RachaelMcCorm

54 minutes ago, VegasEagle said:

We were told by a lawyer not to cross the border in case of any problems but my wife could come from Canada to visit for a month while we wait for her interview? 
 

this is unbelievable if true we have been living apart for a year because of this

I, a Canadian citizen spent more time in the US this year while waiting for my IV letter then I did any other year. I was in US for 5.5 months in  this past year, I did not travel after I learned my interview date as I knew quarantines would get in my way. But I already have my passport back and never once did any one at the consulate ask about the visits I had this year. I even crossed by land- the day it opened to Immediate relatives/ and still had no problem. Mind you I’m at fort Erie bridge and they are allowing spouses to cross. I don’t see why you can’t visit!

21 hours ago, Mel and Deb said:

Well that was speedy. Issued and in final processing. Somehow the link they give to the tracking number is dead  (404)

My link was dead too...

11 minutes ago, Flowergirl 737 said:

OH I did not know Canada post does picture or UPS, thanks I will try.

I got all my pictures taken at Zehrs Grocery store! I live in Goderich Ontario area and they still allow you to have photos taken

So I had my interview this morning, and my Son’s CRBA appointment yesterday! It was a breeze, the hardest part was trying to keep my 1 year old son entertained while we waited for his appointment. 
officers asked me:

when and where we met

when/where we got married

if we have children, when was our son born

my longest stay in the US- mine was from Nov 1-Jan 15 this year.

my husband address, my address, 

my husbands job, my profession. 
 

Very straightforward, took 1 hour 15 mins from the moment I walked in to the moment I left. Interview itself was 5 mins, and 5 mins while handing in documents. 
I was asked for my birth certificate my passport, police certificate, marriage certificate, and my husbands W2s from 2020 as his return just got filed yesterday. 

Every one was very nice, I had forgotten my sons sweater and hat at his interview and they had it waiting for me to grab when I came back in the next day. 

Overall a great experience. Stayed at the Hotel Europa Best Western. And it was a 3 min walk to the embassy. 
They said my Visa will be approved and back to me in 2-3 weeks

8 hours ago, CarolynAllan said:

Hi All,

Interview on Wed, so nervous now!  For the documents they ask for, I have seen instruction to submit originals and copies.  Have they been asking for the copies recently?  I have them, just trying to keep it super simple when I get in there.  And, are the originals handed back to you right there?  Or sent back with the passport/visa like some info says?

My interview is on Wednesday as well9:45! I have a folder with all the copies in it and a folder with all my originals. I figured it was just the passport they took and mailed back. On my way to Montreal right now! My son has a CRBA interview tomorrow morning as well.

On 4/7/2021 at 11:46 PM, Mikeeastern said:

Can't they sign an affidavit with a notary and you bring that to the CRBA appointment?  I remember reading about that in the CRBA form. 

This is what we ended up doing- just waiting still (less then 48 hours until the interveiw) for the signed papers to arrive via overnight UPS😅

Has anyone in this group had to file a Consular Report of birth abroad during Covid? 
Our son was born in Canada last April, and his CRBA interview was scheduled TODAY to be grouped with my interview in Montreal. (On April 13- my interview is on the 14th). 
I’d be rejoicing- except the letter states that they want my husband (US citizen) present, but he lives and works in US. So with less then one week till the interview there’s no possible time for quarantine. Meaning we’d have to reschedule everything. 😭
Wondering if anyone has done this in Covid times, and can confirm that there’s no possible way to have our sons interview without the USC parent there?

Hey all,

Just a question for those who have recently had their interview and received their passport back to a residence in Ontario.

What are processing speeds like? How long did it take for puralator to return your passport from Montreal. 
Just trying to plan travel, (interveiw is next Wednesday) if all goes well.
Thanks

Hey everyone! 

This is for members who have completed their point of entry at the Buffalo-Fort Erie Peace Bridge during covid restrictions.

Has anyone attempted to cross with their parents or another individual driving them across the border?

I am not planning on importing a vehicle as mine is too rusted to pass an inspection in Pennsylvania.

I thought about driving a Uhaul truck, but I have an 11 month old and there is no back seat in a Uhaul for a car seat.

So the next best option for me was to have someone else drive me across, which my parents would gladly do with their truck and trailer. Just wondered if anyone has tried this in covid times in Buffalo and how the border guards reacted? 

Thanks,

Rachael 

Interview date: April 14

1 hour ago, DGF said:

I've never seen it be anything other than overnight. We got ours at 11pm west coast time which felt early because I'd always seen people say they got theirs at 2 am but that lines up with the time difference. 

2 hours ago, aurmorr said:

I’ve only been on VJ during pandemic times, but the generally consensus is that they are usually sent overnight around 2am (not sure what time zone that is though), but there are reports of mid-day batches being released as well.

 

the pandemic has ruffled every feather in the process and I genuinely think there is no consistency right now as the consulate tries to navigate local health regulations. It’s made it so much harder to manage for us, mentally, who count on those times and days as proof of movement. But there is nothing right now to suggest there is much of a pattern since the consulate opened back up for processing in November.
 

it’s really hard, I find myself doing the same thing. 

Overnight was what I thought too. Thanks! Hopefully I can stop checking my email every 10 seconds😂

On 3/5/2021 at 6:50 AM, aurmorr said:

They’re a been no movement as of yet- maybe they’re going back to mid-month release but if they do that, anyone who has to quarantine is totally fricked for early April interviews 😩

 

 no one knows anything and we are all just anxious speculators doing our best 😭😭

So for those of you who got an interview in the last few months, does anyone know if they send all the letters at a specific time of day? I’ve become addicted to checking my email every single time I touch my phone... and thinking if I just knew what time of day they were sent out last month maybe I could feel less preoccupied with it.

1 hour ago, Adaab said:

Did anyone recently arrive in Canada from US. I heard they are making mandatory quarantine in hotel and asking to pay from pocket (about $2000)?? 

 

I just got out of my two week quarantine in Canada, (into Ontario) but nothing had changed yet. I’m curious to hear of anyone coming home this past week. 

45 minutes ago, CrystalNeufeld said:

 

So, even with land borders being essential only they let you through? He tried a land border and they turned him away and even tried to say it could cancel his immigration process for trying. 
 

She said that and then came back out and said her supervisor said that it wouldnt because he didnt file from the US. So it scared us to death. 

In my case- I travelled in June the instant the borders opened to immediate relatives. Was pulled over, and questioned. The border guards didn’t even know the border was open yet- (was at the border less then 8 hours after the CAN gov stated it was open to immeadiate relatives)- but when they checked my story with their supervisor he said that I was legally allowed to travel, as I was deemed essential because He was my spouse and a US citizen. ( not sure if that makes a difference) That was the only time I was questioned. The other 2 visits I was waved through with the usual questions even when I stated I was going to be gone for 2.5 months. (Aug/Sept, and Nov-Jan) I haven’t travelled under the new US administrations regulations yet. I think I will need proof of a negative test to cross the next visit. 
 

1 hour ago, CrystalNeufeld said:

Hello, all. 
I have been reading this thread for a while now. I live in Kentucky, my husband and step-daughter live in Calgary. We filed the I-130 and then paperwork for her as his child.
We previously thought our DQ date was July 8. We had sent all paperwork to NVC. At some point a glitch apparently happened and their system showed previously submitted and accepted paperwork as unsubmitted and we had to send it again. 
I found out yesterday it made us have two DQ dates in the system and though the letter they sent me says July 8 they say they cannot fix it and DQ date is now August 19.

I started a timeline on here but probably need to update it. 
While following Covid restrictions, of course, is anyone having luck having their spouse visit the USA during the wait? We are getting close to interview and don’t want to do anything to jeopardize our case, but would love to have them come visit. We dont have any B visas or anything. 
Thanks for listening. 

I (the Canadian spouse) cross at the fort Erie, ON border, and didn’t have any issues travelling with our 7 month old to see my husband. I was in the states 2.5 months and have been to visit repeatedly this year (all 2-4 week visits) I haven’t been given any troubles and don’t have a B visa. I always travel with every original document I need for my visa interview just in case I get questioned. My DQ date is August 11, so hoping for a letter by March. Not sure if certain borders tend to be more picky, but I’ve never had issues at the land border in Fort Erie. Not planning another trip though until after my interview as I think I’m close to my 6 months of stay limit for this 12 month cycle. With a baby born in April I wasn’t going to have my husband miss out on the first year of his life. So I’ve spent more time in the US this year then I ever have. 

7 hours ago, fxch3 said:

Hi everyone! 

 

For all the spouses that are separated due to COVID-19, I actually travelled to the States while waiting for my interview. I also applied for the I-539 (extension to stay) while I was there. Here's how the process went: 

 

DQ: May 29, 2020 

Aug 5, 2020: My husband (US citizen) flew to YYZ to visit me for 3-4 weeks. He didn't have much of a problem, the officer just asked him the following:

• Why are you travelling (A: To visit my wife, she is a Canadian citizen. In July, they've allowed immediate families to visit so I wanted to take this opportunity since I haven't seen her in over 10 months)
• Do you have documentation for the marriage: (A: Yes - he showed our marriage licence (copy), my passport (copy), drivers licence  (copy)and citizenship card (copy)) 
• How long are you visiting: (A: 3 weeks returning date is Aug 23, 2020 and he showed him the return ticket)
• Address where you are quarantining and they gave him info on the quarantine act. Upon getting to YYZ, they asked the same questions and it was a quick process. 

Aug 23, 2020: My husband (US Citizen) and myself (Canadian citizen applied for IR1) were travelling to LAX from YYZ. Travelling to America was the hardest thing ever, they stopped us and we got to the gate 1 min before closing.This all happened at YYZ and keep in mind it is my fault for not having enough information while flying - so take your chances. They could have said no but the officer said I'll let you stay for your birthday but you have to leave by Dec 1, 2020. 

• I got pulled aside because I was travelling with 3 suitcases (My goal was to stay there for 4 months)
• Why are you travelling? (A: I am going to live with my husband for 4 months, here's the marriage certificate)
• Do you know you aren't supposed to travel? (A: Yes but I thought I can visit my husband? I'm exempt from the travel ban)
• Are you planning to live there or stay for a short time? (A: I am only staying there for 4 months, I am returning Jan 2021) 
  • At this point, they pulled us into that Custom & Border room to visit an officer. Another officer called us up and asked us a bunch of questions and proofs.
• Have you applied for an immigrant visa? (A: Yes, IR-1 I am currently DQ and waiting for my interview. I have to return to Canada to complete my interview. But regardless of that, I work for a Canadian company that knows I am going to America for 4 months and will return. 
• What's your I-130 number. I don't see you applied for any visa on my end? (A: PANIC MODE - I had to show him my NVC account, DS-260, i-130. For some odd reason when he scanned my passport it did not pop up that i filled an application online. It was a horrible stressful experience of trying to log into my account to try to find my digital i-130 that was mailed to our house in California. Thankfully my mother in law had the I-130 that showed ACCEPTED.)
• What's the NVC number? USCIS number? 
• Where are you living?
• What is the proof you are returning (A: I have a job at a Canadian company but didn't have an official letter from my company that I needed to return. I don't have a mortgage under my name so I had no proof I was returning.)
• What do you do? What does your husband do? (A: XYZ told him this and I think he asked us how much we make to ensure it wasn't a part-time job and had some type of potential to return back. Even then he said no you can't travel)
• After much begging and back and forth he said I will give you a travel visa until Dec 1, 2020 - you better come back to Canada before this date. 
• We ran to our gate which was about to leave in 1 minute. 

Oct 2020: I applied for the i-539 (extension of a visa stay), I applied for an extension until May 2021 because I thought my interview would have been in April 2021. I completed the bio-metrics in Nov, 2020. When I called the embassy the lady said that, if the custom border officers show up at my house to tell me I am overstaying, I can show them the i-539 receipt and biometrics date and just let them know I am waiting for an approval which can take up to 6 months. At that time, it is their decision to either 1. let me stay and wait for the final decision or 2. Notify me I must leave. I never got to that stage since I knew my IL would come some time in January so I flew to YYZ on Jan 7, 2021. 

 

Jan 7, 2021: I flew from LAX to YYZ. They never asked me about my visa or extension. They just told me I had to quarantine and call a number every day. 

 

Jan 18: Received IL for Feb 17, 2021

 

**please do not take the risk of travelling unless you have proof of returning. I got lucky but it was not worth the stress of knowing they could say no at any time** 

Question for you, I’m DQ’d Aug 11, and hoping to have a interview by April. You mentioned an extension of stay in the US, the I-539. How exactly does that process work? Just send me a private message if you can.