WantingMyHubby

UPDATE: I used U-Pack for my move from Montreal, QC to Charlotte, NC. It cost me $830 CAD for 5 feet of linear space on a trailer (terminal to terminal, I only had 17 boxes so we loaded/unloaded ourselves)and my belongings arrived in 1.5 days. Both the Dorval, QC and Belmont, NC terminals had great staff that were helpful and friendly. I would use ABF U-Pack for another long-distance move and would recommend them to everyone!!! If anyone has any questions, give me a shout. Seriously, this was a quick and painless solution to moving all of my things.

I'm actually thinking of using U-Pack now. $400 is a great deal - where were you driving from?? My quote was more than double that (Montreal to Charlotte) for 5 feet of linear space, but I only have boxes to move so I shouldn't need more than that. When I add up the costs to move me down by car, plus the inconvenience for everyone involved, I think hiring a company now sounds like a great idea! Just have to call them to get details on what the process entails.

Oh yeah, PLUS, if I fly out of Montreal I'll be able to answer freely without the fear of my family hearing anything they shouldn't know.

Oh sorry, I definitely didn't make that part clear - no, my family doesn't know. Our little secret, although we're having our 'wedding' in March because the formality of it, and celebrating with close family & friends, is very important to me.

That's what I'll do then - hopefully the mention of my IR-1 visa will curb the questioning at the booth. I'll then tell my family to stay in the car.

Val, may I ask approximately how much it cost for you to truck your belongings down to Virginia? I don't have furniture or anything large to bring down with me so it's probably not worth hiring a company, I'm just curious.

Thanks for the input guys!

Hi all,

Mid-January, I'm crossing into the US via the Champlain POE (with an IR-1). Just looking for a bit of insight on how they proceed over there...

My immediate family is driving over the border with me to meet my hubby in Plattsburgh, as he's currently inadmissible to Canada. We'll be in 2 cars with all of my belongings - I called customs & immigration there and spoke briefly with an agent, who reassured me that I don't need any documentation for my goods since I'll be accompanying them (she said if anything, I can type up a brief list for each box). She said that as long as the 2nd car is right behind me, they're fine.

My hubby and I eloped almost 6 years ago, so I'm struggling with how to avoid being questioned too much whilst in the car, at the booth. I'm thinking of telling my family that I should be in the first car by myself, with the majority of my belongings. I love that we eloped, but this has definitely added some complications to our lives! Ah well - I'll hope that everything works out, plus I'm just happy to be at the point where I CAN worry about crossing the border, as this has been a long, drawn out process for us.

Thanks!

I've read quite a few reviews on the MTL consulate... And all seem to show a very quick and smooth interview process.

Are there any horror stories or bad experiences out there?

Got my IR1 approved on October 17th and I have to say that it was a flawless procedure. I was denied at the border in 2008 (now THAT was a horror story) so I was terrified of what they might ask me. Let me tell you, it was YEARS of me thinking the very worst of the interview and in the end, the actual interview was no more than 5 minutes. The adjudicator asked me no more than 6 or 7 very basic questions, none of which were difficult. The most difficult one was probably "Walk me through your relationship", only because it was an open ended question.

From the time I got in line to the minute I walked out of the consulate, no more than 2 hours had lapsed. So the majority of that time was waiting for my number to be called and even THAT wasn't bad at all!

In case you're curious, aside from my denial in 2008 (all due to our naiveté), there isn't a thing about my past or my relationship that would give me any problems. Not sure what made my case so easy for them to approve, but I have to say that it was a really pleasantly surprising day!

I've read quite a few reviews on the MTL consulate... And all seem to show a very quick and smooth interview process.

Are there any horror stories or bad experiences out there?

Got my IR1 approved on October 17th and I have to say that it was a flawless procedure. I was denied at the border in 2008 (now THAT was a horror story) so I was terrified of what they might ask me. Let me tell you, it was YEARS of me thinking the very worst of the interview and in the end, the actual interview was no more than 5 minutes. The adjudicator asked me no more than 6 or 7 very basic questions, none of which were difficult. The most difficult one was probably "Walk me through your relationship", only because it was an open ended question.

From the time I got in line to the minute I walked out of the consulate, no more than 2 hours had lapsed. So the majority of that time was waiting for my number to be called and even THAT wasn't bad at all!

In case you're curious, aside from my denial in 2008 (all due to our naiveté), there isn't a thing about my past or my relationship that would give me any problems. Not sure what made my case so easy for them to approve, but I have to say that it was a really pleasantly surprising day!

Good morning,

Does anyone know of any good attorneys in Montreal to guide me through the Criminal Rehabilitation process - that is, any that won't cost me an arm and a leg? I am willing to pay the appropriate amount for good service, but I definitely don't consider myself rich by any means.

In case you're wondering, the record in question (my husband's) is complicated enough to warrant legal assistance, in my opinion, although I will try again to read the paperwork myself.

If you have any good leads for me but need further details on the record I can message you, but I would rather spare the details here if possible - not that they're that bad, I just don't want to type it all out for nothing.

Thank you

It's pretty clear that having an extra 6-7hrs of flying time with my husband isn't worth the risk of being turned back at immigration/customs. Unfortunately, most flights connect through the US, but there ARE alternatives. I would have decent documentation - letter from my employer, 1.5yrs of pay stubs, credit card history, bank account history, any visa paperwork to prove that we're in the process of applying...on the other hand, I still live at home and have few bills to pay (which is GREAT for my savings, but doesn't help so much to help show ties to Canada).

I think it would be completely worthwhile to pay a bit extra for peace of mind. Of course, I will still bring all of the documents to show my ties here (just in case), but I think avoiding any potential complications makes sense. Guess I just got carried away w/the thought of being able to spend a bit more time w/my hubby...I'm sure most of you understand when I say that every single minute with my husband is precious to me.

SapphireDreams, I just noticed today that I can fly Montreal-Nassau (where we'll probably go) with a connecting flight in Toronto So yeah, I'll probably go that route!!

If anyone thinks of any other helpful tips, I'd love to hear them. Otherwise, I already feel a lot better, even though we're only going in 6 months or so. Thanks so much to you ALL for your helpful advice!!!

Thanks for your replies...

First off, no, I'm not even sure I would be passing through US immigration. But like payxibka said, I have to be officially admitted to the US if I'm even just passing through a POE, right? The way Pierre Elliot Trudeau usually works is that you go through US customs in Montreal to go to the US. For an international flight, I guess it makes sense that you would still have to go through US immigration if your connecting flight is in the US...otherwise you could just exit the US airport when you land for your connection. From what I rememeber in Charlotte, there's no customs when you land...

I'm embarrassed to recall my refusal at the border, but my hubby and I tried to move me to the States, thinking I could do the whole visa process there. Trust me, I did NOT intend on living there as an illegal alien, we were just very naive and had to learn the hard way. Unfortunately, I was refused, but there's nothing I can do to change the past. Now I'm just trying to figure out a way to see each other in the caribbean in the most simple way possible! I guess it would be easiest if I found either a direct flight, or a flight that doesn't connect in the US....

I even found flights where I could meet my hubby in Charlotte and then we could fly to the caribbean together, which I thought was awesome because we would have that extra flying time together. But if they end up being suspicious for whatever reason, I don't want to fuel that suspicion when they see I was planning on connecting in Charlotte. It could look like I plan on sneaking into Charlotte and staying there.

I really just want to see him and have only good intentions, but it's better to prepare for the worst...

Hello!

My hubby and I have yet to start our IR-1 application (he's waiting to receive his passport). I'm the Canadian that will be applying for the immigration visa and for specific reasons, I do not want to visit the US until I have the visa on hand. On the flip side, he will not be visiting Canada for a little while. We've decided to take a 2 week vacation somewhere in the caribbean (in the somewhat-near future).

Technically, I know we shouldn't have a problem because I'll be going through customs at the PE Trudeau airport in Montreal and my destination will be the caribbean. But what if I have a layover in the US? The reason I'm so worried is because I've been refused entry to the US before and am paranoid that they won't let me through based on the connecting flight.

Has anyone had experience they could share w/me (especially with the PE Trudeau Airport)? It would be much appreciated!

P.S. Just to clarify, I would obviously bring some paperwork to show my life here in Canada, in case they needed to see anything....

My suggestion is that your husband got caught because he was in a rental car. When I crossed in a rental they asked a lot more questions than when I came in my own car.

I don't know why he doesn't get himself a passport and avoid all of the hassle. Surely there has been enough time to do that.

Regardless, there is simply NO reason for you not to cross into the US again. You are legal. But it is strange that you were denied after the investigator said you were not lying. Did you ask why if he felt you were not lying why you were turned back?

(And yes, it was dumb to bring stuff with you when you crossed. Only bring what you need for the length of your stay and nothing more.)

He has crossed in a rental car once before without a problem, but I can see how it would raise more questions.

Yep, he needs to get a passport ASAP. That's become more and more obvious. And yes, I was naive. I should have known better.

I think the supervisor had a lot of weight in the decision to deny me. When I left, I think she was still suspicious of me. And the investigator told me that I should get started on the visa...he said that technically, I COULD attempt to re-enter the US, but he suggested that I avoid future problems and wait in Canada until I had the visa. I tend to err on the cautious side of things (especially after that incident) and agree with him. He even said, "at least your husband can come visit you, right?"..............

It was a horrible situation, but there was a silver lining. We thought, well, at least I didn't have to sign anything. It was a mortifying experience, but I didn't see it damaging my chances for an immigration visa. And the way the supervisor treated me, I could tell that she WANTED to damage my record. Luckily, the investigator was extremely kind and didn't levy any charges in my name. I didn't ask why I was denied because I just wanted to get away from the situation as quickly as possible and as unscathed as possible.

I'm just so curious as to whether or not they could see his criminal record everytime he was admitted. If so, is it just a subjective decision to let someone in based on the time elapsed? I know it does nothing to ask these questions...but it kills me to think that if my hubby had seen another guard, maybe he could have gotten through. Then again, we could be facing the situation the next time he tried to cross. Who knows.

Patience...patience...everything will be okay in the end...sigh.

Since he's the criminal and the USC, neither of you needs a waiver of criminal inadmissability to enter the US. He's here already. If he can't visit and you don't want to try, then you'll need to wait until your visa process is complete.

Thanks for the reply. I know we don't need a waiver to enter the US, I was wondering if any other USC knows about the waiver to enter Canada so he can visit while we wait out the visa. The border guard said there's some "humanitarian pass" that we can look into, but I've found no information on any such pass.

Apparently, Canada is extremely stringent on past criminal activity, but it doesn't make sense that he has been admitted 4 times in the past and no one has ever mentioned it...and suddenly, the border guard today says that he (my hubby) isn't allowed. It just kills me.

Visa Journey is a board focused US immigration. You need to contact Canadian immigration on this.

You really are a bit of a chopf##k, aren't you? I'm opinionated, rude, and pretty much offensive, but even I wouldn't have said that. (The "criminal" comment)

And yes, VJ is a board focused on US immigration, but some people have experience with Canadian immigration as well. And ultimately, the OP *IS* concerned with US immigration - she just needed help on getting him into Canada for a visit. It's an amazing concept that there may be people on here who know a few things other than USCIS-lore.

I was hesitant to post my question/situation, but I figured why not...I thought there might even be one person who went through the same thing. Thank you!

You didn't explain why you were denied admission to the US. Unless there is something in your background that's a problem, you should be able to enter from Canada w/sufficient proof of ties to Canada.

My husband and I cross every other week or so near Thousand Islands. It is a bit out of the way for you but you could try there. The guards have always been very nice to my husband though he did get the lucky "200th vehicle" which gets the full workup not long ago. They told him that it had nothing to do with his having a CR1 in progress, it was really just because he was the 200th vehicle. He had to fill out paperwork as though he were entering the US on a plane. It cost some time but that was all.

And it does sound as though those clean 10 years should be enough to get your husband through the rehabilitation process. I don't know if you'll want to consult a lawyer or try to do it yourself. I'd suggest going it alone since you've got 10 years since the last incident.

See my above replies for a brief explanation of my denied admission ...

I'll have to look more into the rehabilitation process. Seems like that's the only solution. Hopefully the time elapsed will prove that he's no longer a criminal threat. We'll have to see.

I believe he can go to the nearest Canadian Embassy wherever you live and apply for a waiver of sorts. I'm not sure how it works for anything beyond DUI/DWI, but you might check into it. Did the Canadian Border Patrol say he couldn't try again?

My wife and I were in the same boat as you regarding your denial. Did you sign a "Withdrawal of Admission" form? If you did, it won't affect your visa process now, but it probably would be best to avoid trying to enter again without the visa in hand, which it sounds like you guys already know. If you have repeated denials after being told not to try again, it could result in negative consequences down the road.

If you didn't sign any forms, but were just denied entry, it is possible to visit the US, but you should be prepared to show strong ties to Canada that will lead a rational (big assumption, there) border guard that you will return...mortgage statements, letters from work showing you're on leave, etc. Without those a border guard will assume that you're making THE MOVE and will complete your immigration requirements from within the US, which is a no-no.

The most important thing is to always be honest with the Customs folks. However, don't volunteer anything, just answer their questions honestly. Doing otherwise could really F things up for you.

Best of luck to you both. My wife and I know exactly how lost you're feeling, since we were there 10 months ago. It gets better...

The border guard gave him the number to the Canadian Consulate in New York and told him that I need to request a "humanitarian pass" for him. I called the number and it's all automated, I couldn't find what I needed. I went to the website and found nothing on the humanitarian pass. I did find the link for the rehabilitation info and found that useful.

When I was denied, I never had to sign the Withdrawal of Admission. I was just denied entry. However, I was there for about 3 hours and the supervisor was so determined that I was doing something horrible (and I really wasn't). First, she thought I had been living illegally in the US for years and she had caught me in the act; when I proved her wrong, she THEN thought I was making THE MOVE. She used intimidation tactics, like telling me that she had just called my parents and told them that I was in trouble (she never actually called). She was threatening me with jail time, etc. I was co-operative, but tough as nails. She never broke me. What made me cry was when the prosecutor/investigator came to talk to me - he was really nice and explained that although I looked "suspicious" at first, he could tell that I was being honest and wasn't doing anything wrong. Based on that experience, I refuse to attempt to cross again without a visa.

Thanks for your help...I know it'll get better, it's just the hardest thing I've ever had to go through...!!

Recently, thanks to post-9/11 changes, it's become easier for the Canadian officials to check the backgrounds of US Citizens attempting to enter Canada.

See this story in the San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...MNGCAO9NSB1.DTL

For info on how to get an "approval of rehabilitation" and get the inadmissibility removed, see

http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/seat...missible-en.asp

Good luck. It sounds like the fact that a lot of time has elapsed since his legal problems may work in his favor.

Wow, thanks for that story! I had no idea how much of a problem it has become. Just like the story said, he has been admitted several times without a problem - but the border guard yesterday probably just thinks that my hubby was lucky in the past. It's just so crazy. Everything is pointing to us completing the waiver. Gotta stop crying and get to business, I guess.

Thanks again..

OR if you really can't find your way around this, you can also meet in a third location, where both of you can get in!

Plus, we obviously don't know your situation so I do not want to give you bad advice, but it's not because one officer once denied you access at a POE, that that'll also happen next time? Do you know exactly why you were not granted access? Check into how you can make your case stronger going over next time, like sufficient ties with your home country, as another poster already wrote. I'm flying to see my husband in about a month and i'm definitely gonna try to get in.

Keep your chin up!

Big hug,

Cat

He doesn't have a passport yet, so he can't fly out of the US He always flies to Burlington and drives over. I wasn't granted admission in February because I didn't have strong enough ties to Canada. I was just visiting, but I had wanted to bring a bit extra to leave at his house. Not smart. I was really naive...it turned into a big mess and the supervisor was accusing me of SEVERAL things, like already living in the US (even when I showed her recent paystubs, she was suspicious)!! In the end I just got a stern warning, but if I try to go to the US again, I'm sure they'll see notes on what happened in February and assume I'm trouble. Even if I bring strong ties, I just don't feel like the risk is worth it. If it hadn't been such a mess, I would try!

Thanks for your support...good luck next month and enjoy your time together

xo,

Melissa

PS: Having committed a few felonies while in his teens, doesn't mean a person is labelled "a criminal" all his life. There is a difference between having a criminal record and being a criminal.

I completely agree!!!!!!

Since he's the criminal and the USC, neither of you needs a waiver of criminal inadmissability to enter the US. He's here already. If he can't visit and you don't want to try, then you'll need to wait until your visa process is complete.

Thanks for the reply. I know we don't need a waiver to enter the US, I was wondering if any other USC knows about the waiver to enter Canada so he can visit while we wait out the visa. The border guard said there's some "humanitarian pass" that we can look into, but I've found no information on any such pass.

Apparently, Canada is extremely stringent on past criminal activity, but it doesn't make sense that he has been admitted 4 times in the past and no one has ever mentioned it...and suddenly, the border guard today says that he (my hubby) isn't allowed. It just kills me.

I'm in the very beginning stages of the CR-1 (have yet to send it out due to some complications). I was denied at a US POE in February. Since then, my husband and I decided that until I have a visa in hand, I will stay in Canada and he will visit me. We had a VERY difficult time with customs when I was denied, and I want to avoid them as much as possible.

In the past 2 years, he has come to visit 4 times w/out any problems. He was supposed to arrive today for another visit, when the US border guard denied him due to his criminal history. He committed 4 felonies when he was a teenager, which was over 10 years ago.

Let me say that he made some major mistakes when he was a teenager, but he is such a different person now. Despite my immigration problems, he has NEVER had an issue crossing the border into Canada until now. The border guard insisted that I could go down to visit, but he knows nothing about our situation. I firmly believe that trying to enter the US again will most likely damage my situation further.

Now my husband is at a hotel in Burlington, just 2 hours south of here, and I can't even see him. I feel like everything is working against us and I'm so broken down and tired. I love him more than anything and won't give up until we have the visa in hand...but has anyone experienced this before? Apparently there's a waiver for criminal inadmissibility, but I don't even think he's eligible to apply, based on the number of years that has passed! I could be wrong. I would just appreciate some insight based on past experience...this is excruciating. I just don't understand WHY the border guard denied him entry, when the past 4 times the other guards saw NO problem (the last time just being 2 months ago!!)

HELP......

Melissa

P.S. Btw, this is probably evident, but I'm the Canadian beneficiary and he's the US citizen...

Hi Leah.. Before saying anything else I want to bring to your attention something, since you are in the immigration process, it may be detrimental to your case if you enter the usa. I'd seriously do some research on this. I happened to have read about this before where posters were already affected negatively. Don't just take my words, but do the research yourself and know if this applies to your situation. You mentioned being surprised at husbands doing the paperwork process for their wives.. I am in the thought that the 'petitioner' should be the one to petition for their spouse and it not being a gender sort of thing. I was surprised when I found VJ that infact, many beneficiaries are very involved and some like yourself are doing all of it. While it would be so good to have that support, some ppl are not equipped for this so in a marriage each has strengths and weaknesses.. paperwork might be your strength and his weakness. Think about his strengths.. see if you two would be balanced or not and if you can accept this.

I agree I'm the foreign spouse (wife) and have done the majority of the research myself. While it can be frustrating sometimes when my hubby isn't nearly as knowledgeable about this process as I am, I know him like the back of my hand...and I know that it's not because he doesn't want me there as much as I want to BE there, I'm just the more patient and paperwork-oriented one. He puts forth a lot of effort and we balance each other well. Trust me, it's frustrating to wait while he gathers the documents for the I-130...but I trust him and am relying HEAVILY on my patience to get through this.

Just keep your communication open and honest throughout the process...don't worry Leah, you're not alone!

Sorry for continuing the off-topic topic!

Hey Pepsichan, if u are referring to the HPV, it is not a vaccine that is required! So that should not affect.

Well good luck, I wish to God I was in your position, believe me!

Take care til we meet again

Hi there - I think there's a lot of confusion with regards to Gardasil (for HPV).

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...t=#entry1522841

Just an FYI....

why the applicant has to sign ds 230 after she choose her husband for agent. Please let me know. Thank you.

I haven't filed anything yet, but as far as I understand, the DS-230 is the immigration visa application itself. Therefore, the beneficiary has to be the one to sign, not the USC. Doesn't matter who the agent is, it's the foreign spouse who is applying for an immigration visa.

I was told that the US consulates/embassies do not have access to the same database as DHS. For example, if a POE wrote general notes on a denial, isn't that for DHS purposes only? On the other hand, if they officially charge you with misrepresentation or any other violation, the consulate/embassy would see that off the bat and THEN you would have a problem...is that right??

I guess this worries me because when I was denied, I was completely clueless about the visa process. I was treated pretty badly by the supervisor, but I ended up speaking with the investigator/prosecutor and he said he believed I was telling the truth. He said he could tell that I was naive about the visa process and that I meant no harm...that I was just a woman in love!

My question is this - if you're at the interview and they see on the DS-230 that you were denied, exactly what information do they have access to BASED on that denial? Will they only see if you have violations/charges against you, or will they see every little detail entered by DHS?

we just got finally finished sending the i864 and ds230 forms sent to the attorney. due to lack of financial support we have accomplised co-sponsors federal tax (2004-2007) employer letter, paystubs, etc.

sponsor - no single tax due to low income ; waited for ssa statement (no earnings ) too.

now the issue kicks in. will this be a problem my father who is my co-sponsor earns rough estimate of $50,000/year is this enough evidence

that i wont be a public charge to united states? any other options thanks again. wish me luck ill have my biopsy surgery done because of the big lump mass found on my left b*east.

scheduled on friday 03.14.08 will this be a hindrance too during medical need help and enlightment.

My thoughts and prayers are with you...when you need strength, think of the day you'll be with your hubby. Envisioning my reunion with my hubby has definitely gotten me through some rough times.

Another issue. Here's a brief summary of my hubby's background:

He was born in California. His parents divorced when he was young. At 10, he moved to NC and was adopted by his then-stepdad. They issued him a new birth cert. w/the adopted name, but he decided AFTERWARDS to keep his birth father's name. To make a long story short, for 20 years he used his original birth certificate, which was technically not valid.

It's only a few months ago that he took action to amend it. The civil authority in Cali sent him confirmation that his request is being processed. Right now, he has his original birth certificate (correct last name, but birth father's name) AND his adopted birth certificate (incorrect last name, correct father's name). Neither of these are valid.

So hubs looked into contacting someone about his birth certificate. Apparently, the authority in California only takes mail-in requests. Due to overflow in incoming requests, they have stopped taking phone calls. If we need a letter from civil authority stating that his valid birth certificate isn't available, this could take FOREVER. We'd have to mail the request in and wait until they even acknowledge us.

Any suggestions? Does anyone have experience in obtaining this letter to replace a birth certificate? Keep in mind, he doesn't have a passport either (AGH!!)...helllllllllpppppp!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey everyone!

Related to that question on visits to the US, I was a bit concerned with overstay. I volunteered in the US with Habitat for Humanity for 11 months a couple of years ago (wasn't paid, I supported myself). I resided there during that time, although I only paid monthly utilities, as the house was provided by the organization.

Did any of you overstay and go through the visa process already?

I entered the US in August 2005 and went back to Canada in December for 2 weeks - therefore, my first "visit" was for 4 months.

I re-entered the US beginning of January and may have stayed just a few days past the 6 month mark (have to check the exact dates!)...I posted this info in another forum, and fellow VJ-ers mentioned that for overstays less than 180 days, there is no bar on admissibility. For more than 180 days, there ARE bars.

I guess my question is, has anyone overstayed less than 180 days and can confirm that they didn't have any problems in the end??

Thanks!!