - pretty hard pill to swallow for some people. This is a terrible and challenging way to start any relationship and puts undue stress on what should be a time of happiness and discovery as you build the foundation of your marriage. Do the CR-1. Continue to court each other as you have for the past number of years. Have her enter, able to work, drive, have a bank account - all the things she has and is entitled to. Join in a partnership, build that union in equality. Immigration, is stressful enough without the added stresses of clipping one partner's wings of independence. 20 years from now, you'll look back and say "well, that sucked, but it really was but a blip in our time together".
  13. mam521
    That's as I understand it and am banking on to get Kid1 and Kid2 their citizenship.
  14. mam521
    How do you plan to move to Canada? Do you have sponsorship? Canada, just like the US, requires a visa if you plan to immigrate there.
  15. mam521
    There is some speculation that priority is being given to those who've chosen to naturalize, kind of along the lines of it's in the best interest of the country. Again, speculation. Time will tell, I'm sure. Honestly though, for those undergoing parallel processes, it's ultimately time and resource savings. Concatenating all the filed information into one place and doing a single interview seems like a win.
  16. mam521
    It was raining so hard for a while there that I couldn't see much past the end of the driveway, let alone down the street. The power did some funny dips all day - the UPS on the desktop computer kept kicking in to regulate things and not fry the computer. A friend in a subdivision nearby said lightning struck across the street. Fire services were on the street checking it out in under 10 minutes. Sounds like no homes were a direct hit but his alarm system and a light bulb ended up fried from the bolt. Just scary, none the less.
  17. mam521
    Unfortunately, this seems to be a common occurrence in Montreal. There is no telling how long it will take if you were issued a DS-5535. You may want to jump on this thread and join others who've received the same.
  18. mam521
    My children's father signed, in front of a notarizing lawyer with lawyer seal, a formal letter including his name and address, the consulate's name and address and the following: Re: Immigrant Visa Application Case ID MTLXXXXXXXXX To Whom It May Concern: I , <father's full name>, father to <child(ren)'s full name(s)>, consent for my child(ren) to emigrate to the United States of America on a permanent basis with their mother <mother's full name>. The Consulate accepted this and took the original letter and committed it to file at our interview.
  19. mam521
    You will have to be listed as the primary custodial parent or managing conservator and you guys may need to add a line item into the custody agreement which states you will take your shared child out of country in addition to defining visitation. You may still want to ask him to sign and have a lawyer notarized letter stating he understands you are moving said child to the US. This is a pretty clear cut indication he understands the magnitude of the situation. Check your state laws, too. Sometimes there are legal and physical custody wordings that you may need to include as a CYA, in addition to wherever the agreement is being issued. There may also need to be wording in the custody order that will allow you to make decisions without the father present (think health care decisions, schooling, etc). Another provision you may want to include is whether your current spouse is able to serve as a custodial decision maker in the event of an emergency. You want to make sure your documentation meets the requirements of the Hague Convention. Most US states recognize Canadian court orders.
  20. mam521
    Passports say country of birth. If a USC was born in the US, I wouldn't hesitate to use a US Passport. If born abroad, that's a bit different and I'd agree with the BC.
  21. mam521
    Refused is a normal part of the processing. If you weren't handed a 221g or a DS-5535, just hold on. Montreal is SLOW with processing. Today marks 10 business days from your interview, so I suspect you might see a status change by the weeks' end.
  22. mam521
    I filed earlier this month. USCIS and their fees are a moving target that I don't want to deal with every 10 years. My kids are headed to university soon and although I hope they go to school in Canada, I want them to be eligible for every scholarship opportunity available. I don't want the government to use any excuse to separate me from my husband. I can always go back home or move with hubs to his home if we choose without having more trauma of dealing with reentry permits, etc if I'm a citizen. I have to file taxes regardless of PR or citizen status, so it's seemingly easier. We also own property and that has challenges on it's own and especially if something happened and our estate had to be managed. A lot of people are under the impression that they can just let their GC expire and that absolves them of any responsibility. Many don't realize there's a formal filing requirement to do so.
  23. mam521
    I think it depends on whether you were an AOS or straight filer. Even as a straight filer, I still got my notification within 2 days of filing.
  24. mam521
    Submitted my application for Houston on Jan 4, had NOA1 Jan 5, NOA for Biometrics was issued on the 6th, with the appointment on the 26th. Check the processing times for your local office on here and see what others have been experiencing. I wouldn't think an interview would be quite that quick, but biometrics (if not waved) might be.
  25. mam521
    The Montreal consulate used to be the big delay, but NVC claims about 8 weeks and Montreal DQ to interview is averaging about 109 days. The delays now seem to be on the USCIS side, so applicable to everyone in the I-130 boat and not specific to Montreal.
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