cdn_gewels

I'm confused...I haven't POE'd yet so Im not sure how I had a bad POE officer...unless you are fortelling the future! OH NO! Anyway

I was reading last night, most of the airlines are waiving the fees for the first carry on bag that needs to be checked, as long as it would have actually been declared a carryon prior to the no-carry on rule going into effect, so you won't be charged for that one bag. It use to be a charge for extra carry-on bags that needed to be checked but as most flights only let you have 1 carry on now anyway, they are waiving it temprorarily. Depending on your flight though you want to check the airlines website. West Jet announced they won't take large backpacks or roller bags as carry on anymore (#######? my carryon is a roller bag with like exact measurements. pft)

It's not just WestJet - it's all airlines. CATSA (airport security) will not allow backpacks or any roller bags as carry-on. It's now "No Carry-on" just a personal item. As you said though, WestJet is waiving fees for the extra bag if it was supposed to be your carry-on.

I work for an airline and the new "No Carry-on" restrictions are incredibly frustrating for us!

You can bring a purse (no larger than a sheet of paper's dimensions) OR a laptop bag that includes not much more in it than a laptop!!!

Happy Wedding!!!

Glad to hear that all went well!

I'll be driving to Orlando too... 24 hour drive for me, but kinda looking forward to the road-trip with my Dad! Let's hope we miss a snowstorm too. I am planning on February 15th but keep joking that I'll look out my window and see a blizzard on that day! lol.

mari_joe, I am really sorry to hear about what you've been going through. I hope that things get better.

missymissy - I am sure you are happy to have Lars leaving Congo and coming to be with you. I can imagine that it will make the process much easier now!!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Do you have any idea how much better I feel after reading all this?! I think I'll take advantage of the residency card as I want to get a pass for Disney. I have lots of friends from work wanting come visit and wanting to go to Disney, so the pass will come in handy!

Glad I have you guys.

Oh! One last thing. Go to the DMV office and get your residency card. Once you have your AOS NOA you can get your driver's license and register your vehicle. This took me about 7-8 months. In the meantime I drove using my Canadian license and registration. The DMV told me it wasn't a problem to do so while I waited for my greencard.

How soon can I get a residency card? What kind of stuff do you need to get one? Any good perks for having one? Is it easier to get stuff done like my DL and registration?

According to the website though, once I become a 'resident' I have 10 days to register my car. Will this mess that up? Right now, my plan was to get my DL after AOS NOA and then get my registration done after I have my DL and FL car insurance. I received an email response back from the official site about getting a "declaration of domicile" to establish my residency. I copied my reply on this thread... I think it's a page over.

Just got my gift in the mail yesterday from my fiance. I got a white gold heart pendant necklace. The heart has 27 little diamonds, which is particularly special as our wedding date is March 27th. Isn't that sweet?

So, I've been going through many, many threads about importing your vehicle and would just love some clarification, please. I just always need to make sure I got this all right! (This stuff makes my head hurt!)

I understand that you do require a compliance letter. I have already established that I can get that done quickly and without a charge. Interestingly enough, I've also been told it is valid for 30 days from Kia.

In the compliance letter, if it states that my car conforms to US standards... except the daytime running lights... do I need to get them disconnected or not? I'm concerned with the nhtsa.gov site says:

"If the manufacturer�s letter states that the vehicle complies with all applicable FMVSS except for those pertaining to the speedometer or headlights, the vehicle can still be imported as a conforming motor vehicle under Box 2B, provided the importer furnishes Customs with an invoice from a franchised dealer or repair facility authorized by the vehicle�s original manufacturer showing that the affected components have been replaced with U.S.-model parts."

The way I read that, if the daytime running lights are mentioned in the letter, I have to get them fixed. But, from what I've read on here, many VJers haven't had to do so. Any advice?

I want to be prepared when I cross the border, so aside from the compliance letter, is there some other paperwork I can have prepared as well? (The HS-7 Declaration form?) Also, do they need any EPA documentation or is this more for manufacturers and registered importers? I think I read a really old thread about needing to get a car tested. I have 2006 Kia.

Thanks for your patience with me. I know there are lots of questions. I just really appreciate clarification and up-to-date info.

I wrote an email to the Florida Department of Saftey of Motor Vehicles regarding the registration. I have to say, they wrote me back within 12 hours and were pretty informative:

PS - Trailmix, you were dead on with all your info!

"Thank you for your recent inquiry. The Declaration of Domicile must be filed with the Clerk of the Court’s Office. Once the Declaration has been filed, your residency has been established.

In order to title and register a motor vehicle in Florida you will need proof of ownership (the Canadian Certificate of Title). If the proof of ownership is in a language other than English it requires a written English translation, signed by a translator, before a notary public. The translator must also state on the translation that he/she has knowledge of the two languages OR is fluent in the two languages; translates documents as a normal course of business and that his/her translation of the document is accurate. The person translating the document must be someone who has no previous or current ownership interest in the motor vehicle/mobile home. Form HSMV 82040, which can be found on the department's website http://www.flhsmv.gov/html/forms.html, must be accurately completed, including section 8 by a DMV Compliance Examiner/Inspector. (Out-of-country VIN verifications are checked thru NICB. If results are returned showing a lienholder on record, the VIN verification will not be completed until an original letter on letterhead stationery, from the lienholder giving permission to have the motor vehicle titled in Florida is received.)

The completed form, proof of ownership, proof of Florida insurance and title and license plate fees may be taken to a tag agency your area, for processing. The title fee is $85.25 or $87.25, if a lien is being recorded on the Florida title. License plate fees are based on the weight of the vehicle, therefore, we cannot provide you with this fee. Please use form HSMV 83140, License Plate Rate Chart to figure the fees needed for the issuance of a Florida license plate. The $225 Initial Registration Fee will be due. This form can also be found on the website mentioned above.

Six percent Florida sales or use tax and local discretionary sales surtax is required to be paid before a certificate of title and license plate can be issued by the department. The amount upon which the tax is applied is the larger of: 1) 80 percent of the loan value. 2) The fair market value on date of entry. 3) The outstanding lien on the motor vehicle at the time of entry into this state. No credit is allowed for any sales or use tax paid to a foreign country. We hope this information will assist you. "

Thank you trailmix! I appreciate the info as I'm trying really hard to figure how much money I'll need to get my car all set up. (This stuff never ends, does it?!)

As for the registration timeframe... the 10-day thing is definitely not gonna happen as I am unable to get my Florida DL until after we are married, and after we get the NOA1 for the AOS. (As per the e-mail reply I received from the DMV.) I'm assuming that you can't register your car in the state unless you have a DL for the state, so that helps to squash the 10-day requirement. I'm assuming that you had no issues going to register 2-months in...?

Oh. Well, you won't have to pay duty, anyway. It's duty free when you're immigrating. Value it really low, though, in case they make you pay State taxes on it when you go to register it.

Krikit, how much state tax do they impose on you when you go to register the car? I'm moving to Florida in February.

By the way, when do you have to register it? Right away, within a month, etc?

Kata and Freddy - beautiful pictures! Congratulations! It looks like you are both very happy!

melanne - wish I could help, but I haven't even looked at the AOS stuff yet. I'm taking a break!!!

Richard - So glad to hear that POE was a breeze! Hope the wedding plans come together nicely!

I'm just waiting for the days to pass. I can't wait for February 15th. As long as the weather co-operates, my father and I will drive down my car. We've got our intimate wedding all planned for March 27th, 2010. We're looking at April 9th, 2011 for the big celebration with relatives and friends.

Strega, Congratulations! I'm glad to hear your update!

I know it's hard to have the Visa and not being able to move right away. We can do this! haha.

Thanks for the info!!! I have had a Florida license before as well, so I hope it'll be just as easy! I have been in contact with DMV for Florida with some questions and the lady that answered my messages was very helpful. Here's hoping my experience is as positive as yours.

Congratulations to Richard and Joanna, Stan and Amy, ihopeofglory, and sera!!! What awesome news! I am so happy for everyone!

Missy - enjoy the extra week with Lars!!!

I got mine at the door as the post lady said she couldn't fit it in my mailbox. I have one of those mailboxes where I have to go and get it with a key a few houses down. She rang at the door.

Awesome news!!!

So I don't think I was interviewed by the Director because I just looked at the picture, and it wasn't him. KnJ, is that who you had?

When we asked for him to delay issuing the Visa for Sean- he said that was not a good idea because it could get caught up in the 100s of applications they have coming through. He said we are allowed to cross without activating the Visa, but to be on the safe side, he told us that he was going to make a note on the computer system that the border patrol uses to say that Sean can come for a visit before he activates his Visa. He literally said "I, as the Consular Deputy, will let them know this is ok." He told Sean to tell them to look at their "CCD" screen for the note.

He did tell us that we are allowed to cross back and forth without activating the Visa, and if we don`t bring our entire packet then we really can`t activate the Visa anyway.

I wish he would have confirmed this with me too as I'm not planning on moving until February. I regret not asking him about this directly. I was under a very different impression.

Congratulations guys!!! I am so happy that you had an awesome experience!!!

Congratulations CJ! I am so happy that everything is working out for everyone. It's so nice to have so much good news.

hi everyone.. just want to ask the moment you are issued a K1 Visa. How long is it valid for?????

Thanks in Advance.

It's valid for 6 months.

Missy ---- CONGRATULATONS! I am so happy for you!

I am so happy for all the approvals today!!! Congratulations!

Danu - I also felt certain that I was forgetting something and kept looking through my folder several times before leaving for Montreal. It all worked out and I know you will pass with flying colours! Be confident and remember how prepared you are! It's a huge day, but you are ready for it!!!!