erintoronto

I do have a question, however... would the RBC Canada to RBC America thing work in reverse?

Darn good question! It would certainly be worth checking out, can't see why they wouldn't do that!

some friends of my parents were able to do this a few months ago. i believe as long as you can establish yourself in the US or in Canada, it will work for both!

Indeed it is, and I have the ulcer to prove it . Used to take almost SEVEN months from returning packet 3 to interview. Granted, waiting sux; but it's getting better.

SEVEN?!

oh me, oh my. they better have their sh*t in order (or at least stay under 4 months) for all of us. that's all i'm sayin'!

gives you supreme ranting power..

i believe it does!

i'm so sorry to see how long your process is taking. i hope you get your approval asap!

I'm glad you're going in to talk to someone. Maybe that person can advise on a financial plan that won't involve bankruptcy as well. I know I've seen advertising of companies, mainly accountants I think, that offer some support in handling your debt, by writing letters to creditors etc. in hopes you don't have to declare bankruptcy. Best of luck to you!

thank you!

Hi Erin. I wouldn't worry too much about this. The US works pretty independently of Canada when it comes to credit checks.

that's my biggest concern - that they don't work independently and if i am forced to file bankruptcy i'll have my credit rating follow me to the US. it's not like i'm dying to get another credit card, i'd like to leave all that in the past, but i am concerned should i need to get a car, etc. your detail about nissan is good to know!

i have heard that once i get to the US i will need to build up my credit from scratch. so i'm wondering - will my canadian credit rating be referred to at any point by US banks or companies that offer credit? or am i really starting over? my credit rating is so-so, however if i wind up declaring bankruptcy (fingers crossed i won't have to) i'm wondering what the implications will be in the US.

thanks in advance

that is wonderful news! congratulations!!!

best wishes and good luck! i can't wait to hear your good news

i'm sure it will be easy to deal with and you'll have your approval in no time!

congratulations! that's less than one month away!

it's such a strange sensation to be so in love with another person and feel so connected to them, yet have moments of absolute heartbreak because you can't be together.

Well.....call me crazy, but I actually feel alot calmer now that the wheels are in motion toward immigration. Before it was kinda like a crazy dream--falling for this foreigner and wishing somehow you could just live together instead of messaging all the time. I felt really good when I mailed in the petition. ***exhale** At least it's a plan instead of a fairy tale in my head. Don't get me wrong, I'm as impatient as the next person waiting around for an unknown date, but not feeling heartbreak so much.

Today is a gorgeous day....sunny blue skies, cooled down from 80's into the 60's, my flowers blooming like crazy...LOVE IT!

And in less than 2 weeks, I'm off to the UK for another visit.

the weather certain helps lift the spirit. that is a definite! (F)

i do feel calmer than i did. things are actually happening! wheels in motion, as you said

i just miss him and he's been soooo busy. admittedly, i wrote that in a bad moment. i must remember "and this too shall pass" whenever i get like that we will be together sooner than later and it will be wonderful building a life with him. *and* i do get to see him in 3 more sleeps.

Erin, You do what you have to do to be happy...it's that simple. I was with my ex for close to 20 years (high-school sweethearts) and we had a hefty savings that has since been depleted. Russell and I have been waiting many years to be together. In the past 3 years we've spent upwards of $60,000 just on travelling... he also left a 6 figure income in Australia two years ago to come here to be with me as much as he could while we awaited my divorce. I'm now having to refinance my home, which depreciated in value by about $60,000, to get it into my name alone. If there's one thing my life has taught me.. it's perspective. I am a woman who has buried a child, who's lost 200 pounds (10 years ago), lost my 'healthy' dad at just 51 and who has a missing brother.... it goes on but I think you get the picture. Money is nice...but LOVE is what makes the world go round! Don't waste another second worrying about it. Do what you need to do to be happy. The rest will fall into place. It's only failure when you let it be. I know your journey is longer but the prize is the same and I hope you keep the focus on the prize the whole way!

i think i'm going to print out your post and put it on my fridge you have such a fantastic perspective on things given what you've experienced in life. THANK YOU for taking the time to write all this.

money is one thing i've struggled with for a long, long time. the thought of it messing things up... well, i just can't let it happen this time. i've got to put a strong plan into action! and i'm working on it now. then i can move forward and forget about it, let it take care of itself without letting it bring me down. it's kind of like submitting the K1. you do it and then things seem to calm down, you can relax and step away from the paperwork piles and move onto enjoying all the time you can connect and be together.

anyway...

thanks laura!

Like the previous poster said, the beneficiary's (which is you) financial situation will not affect the K-1 process. It is the petitioner's (your fiance) which is important.

He must have income which is 125% above the poverty guidelines in order to sponsor you on his own. If this is not possible, he will need a co-sponsor, such as a parent, other family member or friend who is willing to do so.

You might also want to consider getting through the K-1 process before your fiance goes back to school. He could possibly start looking for a new job right now knowing that his current job will end in July. Then, once you are approved and move to the U.S., you can apply for AOS, get your work authorization, and then you could support the two of you while your fiance goes back to school.

For me, the goal would be getting to the U.S., then figuring out how to make your lives financially better after that.

Good luck.

thank you, too

this news of his upcoming unemployment is brand new and a little overwhelming. it helps to think about things in a few different ways and i appreciate you taking the time to offer this scenario. we'll definitely have to talk and see what will be best. all the decisions we have to make will take time and planning to see through. with regard to supporting him, if i could deal with my debt then this would be possible. it would be nice to put my situation in the past. it drags up a lot of bad memories as the big part of my debt is from supporting my ex. live and learn.

we still have a way to go in the K1 process (probably at least 9 months is my best guess) so we'll definitely have to think about all of this and see what will be best for everyone involved. we also have his 8 year old son to consider.

thanks all for your input and advice.

i assumed the co-sponsor part. not sure if that will be an issue as it's something we have yet to discuss. i am hopeful that we will figure it out.

i am happy to hear that bankruptcy can happen, even if unpleasant. i am not sure if i will be able to declare bankruptcy but have an appointment on monday with a bankruptcy trustee to discuss my situation. one day at a time.

Erin, I feel for you! I hope you don't have to wait as long as you think.

we'll just have to wait and see and stay positive. i found out this morning that david will be out of a job by the end of july combine that with my debt situation and i'm not sure how we're going to move this process forward. we'll have to figure out who could be a co-sponsor, and i'm trying to figure out if i should declare bankruptcy or not. it would make things much easier for us... give us a fair shot without significant financial stress... it just feels like failure (even though a big chunk of my debt is my ex's). i guess i have something bigger than CSC to focus on for a while.

so i'm in a bit of a situation. i'm drowning in debt. i was advised to declare bankruptcy about a year ago. instead i did my best until january and then i got a loan. this loan is causing massive strain at the moment. this morning i also found out that david will be out of a job by the end of july and is now considering going back to school so he can get ahead again. i support him fully but this means that my move to the US, and the K1 we filed, might be out the window due to our financial limitations.

will bankruptcy cause problems in my K1 process?

thanks in advance.

so i'm in a bit of a situation. i'm drowning in debt. i was advised to declare bankruptcy about a year ago. instead i did my best until january and then i got a loan. this loan is causing massive strain at the moment. this morning i also found out that david will be out of a job by the end of july and is now considering going back to school so he can get ahead again. i support him fully but this means that my move to the US, and the K1 we filed, might be out the window due to our financial limitations.

i guess i have 2 questions:

1. how difficult is the bankruptcy process in canada?

2. will bankruptcy cause problems in my K1 process?

thanks in advance.

Well I am def in depression mode again as we hit the 100 day mark this weekend. BLAH. May we will have hit the 1 year mark of not seeing one another in person.....sorry but that is way too DAMN long for no physical contact in my book We want this approval so bad we can taste it! I just soooo want the end in site.....nothing to do but wait and wait though at this point....get so sick of people asking "so have ya heard anything?" umm NO do you not think I would be shouting from the rooftops if we had?! OY VEY!

I get so sick of that question, too! Really...when it comes through, EVERYONE will know. I'll write "NOA2" across my forehead in purple sharpie!

no kidding! i've had people asking over and over since january (when we were getting our paperwork in order). some days i like talking about it but other days...

sunnybear - a year apart? that IS too damn long for no physical contact. i hope you get your approval soon and that the process speeds along for you. DAMN CSC!

i can't imagine being apart from david for a year. heck - we've only hit the 5 week mark and i'm already going out of my mind from no physical contact. even a teeny tiny little hug would be nice. 4 more sleeps for us. we're very lucky.

good luck, though i'm sure you won't need it

Evanston, Wyoming?!? That's only about an hour from where I live! Once we're all settled we should get together.

evanston, illinois. dang!

but it is a pretty straight line west *and* we will be renewing our vows in vegas in 2009. *fingers crossed* maybe we'll turn it into a road trip and swing by to say hello?

congratulations!!! and HOORAY for not having to do the long distance thing anymore

Your congressman can (not always willing) put in a congressional request that they review your case. Once that's done they have to do it within a couple of days. It can speed up your response if they're dragging their feet on it. I would wait for May 5th and if you don't hear anything, I would definitely contact your congressman.

i agree 100%! how awful you've been waiting this long.

What if I don't have a willy or a truck?

i don't either! goodness... what will we do?!

Talk about household cleaning products, children and our jobs?

I'll admit it...I can't wait to have children to talk about! My fiance and I are going to wait at least a year to give us more adjustment time after he moves here...but we both really want kids.

i lucked out with david. he already has a son! but we hope to have more children a few years after we've settled into our life together in evanston. so many positive things to look forward to!

kim and bex,

i am SURE you will both be approved sometime in june at the very latest. you're both at the VSC. (NOA2 wonderland!)

my paperwork is growing roots at CSC but it's only been there for 40 days now. another 140 to go before i can really throw a fit. (oh, and i will if i have to!)

i hope you all had a lovely weekend

aleena - i'll bet you had/are having a fabulous time with your guy!

4 more sleeps until david and i are together again. not sure why but mondays are always the hardest day of the week for me in terms of being apart. hopefully we only have another 10 months or so and this will all be in the past. and given that we've been together for 5 months, that means we're likely 1/3 of the way through our journey to be together.

it's such a strange sensation to be so in love with another person and feel so connected to them, yet have moments of absolute heartbreak because you can't be together.

gosh - won't it be fantastic when we're all through this process and living life to the fullest with the people we love?

What if I don't have a willy or a truck?

i don't either! goodness... what will we do?!

congrats on the speedy NOA2!

i wish you all the best on the rest of your journey