bradcanuck

I realized today that it was SEVEN YEARS AGO that I posted this thread: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/92474-the-vent/ - that's kind of cool!

I've had a great few years, but now I am looking for immigration advice in reverse. My ex wife and I have reconciled and I am looking to bring her to Canada. So now a new journey begins to find out that process and get the ball rolling. Let's hope this one isn't as painful as my US adventure..

Nice to see a few familliar faces here still!

It's been awhile since I posted. A friend of mine was asking questions about citizenship so that reminded me of the forum!

In case anyone was curious - I didn't die (yay!) I just went to England for a few months on a work contract. It was awful so I moved back to Canada and took some training. Now I am a Paramedic!

Life has turned around for me considerably and I am very happy. I am divorced, living with my parents, broke and never happier. (Go figure!)

My citizenship experience is over and done with, and I now have a US passport. I wish everyone the best and I hope your applications are processed speedily and efficiently and CORRECTLY!

Application Type: N400 , APPLICATION FOR NATURALIZATION

Your Case Status: Oath Ceremony

On June 28, 2011, we scheduled you for your oath ceremony and sent a notice providing the date, time, and location. If you move prior to the scheduled ceremony, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

Despite my case clearly having issues and being delayed for an Oath while others who filed months later in the same area are approved - my congressman has now told me to shove off (not much more politely) with my queries because they think this is just fine.

I'm still waiting on an Oath date. Even though others got their notices after me and have been scheduled. This is no surprise though, it seems like my file has a huge 'lose me and treat me like trash' sticker on it the entire way through. Can't wait to be done with this USCIS nightmare.

Contacted my representative again. This is insane. We're almost done and just can't get to the last leg of the race.

*head smash* of course it's always me waiting away. Can never just go in and get approved and have a same day oath. Anyway.... just playing the waiting game nervously and impatiently.

On May 10, 2011, we placed your application in the oath scheduling que. We will send a notice when the ceremony is scheduled. If you move prior to the scheduled ceremony, please use our Change of Address online tool to update your case with your new address or call our customer service center at 1-800-375-5283.

This is the notice sitting in my case status panel online and this is the last I have heard from USCIS. When should I start getting nervous? Shouldn't the letter have been sent out virtually immediately after that notice was generated online? That is how it has always worked so I am wondering why I haven't received my notice yet. How long does it usually take? I had my interview February 28th.

"On May 10, 2011, we placed your application in the oath scheduling que. We will send a notice when the ceremony is scheduled."

When do most people get their letters once they receive this notification from USCIS?

raaza got his letter yesterday... now I am hoping I get mine today or tomorrow. Here's hoping! I need for this to just be all over.

I'm with Bob on this one.

Thought I would add the status page at USCIS still reads: "Testing and Interview" as it has for over six weeks. USCIS must not be concerned with keeping the page current.

Mine has been there too. I have heard with N400 they don't update cases once they go past that point. Seems very common.

Nick, isn't it funny? I was born in Canada 5 miles from the US border in a hospital. Had I been diverted 5 miles away I would have been born a dual citizen.

I just said to my parents the other day "I wonder when our passport will say "Citizen: Earth" ... it's strange how we all group ourselves into religions, countries, communities, and even further down. We're funny creatures.

Mail it in, and then they will make a decision.

Sure, they can. Will they? Who knows. But yes they could to verify the marriage was real.

If you don't send anything they will decline the application.

I love stereotypes. Some of them get pretty funny.

Try not to think about it. It won't ever change and the people ahead/behind us will have to deal with the same garbage we did. If anything it will get worse and more expensive. Imagine (gasp) not even HAVING the misinformation 1-800 number! LOL

If a PERSON was in charge of USCIS amazing things could be done. Unfortunately it's in the hands of a bureaucracy which is much different. Look at it this way... you're almost done the N-400 (along with me) and never have to deal with them again. Consider this worth the money/time we've invested... paying to never deal with them again.

I left America for a lot of those reasons. Ignorance, intolerance etc etc I could go on and on but everyone knows what life is like in the states. I like Canada just fine.

"Thank you for your letter to Congressman Royce regarding the words “File Freeze.” The files are frozen for inventory purposes. Once the inventory is complete they will continue with the oath ceremonies. You will not lose your spot in the line-up."

This is what we heard back from the Congressman. So I guess we're just in a queue for an Oath, does that sound right?

Go to Sears. They do Canadian style passport photos in the USA.

I am going to reply by letter and ask what "file freeze" means as there's no such phrase in USCIS literature and that makes no sense that my file would be frozen so I am asking for clarification.

Congressman wrote me back and stated my file was approved and is now under a file freeze. I don't know what that means and he didn't elaborate. Anyone hear of this before?

My visa was approved... yes seriously. It took 20 hours. THAT'S how a country should work. *swears full voice at USCIS*

In the words of Brad Pitt: "A river dar chi"

Thanks for your advice! I certainly won't lie at the border, just wondering if I should explain the whole situation right off or just go with a simple, technically correct answer to begin with, then elaborate if need be...

My experience has always been to explain in full means they understand the situation better and don't have questions for you. I would just start at the beginning and explain it in point form. I came over the border with a weird situation (non-car import, in-transit entry) into Canada 2 weeks ago and it took 10 minutes to explain the situation. Once I did he let me through. They just want to know what is going on and that you aren't hiding anything, aren't ignorant and aren't trying to pull anything past them.

My vote is to explain it from the start. But don't take my word as the final one.

Hi everyone! I am an American living in Canada with my fiance, waiting for his K1 to go through so we can move to the states. I entered Canada on a 6 month work permit, which I hoped to extend so that I could stay up here longer and not be seperated for so long from my fiance. The extension was denied. I immediately applied to change my status from a worker to a visitor. I was told that I could either go back to the US and then through the border, or mail in a form in order to change my status. I opted to mail in the form, thinking it would be good to have some kind of paperwork in hand. I am hoping to stay here with him for 6 more months, then go back down ahead of him in order to find work. My question is this: I am going down to the US to visit my dad, and I am worried about being denied at the border coming back. I live here and all of my things are here. I spoke with Immigration Canada several times and explained the situation to them, and every person I spoke with told me that I shouldn't have any problem at the border- that US citizens can visit Canada for up to 6 months no problem. The form I mailed in to change my status takes 4 months to process, and at the very least I am here legally until they reach a decision under "implied status." I have my K1 application to show them that I intend to move back to the US, but no job or apartment in the states. Does anyone have experience with this? Should I tell them the whole story right away or just say that I am visiting my boyfriend? I want to look forward to my vacation, but this paranoia about getting back into Canada keeps nagging at me.

Never lie to a border agent. That's the best advice I can give to you. I understand your predicament and yes there is a chance you can be denied entry (anyone can be technically.) The rules are the rules and sometimes they don't work the way we want or need them to. Best of luck to you.

Hey folks. My USCIS journey is almost over but I can't wait any longer to accept offer. I was offered a position in England (as some of you know) and I have accepted it so I leave at the end of April. My Canadian passport is with the British High Commission in Ottawa and I am waiting for the visa to come back next week.

I hope to check in with VJ when I go to my Oath in the states (whenever that is!!) but if I am not back for awhile (or ever) I wanted to say:

Thank you for everyone's help over the years. Your advice, calming power, and knowledge have helped me stay sane and helped me improve my life significantly. Without my fellow Canadians here I would be a wreck and probably in an immigration prison (kidding but you know). Also something that makes me happy is coming back and always seeing my baby living on (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/92474-the-vent/)

See you all on the other side and I wish you the very best in your own journeys, WHEREVER life may take you. Remember that life is a journey and it's our duty as humans to take advantage of everything life has to offer.