Colleens

That post was from 10 years ago so not sure 
 it will still be relevant? But I just went to my family Dr and she ordered the tests. 
 
Good Luck 

That post was from 10 years ago so not sure 
 it will still be relevant? But I just went to my family Dr and she ordered the tests. 
 
Good Luck 

Yes you will be able to recieve mat benefits. I suggest that you keep a Canadian bank account so that you can have them direct deposited rather then cheques mailed as it can take awhile for them to get to the US.

I got Emma's passport when she was only 2 months old. I got it at the county clerks office and they did the photo there. All I had to do was kneel down facing the wall then pick her up under her arm pits, hold her up and duck my head. I was very worried about the photo after reading the passport website and all the info and restrictions about the photo but it was easy peasy. I would really suggest getting it done since it will just make everything that much easier.
You are allowed to use US carseats when travelling in Canada. If you know someone that you trust that can lend you a carseat once you get to Canada that might be a better option since it will be one less thing to pack around the airport with you. I would never check a carseat since you don't know how they are thrown around etc, and you risk it potentially being damaged without you even knowing.
Definitely try feeding during take off and landing...it will make a world of difference. If you have a few months you may be able to start to
adjust her feeding schedule little by little now so that it will fit in with your travel plans if she will not top off or take a paci. Also try to get as close to the back as possible. If you are travelling with her as a lap child that may be difficult since there are only a few rows of seats taht will have an extra oxygen mask if needed, but there is a bit more movement in the back so it tends to be soothing (and there are less people there to get upset if she should be fussy).
I travelled with Emma on my own twice and I didn't take a stroller with me. I used my moby wrap while in the airport so that I had 2 free hands. It was a lifesaver. On the plane you are not supposed to have baby in a carrier of any sort in case of an emergency so that the can get to the baby, but I did stick her in there to sleep. I have seen these infant 'slings' on pinterest that seem kind of cool My link and I think there are other brands and styles out there if you do a google search.
Do you have any connections to make or will it be a direct flight? If there are connections make sure to pack plenty of extra diapers since you never know if there may be a delay or cancellation. I once travelled to Atlanta from Syracuse NY and it took me nearly 24hrs because of delays. One lady had 1.5yr old and only packed enough diapers for what the trip was scheduled to be and a couple of extra's. By the time we got to Atl that poor baby's diaper was in a sad state Also if you use a store brand diaper (eg target) that you can't get in Canada you may want to try some of the brand names that you may be buying in Canada to ensure that she won't react with them....this goes for wipes as well.
That is all I can think of right now. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I got Emma's passport when she was only 2 months old. I got it at the county clerks office and they did the photo there. All I had to do was kneel down facing the wall then pick her up under her arm pits, hold her up and duck my head. I was very worried about the photo after reading the passport website and all the info and restrictions about the photo but it was easy peasy. I would really suggest getting it done since it will just make everything that much easier.
You are allowed to use US carseats when travelling in Canada. If you know someone that you trust that can lend you a carseat once you get to Canada that might be a better option since it will be one less thing to pack around the airport with you. I would never check a carseat since you don't know how they are thrown around etc, and you risk it potentially being damaged without you even knowing.
Definitely try feeding during take off and landing...it will make a world of difference. If you have a few months you may be able to start to
adjust her feeding schedule little by little now so that it will fit in with your travel plans if she will not top off or take a paci. Also try to get as close to the back as possible. If you are travelling with her as a lap child that may be difficult since there are only a few rows of seats taht will have an extra oxygen mask if needed, but there is a bit more movement in the back so it tends to be soothing (and there are less people there to get upset if she should be fussy).
I travelled with Emma on my own twice and I didn't take a stroller with me. I used my moby wrap while in the airport so that I had 2 free hands. It was a lifesaver. On the plane you are not supposed to have baby in a carrier of any sort in case of an emergency so that the can get to the baby, but I did stick her in there to sleep. I have seen these infant 'slings' on pinterest that seem kind of cool My link and I think there are other brands and styles out there if you do a google search.
Do you have any connections to make or will it be a direct flight? If there are connections make sure to pack plenty of extra diapers since you never know if there may be a delay or cancellation. I once travelled to Atlanta from Syracuse NY and it took me nearly 24hrs because of delays. One lady had 1.5yr old and only packed enough diapers for what the trip was scheduled to be and a couple of extra's. By the time we got to Atl that poor baby's diaper was in a sad state Also if you use a store brand diaper (eg target) that you can't get in Canada you may want to try some of the brand names that you may be buying in Canada to ensure that she won't react with them....this goes for wipes as well.
That is all I can think of right now. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I got Emma's passport when she was only 2 months old. I got it at the county clerks office and they did the photo there. All I had to do was kneel down facing the wall then pick her up under her arm pits, hold her up and duck my head. I was very worried about the photo after reading the passport website and all the info and restrictions about the photo but it was easy peasy. I would really suggest getting it done since it will just make everything that much easier.
You are allowed to use US carseats when travelling in Canada. If you know someone that you trust that can lend you a carseat once you get to Canada that might be a better option since it will be one less thing to pack around the airport with you. I would never check a carseat since you don't know how they are thrown around etc, and you risk it potentially being damaged without you even knowing.
Definitely try feeding during take off and landing...it will make a world of difference. If you have a few months you may be able to start to
adjust her feeding schedule little by little now so that it will fit in with your travel plans if she will not top off or take a paci. Also try to get as close to the back as possible. If you are travelling with her as a lap child that may be difficult since there are only a few rows of seats taht will have an extra oxygen mask if needed, but there is a bit more movement in the back so it tends to be soothing (and there are less people there to get upset if she should be fussy).
I travelled with Emma on my own twice and I didn't take a stroller with me. I used my moby wrap while in the airport so that I had 2 free hands. It was a lifesaver. On the plane you are not supposed to have baby in a carrier of any sort in case of an emergency so that the can get to the baby, but I did stick her in there to sleep. I have seen these infant 'slings' on pinterest that seem kind of cool My link and I think there are other brands and styles out there if you do a google search.
Do you have any connections to make or will it be a direct flight? If there are connections make sure to pack plenty of extra diapers since you never know if there may be a delay or cancellation. I once travelled to Atlanta from Syracuse NY and it took me nearly 24hrs because of delays. One lady had 1.5yr old and only packed enough diapers for what the trip was scheduled to be and a couple of extra's. By the time we got to Atl that poor baby's diaper was in a sad state Also if you use a store brand diaper (eg target) that you can't get in Canada you may want to try some of the brand names that you may be buying in Canada to ensure that she won't react with them....this goes for wipes as well.
That is all I can think of right now. Let me know if you have any other questions.

I have recently returned to Canada with my husband (as huggles stated). You can start the application process from the US if you like, or you can do the whole thing once you are in Canada. Unlike the US, Canada will allow your spouse to stay with you during the process.
If you are not living in Canada and applying 'outland' you will have to provide proof that you intend to reside in Canada (so a lease agreement for when you plan on returning).
As previous posters stated that there is no income requirement for sponsoring your spouse, but they do ask for financial information. We applied 'inland' and I had to submit my last years "option C print out" (basically a tax transcript) and all my t4's w2's etc. I also had to submit a letter from my employer that gave my income details and how long I have been working there.
There is a quite a bit of paperwork, but unlike the US, you submit everything all at once and then wait!
Currently it is taking about 14 months for approval via outland. If you choose to apply inland it is taking about 16 months, however once your sponsorship application is approved they will issue an open work visa while the PR application is being processed. It is taking about 5 months for sponsorship to be approved via inland. (it is about 3 months via outland, but you don't get the work permit when you apply outland).
There are some really helpful folks over on the roadtocanada site, but it is not nearly as busy as VJ so you may have to wait for a day or so to get a reply to a question.
If you need any more info just send me a PM
Good Luck

I have just returned to Canada with my husband and daughter. We had planned on moving later in the year and wanted to start his PR application while still in the US. But my husband lost his job and we were tired of the stress of not having decent employment and health insurance so we decided to move back ASAP. 3 weeks after he lost his job we were back in Canada!
We did just show up at the border. When going through I told them I was a returning resident and that I would be sponsoring my husband for PR. We had to go inside and speak with a immigraition officer. They asked questions about any criminal history etc and since he did have an arrest on his record he had to produce the court records showing that the charges were dismissed. He was given something called a visitors record. It is valid for 6 months, but you can apply to have it extended for another 6 months. You have to prove that you have applied for PR within that first 6 months before they will grant you the extension.
Once you get here your husband would have to get a medical and his background checks before you can send in the application. In Canada you send everything in at once and then wait, unlike the US where you have to send it in in bits and pieces!! I would suggest if you know a time frame that you may be moving that you get the FBI check done before the move since it can take up to 4 months to get it (ours took 2 and a bit).
If you have any other questions just let me know and I will do my best to help you out!

I found I never had a problem when they found out my fiance was in the military. I made sure when they asked where I was going I included that I was travelling to Ft _______ to visit!! The one time I forgot to say that the CBP agent asked me to open my trunk. As he walked around to the trunk he saw my "In love with my army combat medic" bumper sticker. He promptly closed my trunk, asked if my fiance was in the army and told me to have a nice visit!

Most banks will require a SSN but there are some that do not. There are some old threads here that deal with banking and adding a spouse without a SSN so try searching and reading through some of them. Some other things that you can look into is naming her as beneficary on any insurance policies or investments. If you own a home put her on the title. Add her onto the car insurance. Add her onto your credit card. Also try to have her name added to any utility bills.
I didn't do a CR1 so I am not sure how picky they are about this stuff, but this should give you a good start.

As a Canadian Citizen you wife will just have to tell them that she is a returning resident at the border. As for your CR-1 visa and green card, you will lose it if you move to Canada. To be a resident and maintain residency (and your green card) you have to live in the US.
As the previous poster said, you can file for a re-entry permit, but I am not 100% how those work and the conditions that apply with them, you would need to do some more research.

I am pretty sure I recieved a letter in the mail, but I can't remember how long it took, sorry I can't be or more help there. But again my EI case was a bit different since I was laid off from my job and recieved a 6 month severance package, so I didn't qualify for EI until the end of that 6 months. Here is the # for the interstate office....I found it in another thread 1-877-486-1650
My case for EAD was not typical, so I doubt that you will have such a long wait. There are a handful of ASC's that tend to get backed up and it takes FOREVER to get an appt for biometrics, and that was my issue. I had to contact our congressman for help getting an appt since I was about 7.5 months pregnant, so if I ended up having to have in interview I couldn't have done the 6hr drive to the local USCIS office!! They did waive my requirement for an appt...I guess having a baby was sufficient proof of a bona fide marriage

If he is from Canada and has met the criteria for qualifying for EI he can claim it. He had to have applied within 4 weeks of his last day of work, and he won't be able to recieve payments until he has his EAD, but it would give a bit of income while he is looking for employement in the US.

Yes you should still be recieving cards eventhough you are still awaiting your EAD. You would answer the questions on the back, but when it comes to the one that asks about work you would slelct "no" and put something like "unable to work, awaiting employment authorization".
I can't remember how long it took me to start recieving the cards, but you can call the out of country office and ask them about it. I did have a card with the phone # on it, but have just recently thrown it away. If you call Service Canada you can ask them for the out of country #. I always had to leave a message on the answering machine and they usually got back to me later that day or the next (it might take longer if you call today due to the holidays).
As for looking for work early, I would suggest that you start a very preliminary search (posting a resume on monster, contacting an employment agency registering with them, but explain your situation). It took me close to 7 months to get my EAD. I applied in May and the paperwork was approved in Aug, but due to a backlog at the ASC it took forever for me to get a biometrics appt (I needed to get the congressman involved to get one). When I recieved my EAD card at the end of Oct, the date on it was Aug, and that is the date that EI uses for when you become eligable, so had I started a job search back then (and not waited until I had my card) I would have got 8 weeks of back payments from EI. But you have to be able to prove you were looking for a job.
Unfortunately there is no way to know when your paperwork has been approved. And even if you knew it was approved, you would have to supply your EAD card to your employer prior to starting work.

I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas/holiday season.
Thank you to everyone for their advice and support in the past year and for a making this a place that we can all go to when we need a little bit of home!
For those waiting to be (re)united with their loved ones, here's hoping that 2012 brings you all together quickly.

You would definitely have to look into your medical insurance to see if they will cover a out of country birth. If not I am sure it would be a similar cost as having a baby in the US without insurance (so ~ 10k for an uncomplicated birth).

I had no problems getting titre tests done in ON, I just went to my family Dr and asked for them. If your doctor does not know what a titre test is, I would be worried about the level of care that I am getting from them!!

I had no problems getting titre tests done in ON, I just went to my family Dr and asked for them. If your doctor does not know what a titre test is, I would be worried about the level of care that I am getting from them!!

Open RBC Canada and RBC USA accounts and link the 2 online. Have your EI cheques direct deposited into your RBC canada account, transfer the money to your RBC USA account online and you are good to go. I think I pay a $4 monthly fee for each of my accounts, but there is not charge for transfers. If you have Weigels stores where you live, they have no fee ATM's so you can withdrawl money without it costing you anything (or do cash back when you are shopping).
The only downside is if you don't live near a RBC USA branch it there could be some issues if you ever need a branch. I have been here for 2 years and have yet needed to go to a branch.

I would be leary of traveling at that point in my pregnancy. Also I know when I wanted to travel back to Canada after I had my LO I needed to have a passport for her. This meant I had to wait to get her birth certificate and her SSN. This took about 6 weeks, then I had to get her passport which was another couple of weeks. So I am assuming that you would have to do the same if your baby was born in Canada. I think it takes a lot longer to get a birth certificate in Canada (I have had friends who waited months).
As previous posters said that the baby will be a dual citizen, but you need to have the documents to prove that at the border!! Both times I have traveled with my LO they have asked me at the borders (both going and coming back) for the notarized letter from my husband acknowledging that he was aware and approved of me taking our child out of the country. Even though your husband is deployed you might require something like that from him.
Good luck. I hope that you have a smooth and easy delivery when the time comes!!!

I would be leary of traveling at that point in my pregnancy. Also I know when I wanted to travel back to Canada after I had my LO I needed to have a passport for her. This meant I had to wait to get her birth certificate and her SSN. This took about 6 weeks, then I had to get her passport which was another couple of weeks. So I am assuming that you would have to do the same if your baby was born in Canada. I think it takes a lot longer to get a birth certificate in Canada (I have had friends who waited months).
As previous posters said that the baby will be a dual citizen, but you need to have the documents to prove that at the border!! Both times I have traveled with my LO they have asked me at the borders (both going and coming back) for the notarized letter from my husband acknowledging that he was aware and approved of me taking our child out of the country. Even though your husband is deployed you might require something like that from him.
Good luck. I hope that you have a smooth and easy delivery when the time comes!!!

Open RBC Canada and RBC USA accounts and link the 2 online. Have your EI cheques direct deposited into your RBC canada account, transfer the money to your RBC USA account online and you are good to go. I think I pay a $4 monthly fee for each of my accounts, but there is not charge for transfers. If you have Weigels stores where you live, they have no fee ATM's so you can withdrawl money without it costing you anything (or do cash back when you are shopping).
The only downside is if you don't live near a RBC USA branch it there could be some issues if you ever need a branch. I have been here for 2 years and have yet needed to go to a branch.

I had one of those greeting cards that play the little song in my folder of evidence and I had to leave that at security. I would be confident in saying that no, kindles are not allowed!

This forum is actually for people immigrating from Canada to the US! You may want to try Road to Canada http://www.roadtocanada.com/forums/index.php and you will get more relavant answers there.
Good Luck

Wow, you have had a lot going on. I hope that your husband will qualify for the transplant and that a suitable donor will be found quickly.