joe_robin66

Persist!
"Invictus" is a rather apt poem to have in your subject line. Read it again and stick it out.
This whole thing sucks...but if your love for your husband is true, it's worth more than the time you are being kept apart.
Hope it all works out for you soon.

Good luck. Others have already wonderfully answered most of your questions, but I just wanted to add that if you don't have the long form of your birth certificate (the full page registration version, not just the card size) you will also need that. You can order it easily online here https://www.orgforms.gov.on.ca/eForms/start.do?lang=en It is $35 for your first copy. It will probably arrive within a week (they're amazingly efficient at getting them sent out.)
You DO need the police certificate, regardless of whether your a criminal or not. It basically proves that you're NOT. Get 2 copies. I agree about waiting on the medical. It's nice to get it out of the way, but at the same time it's best to wait as long as you can since it is only valid for one year. Doing it about 3 weeks - 1 month before the interview is my suggestion. Or basically make your appointment after you send back the Packet 3. I don't recall how far in advance you have to book it. I think just 2 weeks or so.
Also, regarding the move... 8 hours is lucky! Just to put things in perspective, many of us have had to move from coast to coast. My husband (then fiancé! lol) and I had a 4-5 day drive (or 12-15 hour plane journey from door to door) between our homes. I would relish an 8 hr drive! You shouldn't have TOO much culture shock, but be aware of foods that you won't get in the U.S. that you have in Canada. It sounds silly, but it's suddenly a big impact when your favourite comfort foods aren't around anymore and you have to substitute. I.e. Tim Horton's, President's Choice brands, and so on. *wistful sigh*
Spend as much time with your friends and family now as possible. Plan ways to stay in touch; post cards, letters, facebook, email, make a photo blog to show them your new home.... whatever works.
Also, don't forget that you're getting married. lol You have to figure out what you plan to do for your wedding. How big, how small, who's invited, where will it be (venue-wise), will you have another bigger one back in Canada later on (many k-1s do this).
People say it's not necessary for the fiancé to attend the interview. While that's absolutely true, I can't imagine going through that without him with me. It was great to have him there, and a good experience for us to have together. If you can reasonably manage for him to be with you without too much hardship, I'd suggest it.
Again, good luck.

There may be financial reasons that are holding you there with this husband as well as love. Your child is in danger, you are in danger. Had that child not been in your arms you might be dead right now. He has already told you that you have not seen "who he really is" I suspect he really is a monster. He's slammed your head and punched you in the head knowing you had a migraine. Trust me deep down he feels you wont leave. Inside he is positive you won't leave. If you have made any friends in the three years I suggest you leave while he is at work or out with friends never giving him any idea you are leaving don't even talk about it. Be about it. When he leaves pack up at least 2-3 weeks worth of clothes for you and baby, grab some cash so you will be fine. I am suspecting he controls the money though. You are a woman you know how to be sweet to get what you need from your husband. You need just 2-3 weeks to clear your mind and really decide what you need to do. When you are in the situation you are surrounded by him and his needs, wants and feelings. Away from him you can think about you and your baby and your needs. I'm not telling you to divorce....however am telling you to be smart. If he thinks you are not coming back I guarantee he will do anything to get you back and that means going to counseling. If you are serious about the counseling you cant start feeling bad for him when he's begging you to come back. You have to stand firm. Make him to make the counseling session appointment don't come back until you at least attend 1 session. remember Greater is he who is in you that he who is in the world. If God be for you who can be against you. Bye the way he does sound bipolar and may need medication to correct his behavior.
Men treat you how you invite them to treat you. If you can't be strong enough to leave for you....then do it for your child. The next time he decides to hit you while shes in your arms your child could be hit or killed. I worked in juvenile court as an attorney for almost 2 years...many children died in the arms of their mother as father was punching and beating mom and mistakenly hitting child.
Whatever you do.....DO NOT STAY AND KEEP ACCEPTING THIS BEHAVIOR. MAKE A MOVE NOW. I DID..GOT DIVORCED EARLY LAST YEAR FROM A MAN VERY SIMILAR IN BEHAVIOR TO YOUR HUSBAND ESPECIALLY WHEN HE DRANK. NOW THAT MAN HAS A CHILD ON THE WAY WITH ANOTHER WOMAN AND BEATING AND VERBALLY ABUSING HER.
iN THE NAME OF JESUS I COME AGAINST EVERY DEMONIC ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACK ON YOUR LIFE AND THAT OF YOUR CHILD. I PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS ON YOUR LIFE AND YOUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER IN JESUS NAME. HOLY SPIRIT LEAD THIS WOMAN AND CHILD WHERE YOU WILL HAVE THEM GO. STRENGTHEN HER, ENCOURAGE HER, INCREASE HER FINANCES, MAKE HER TO LOVE HERSELF AND HER CHILD MORE, GIVE HER SUPERNATURAL WISDOM ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN HER LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HER CHILD IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME I PRAY A HEDGE OF PROTECTION OVER HER AND HER CHILD..SEND YOUR MIGHTIEST ANGELS LORD TO ENCAMP AROUND HER LORD IN JESUS NAME I PRAY AMEN.

This message is for giving_up, I would like to talk to you.... can you please reply to my email bebzgurl29@yahoo.com, I hope to hear from you soon.
I will wait your reply there.... take care always and your baby, be strong! I know it's hard, but you can do it!
Please reply okay........

If she is divorced, she is eligible to apply for Citizenship in 5 years minus 90 days from the date her first Green Card was issued.

This is the one thing I don't like about VJ. We're all so sure we know about everything. And we're all so sure that all the lawyers are wrong.
Guess what, the lawyer is correct. Here's the relevant law:
Sec. 319. [8 U.S.C. 1430]


(a) Any person whose spouse is a citizen of the United States, 1/ or any person who obtained status as a lawful permanent resident by reason of his or her status as a spouse or child of a United States citizen who battered him or her or subjected him or her to extreme cruelty, may be naturalized upon compliance with all the requirements of this title except the provisions of paragraph (1) of section 316(a) if such person immediately preceding the date of filing his application for naturalization has resided continuously, after being lawfully admitted for permanent residence, within the United States for at least three years, and during the three years immediately preceding the date of filing his application has been living in marital union with the citizen spouse 1/ (except in the case of a person who has been battered or subjected to extreme cruelty by a United States citizen spouse or parent), who has been a United States citizen during all of such period, and has been physically present in the United States for periods totaling at least half of that time and has resided within the State or the district of the Service in the United States in which the applicant filed his application for at least three months.
LPRs who obtain their green card "by reason of his or her status as a spouse or child of a United States citizen who battered him or her or subjected him or her to extreme cruelty" are eligible to apply after three years, exempted from the requirement that they have been living with their spouse.
It took me about five minutes to find the relevant policy USCIS memo with a web search.
We all need to be a little more careful about areas of immigration with which we have little experience, like VAWA cases.