Toastburglar

Hey! Just wondering what the biometrics experience is like. I have a 1 year old that HAS to come with me. Are they going to be mad? Will it be awkward? What is this facility in NYC like?

The letter says they have limited space in their waiting room, so I was thinking I'd try to go without the stroller and just have her on my lap, but I'm not sure if that will make the fingerprinting impossible (since I will have to hold her).

Any advice?

The I-751 has a line(s) for mailing address (if different than street address) - presumably a P.O. Box is OK.

How exactly are you in the 'middle' of moving? (If possible, it might be helpful to your ROC if you have an actual address - for example, a new lease or dead etc.)

Well we own a house in Florida together. However, we are temporarily moving to NYC (for a few months) because of my husbands job. It could become permanent after the few months. We will just be staying at hotels and short term places like that for the next few months until we know if the job is permanent.

I would file using the Florida address, but then the biometric appointment will be in Florida So I'm not sure what to do

Hi! Just wondering if everyone has to do the biometrics after filing the I-751, or if it is on a case by case basis.

I can't find any reference to the biometrics requirement on the USCIS site.

When you are filing an I-751 is it okay to give a PO Box as the return address? We're in the middle of relocating and don't have a permanent new address yet.

Hi,

I can answer some of your questions -

1. Yes - traveling on July 10th will be very possible as when USCIS receives your I-751 application, they will send you a letter extending your GC for 1 year. This extension will allow you to travel and work.

2. As for supporting documents, you need to change your address (using AR-11) and you can include in the cover letter that you have recently moved with your husband due to a job opportunity and you can also include a copy of the offer or what ever document the company provided him. I wouldn't think they would be suspicious since you can show that both of you lived in FL and just recently a change occurred in your life that caused you to move... they happen all the time.

3. Not sure about the P.O Box but I have a feeling that they will not - check the forms and maybe someone else will answer this questions for you.

4. As for your last name, I've heard that if you are planning on applying for naturalization, it will be much better to do it then, but I am not sure about the actuality of it. Someone might provide you with their own experience.

hope this helps!

Thanks!

Hello all! I'm about to file to remove the conditions on my permanent residency. My 2 year anniversary in the US is July 3rd.

A week from tomorrow we (my hubby, daughter, and I) are moving to NYC from Florida. We have a house in Florida that we are keeping for now.

My husband has a 2 month trial period at his new job in NYC. We will be subletting an apartment during this trial period, and if we stay permanently we will then lease an apartment and consider selling the Florida house.

As soon as we get to NYC we will get a PO box and use that as our return mailing address. We will then send the application. The biometrics appointment will hopefully be within the next two months when I am guaranteed to still be in NYC. We will keep the PO box until everything is finalized.

Does this sound like it will work?

Will they be suspicious that our supporting documents all have the Florida address? (including our mortgage)

Will they accept a PO box as a return mailing address?

Should I explain in the cover letter what is going on?

Can I change my last name when I file this, or would that make things over the top complicated? (I have already changed my last name on my social security card)

Worst. Timing. Ever.

Hello all! I'm about to file to remove the conditions on my permanent residency. My 2 year anniversary in the US is July 3rd.

A week from tomorrow we (my hubby, daughter, and I) are moving to NYC from Florida. We have a house in Florida that we are keeping for now.

My husband has a 2 month trial period at his new job in NYC. We will be subletting an apartment during this trial period, and if we stay permanently we will then lease an apartment and consider selling the Florida house.

As soon as we get to NYC we will get a PO box and use that as our return mailing address. We will then send the application. The biometrics appointment will hopefully be within the next two months when I am guaranteed to still be in NYC. We will keep the PO box until everything is finalized.

Does this sound like it will work?

Will they be suspicious that our supporting documents all have the Florida address? (including our mortgage)

Will they accept a PO box as a return mailing address?

Should I explain in the cover letter what is going on?

Can I change my last name when I file this, or would that make things over the top complicated? (I have already changed my last name on my social security card)

Worst. Timing. Ever.

Also, I have to be in Canada on July 10th. Is this going to be possible?

Thanks!

Hey everyone!

I'm still using my maiden name and want to change to my husband's last name. I already changed my social security card, but before anything else can be changed I need to get the right name on my conditional green card.

There's a form I can send in to do this but it costs $290. If I wait until I am filing for my permanent green card (this summer) can I do the name change at the same time? Or should I just do it now?

I'm sorry if this question has been answered before, but my 5 month old won't let me stay on the computer long enough to find it.

Thanks,

Catherine

Oh so, so many things I would miss.

The weather, the weather! Driving on I-4 in the DelSol with the top off listening to Dogstar and getting sunburned LOL

Wandering around Disneyworld with my friends just for something to do and discovering something magical everytime.

My frequent fear pass to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal and getting less scared the more I drink

Making my husband stop at every CircleK so I can get a slushie and pretend we're Bill and Ted

My favorite bar where it's always 1937 and I always know someone and there's always something to see or do

Our church and my sister in law's church which both have amazing contemporary services with beautiful amazing music and people in jeans sitting around drinking coffee

My husband's family, with his 11 younger siblings that I love to death (Andre, Alex, Alexei, Anna, Aimee, Allison, Alicia, Alyssa, Amanda, Aaron and Alan) hehehehehe

My husband's older sister Robin who is getting married right before us, and wants to have kids at the same time as us, and who wants our kids to grow up together and we can have playdates and babysit for each other and all those awesome things!

Going to WalMart at 2am because my husband says it's too crowded in the daytime.

I would miss the politics and the pundits, and all the patriotism that sometimes gets out of hand

Sigh.

Disneyworld on a whim. That's my life. I love it

I just didn't check out of the hotel. If you are one of the first people in line at the consulate you should be able to get back to the hotel before check out time. I've been a housekeeper at many different hotels, and people constantly abuse the check out time anyway. The housekeeper will just put off cleaning your room until later in the day anyway if you don't make it back in time. I've worked at anywhere from 2 star to 4 star and I've never seen anyone get charged extra, or have their stuff moved out of the room just for being a few hours over the check out time.

I would just ask my hotel for a late check out if you're really worried you're going to be gone past the check out time and leave your stuff in the room.

Hey all!

I've been avoiding posting my review because I really don't know what to say. I took the train to Montreal, and was pretty sick by the time I got there (because that always happens when I don't sleep). The train was delayed 7 hours, so I walked right to the hotel (La Tour Centre Ville) and went to sleep when I got to Montreal. I was 3rd in line at the consulate the next morning (I got there a little after 7, I think). I was behind Joni and her husband and Melissa, who are both on VJ somewhere too. They let us in, we went through security, I was letter C. I got called to the window, I gave my medical envelope, the xpresspost envelope, my adoption papers and my passport to a cranky lady.

In my file she had there were passport pictures of me in a little stapled plastic bag, I guess NVC must have put them in there that way. She acted annoyed at the staples and handed the bag to me, made me take out the staples and put them in a little ziplock bag. I was really confused because I had brought passport pictures with me, so I asked if she wanted them too, but she gave me an exasperated look and said "just give me the bag!" So I slid the pictures back in the ziplock bag. It was really weird, I never used the passport pictures I brought with me.

Anyways, I sat in the waiting room for a long time with the others, I probably talked waaaay too much out of nerves. I finally got fingerprinted and then waited again for about an hour. I got called into the interview room, the guy was really nice. We joked around about how I was left handed so I wouldn't be able to go to the US because they already had too many left-handed people, and I should learn how to pitch if I wanted to get in. He actually asked me quite a few questions about PEI, then about my husband's work. It was pretty conversational.

The only surprise was that he said I should have gotten a police certificate done under my married name. I explained that I have never used my husband's last name for anything, but he didn't seem to care. He said he would let it pass as long as I swore to him that I had never been arrested. It was really weird.

But anyways, he approved me.

I went back to the hotel and checked out, and walked to the train station and waited for my train back home.

I am still sick with some kind of lung infection thing.

The end

Oh, and I got my visa in the mail yesterday. Interview Friday, visa on Monday. . . how's that for service?

Yay! Finally! Congrats!!!!!

Okay, I know everyone does this, and people have answered this question a million times, but I got fed up with searching the archives and being confused by all the K-1 people so here goes?

What to I need to take to the interview?

Let's start with the medical stuff,

passport and photocopies of passport,

2 passport pictures (american size),

this year's taxes for hubby and sponsor,

my original adoption papers,

proof of relationship (made a little scrapbook),

then I get lost. If they have the original marriage certificate, and the original police certificate, I don't

have to bring a copy, right? Also, do I have to have a whole new affidavit of support from my husband and our sponsor? I mean, they just sent them in February and I didn't want to bother my father in law again to fill out a whole new I-864, so I just got a copy of his taxes from him.

Am I really supposed to bring copies of every form I've submitted so far, or is that just an extra thing some people do? Like, will they really ask me for my I-130 or my G-325 at the interview?

And do I need to pay money there, or is that just for K-1 people?

Wow, I'm more confused then I thought I was when I started writing this

Sorry, but the beaver tails location at the Canada pavillion at Epcot closed permanently around 2004 (I worked there in 2005 and they were long gone). It was the decision of the beavertails people and not Disney to pull out. You can get beavertails at the Cavendish Boardwalk on PEI! lol

Anyways, I got my gardasil shot today and my doctor faxed a note to Dr. Doane, so hopefully I'm all set. I'll call tomorrow to make sure they got it.

I'm super excited about the train, I've never been on one before. My husband keeps telling me it's not like in Harry Potter, but I can't shake the mental image lol

and btw, I did have to sleep on the floor at the airport like the amazing race people. . . except I didn't have a partner to watch my stuff whenever I had to go to the bathroom (grrr. . .)

Well I'm in Summerside, so the ferry is at the other end of the island - I'd be adding a lot more driving. Plus, I'm not sure if the ferry is any cheaper than the bridge anyway.

As I understand it, the train goes from Halifax to Montreal, and it stops at a bunch of places inbetween (like Moncton) and probably Truro or thereabouts too.

So. . . about a month ago I went to visit my husband in Orlando since I was going crazy all by myself in PEI. I was supposed to fly back Saturday night (with a connection in Newark) but do to weather I missed my connection (along with 90 other people on my flight). Continental was always my favorite airline, but aparently they have a policy that if you are travelling to Canada or Mexico they are not responsible for your overnight accommodations if there is a missed connection or whatnot. So, I ended up having to sleep in Newark airport and waiting a full 24 hours for the next flight to Moncton. My mother had to drive to Moncton from PEI on both Saturday and Sunday night to pick me up, (because I wasn't there Saturday like I was supposed to be) so I estimate she spent about $200 in gas and bridge fare altogether, plus I had to buy several meals at the airport, which probably ended up being at least $50

On to the medical

I drove from PEI to Halifax for the medical this morning. It all went pretty quick.

It was thorough but not too embarrassing since he did it all really fast. He was very nice too. He even gave me a map and showed me how to get to the hospital and where to go. I didn't have to wait very long for the xrays or the bloodwork at the hospital, and I was amazed at how many hospital workers knew exactly what was going on and why I was there and all about the immigration requirements. I fully expected that I would have to explain myself over and over again to get everything done correctly, but I was pleasantly surprised.

This all cost me $190 for the exam, $20 for the express mailing, $82.50 for the xrays and bloodwork, plus $40 for the bridge, at least $50 in gas, and probably $20 in food, tolls, and parking during the trip.

The only problem with the medical was that his receptionist told me beforehand that I didn't need the Gardasil, but I actually did. I picked it up at a pharmacy when I got back to PEI and hopefully I can have my family doctor inject it first thing tomorrow. Dr. Doane said to just fax him a letter from my doctor saying he gave me the Gardasil and I would be all set. I was worried (still am) that I won't get the results before I leave for Montreal next Wednesday night, but Dr. Doane seemed to think it would be no problem as long as I get the Gardasil stuff done ASAP.

P.S. The Gardasil cost me $150 for the first needle (my mother got a discount because she works in a pharmacy)

In related news, I decided to take the train to Montreal. On Wednesday I'm driving from PEI to Moncton to catch the train. It arrives at 8:15 am on Thursday, then I am staying Thursday night at La Tour Centre Ville. My interview is Friday morning, then I leave on the train back to Moncton Friday evening and arrive Saturday morning (then I will drive home to PEI). I have a sleeper car on the way back (very exciting!).

Total: $404 for the train, $102 for the hotel

Also will have to pay no idea how much for train station parking, whatever money I have to for food in Montreal, another $40 to get across the bridge, plus about $50 again in gas, whatever I have to pay at the interview ($131??)

So, it has been a very expensive week, and will be again next week. I hope my visa can take it. It's all credit from this point until I get back to Orlando and get a job.

At least there seems to be a light at the end of the (very expensive) tunnel - this time next month I will hopefully be back with hubby and applying for a job.

Hi all. . . Just relaxing here in sunny Orlando

My Montreal interview is June 13th, so I'm flying back to Canada for that. . . but I haven't done my medical yet.

My plan is to stay on PEI and drive over to Halifax to get the medical done, return to PEI, and then drive to Montreal for the interview (and back to pei again to wait for the mail).

I'm just trying to book my flight now, I'm wondering how long it takes for the medical results from Dr. Doane's office. I thought I heard something about picking them up the next day, but I might be way off. I tried calling them today, but they are only there in the mornings on Fridays apparently.

Anyways, any info would be appreciated.

Thanks

I got a June 13th interview!!!! yay me!!!!!!

ahhhhhh!!!!!! I'm June 13th too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh wow! mine was complete march 26th . . . . I am now frantically calling NVC . . . . please, please let me be as lucky!!!

I'm flying direct from Moncton to Orlando. Moncton doesn't have a POE there. . . . Halifax does though, but not Moncton

Yes my job did suck!! LOL I worked at a call center and I got fired for hanging up on all the azzholes. . . joke's on them . . . .I made almost $1500 in the few weeks I worked there and barely did any work.

(I'm usually a good worker, but these people treat their employees like #######, I feel bad for all the people stuck working there for years because they have no education and no where else to go. It's very sad. . . worse than McDonalds)

Anyways, I'm sure I'll be fine at the border, I've made it through lots of times before. My only worry is that if they do refuse me, I'll already be in Florida, and that's a heck of a heartbreaker, to be that close and then have to pay for a flight right back.

10 more sleeps!!!! :)

Hello all

Two bad things:

1. I didn't get a May interview

2. I got fired today (hehehe, I'm not really sad about this one)

So, despited having no money, I've decided to fly down to Orlando to see my long lost hubby on May 5th. I didn't book a return because I plan to stay until I get an interview date and just come back right before the interview.

It really doesn't make sense to stay here and try to find a new job when I will (hopefully) be getting a June interview anyway.

I got a wicked deal for $144 w/tax one way direct from Moncton to Orlando! I'm going to do my medical before I leave, just in case.

Any tips for getting across the border? I'm thinking that the airport will be way less strict than the actual border, so I think I'll be fine.

Catherine

I'm with you guys! Just give me a friken date already!!! NVC said they are done scheduling Montreal for May (not much help for you K-1s, I know) but we're still pretty much all in the same boat

this sucks!!!!

I wrote Halifax on mine and it came back Montreal. . . they're probably used to it