JaJo08

Got our card new 10yr card in the mail today! Guess that's it for now til the citizenship process, lol.

Take care and thanks and best to everyone!

Just wanted to update that we were approved on 8/8/12, so just waiting for the new card!

Process was pretty painless, no RFE's from the very beginning with the CR1 and all the way through to the IR1. Took about 6 months and we submitted the bare bones for evidence. Joint bank accounts, tax returns, and Drivers licenses with same address. Other than that, we just did the required paperwork.

Good luck to all!

Got the NOA 1 and biometrics appt today!

NOA 1 dated 2/13/2012

Biometrics scheduled for 3/14/2012

Just sent ours in yesterday 2/10 via certified mail to California! Hopefully it'll be quick and easy. Good luck to all.

My wife and I drove over the border on May 8th and now her father will be driving her goods down next month.

We are filling out the form 3299 which is what I was told we needed her father to bring with him and her goods when he crosses the border.

http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/cbp_form_3299.pdf

My understanding is we need to give him the forms as well as a copy of her visa and I-551 stamped in her passport and that should be all he needs.

The form is a bit misleading compared to the other forms so I wanted to make sure we fill this out correctly for her father as we don't want him getting hung up at the border.

Part I.

#6-I assume since we drove over the border (as opposed to arriving by air) we just put "via personal vehicle"

#7-since she crossed the border with me, then would we put my name in there?

#8- A, B, and C? is this for this entry? I'm assuming this would be if we had imported these goods before so we would leave this blank?

Part II.

#10- Do we check both A1 and C1? Is she considered a 'non-resident' or a 'resident' by this form?

Part IV.

A, B, and C

Again here, do we check A1 and B8 I assume?

D is the list, we are good here.

That's it for now, hopefully this isn't too complicated....and as always really appreciate the help!

I usually cross L/Q unless there's ridonkulous traffic. As I have to drive east from Buffalo, the Peace Bridge is out of the way, and there's discount gasoline at Smoking Joes about 5 miles down NY-31 just this side of the L/Q that I usually stop at.

Yvonne bought a 2009 LTZ -- lots of tricks and features in it; she did a good job picking it out.

I'm slightly confused on all this now. So my wife and I are going to do our POE tomorrow afternoon, but we are only bringing her car and the stuff she can fit in her car. So for this crossing do we not need to fill out any forms for the goods she is bringing now? She went ahead and filled out the 3299 form for when her dad is going to be bringing all her stuff down in a few months, but there is no form then for when we cross tomorrow?

thanks and sorry for the confusion.

When you crossed the border with all your stuff, how detailed was your customs form? Did you inventory every single box and item? Or was it more general such as 1 box of clothes, 2 boxes kitchenware, 1 box office supplies? Just curious what others did.

thanks!

Thanks for all the responses! Yes, we are in Denver and my buddy just confirmed for me that he gets everyone's mail at his address, even people who haven't lived there for 8 years.

The ball doesnt start rolling until your POE!! Normally takes around a month to get the actual greencard in the mail, until then yes, the stamp in ur passport works as the greencard, its good for 1 yr! Many times you know the greencard is on its way when you get a "Welcoem to the USA letter" in the mail, many get multiples of that letter. And I believe you can check online on its status

SSN. Yes by theory it should arrive in th mail if you checked it off on that form, BUT quite often,it doesnt! One has to wait approx 10-14 BUSINESS days to go and check on its status. If you go too soon, you won't be in the system yet. I strongly recommend you download a form, fil lit out and take it with you when you goto the SSN office, thus when they say, one hasn't been issued to you, you simply hand over the already filled out form! Ensure u bring ur passport and birth cert! Mine arrived in the mail 1 week later

Thanks for the response, but the expiration date is not 1 year later, but 6 months for the temp one as shown in the passport. As far as putting my friends address down with his name, that shouldn't be a problem correct?

We completed our interview on 4/15 and passed and my wife received her passport back with the 6 month temp visa glued inside just a week later. My question is, how long does it typically take to get the 2 year CR green card in the mail? On the DS230 I put down a good friend's name and address for the green card to be mailed and I'm hoping that's not a problem. I did so because I wasn't sure where we'd be living in the coming months as my wife and I are going to moving since my place is too small to accomodate the two of us. I assume they will address the CR1 card to my friend since it was his name and address I listed and hopefully not to my wife since she does not reside there. Does it typically arrive fairly soon after the interview?

The reason I'm curious about all this is that my wife will start applying for jobs once we get to the states and when they ask for her green card, will it be sufficient to just show the temporary one in the meantime? I'm guessing they'll also want to see her social security card as well which even though we checked the box to have one mailed to us, I was told it may be quicker to just go down to the social security office in my city and get her one there. Again though, will they want to see the permanent green card or will the temp one suffice?

thanks for the help!

Jason

We received the visa today! It actually beat us back to Edmonton as we spent the weekend in Ottawa with my wife's friend after our interview on Thursday. I can't believe it when it came this morning! So excited!

Thank you for all the congrats and again I can't say enough how helpful these forums have been for getting through this process. Anytime I was unsure of anything, I just asked here and always received the correct answer. I feel the main reason our case was so fast was due mostly to these boards with all the kind and knowledgeable people and my meticulous nature of course . Everything we sent in was always clear, complete and tip-top.

To answer some of the questions, the weather in Montreal was pretty nice. About 15 most days, but a bit chilly on our last day as it was 9.

Zenaxe-

I brought the original paystubs that I had sent with the original I864EZ submission which were six months worth from the date I sent it in. I also brought all paystubs since 1/1/2010 just as an added plus even though I had my 2009 W2 and full tax return as well. I did not bring any more from the gap between when I sent the I864EZ and the new year. I didn't have any other financial docs since I solely used my income from my employer as the support. Hope this helps.

Good to luck to everyone.

So we had our interview yesterday morning in Montreal. We were first in line at 6:45am and received the sacred letter "A" upon entry at 7:30. Security, instruction sheet, taken downstairs to little waiting room for about 10 minutes. Guard comes down from elevator, takes us all up to 19th floor with great views. Waited another 10 minutes, called back to window 10. Had everything ready and gave the following to very nice lady in no set order.

• Original DS230
  
• Original + copy of Marriage certificate
  
• Original + copy of Birth Certificate
  
• Original Police Certificate
  
• Original I864 + financial docs. (I included 2009 tax returns and pay stubs since 1/1/2010)
  
• Sealed Medical Results
  
• 2 Passport photos
  
• Xpress post envelope
  

She thanked us for being so organized and ready too.

Sat back down for 10 minutes, lots of people started shuffling in for the non immigrant side. There were only maybe 6 other couples on our side waiting for immigrant visas.

Called back again for finger prints to same window, same lady. Sat back down.

Waited about 20 minutes and called to room 8. Opened door, very nice lady with longer hair, probably mid 40's. She was very chatty and smiley. Asked us how we met, when we got married, what I (USC) did, what my wife did, and does she plan to do this in the states. Then said she hoped we had brought the police certificate for S. Korea to which we said it's a country we do not have reciprocity with and therefore we were unable to obtain it and that the interview docs specifically stated that we didn't need to bring it. I also had emailed Montreal months prior asking if we needed it and had the return email from one of their employees stating we didn't need it. She was polite (we didn't panic as we knew we were correct) and said let me check here and looked in her computer and then said, yes, you are correct and we don't need it. Then said, well everything looks in order here so I'd like to welcome you to the United States. Said visa will be in mail within two weeks and we left. Had tons of pictures, phone records, plane stubs, etc., but never asked to see any of that. She also mentioned our case was one of the fastest she had ever seen as we mailed the I-130 Aug 24th of 2009 and were done with no RFE's by 1/13/10 and we did EP (electronic processing) too.

Walked out and was back at the hotel by 8:45 am, no joke. The actual interview was maybe 5 minutes total.

I would have written a review of the medical too which we did on Monday 4/12 at Dr. Seidens on L'assomption blvd, but that was really uneventful. We were there for maybe 2 hours most of which was waiting and then wife was called back twice. Once for questions and x-rays, second time for blood. Doc was pretty boring she said, poked her a couple times, went down a list of questions ultra fast and marked "no" for everything before she could even answer and then said "you are very healthy young woman". Picked up results on Wednesday afternoon. Stayed at the Hotel Dauphin which was superb in location, comfort, and service.

Just glad to be done. For all the exhaustion and work this was, the end was very uneventful, but Montreal was very beautiful and we saw many things including the Tiffany Glass exhibit at the fine art museum which was well worth it. Anyways, we couldn't have done this so easily if it wasn't for this forum and I thank everyone here with all my heart and wish everyone the best on their visa journey's and lives. Namaste. Thank you!

Jason

Thanks TM!

My wife and I have now changed our plans for her move down here and have another question. The plan is to just drive down in her car with the two of us and what can fit in her car.

Her dad has now offered to tow down a Uhaul trailer at a later date with all her stuff in it. Probably within the next 2 months. I'm curious what needs to be done for this if anything at all? My understanding is that when my wife first lands at the border crossing that she can bring in all her goods and it's exempt from any duties, is this correct? If her dad brings them at a later date will they still be exempt? or is there a time period that they are still exempt? What do we need to give her dad to allow him to bring all her stuff down in the Uhaul? A declaration form and a note?

thanks Trailmix, you're always so helpful!

As I'm getting ready to gather my final documents here for our interview in Montreal, I want to make sure I have everything that is required. I submitted the I-864EZ as I solely used my income for the support. When I submitted the package as we did EP, I submitted a copy of my 2008 federal tax returns as well as the last 6 months worth of paystubs. At the interview what exactly is required? A copy of the 2008 federal tax returns and how many pay stubs do I need to bring? I can bring my W2 from 2009 as well as my 2009 federal return as it is now done too. Do these need to be originals or are copies okay?

thanks so much!

Anyone?

As I'm getting ready to gather my final documents here for our interview in Montreal, I want to make sure I have everything that is required. I submitted the I-864EZ as I solely used my income for the support. When I submitted the package as we did EP, I submitted a copy of my 2008 federal tax returns as well as the last 6 months worth of paystubs. At the interview what exactly is required? A copy of the 2008 federal tax returns and how many pay stubs do I need to bring? I can bring my W2 from 2009 as well as my 2009 federal return as it is now done too. Do these need to be originals or are copies okay?

thanks so much!

Sounds good! I assume then when she flies back up though to get her car, that this won't be a problem, or do we need to bring it with her when we cross that first time?

Okay, so in exploring our moving options (Edmonton to Denver), we've come to the conclusion that wife cannot downsize(she's getting some antique pieces from her mom) and we don't want to spend 2K on Uhaul truck. ABF upack was still around $1400 on nonpeak day for terminal to terminal move too and that's only for 6 linear feet of space.

So was wondering about this option. If my wife's dad (or one of her other family members or friends) lent his big truck to us and we used that to tow the biggest Uhaul trailer possible down (6'X12') I think this would work, this trailer only costs about $400. Her car couldn't tow the trailer as its only 150hp but I did consider it! Question is, is this possible? Can we bring a borrowed vehicle across the border when first landing in the US with her? The thought is, then my wifes dad or whomever lent us the vehicle would fly down a short time after and get it once we got here and then drive it back to Canada. Then she would fly back home in the next six months sometime and drive her car down across the border at a later date or perhaps we would bring it with us the first time maybe? I'm just curious about the whole "borrowed" vehicle thing that isn't intending to stay in the states. Is this mad? Is this even possible? What do we need in order to do so? I just feel so cheated by the moving companies having to pay those outrageous amounts!

thanks again!

Thanks for all the responses. I think the trailer may be the way to go. I just check the ABF site and called to get a quote and for 6 linear feet it costs $1750 from Edmonton to Denver or $1850 for 8 linear feet, so we are back near the 2 grand range going that way. Not sure why it's only $850 to salt lake from Edmonton when Denver isn't that much further. Renting a Uhaul here and taking it all the way there is just as much as it's by the mile and I can't find a place locally that does "no mileage". At .79/mile, and 1,400 miles each way, I'm back to exactly $2,000. Thanks again, time to downsize.....

Okay, so we are looking at trailers/trucks now for the move down to most likely take place in late April. We have our interview 4/15 and so are getting the truck rented to haul the wifes car and goods down.

So far, every place we have checked is a minimum of $2000 to go from Edmonton to Denver, Colorado. That seems outrageous to me that to rent a small truck and a trailer to pull the car costs that much! When I moved my stuff from Denver to Los Angeles a few years ago a Uhaul was onlyl $350 and then I had to pay for the gas of course, but 2 grand?? I feel like we could buy a small truck for that much and then sell it when we get here. Curious what other people did and if you found a cheaper alternative?

Also, on another note just to confirm that to bring the car over, all we needed was the letter from the manufacturer stating that it was suitable for the US correct? I forget the term, but we did obtain the letter from the car manufacturer, but that's all we needed right?

thanks again for all your help everyone!

Help me decide between two hotels: Sofitel vs Square Phillips. Prices are about the same...difference is negligible.

Sofitel Golden Mile

- 4-star

- internet surcharge

- fluffy down quilts & bed

- modern small room

- marble bathroom

- ranks #18 on tripadvisor

Square Phillips

- 3-star

- complimentary continental breakfast

- free wi-fi

- big rooms (suites in fact) with kitchen

- hard beds

- ranks #3 on tripadvisor

Anyone who been there have any reviews?

Wow, the W Hotel right on Victoria Square is running a great deal for those of you staying longer in April. We are going 4/11-4/15 and it's a rate at $116/night or basically stay 3 nights get the 4th free on hotels.com. I was going to book the Dauphin based on everything here, but the difference was only $8/night so why not?

Yay!! Just got our interview letter in the email today!!

April 15th, exactly 3 months after our case was completed.

1. Not sure what the real cost is, but she can't do it herself - the company has to sponsor her. (20K seems a lot to me too)

2. No - she will need to be an LPR before she can apply for USC, and then, only after she has spent the required time in the US as an LPR. (the time here as a h-1b does not count toward USC)

This is the start for this process.

From what I have read - she is in for a long wait...

Thanks for the response, so she can't even apply for a green card or LPR at this point on her own, even after living here for 10 years? Only the employer can do that for her?