Jay&Sid

I had my medical with Dr. Lee as well. I spent a total of 3hrs between Dr. Lee's office, lab and x-ray. It was such a waste of time! And I would have been able to cut that time significantly if I knew some things before hand.
 
Quick tips:
1. The lab downstairs is Life labs. Book an appointment on their site (perhaps you can choose an hour after Dr. Lee's appointment or something like that). They attend to people with appointment before walk-ins (even if your appointment time is still about 30mins away). Though you're from Dr. Lee, you are still considered a walk-in (My experience). They had lots of people the day I went so I eventually had to go on their website to book an appointment while I went to the basement for x-ray. 
 
2. You can also call the x-ray folks ahead to book an appointment since they also attend to people with appointment first (I had to wait for about 30mins for my turn)
 
If I knew these before my appointment, I think I would have been able to cut the entire visit by at least half.
 
Hope this helps. Good luck!

Please fill out your timeline and see the instructions listed in Hawk Rider's profiles.  There is a link to the FAQ's as well which will answer your questions.  
$680 to remove conditions and a glimmer of hope that the border might actually be open if you wait.  Honestly, I get it, but I'd probably wait the extra month and head across on June 3.  We waited until the day after our 2nd and I'm happy we did.  
Hi there - can you please fill out your timeline and reference the FAQ's.  That will answer part of your questions.  
 
I believe you'll need a babysitter because they don't allow anyone outside of the interviewee into the interview.  Believe me, you'll want one anyway.  There was a family interviewing when I was there with a VERY busy toddler and mum was pregnant with a second.  Mum looked at dad at one point and said "this better not take 3 hours because stickers and small snacks are NOT going to keep her busy!" 

No I haven’t received anything. 
I guess cut off date is 15 Aug so far.
I will update you if I get something. 
 
congratulations! Everyone who received IL.
I am so happy for all of you. 😀 

No I haven’t received anything. 
I guess cut off date is 15 Aug so far.
I will update you if I get something. 
 
congratulations! Everyone who received IL.
I am so happy for all of you. 😀 

May 20th 2020: DQ
Feb.8: Interview with approval
Feb 12: Passport tracking number
Feb.16: Passport delivered
Feb.16: Paid USCIS Immigrant fee
Feb.24: POE at Pearson
March 3: SSN delivered
March 5: Green card produced
March 9: Green card shipped
March 10: Green card tracking number shows up in USCIS portal
March 12: Green card delivered

No I haven’t received anything. 
I guess cut off date is 15 Aug so far.
I will update you if I get something. 
 
congratulations! Everyone who received IL.
I am so happy for all of you. 😀 

Good to know about this.
I must praised SC's ruling for dismissing Trump-Era public charge rule and for protecting vulnerable immigrants.
Immigrant families can now access life-saving health care, food, and housing assistance for which they are eligible without fear that they will lose the chance to obtain lawful permanent residence.
 

One year ago today, I was leaving the Consulate in Montreal with my kids after waiting 634 days for an interview approval so we could rejoin my husband in our family house in Texas.  Little did I know that the world would change by the end of the week. 
 
Have faith, guys.  You'll get there, I promise!  

Good to know about this.
I must praised SC's ruling for dismissing Trump-Era public charge rule and for protecting vulnerable immigrants.
Immigrant families can now access life-saving health care, food, and housing assistance for which they are eligible without fear that they will lose the chance to obtain lawful permanent residence.
 

@TedsGirl
 
I will second @DGF  opinion. I can share my experience.
I told officer that I am going for my marriage. He asked me a lot of questions but I was having extra documentation to prove my ties to Canada.
Later he called his supervisor and he asked extra questions. At the end they were satisfied and let me go.
But it really depends on the officer he may let you in or refuse on the spot so be ready for that.  
Best of luck 
 
 

You are correct. You can come to the US to marry a US citizen, you just cannot come with the intent to stay and adjust status because that is when it becomes fraud. Nothing wrong with not freely offering the information that you are coming to marry unless asked either (of course you can't hide anything that they do ask about, that can get you banned). You should also come prepared with extra documentation to prove your ties to Canada as coming to get married will likely invite extra scrutiny. Good luck!

Hawai’i would have a hard time as a wedding destination, otherwise 😉

I have similar but not as quiet frustrating as your experience at the peace bridge. The officer was following the law, so I would not expect him to be nice, he was harsh. Usually the Canadian officers are nice, and this one was not one of them. After lengthy interrogation with questions even unrelated to the covid, and this is not the first time I am visiting my Canadian wife. He also let me pay tax for my gift for my wife, and for those who didnot not know like me the allowed amount for a gift for the wife is only 60 dollars " quiet a lame, and mean law if you ask my opinion " He gave a recite and I have to pay tax inside. He also gave me two kits to work on, the experience with the fist kit is quiet also frustrating, and you have to wait for the nurse online for almost 3 hours waiting to get done and then wrap it and let them pick it the next day. " been waiting to see my wife for a while, and I have to struggle with this kit and wait for 3 hours over the phone for them to answer for the kit ; another lame experience against us ". Anyway the laws I think is gonna stay here for a while, I just feel bad for US who wants to see their loved ones, and all the bullshit politics and obstacles plus waiting times thrown at us without mercy, and no-one seems to care or doing anything about it. Immigration waiting times is getting longer prior to covid and now with Covid even longer and no-one is doing anything. I think they should expedite their work load, and finish all these backlogs, so we are done with this game. Immigration and Embassy workers should get vaccinated and expedite their work like every one who has extra work to finish. This should not be excuse for them, should be the opposite.  

Hello all,
I wanted to start a separate thread on this topic rather than keep adding to the long one for easier reference. 
 
As most of us know, the situation with border crossing has been difficult and restrictions can change, so please refer to the government site for the most up to date rules: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid
 
I wanted to share our experience with having my USC husband come visit via land border.
 
My husband had recovered from COVID in January, so he has proof of a positive test that falls within the 14-90 day range. On March 4, he drove up here via the Peace Bridge and it also happened to be the day they implemented land border testing at that port. 
 
The guard was polite, but also admitted he was new and didn't really know the rules for exemptions from testing, so while he did allow my husband to enter, he still handed him two test kits and directed him to a parking area to wait in the car for someone from Public Health to come speak with him. He waited...1.5 later he finally flagged down another border guard and asked what's going on and they said just to stay put and they knew he was there. 
 
Finally, someone got to him after 2 hours of waiting in a dead parking lot and went through his quarantine plan. They accepted his previous test results and then took back the test kits, as they wouldn't be necessary this time, and then they actually phoned me to confirm I understood the risks of having him stay with me and ensure that I gave my consent. Once that was done, they let him go. 
 
So if you're crossing by land right now, be aware that it's a bureaucratic, unorganized mess and the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Ensure that you give yourself more than adequate time and get that pee break out of the way before you reach the border. You may be there a while. 
 
That said, he's here now and may you all be able to travel to be with your families smoothly and safely. 

She asked if my wife and I had kids together and details about our kids from our first marriages and if any of them were adults.  I just explained my 8 year old daughter would continue living in Canada with her mom and that my wife's youngest daughter was the only child living with us as the other 2 are living elsewhere since they are over 18.  Just speak confidently.  

Before I moved to the US the first time, PWC through work was handling my income tax and the guy said the same thing - ditch and TFSA's.  
 
You'll make WAY more money on your 401K investments in the US anyway.  Mine are doing really well and have long surpassed any RRSP's I have in Canada value wise in a much shorter amount of time.  I'm far more confident in meeting our financial retirement goals in the US than I was in Canada.  

Thx for sharing your experience.
What type of questions they asked about kids? 
This will help me to prepare our interview.  
 
Awesome! Thx for sharing your hardworking. 

I live in Seattle. The centralized hub when opened by mailman doesnt even have a slot where names can be read, just apartment numbers . 5 years ago when I was waiting for a mail *just so the USPS doesnt return it* , the mailman said in his own words. "I dont have time for that" (To check names)
 
 

So I've been doing a ton of research regarding this. This is what I've found:
 
1. Close out your TFSA's because you will be taxed on it ALL every year, regardless of capital gains/losses. There is no fee to close out your TFSA. You are also correct regarding the non-resident contribution 1% tax. It is better to contribute to an American retirement account such as a Roth IRA
2. You can keep your RRSPs without penalties due to the Canada-USA Tax treaty. Keep in mind the treaty is a federal agreement and states are not bound to it. Some states do tax your gains. I do know California, CT, NJ do tax your income yearly on RRSP. I will try to find out which other states are included. I personally would not contribute to a RRSP as a Canadian non-resident because you cannot defer your taxes. 
3. You are able to keep a checking account in Canada when you become a non-resident. Be sure to change your address with the bank. If over $10k you have to file a FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts ).
 
From the IRS website: 
"... you don’t need to report foreign financial accounts that are:
Correspondent/Nostro accounts, Owned by a governmental entity, Owned by an international financial institution, Maintained on a United States military banking facility,  Held in an individual retirement account (IRA) you own or are beneficiary of, Held in a retirement plan of which you’re a participant or beneficiary, or Part of a trust of which you’re a beneficiary, if a U.S. person (trust, trustee of the trust or agent of the trust) files an FBAR reporting these accounts.  
I can't offer any advice on importing cars, not knowledgeable on that topic. Hope this helps!

I had my interview this morning at 8:00. Questions and process were much the same as what’s been described previously.  

Was asked a few questions about kids, what my wife does, and what I’ll do for work in the US.  Was also asked how/where we met. 
 
I was in and out of the consulate in under an hour.   
 
Good luck to everyone this month who has interviews.  

For Canada yes. They are only valid for 1yr. 
If you have not traveled to India since the last pcc issuance date then you don’t need it. Expired one is ok. 

I would NEVER put documents that verify identity, etc in a checked bag. Always carry them with you, identity theft is real and some baggage handlers are dodgy af. I’ve been hustled in the airport by handlers “hey if you slip me $100 you won’t have to pay the overweight bag fee.” Hard pass, thanks.
 
Did you tick the box on your DS-260 for them to generate one for you or not? If you did, there’s a 70/30 chance you’ll have it mailed. If not, you’ll have the joyous experience of dealing with the SSA! Welcome to America! 
 
Should be August 18 as you’re the primary. 

This is a topic for @mam521 & @SeriaRisa11

@legendqueue @2Ps
Congratulations & best of luck for your next chapter of life.

Congratulations to all who got Interview letters.
Feb has started with a bang.
MTL has up their game. 
Best of luck!