to_hope

Well, it's over! We were approved!!! And, to top it off, we met Kim and her mom this morning while in the waiting area.

I'll share more details later and also do our Consulate review.

YEA!!! We are SOOOO EXCITED!

Thank you again, for all of your kind words and your happy thoughts!

Congratulations! How exciting!!!

Just wanted to say congrats on being approved!

Congrats!!

We met each other in the states while I was here on a student visa. Before we decided to marry we both were planning on going to grad school here, so it just naturally followed that I would move here. We didn't really know how much harder getting a CR1 visa was going to be than getting my student visa was! We were pretty naive about the whole immigration process.

Like others, my biggest concern was most definitely the issue of health care and maternity leave, but I wasn't concerned enough to stop me from moving (obviously). We're not having kids quite yet, but I am apprehensive about sending them to school here. When I was in college here I heard time and time again from my professors that they could tell I was a Canadian because "Canadian students always do better than their American peers." I'm sure that wasn't ALWAYS the case, but it was the case enough times to make multiple professors notice the difference. Anyways, we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

I have a question, for the postpaid xpressmailer that is self addressed... is that all it needed to be? What I mean is if you got the signature required postpaid xpressmailer and you put your address in the to part, is there anything else it needed? I am just waiting to find out if my husband was approved. We sent in the papers they asked for at the interview and got a letter stating the only thing they needed was a translated birth certificate, he got that and mailed it last Tuesday. I am just wondering if there was anything else that was needed on the mailer? I keep checking canadapost.ca for the tracking number and haven't heard anything yet.

That should be all you need. FrazelThomas has to finish her visa application after her interview too (medical results completed after interview) and I remember that it took a while for her to get hers back too. I think Montreal just sat on it for a week or so-- just keep checking that tracking number and hope for the best! I am so eager for you!

PS: How old is your baby? Pure curiosity

Shiri posted a lovely thread about her lovely baby http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=150987

Thanks for the link!

Shiri your story is so beautifully full of hope. I'm sure you are a blessing to your baby as your baby is to you

I have a question, for the postpaid xpressmailer that is self addressed... is that all it needed to be? What I mean is if you got the signature required postpaid xpressmailer and you put your address in the to part, is there anything else it needed? I am just waiting to find out if my husband was approved. We sent in the papers they asked for at the interview and got a letter stating the only thing they needed was a translated birth certificate, he got that and mailed it last Tuesday. I am just wondering if there was anything else that was needed on the mailer? I keep checking canadapost.ca for the tracking number and haven't heard anything yet.

That should be all you need. FrazelThomas has to finish her visa application after her interview too (medical results completed after interview) and I remember that it took a while for her to get hers back too. I think Montreal just sat on it for a week or so-- just keep checking that tracking number and hope for the best! I am so eager for you!

PS: How old is your baby? Pure curiosity

Just throwing a question out there for anybody who is dealing with finalizing shots, etc.....I have to get the gardisil vaccine (lucky me) and was told by my doctor it's a 3-step shot process. Anyone else have to get it/has received it yet? If I get it at Dr. Seiden's how will they fully vaccinate me?

I may be wrong but I don't think Dr. Seiden's office provides any vaccination services. You would need to begin the series of shots at your family MD. However, I think that if you have had at least the first shot by the time you have your medical you will be fine. It's then up to you to complete the series. You can email Dr. Seiden's offcice to be sure. They are pretty good at reponding in a timely manner.

Anyone else?

You just have to get the process started. I only had the first two shots when I had my medical and I was fine. They mark you as "eligible for a waver" based on "insufficient time intervals" on your medical report. That will be acceptable to Montreal. And I think OBX is right- get the vaccine from your MD.

Congrats!

Glad to hear it went smoothly! One more thing to check off your list.

Well I'm officially moved into my new home in the states! My POE experience was smooth and, to be honest, quite boring. But I'd rather have boring over difficult for this experience.

We arrived at the bridge a little before 9 am and had about 5 cars ahead of us in line. When we pulled up to the booth my dad (driver) handed our passports over and then explained that we were activating my visa. The officer looked at me and asked when I had received my visa package. I told him my interview date. He asked me what I was bringing with me and I said, "All my personal and household possessions." He kind of smiled at that because our van was PACKED to the roof and we had a UHAUL behind us- no kidding I was taking everything with! He asked us the typical questions about having fruits, vegetables, alcohol, or fire ams (no, no, no, and no), filled out this little orange paper and directed us to secondary questioning.

Once we were inside we waited in line about 5 minutes and then were called to the desk (my parents were directed to come with me) where we explained again that I was activating my visa and that my parents were helping me move. The officer had us take a seat while he filled out my paperwork. The whole thing took about 45 minutes, during which time I was called up twice: once to verify my address and once to have my fingerprints taken. At the end the officer explained that the stamp in my visa would be good for once year, by which time time I should have received my PR card. Then he congratulated me and we were on our way!

A painless experience. Too bad unpacking all my things isn't so easy! Ha.

ETA: I crossed on a Saturday morning.

Thanks for the advice! I can honestly say by reading these posts my knowledge of gardening has increased probably a hundred fold!

As for the questions- I am moving to Michigan where the summers are hot and humid. Where I will live there is a lot of Lake effect precipitation, but the pot would have to be watered beyond natural rainfall. The person who is looking after our apartment is not a gardener so maybe I should wait until I get back. We are not gone for 4 months though- just under 10 weeks. Is that still too long to have no care (except being watered). I am just so excited to have a place of my own! haha.

Mr and Mrs- your pots are gorgeous! I hope I can make mind look like that some day.

Anyone else have pictures of their gardens to inspire me?

I trust the advice on here:

I'm moving in with my husband this weekend (hurray!). We have a medium size porch (uncovered) off the back of our apartment. I bought a fairly large metal planter to add some greenery back there, but I don't know what to plant in it. The planter is 3 feet high and about 2.5 feet wide. It can be placed in mostly shade or a mix of sun and shade.

My husband and I will be gone from our home in the end of May until the start of August. Someone will be looking after our apartment, but I don't want to plant anything that is high maintenance. And I also want something that I can enjoy through August and into September.

I love sunflowers but don't know if that would work? Any suggestions?

At my interview I was required to write my name on the back but not my case number.

Did they ask you to write it on there?

It was on the instruction sheet I was given at Montreal. I also remember reading someone else's review who was called back up to the window after handing her photos in b/c she forgot to write her name on them. I'm sure it is not a big deal though if you want to wait you can always ask "Should I write my name on here?" when they want you to hand them in.

Last question about photos

Are we required to write our name and MTL # on the back?

No, not necessary, you can if you want.

At my interview I was required to write my name on the back but not my case number.

I'm not much help since I'm not familiar with that state or those province documents, but just wanted to say I'm sorry to hear you are so discouraged. Hang in there- all you can do is work as quickly as possible to make it right. I had an RFE too and was so discouraged, but you will get to the finish line soon! Keep positive

Honestly, I'm 21 and I haven't been in a hospital since the day I was born. I don't think I'm going to need one...

Nope u dont have to have insurance, millions of Americans do not!! Just see a Dr isnt going to bankrupt you, but if you get into an accident and rushed to hospital will!

True, a Dr. appointment (very basic) is usually over $100 and just calling an ambulance is like $3,000! Imagine what the hospital's room price per day + treatment etc... are!!

No kidding! My mom was in the hospital for an extended time 2 years ago and her daily medication alone was hundreds of dollars a day. I can't even imagine what her total bill would have been with the room and all the extra care etc.... thankfully she was in Canada and it was all covered by OHIP. After that experience I'll never go with out health insurance.

I booked with hotwire in Montreal. I booked only hours before checking in and everything was fine. The man at the desk just had to look something up in another room. Then he came back and asked if we would like one king or two queens... and that was it. I've always heard good things about hotwire so I wouldn't worry about it.

I'm a RN student at this time (33 more days,lol) and at 1 hospital where i have had clinical at, you get charged for EVERYTHING!! In the supply room, we have a computer and it has a "scanning gun" much like u see at walmart, and when we get supplies for you, yes even a toothbrush, we scan the bar code, and the patient gets charged for it!

With regards to my wifes pregnancy test she had to get before the X-ray, I belive it was billed at $60, the exact same test at ur drug store is what, $20!!

Gee can't they take your word for it like at most x-ray places: Are you pregnant? "NO" or "YES"

A friend of mine was asked if she was pregnant before a dental procedure... she said, "No. Well- I mean I COULD be, but not on purpose." They wouldn't do the procedure then, so she took a test and what do you know... pregnant! Haha- what a way to find out. Now she and her husband have a healthy and happy baby girl.

I have a similar problem (health insurance coverage doesn't start right away). My FIL put me in contact with his insurance agent and she did a search for me. She recomended a plan from the "International Medical Group." Click here for the link. The plan is under "Patriot Travel Medical Insurance" and then is the one called "Patriot America" -- for non US citizens.

You can specify the length of your coverage; I think it goes from 10 days to 2 years.

ETA: You can fill out the form right away online- very convenient!

Looks great!

Inside my envelope I also recieved someone else's letter for a K-1 interview also for April 15th. My mom (who opened the mail) is mailing that person's letter to the address on their notice right away. Imagine??? That would be horrible never even recieving the interview!

Oh my word! What a big mistake someone made. I'm so glad your mom got it- that person will be so thankful!

Great- thanks for the help. I've crossed here many time before at various times, so I knew it was always open, but I wasn't sure about the "rules" for visa activation.

Thanks again!

I'm planning on moving this Saturday; can we go through a POE and activate my visa on a Saturday? Does the time of day matter? Or is it a 24/7 service. We're using Blue Water Bridge (Sarnia/Port Huron).

Ha! That's funny. I'm sure it won't hurt you; it will probably help!

Wow congratulations! Thanks for sharing your story.