Pandora01

This election feels weird to me, almost like a waste. I mean, I have to vote for leaders in a country I'm leaving and I'm moving to a country where there's an election but for which I can't vote. Really weird.

I'll be voting, yeah, but I still don't know for who!

Good luck!

Is it Friday yet?

Nope, only Tuesday and Friday can't come around too quick. I'm a nervous wreck as my interview is on Friday and I just want it done so I can stop being nervous!

That's an idea. Let's see. If I'm approved on Friday, I should get the visa sometime in the following week. Once I have the visa in hand (just to be on the safe side) then I could apply for EI with the address in the US and I would still be within the four week period. It might just work. I'm still waiting for my ROE but it should come in this week.

Just thought of a problem though. What would I put in for a phone number where they can reach me? My number is in Canada. That wouldn't work with a US address

Ok, this is getting all confusing now Guess I'll leave this for the time being and concentrate on my interview this coming Friday. I'll check into EI and income tax later. Right now, it's just too much for my little head!

Cool! I'm planning to be there around 7 a.m. as well so we'll probably get the chance to chat while waiting

If you can't get the envelope before the interview and have to get it after, be sure they give you a pass at the Consulate before you leave. It'll make you re-entry in the Consulate trouble free so you can deposit the envelope.

ChasingAmy, I can't do the search for you because I don't know where you currently are but you can do a search here to find a place that is opened today. When you click on the individual search results, it will tell you if that outlet is opened or closed today. Hope that helps!

You might still be able to get one. If you can find a convenience store which also has a post office outlet, those should be open today.

Is her interview in the morning? Mine is.

I don't know if you can have it expressed but asking probably wouldn't hurt. Just explain your situation to the interviewing officer and who knows, it might get treated faster.

If I remember correctly, I think that under normal processing visas are issued and received within a week. Don't quote me on that one though. I've looked at so many timelines and stuff that I might be mixing them all up!

Cool! Thanks, MsZ

Ok. No worries about which forms to fill, I'll find an expert when comes the time to do them. Guess that would mean I would have to file taxes for 2008 as well then. Oh, the joys of income taxes. I can just see myself filling out tax forms for Canada, Quebec, and the US this year and the next!

So for 2009, I would declare the EI revenue on the US tax forms and that would be it, right? Now that I'm thinking about it, don't they withheld an amount for Canadian taxes on those EI payments? It's been years since I received any so I don't remember.

My interview is only on Friday but I wanted to wish you all a good interview tomorrow. I'm sending you lots of good vibes!

Ant - Yeah, unfortunately

CBR - Thanks, CBR It's the feeling I'm starting to get, that it'll go smoothly (even though there'll always be that little part of me that keeps saying "Yeah, get comfy, but then things could get ugly too" )

Sounds like it might work then. I'll have received my ROE by the time I move (should receive it this week) so I could always give it a try once in the US. I guess the worst that can happen is to be refused.

How about income tax though. I know I have to do the Canadian tax think at the end of the year, but if I receive EI and it goes into the next year, does that mean I'll also have to do the Canadian taxes for 2009 as well?

I should be receiving my ROE this week. I'll see what they wrote on it and take it from there. I might indeed send them a letter like you suggest. I guess it wouldn't hurt and might even help.

Well, I'm counting a week to receive the visa. Then my sweetheart has to make arrangements for our pets and then he has to drive all the way up here. I'm in Quebec and he's in ND. It'll take him at least 3 days to get here, maybe 4. Give us a couple of days to say goodbye and then it's an additional 3-4 days to go back. I stopped working a week ago and my interview is Friday this week. So all in all, it'll be over a month I stopped working when I finally get in ND. And that's if everything goes smoothly.

Hi Pandora01,

Lol...likewise, I "never got used to city living" either. I still can't believe that I "wasted all those years" living in the city before! Oh well, I can enjoy "the joys of country living now, and for the rest of my life..." And I hope too, that you will be "used to" and "happy" living in the countryside of ND. No wonder you want to move and live there right away, which will come true for you very soon!

Yeah, it doesn't seem fair that the landlord has more say that the tenant in terms of living conditions and/or leases and contracts. After all, one should be able to "break a lease" due to "life circumstances", as long as they are in good standing previously with their rent payments. Maybe it's because of some "landlord and tenant act/bill" that they passed years ago (in Ontario there was one, I think) that made it unfair? By the way, did you have problems breaking your lease, if you did such? If not, then how are you dealing with breaking the lease/contract by immigrating here?

Ant

I didn't break my lease, it was terminating at the end of June. So when the time came to renew the lease in January, I notified the landlord that I would be moving out and that he could lease the apartment starting on the 1st of July. It was a lease for 12 months, renewed yearly. And yeah, there's some kind of act/bill (don't know what it's called here in the province in English and I'm too tired to go look it up right now) that made things work this way. To protect the renters. Yeah, right.

JillA - On what date are you planning to cross? Saturday November 15th!!

That's coming soon! Just a little over a month. All the best to you and your SO for a smooth move!

Mean reason is for relocation, yes, but I also was sick and tired of working there (I was even getting physically sick because of the stress I endured there). However, I doubt that that's the reason my employer will write. All they want is to make sure their a** is covered. They don't care about employees' future once they've left and to them I leave of my own freewill.

Oh, I'm already used to country living, it's city living I never got used to. The day when I'll be in ND for good cannot come soon enough. Believe me!

I'm lucky indeed about my dad taking me in like that. I didn't want to renew my lease and then get stuck with the responsability of it while living in the US. I could have tried to break the lease but didn't want to take the chance that the landlord said no to it. And in the province here, it's the landlord who has the last word

JillA - On what date are you planning to cross?

Ant - Most of my stuff is already packed and in storage. I moved back in with my dad at the end of my lease. So there's really not much left to pack. My computer, my clothing and a few things here and there. Shouldn't take me more than a day.

Once in the US, I'll be on a satellite connection. We'll be living out in the country and it's all we can get there. Speeds will be a little lower than high speed but not too bad I guess. I'll have to get used to it though.

Galateia - I feel for you, having to go through that trouble. I'd go nuts I'm putting the Detroit Tunnel on my black list right this instant. Thanks for the heads up, Galateia!

Duh *smacks forehead* Meant EI, yes. Sorry about that

Well, guess I'm outta luck for collecting EI then. Circumstances made it that I had to quit 2 weeks before my interview. Add 1 week to receive my visa, that leaves only 1 week to move and claim. No way I can do it that fast.

Denied their visa for quitting their job too soon? How early did they quit?

No problem, Ant. I'm on high speed internet here and it has glitches too once in a while. And thanks for the good luck wishes Still have to do my interview next Friday though. I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed that everything will go fine.

I did some more map checking and I found another route that would be more direct. Anyone who's had experience crossing through Sault Ste.Marie?