brocku00

Nice to hear things are going well and congratulations on the job!

Those of us that were married less than 2 years prior to our POE received conditional (2 year) green cards and have to "remove conditions" prior to the expiry of our cards. Since you were married over 2 years you have a 10 year green card. From what I understand you will be eligible to apply for US citizenship after residing continuously in the United States for three years.

This link might help: Naturalization

Thanks OBX! I understand now! I guess I don't have to worry for a while now!

Raymaga - Thanks for your kind words. I don't 'totally' feel like I belong yet but it's an improvement over time. I just take one day at a time!

Congrats on the job and glad things are now going well.

Thanks everyone! SDW, just wondering about your 'signature'. It says that Dec. 2011 is your date for remvoal of conditions. What conditions do you have? Or is that when you can apply for ciitzenship? I am confused on when I can apply for citizenship so I guess I will ask here. I was married in 2001, so how many years after being a PR can you apply for citizenship? Also, I thought I remember someone saying that you can apply 6 months before your actual date since the processing would take that long....am I correct? Thanks for any advice.

Hi Everyone,

I hope no one thinks I forgot about you guys.....I lurk on a daily basis!! Anyways, I just thought I would check in and tell you how life has been since moving to the States. My visa was issued March 4 and I activated it at Queenston/Lewiston on March 5th. I crossed several times from March until June 30 when I officially moved, with no problems! When I activated it, I asked about crossing and not moving down until June and they said that it was okay and not to worry. Well, once the kids finished school in Ontario, we moved to Delaware. The summer was great and very hot. I applied to many jobs and so far had a few interviews, but in my profession it has always been "it's not what you know, but who you know". The same goes in Canada too! Anyways, my kids started school in Delaware and I asked the principal about supply teaching and he told me to get my application and ALL other info into the office. He pulled me aside this week and asked if I want an 'assistant' teaching position, which is not great, but it's something and I accepted. Well....today he called me in to discuss things, and he told me that he realized that I was a qualified teacher (which he didn't realize before) and offered me a full time teaching job!! What great news eh? Things were a little rough here...in the sense of me fitting into the community/country/state etc. but lately they just seem to be settling down. Anyways, I just wanted to share my good news and my experience thus far and hope that all VJ'ers are doing well. To all the people going through Montreal, I know it's hard to hear but patience is the key. I sent in my I-130 in March of 2008, it reached NVC by March of 2009!!!!! and out of NVC to Montreal by April 2009, interview given to me in July 2009, interview August 12, 2009....denied (proof of domicile) August 12, 2009, proof #1 sent Aug. 2009, denied again, Sept. 2009, sent proof #2 October 2009, denied AGAIN Dec. 2009, sent proof #3 January 2010 - approved and issued VISA March 4, 2010!! So, as you can see, my patience was put to the test!! So, good luck to all in the process and keep your head up...it will all work out.

Hi everyone,

I was reading some posts on here and looking at some of your timelines and am curious on when to apply for citizenship. I married my husband (USC) in December 2001. I moved to US with my GC in March 2010. For some reason I thought I had to wait two years to obtain citizenship but I could apply at a year and a half out in order to start it before two year mark. Am I correct in this or can it be sooner? I thought from looking at some people's timelines that it was a lot sooner than the two years. Thanks for any help.

Hi Everyone,

I went to the Connect to Canada site and registered but I didn't see a "networking/socialing" checkbox. All it asked me was: email, first/last name, city, zip code and that's about it! Do you think I will still get an invite? I can't believe I've been checking the embassy website everyday and now I may have missed it!! Oh well, thems the breaks.

Hi Everyone,

I read about this celebration at the Embassy about a month ago and it said that their website would have something on it to join the list for the party, but I've been checking every day and can't seem to find anything. I forget who started that thread but if they read this could they let me know if I am too late? Also wanted to ask if kids come to this or is it adults only? Thanks!!

OK, I just mapquested it and it's only 2 hours away from me so................I'M IN!!!

I'll be in Delaware so I'm not too sure how far away that is....but I'll go if others are!!

There was a fee for the temp tag but nothing too serious. Also, Florida makes you pay for your home state taxes at their office, but Delaware does not have any taxes so we lucked out there. Also, since we flew down there to drive it back, the previous owner gave us a ride to DMV and stayed there while we obtained temp tag...just to make sure everything went ok. You'll be good...if you know what state you will buy new vehicle in, just call their local DMV and ask about their proceedures and costs.

My husband is from Delaware so when he purchased it in Florida, he went to DMV in Florida with old owners title (signed), bill of sale and his Drivers Licence from Delaware. Florida issued him a temp tag or in transit tag so he could travel home. His temp tag was good from one month. So, when you do purchase something just make sure you have your DL, bill of sale and the previous owner's title signed over to you.

All we had was the 'in transit' tag from Florida and obviously the bill of sale but the border did not ask for anything. All they are concerned with are the people within the vehicle and your intentions in Canada.

My husband (American) bought a camper (RV) last year in Florida and had a 'temp' tag or 'in transit' tag on it. We drove it directly from Florida to Canada for a vacation and had no problem entering Canada. He left two weeks later to head back to Delaware to register it. So you should have no problem crossing.

If he can't get in to see someone, you (the American spouse) can go with him and when you get to security just say that you are American and wish to apply for a new passport. You can bring someone with you (spouse!!) as long as they have their passport. So, the American services (such as passport) are on the same floor as where his interview was. Sooooo, just meander over to the 'immigration' half of the floor and have him inquire...i would just go to the same room where all of those kiosks are where they scan your fingerprints. I'm not sure when you are coming to Canada next, but if you are here for a visit and he hasn't recieved it yet or his visit was unsuccessful, I would go this route.

Just to let you know that even adults are to have their birth certificates along with passports. It's posted all over the office and on their website that both are needed. I checked off the box to get my SSN but it was two years ago and assumed that I wouldn't get them anyways, so the same day that I POE'd, I went directly to SSO to apply for it and received it within 2 weeks.

Congratulations Jones!! You both must be sooooo excited! I know exactly how you both feel. I will email you later to get that website from you....I was alwasy scared to complain since I didn't want to upset them, but I guess if no one complains, nothing will be fixed and I would never want anyone to go through what you or I went through! Congrats again and happy moving!!

Congr.!

A quick question..if i go to the SSA office and apply for a SSN#,wouldn't that confuse the office overall since I've already checked off on the original form...

Why did you need to go to the SSA office at the first place ?if you've already checked off the box on ur form,you were supposed to get it in three weeks right?

I just don't wanna end up having two SSN#....

Thnx

The real reason I went to the SSO was........because I have spent two years on this website and have learned that even if you check that box, you're not getting one! You'll just sit around waiting for it and nottin! So, I figured I would go and apply and take my chances!! LOL And it paid off! I just don't think that check box and the whole application thing is actually connected to SSO, I think at one point it might have but not now! Hope this helps!

I received my GC today. I POE'd on March 4 and applied the same day for SSN. I received my SSN on March 17 and my GC on March 22!! Pretty quick! Now I don't have to do anymore Immigration application/procedures until I apply for Citizenship in 2.5 years!!! WOO HOO I think I would suggest for people who checked off "Send SSN to me" on original application (like I did), to go directly to SSA office and apply!! Good luck everyone.

Hi Everyone,

I have a leased vehicle through GMAC and the lease will not be complete until April 2011. So I was looking for two things: the phone/fax/email for GMAC to get compliance letter, and also the question....can I bring over a leased vehicle??? I'm guessing that if we can't than I would have to use it with Canadian tags and licence until lease is up...but I could be totally off!! Any input? Thanks again.

Hi there! Well, since my husband did not finish high school, we could not obtain school papers. So the only thing that I had was a print out of his tax filings from the Social Security office. You just walk into one of the SS offices and request a printout of your tax filing history (sorry I can't remember the proper name for it). They print it off (only on one page) and it states the years and how much you claimed. This was our only proof provided to the embassy for our children's application and it was sufficient enough. Hope this helps. Oh yeah, we did this in 2008/9 at the Toronto Embassy.

Hi Everyone,

I was pleasantly surprised at the speedy arrival of them too! I was expecting at least a few denials first.....LOL! When I POE'd on March 4th, I went to the SS office and applied in person. I actually applied for mine and my son's the same day. This Tuesday I recieved a letter (addressed to my son) saying that he ordered a SS card and it will arrive in about 2 weeks. So when he got a letter and I didn't....I was like "oh oh here we go"! The next day I had two envelopes from SS office in Marlyand and two new SS numbers. Unfortunetly I have to go back to the office and do an application for my daughter since I only had her Passport on me that day and not her birth certificate (you need both)!! So, I will go and do hers this week or next. Also, when I POE'd, the friendly officer told me that I should receive my GC in about 5-6 months!! So, when I got the letter on Tuesday....I was shocked!! I'm not to sure on how long from the 'welcome' letter until the actual GC arrives though?? So LGG, I would go into the office and apply and I'm sure you'll get your welcome letter by Friday!

Hi Everyone,

I was pleasantly surprised at the speedy arrival of them too! I was expecting at least a few denials first.....LOL! When I POE'd on March 4th, I went to the SS office and applied in person. I actually applied for mine and my son's the same day. This Tuesday I recieved a letter (addressed to my son) saying that he ordered a SS card and it will arrive in about 2 weeks. So when he got a letter and I didn't....I was like "oh oh here we go"! The next day I had two envelopes from SS office in Marlyand and two new SS numbers. Unfortunetly I have to go back to the office and do an application for my daughter since I only had her Passport on me that day and not her birth certificate (you need both)!! So, I will go and do hers this week or next. Also, when I POE'd, the friendly officer told me that I should receive my GC in about 5-6 months!! So, when I got the letter on Tuesday....I was shocked!! I'm not to sure on how long from the 'welcome' letter until the actual GC arrives though?? So LGG, I would go into the office and apply and I'm sure you'll get your welcome letter by Friday!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let people know how my timeline is. I crossed March 4 and received my welcome letter on March 16 and then my SSN came yesterday on March 17! Very fast!!

I agree with you brock, it is easy for me to sit here and say that people shouldn't worry about Montreal being annoyed. I can really only say what I would do.

From where I sit though, if people don't work to change this - when will it change?

Mostly, we are a bunch of Canadians here. Let's put the shoe on the other foot. Let's say it was your Husband immigrating to Canada and they were giving you the run around, would you hesitate to contact your MP?

You submitted more info twice, you were given an incredible run around, until your Husband contacted his congressman, your application just sat. The question is, if you had sat quietly and waited, would you still just be sitting there waiting to hear from them, or would you perhaps even have received another denial?

I'm not too sure if it would still be sitting there or not....but on the other hand....my husband applied to immigrate to Canada and we did get the run-a-round. After contacting my local MP (very nice lady)...we got more of a run-a-round. But this is just my story...it doesn't mean that it will happen to everyone though. I think the Canadian immigration and contact with MP was the reason why I was so intimidated by the American consolute/immigration dept.

Hi there! I had my interview last August and was denied and needed to send in additional doc's. I sent the first one back in August and got it back 4 weeks later and was denied again....needed more doc's. I sent the second package the first of September and hadn't heard from them in 8 weeks...so husband contacted Congressman (seemed to work since we got answer within a week of that) and was denied again....need more info. Then we changed everything up....whole life!! LOL.....and sent in package #3 on January 14 of this year. After 4 weeks of waiting...I was inspired by trailmix and her comment about how you shouldn't wait to contact Congressman..yada yada yada...and so husband contacted again! 2 weeks later I finally had my Visa!! That last package was sent January 14 and got it back on March 3. I honestly believe the Congressman email had something to do with it....only in the sense that it made the consolute look at my file. I too believed that contacted the Congressman would annoy the Montreal Officers....they had/have total control over a lot of people's lives! It's easy to say....you shouldn't worry about them being annoyed since it's their job and they work for the people.....but when you are the person waiting for the approval and knowing that you can't be a family until it comes....then it's a total different story. I would recommend calling your congress person when you are comfortable with it and after the original '4 week' waiting period has past. The 4 weeks that I am referring to are the 4 weeks that it 'usually' takes to get a response. On my final package...I waited until the 5th week knowing that by the time the consolute received email from Congressperson, it would be in week 6. Hope this helps.

Just to let you know...if the Canadian immigration was looking at this offence, it would be considered a 'indictable' offence (or felony) only in the sense that it is considered a 'hybrid' offence. Hybrid means that this offence, if committed in Canada, could be a summary or indictable (as stated in the statue/law). So even if it was a 'summary' offence in reality...since it's hybrid, they would consider it to be an indictable offence. I''m not sure how American immigration works but that's how Canadian Immigration works. On the bright side...if one does have an indictable offence (and only one) they must wait 10 years before they are deemed 'rehabilated' and able to come into or emigrate to Canada.....so atleast your crime was 10 years ago!!

Good luck tomorrow.....go out and have a fun time tonight!!