Sofitalian

Hi VJ members, In a few months, I'll be eligible for applying under the 3-year rule. I have a question as I started to do my research. After I became LPR, I worked remotely under a contract with a company in Hong Kong for a few months. When I filed taxes here (MFJ), the income was treated as self-employment income. So when I list my employment history, should I just put those few months as self-employment and not putting the name of that Hong Kong company?

I'm sorry to ask here - After I became LPR, I had a contract with a company in Hong Kong for a few months while I worked remotely from the U.S.. When I filed taxes here (MFJ), the income was treated as self-employment income. So should I just put those few months as self-employment and not putting the name of company in Hong Kong?

To the question about two passports - in my process, I used my HK passport. However, at the point of interview, they allowed me to choose which passport to put my IR1 visa. I chose to use my Canadian passport. Once you enter US with the visa and get stamped, it doesn't matter any more.

One "trick" I learned when writing CV for job applications in US - you do have to customize when you respond to a job ad. Try to use the keywords in the ad in your CV for that particular job. This helps a lot to get through the ATS (Automated Screening) software, and helps to land your resume to the HR recruiter.

I had similar experience. When filing tax in US, I had to file my income earned from the contract as self-employment income. I used the currency exchange rate specified by IRS for that year to convert the amount into USD. As for the home country, I'm not sure if you need to perform tax clearance before leaving UK. In my case, I had to clear all my taxes. So I started a new contract after I moved to the US, to make things simpler. Since I worked remotely from the US for this contract, and I didn't live in my home country hence no tax residence there, I didn't need to file tax for the income in my new contract.

I'm happy to report that I got my new passport together with my old one today! From the date they rec'd my package till they prepared the FedEx shipping label, it took 11 working days. I sent two sets of photos (one taken in Hong Kong and one taken in Staples in US). They used the one in HK as I requested.

@Isabel&Will Thanks for sharing your experience. As you said, the staff at Walgreens wasn't that knowledgeable. I found out that one Staples branch here that can cater to many countries' passport photo requirements. So I took mine at Staples. At the end, I sent two sets of photos (one took at Staples here, one took in Hong Kong) with my application. I wrote a cover letter to mention why I did that. I sent my application at a FedEx location here. Whey they input the street address and postal code of the Passport Program, in their system, the province is written as "PQ" instead of "QC". There's no way they can change it. When I tracked the package, it's already been delivered. Let's see how long it will take for my application. The staff at FedEx also said they could take Canadian passport photos (change setting in their machine).

Hi all, I'd like to provide some updates I got regarding my previous question. 1. I emailed the Canadian Consulate in HK to ask about this. I received two replies (1 minute apart). The first one said it's ok to use the photos taken in HK for my renewal applications sent from the U.S.. In the 2nd reply, it stated that "if you have your photos taken in Hong Kong, and plan to submit your application to another passport office other than Hong Kong, then it is up to the processing officer to whether or not consider the photos acceptable. Questions may be raised whether or not the applicant is within the jurisdiction of the passport office it the photos are taken at another country." 2. Then I wrote to the Canadian Consulate in the U.S., they provided me a list of passport photographers in those states that fall under the consular jurisdiction of the State I live in. However, they asked me to confirm with Passport Program if the photos taken in Hong Kong are acceptable in my case. 3. I talked to an agent at Passport Program. They confirmed that photos taken outside U.S. are ok as long as the photos are taken according to the specifications required (and I mentioned that the photography studio in Hong Kong is accepted by Canadian Consulate HK). On the list of photographers, I found ONE Walgreens. I called Walgreens at that particular location. They confirmed that they had their equipment set up to take Canadian passport photos, and they will put the studio name, address and date. I guess this will be my go-to in order to avoid any unexpected rejection from Passport Program.

Thanks @Mike E for sharing your experiences. Much appreciated. From the below link, I read that "name and complete address of the photo studio". Hence I had the impression that it must be a photo studio. On the back of 1 photo the photographer must clearly write or stamp the date the photo was taken name and complete address of the photo studio https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/photos.html If that is not a must, maybe I can even ask my husband to take it for me (he used to be a professional photographer). 😃

Hi Canadian VJ members, I have to renew my Canadian passport from the U.S. in the next 3-4 months. Has anyone renewed theirs from the U.S.? I wanted to see how you got your photos taken. I couldn't find anywhere in my city that takes Canadian passport photos, and I read that you can't do it by yourself because you need a professional photographer/studio to sign on the back of the photos. I'm currently in Hong Kong for travelling and I wonder if I should just take mine from here. Will there be a problem when the photo studio address is in Hong Kong but I mail the application from the U.S.? I sent this question to Canadian Consulate as well as the canada.ca website but no reply. Thanks in advance for anyone who can share their experience.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. That's good to hear. Since there's only 11 more months to go, I'm leaning towards filing under the 3 yr rule.

Thanks @Mike E Actually we've been married and lived outside US for some years. Then my USC spouse moved back to US while I was waiting for the IR-1 visa. So we didn't live together for a few years back (I did visit with him). But if I start to plan on filing N-400 using the 3-year rule (I got my GC in Oct 2020 and have lived in the US with my spouse ever since, except for the short vacations I mentioned above). If I file in Oct 2023, between now and then, I may still go to visit my family outside US (1-2 weeks).

I haven't met the 3 years yet so this question is for my planning. So far I had 2 vacations. I travelled by myself to visit my family in Canada.

Hi everyone, For the 3-year rule "the applicant has been married to and living in a valid marital union with the same U.S. citizen spouse for all three years": - Does it allow if I (LPR) travel outside the country but my spouse (US citizen) doesn't come with me during those short vacations? We're talking about 1-2 weeks each time. - For the supporting evidence, e.g. Joint bank account - does it need to be from day 1 of the 3-year period? We only changed our bank accounts to joint accounts maybe a year after I got my GC and moved to US. But we have filed tax jointly ever since I had my GC.

I was in their program for a bit. It was quite useful for me to understand the way how to write your resume in the U.S.. The career planning part wasn't really my need, but the mock job interview was good for me to refresh my job interview skills. I was lucky to land on a job very quickly so I didn't use their help for that long. They're after all very good though.

Thanks Mike. But I read on the website just now that proof of Canadian citizenship is required (original document).

Thanks Mike. I have my Canadian Citizenship card, U.S. Green Card and U.S. Driver's License. If in case I must get into Canada, can I fly to the nearest border and drive into Canada?

Hello, Admin team, please move my topic if this is not the proper forum. Thanks. My Canadian passport will be expired some time next year and I will have to apply to renew my passport, which will mean I will be without my Canadian passport for 4 months or so until I receive a new one. During the waiting period, can I still get into Canada with my U.S. Green Card? Does anyone know or have the experience? Thanks.

Thanks for sharing. Yes, I was looking at this guide and also the USCIS website. In my case, I think I would apply under the 3-year rule when the time comes.

What does "a lot of the evidence" mean? I read the guide in the VJ website. Those documents look pretty basic (tax filing, mortgage).

Since you have got your SSN, it should be already much easier than a lot of those who haven't. Phone card - When I first arrived, I bought a pre-paid SIM card with me (ultramobile, which uses T-mobile network). Note that when you activate it, you don't even need to be a lawful resident (can be used for tourists). Afterwards, I just continue using it on a month-to-month plan (no contract) for over a year until we eventually fix a family plan with another carrier. Credit card - I got my SSN but not my green card when I got my credit card. My husband and I went to his bank together. It wasn't hard for me to get my own Credit Card with a security deposit. I think it took around 9 months for them to remove it and return the security deposit to me.

Just ask those staff directing people to lines at the Immigration. Tell them you're here with a CR1 visa. The staff should be able to direct him to the right line.

I think 4 hours layover is a good choice. My POE was Chicago (back in 2020 during COVID time). My waiting time for the Immigration (inside the room) was a bit over 1.5 hours. My layover time was 3.5 hrs. Some other VJ members mentioned about the taxing time, taking train/bus to another terminal, etc. are all valid and important facts to consider. Better allow extra time so you may even be able to get a bite during the layover.