redmen99

That's great! Congrats!!!

Now comes the big move!

My husband and I call it facecrack cause its so addictive.

I was wondering, does the Montreal consulate accept debit or credit cards for the visa fee (our IR-1 interview is Feb 10) or is it a cash only affair?

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but there is no fee at the consulate for an IR-1 as that was included in your fees to the NVC. Only K-1's have a fee at the interview....

Thanks, Red.

Anytime. Hope it helped.

Question for everyone doing EP: Are you taking all orginals + photocopies of documents sent at NVC stage for interview OR only originals since the Consulate already has the scanned documents?

I'm bringing originals of everything I filed and then some. It doesn't hurt to have too much information at your fingertips.

If anyone finds a link online of a good, basic, 'official' lease, can you post it, please?

Mal,

Try this site: http://www.ilrg.com/forms/lease.html It lists all 50 states. I just breezed over it, I didn't really read everything...

You are married...I would go for a CR-1 Spousal Visa. Most posters will agree that the K-3 is almost obsolete due to cost and time....

Having a spouse in the states..I DOUBT you would get a visitors visa or a travel visa...and they are not going to JUST let you in to visit for an extended amount of time...

You can visit while having a CR-1 processing, I did for over a year and really never had any isues until my last trip ..just make sure you bring strong ties to Canada...and be prepared for a lot of questions. NEVER lie to a Customs Officer..they will know!

Yep, ZansGirl pretty much said it all. My husband and I did the CR-1 route. We are now just waiting on our interview on March 1. Our visa journey started in August when we filed the initial papers. We still visit each other. He (Canadian) visits me sometimes for a few weeks at a time since he is unemployed. But he always brings ties to Canada when he crosses the border and when they ask him if he is working he tells the truth and says no but that he is looking. He's only been pulled into secondary once so far (knocks on wood). I go up there when I can. Its just harder for me to get up there because of work.

No matter what way you decide to file, best of luck to you. The people on these boards are very helpful and may I suggest you read the guides and the Wikis as they are great help in the process.

Good luck everyone!

Cold bread is just not good. I keep mine inside my microwave. It keeps it much fresher longer then just being left out on the counter. Plus its one last thing my cats can get into.

Cool. I think we're just going to keep our fingers crossed that we get that in time then. My interview is March 5th and the check box is checked for getting one...so three weeks maximum after that puts me getting it at the end of March. So we should be fine.

And if by some chance you don't get your card by April 15th its easy and I believe free to file an extension to file your taxes and that gives you until August to file them.

Yeah...the testicle inspection wasn't really obtrusive. Very perfunctory. It didn't bother me as much as my mental image of "testicle inspection" bothered me. It wasn't like...yank yank...YANK...grope...paw...maul...YANK... Just a few quick gentle pokes and prods and that was it. Hey, look at it this way: chances are that she'll be the last woman other than yourself to ever touch your hubby's bits!

He's having his medical done in Montreal, so he won't have the same doc... But it would be fun for me if it were a woman doc so I could bust his, um er, yeah.. chops, yeah chops...

Thanks for the review. It was nice to read one from a guy with details. It will give me a basic idea of what to tell the hubby to expect. I'm sure he'll be thrilled...

Hmmm...isn't it only a seven hour drive from Philly to Montreal? Wouldn't it be more worthwhile to drive up?

I have a sick feeling my car won't make it and besides, someone will need to drive his stuff over the border after his approval. I'm staying up there with him to help bring his things here.

I'm looking for cheap fare to Montreal from Philly for my hubby's interview. Low and behold I find it on Amtrak for $83... YAY, that's great!! Then I look at the departure time from 30th Street Station in Philadelphia... 5:52AM. How the heck am I supposed to get there at that time? The first train that takes me down there won't get me there until 6:15. If its on time. The next train leaves at 6:30, but its $155.... I don't want to run the chance that the first train is late and I miss the train all together and I am forced to spend a fortune last minute to get to Montreal. The other option is to take the last train down there the night before and wait 6 hours for my first train making a long trip (over 12 hours on 2 Amtrak trains) even longer! Why oh Why Amtrak must you do this to me???

Ugh...now I'm REALLY confused. Should I be applying for an ITIN then? Or is there a moratorium?

Sorry, didn't mean to confuse you. The link I posted was apparently for something else as Mal said... Its all greek to me!

Wyatt, if your wife is not in a rush to file her taxes, and hoping you are approved at your interview and you move to the US shortly after your approval, she can wait to file her taxes until you get your Social Security number. She may need to file an extension if you don't have it by April 15th, but that is no real big deal...

You could wait until he had his SSN, that's fine.

The link you posted is for someone to be an acceptance agent, not for filing the W7.

Thank you so much Mal! I don't know what it is... This immigration stuff I understood pretty well, but when I look at tax ####### it has 3 heads and I bumble around like an idiot! Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

Just to clarify, he didn't have income in the US, right? If not, you'd only need to get an ITIN to file your own taxes including him on your return.

Wonder why Turbo Tax said that.

Nope, no US income. I wonder, I read somewhere that the IRS is not issuing ITIN numbers until May 1, could I use his SS# once he gets it and still be ok? His interveiw is March 1, and he will be moving here as soon as he gets his passport back.. I could fiile an extension if I need to.

OH here it is, it was on http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,...87,00.html#what

*Moratorium on NEW Acceptance Agents Applications Starting January 1, 2010

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) Program is announcing a moratorium effective January 1st through April 30th, 2010 on all new Forms 13551, Application to Participate in the IRS Acceptance Agent Program.

During the moratorium, the IRS will not accept or process Forms 13551, Application to Participate in the IRS Acceptance Agent Program. Only amendments to existing, approved agreements will be accepted during the moratorium. The ITIN Program will resume accepting applications during the new 2010 Acceptance Agent Open Season, effective May 1 through August 31, 2010.

Or do I just do the W7, Oh I'm so confused! LOL

I am trying to figure out if I should get medical results couriered back to me or drive back up to Toronto and pick them up. Does anyone how long it takes to get them back by courier?

It might be worth the extra trip. Your medical is very close to the interview. Do you really want to chance it? Plus, it generally takes 2 days to get the results back, so that would mean your results could be done by Feb 25 which would only give a courier Friday and Monday to get the package to you for your interview on Tuesday... Heck, if you do it right, pick up the results on Monday in Toronto on your way to Montreal!

Your husband doesn't need to file a 1040NR.

YAY! Thanks Mal!

HALLELUJAH!!! it was just the line.. will only cost about 200 bucks!!!

That's great news! Thank goodness it wasn't something major.

Which side are you supposed to line up on?

I would assume away from the garage door so you don't block it for those that have to get in there. But you know what happens when you assume.....

I don't put peanut butter in the fridge, but everything else I do after it's been opened.

I have never put an opened can in the fridge.

I believe only organic peanut butter needs to be refrigerated. At least that's what my co-workers have in the fridge here....

grr, I just had a great start to my day...

I was driving to work when I noticed the car didn't want to accelerate anymore so I pulled to the side, I figured it was something to do with the transmission and when I got out I noticed a lot of fluid coming from the car... ... then I realized that I had forgotten my cell phone at home... so started to walk and I had only walked a little way when this nice lady stopped and offered to give me a ride to the nearest pay phone... but as I was getting in she noticed that a tow truck had pulled up behind my car so I went back to my car.. it was just a city towing guy (they just tow people off the road) and he offered to call AAA for me.... the tow truck came and towed me to the mechanic and the mechanic drove me home...

then I had to call my boss almost 2 hours after I was supposed to be at work... they had been worried about me..

so anyways now I have to wait and see what is wrong with the car.. hopefully it is only a small problem ...

Marilyn,

So sorry to hear. Did you notice what color the fluid was? That is usually a pretty good indicator of what is wrong. Pink (transmission fluid) and/or Green (antifreeze) its most likely the radiator as both fluids go through there. If it was clear, it might just be the water pump. Yep, I had that happen to me before... right before vacation.... GRRRR

Anyway, I hope its nothing seriously major and that you can reach your goal of getting the bills paid off.

Danielle

So, in looking through my tax return I did on TurboTax, it says my hubby needs to file an 1040NR in the US for last year. Is that right? He's not even living here yet!

Why do taxes have to be so damn confusing????

Congrats lgg! I'm so happy for you!