ToddD

My wife had one vaccine in Canada and the other in the US and they were accepted.

I used Campbell Moving. Here is their info. I first started with the web site link and then worked with LeeAnn. She was very nice. Remember to be as specific as possible for an accurate quote. LeeAnn Galant Relocation Specialist Campbell Moving Calgary 320A 28 St, NE, Calgary, AB, T2A 5R2 P 587-885-0337

Right. A UHaul is a reasonable option and you can drive that over the border. I just had too much stuff to deal with all of the lifting myself.

I got quotes for the same thing from BC to Seattle. The best I was able to get was about $4,000 for 70 boxes and 3 room of furniture in a fairly large shipping truck company. Prices are all over the board. I just did a google search for international moving companies and did a ton of calling and emailing around. It's helpful if you are very specific about the number of boxes you estimate, as well as the furniture and appliances. Everything costs money, so being specific help with an accurate estimate. I got estimates from 4 to 20,000, so do your homework.

I agree. Flying was always easier for my wife coming from Canada. She was pulled into the office several times when driving, but she brought all sorts of proof of still working and living in Canada, which they often asked for. She was never denied though.

It's also a good idea to bring any proof of the vacation... like hotel reservation proof, tickets to an event you're attending, etc. We have friends visiting next week in a similar situation and we are writing an email to them saying we are looking forward to them staying with us on specific dates. They will print the email and take it to the border when crossing. I recommend bringing anything that can help provide weight / evidence of a limited trip and your intent is to return to Canada. Another recommendation is bringing utility bills, pay check stubs, and anything that shows ties to Canada to return.

I didn't receive any indication they received my document or looking at it. Some advice I received on the forums here was keeping on eye on the status web site. It might say Refused for a long time, but pay attention to the date. If the date changes, then someone touched your case or maybe looked at your case. After 5 weeks, the status changed, and then a couple days after that, the status changed to Approved. After it was approved, I received a notification through email the passport is being returned and received a tracking number. The passport arrived within 2 days. The 5-6 weeks is what I was told from another person on the VJ forums and it was accurate in my case, so that might be true with yours as well.

It's bizarre they didn't let you cross the border while your visa is being processed. My wife crossed all the time to visit me in the US while hers was being processed. That said, this sounds minor and my wife was in a similar position when they asked for one more document at the interview that we didn't have. The agent also said everything was good and as soon as they receive the additional document, it will be reviewed for approval and send the passport back with the visa. The AP time took about 5-6 weeks and there was no indication they received it other than I got a delivery receipt from the delivery company (FedEx). For weeks I kept checking this web site to see the status change. When it was approved, she received her passport within a couple days. CEAC (state.gov) Good luck!

Missing my divorce certificate. The agent did not accept the signed divorce order from the judge, so I had to find a certificate. I fortunately was able to order one quickly and ship it within a few days.

My recommendation is having proof of everything before the medical appointment. My wife even got a blood test before the medical to show proof of at least one of the vaccines in her system, even though she didn't have written proof prior. She also got one of the vaccines that couldn't be proven by a blood test before the medical. If you have your medical after November 1st, it's best to have everything ready and completed before the medical, because that way the office can send your results to the consulate without waiting for your additional proof (like the flu shot).

In our case, at the interview, the agent wanted one more document. I submitted it the next day and it still took 5 weeks for the agent to review it and approve. I could be awhile.

The January date is when you need to cross the border into the US and declare you are immigrating to activate the visa. There is a limited time to do that. If you are under a CR1, then it's good for 2 years.

Here is an update for anyone that has a visa / passport stuck at the consulate and they must travel. You can get a temporary passport. Cost is about $200 CAD. Be prepared to spend many hours at the passport office and also be prepared for the staff there not knowing what you're talking about. You'll need to be polite but push for what is allowed to get the temp passport and when you get your original back with the visa in it to do a exchange, where the original passport with the visa in it is activated again (only one passport can be active at a time) and surrender the temp passport. Ask for a temporary passport application, because your current passport is "Inaccessible" (official term is Inaccessible Passport) You can get a temp passport if you prove your current passport is stuck at a foreign consulate for processing AND you must travel Show proof of your passport being stuck in processing with the consulate and also proof that you have corresponded with them about the delays. Show proof of upcoming travel Bring an original birth certificate and proof of your identity Fill-out an application for a temporary passport (might be the same as a regular passport, but make sure they file it properly) Provide a guarantor (my wife used her adult daughter that is not living with her). The agent will call. Provide 2 references that are friends that can vouch for you. The agent will call them. If travel is urgent, the passport can be made within a couple of days, so show proof that you must pick it up in time for travel. Once you pick-up the temp passport, make sure there is a stamp/sticker inside that shows that it is a temp passport (the cover won't say it). I heard the temp passport is good for one year, not just for this specific travel date. When you arrive at the border, bring your proof of travel, proof of needing the temp passport, and of course your temp passport. In our case, the USA agent didn't ask for anything other than the passport and didn't say anything or ask about it, but that's no guarantee. When you finally receive your original passport with the visa, go to the passport office again Request that you need to surrender your temp passport and have the original activated again. You cannot carry two passports (from what we were told), so you need to activate one and surrender the other. You might need to push that you're not applying for anything new and all the agent needs to do is accept your temp passport and activate the original. My wife had to push a little about the urgency of this swap, because the initial staff wanted her to wait in the long application line all day. This wasn't necessary. My wife stood with the agent while the original was being activated again on the screen. It takes about 30 minutes for the system to process the swap, but it will be fairly quick (not hours or days).

Wife's interview was June 10. Unfortunately, the agent asked for my original divorce certificate, which she didn't have and wasn't in the main list of things for her to bring. They kept her passport and I had to mail it to MTL the following week and she didn't get the visa issued until July 22nd. There were no updates given until it was issued. All I knew was someone signed for it at the address provided in MTL.

My wife's application has been pending for months now. Not even to the interview stage, but good to know the US offices are open when it finally gets the conditional approval.