kballtex

Nice meeting you EdmontonGirl and wmtc! We got approved shortly after. So relieved they aren't going to make us wait for baby's CRBA! Thank you everyone here at VJ.

congrats!

We just got back to the hotel - in time to use the breakfast vouchers at the Hilton. How about that! Approved... Will write a review soon as I have a moment.

I just checked into the Hilton Bonaventure with the wife and baby. Any idea what their definition of "oversized stroller" is? We've got a pretty standard collapse able unit...

Also its kosher for all three of us to be there right? Any idea about whether we can bring diapers/wipes for inevitable messes?

Yeah thanks everyone! You're right he's 8lbs, 2oz but I can't edit the previous post... Go figure.

I think we're going to take the journey in steps instead of trying to drive it all through.

Can't wait to get them home from the hospital tomorrow.

Hey everybody... just thought I'd share with you all that we had our kiddo a day early! He's ridiculously adorable and should make the interview more of a formality.

Clark Andrew

Born 5:05am 3/7/2010

3lbs, 2oz

Now to plan the drive out east!

Have fun guys! Hope to be right behind ya on the 11th.

Thanks everybody! I was a bit nervous bringing all my mobile office stuff and getting questioned by the border folks but no problems! Now in lovely Sarnia.

Hey cool kids - about to head up north to await the arrival of our little bundle of TexaCan. Hoping we can get him a bit early so to make the 3/11 appointment but its out of our hands! Waiting right now for my flight to DTW.

20 day trip... !!

While what you say is true, these are kind of misconceptions about NYC. We have a great-sized apartment and have a car and drive to a lot of places. Visiting is a lot different than living too. I can't stand being a tourist in NYC and hate taking my visitors around to see the city. Being a local is a different world.

I was just being cheeky actually, I hope I didn't offend anyone and even I don't plan to live in NYC forever. But NYC is definitely full of amazing opportunities, interesting and successful people, more restaurants you could ever dream of and a lot of other special things that other cities just don't have. I actually also love San Francisco, Orlando and Las Vegas for different reasons as well.

I also love the sounds of Austin and work with a lot of people there. Can't wait to visit.

Not at all! Also Austin is great. Don Juan Tacos ftw.

No offense by Texas is no NYC. I'll give up my selection at the grocery store to live in NYC... it's definitely give and take!

NYC is great, I just couldn't handle living in a shoebox and not being able to drive. Plus the wife hates just visiting there (I enjoy it a lot) so living there is out.

Good stuff. I must admit before meeting the wife I knew very little of the North.

You've never been to Texas

Everything is fresh along the lines of meat, produce, poultry, fish, etc.. and it's not pricey at all!

Texas > the world though

Agreed! I'm not biased or anything (born and raised in Texas)

There are pros and cons to both, but I find in general, I experience fewer options up north. That said I think food (real food, meat and veg) is less expensive, at least in Ontario.

Thanks for the pointers - the Toronto consulate (closest one to her) indicates you've got to have a full birth certificate or no dice.

That said maybe they'll have some mercy on us? Not counting on it, so far Montreal has not really been very flexible (read: two attempts to get the pregnancy put into consideration previous to our date getting scheduled).

Yeeesh. I'm now hoping the wife is late a bit so that we don't have to go through this. Takes a month roughly to get a birth certificate in Ontario, was planning on getting the CRBA but our interview is so close to the birth... If they refuse to give us a visa what do they need to do, schedule another interview or can you just mail in confirmation that everything is complete?

March is getting here so quickly! I'm leaving to spend time up north waiting for the baby next Saturday!

Got to see the torch come through Sarnia when I was up that way around Christmas. Pretty neat, but I must admit an urge to start shouting "USA! USA! USA!". If I had done that I might have gotten run out of town, tough crowd, that.

GO TEAM USA!!!

USA!

Sorry - after being up north so much lately I just don't think Team Canada will meet expectations.

I think I'll pass on that on Krikit.

Hi kballtex!

~ Catherine

I'm in between White Rock Lake and downtown. Feel free to PM me.

One option from a US -> Canada perspective is Bank of America. They have an alliance with Scotiabank (and many others) where if I am in Canada and need to get some cash from an ATM, I only pay a 1% conversion fee, no ATM fees whatsoever.

RBC wasn't a great option in my case as they aren't anywhere near here.

Nice to see you back again, Bermy.

Check out the VJ Canaliens map in my siggy!

I'm not Canadian, but I am in Dallas waiting on one.

Figured out how to put a pin on there. Cool.

1,256 miles from Dallas, TX to Sarnia, ON. I must admit I've not had to drive it (yet) but the flight is pretty simple (3hrs).

We met in London, UK - now that was a bit further!

In trying to understand my options for a reschedule I've been trying to reach the NVC by phone, but their system has some extra steps that seem to "screen me out" because I'm not calling related to Haiti. Anyone else having this issue?

Safe travels! Looking forward to seeing more interview reports coming our way.

Booked a room at the Embassy Suites in MTL, was about $161/night with my corporate rate - place has a microwave, fridge, etc. Love suites.

Set up a Car Rental, will be driving from London (can't find a place to rent a car from in Sarnia) to Montreal. Should be an adventure!

Freakin can't wait - I'm a bit nervous about how close our date is to our baby's due date, but don't want to have to wait another 2-3 months to get an appointment.