KnJ

i really want a thread that has all the paperwork and everything and more so that i'm COMPLETELY ready. because at this point i'm scared and anxious and worried and freaked out that i'll miss the ONE THING they're gonna want.

Yes, I want this too.

And I want P4. It better come this week.. like, Monday!

I need to check if I have enough photos. I'm pretty sure I made copies of the ones I sent.

Not like we have many photos in the first place.

Maybe 10 in 6 years?

We're not photogenic people.

We didn't make copies of the ones we sent but I basically have them in a folder and I'm going to print out a sheet of pictures (instead of printing and cutting up like I did last time).

I don't take pictures, really, I don't want to live behind or in front of a camera. However, I've taken a few here and there and it's mainly for the purposes of documentation for immigration. I have 1 photo from 2006 when we first met in Boston.

well i booked my vacations back in april before my fiance even proposed to me. if i wasn't able to change my interview then i would obviously cancel my vacations. but that's good to know that they will prob not be january. i haven't received my packet yet, i just get paranoid but as long as it is after january and before may then i'm good, which it should be. if not, i have done more research and have seen that people are able to change their interviews to specific weeks. thanks for your help!

Um, from what I'm understanding here (and your timeline), if you haven't received Packet 3 (not packet 4, instructions and date for interview)

Then the Packet 3 will arrive when it arrives, and if it arrives when you are away, then it does and you are delayed by a bit. You aren't going to be scheduled for an interview unless you've sent back packet 3. I delayed mine by 2 months. Not only will it take 3+ months from when you get P3 back in to when you'll have an interview date, you won't have a problem going on vacation in Nov/Dec whenever P3 arrives. If you send in P3 a week before you go away, unless it's for 2 months or something, you'll be back before you're issued an interview.

My name is up on the portal under "upcoming interviews"... weeee.

I think I'm ready. Affidavit of Support is ready, ducks are lined up and quacking

Well there are still some photos to print etc. But I'm pretty ready.

J is coming up Nov 1..

I'm not sure if this post has a point.

ETA: I'm sleep deprived.

I would just like to VENT!

This whole process has been emotionally taxing. I don't know how the rest of you feel, but having my life on hold and not knowing what's going to happen is plain stressful.

Now that I have a date...Im just worried about everything going well on judgement day. It's one of those things you've been waiting for months and months and it comes down to that one day...yikes!

Anyways, I just want this waiting period to be over.

How have some of you coped with all this?

I think I'm certifiable at this point

When I find my anxiety and stress levels getting too high (which they have been), I try to do a number of things.

.do something that I can control - like clean something. pack something. something.

.get food - I have a tendency to not eat when I get stressed out

.realize I don't have control - and kind of think about that one. And then, I try to have faith that it'll work out

.realize that spending energy emotionally on something I can't change

........the problem with the interview part is I'm getting real hypervigilant, because I think I CAN make sure 100% that I will get approved. But I can't.

.I get off VJ for a while. I was getting super-stressed this week after finding out how soon my date is, which makes the move impending (because i need to be down there asap for sanity), but there is still uncertainty.... and so I was just obsessively checking threads here, trying to figure out a hotel, etc etc. It was so useful, but unless I take a break, I will take on all the stress on here, and there will be no rest from it. sorry

.figure out something relaxing and fun - so the latest things are crocheting a hat and looking at honeymoon stuff. weeee ski vacation? It's happy.

.exercise. for me it's yoga, but it can be anything physical. That's tomorrow morning.

.J and I will talk about things, and keep grounding each other. Tell each other "I love you" and remind that we are doing a good job of it, and we have hung in there. We are prepared.

.oh, did I already say food?

I have had no case status changes at all - only one update last April, still showing initial review, and I recently received an interview date. Maybe it's specific to my consulate, because it should be showing "testing and interview".. but Montreal has been so slow. So for me it's been pretty useless.

use this form

(USCIS URL)

You do not need to have this form notarized, there is no space for it.

Always look up the form dates on the *government* website. Montreal has sent me basically ALL outdated forms. The only thing I used that they sent me is the checklist in P3. All the other forms, I made sure it was the most recent version.

Thought I'd follow up on this. I met Ellie a couple weeks ago. She's absolutely lovely.

I helped Ellie move out yesterday. She is in a very safe place and absolutely no one but the worker who is helping secure her supports knows (as in, even I don't know, they took her to location different than where I dropped them off). She doesn't know many people, and yes, people she met here through some local cultural groups abandoned her in all of this. Both she and Brad are very very relieved. The people who helped her are amazing. I won't even say who, to protect her. They gave her great advice, and took all of this very seriously.

Brad I hope you stick around and update on your case and what is happening. I know you were so stressed out about all of this. Ellie has really showed how responsible, resourceful, and strong she is, she dealt with this so calmly and effectively.

Take care,

K

my fiance says that the instructions say no, but I thought it says that it does.

As I was explaining to someone yesterday, it's a pretty important and serious commitment. I think about that especially for sponsors who aren't the spouse. The sponsor(s) agree to support the immigrant and the sponsor income(s) will be used in any consideration of benefits like food stamps or welfare. So even if the marriage doesn't last, the people sponsoring are responsible, and any benefits have to be paid back if the immigrant's support means they don't qualify. I can understand why they would want it notarized, but I don't know for sure if that's required.

K

I picked up my medical today - I PASSED!

Has anyone happened to get the appointment letter in the mail yet? That's the last thing we're waiting for now.

Um. how do you know you passed? All that I had access to with the medical documentation is the vaccination certificate, everything else is sealed in an envelope. Or did they tell you that you passed?

I'm wondering actually, and am lazy -- how long is the medical good for? And is it valid from the date of the exam, or from when the package/report was issued? Cause I had it back in August. I read somewhere that the same medical can be used for AOS but it has to be recent enough. Maybe it's a year or something.

Gah I do think I need those nice men with the lovely white bondage coat and padded room.

What did you ask them? If you don't mind sharing.

I replied to an existing email, with the following (and only the case number in the subject line):

Hi,

Is there an interview date for Case Number MTL 2009 XXX XXX K_______ and J_________?

On the waiting list since end of July.

Thanks

That's it. Which is basically the same email I sent previously and also got a response.

Short and simple. I figure, if it's that short, and they've already opened it, how long will it take to look it up?

I got an email from IV today:

Thank you for your email. We will review it and the case file and advise you accordingly. If your question however is already addressed in our FAQ please consider that as our reply.

Regards,

OP5

hahaha caught it coming in on gmail, was considering replying right away, but didn't bother. Are they really thankful for my email? : P

I wonder if I worry too much.

I think our worries are both excessive, and pretty much par for the course. Maybe we all enable each other

I keep panicking that I completely forgot something. Or don't have a copy of something sent in. Or I'm going to be denied because of the full moon waning.

Only thing is J didn't give me the NOA2(or a copy), so I have to get him to dig that up.

I duno Rhiann. I wonder if they look at the P3 at all before they schedule the interview.

I don't remember what I submitted at this point.

I think I'm way overtired and should be sleeping. I can't see straight

in other news:

OMG 14 days til my interview

Not even a week ago, I was figured maaaybe I'd be squeezed in at the begining of Dec and be down just before Christmas. Now the interview is 14 days away. Anticipated POE is Nov 15th. Whoa.

If visa is approved pending the medical, then the visa hasn't been approved yet, since the medical is not completed.

I was asked to provide additional psychiatric-related info for my medical (this is canada). They held my file, I had to get my dr. to submit a letter to the panel physician stating that i have had no history of drug abuse or violence to myself or others.

It sounds like your fiance's medical needs more than that. Also, my medical was completed before my interview, even with a long wait to get back in to see my family doctor.

Advice on seeking psychiatric consult is region-specific. In my case, it was because I have had some common psych stuff, but had a hospitalization and am on a medication that some people abuse (though I do not).

Not sure if any of this helps. Good luck.

I'm interviewing in 2 weeks and I have an issue that could come up, but might not, and I have evidence to address it if it does come up. However, do I have to give over all my supporting documents not specified on the list? If I give this document to them if the issue doesn't come up, it is basically irrelevant.

So my question in a nutshell: can I keep a folder of documents with me, and pull out a piece of evidence only if it is relevant to a question I'm asked?

Sure you can. Keep in mind that decisions about visas are usually made before the interview takes place and by the time of the interview it may be too late. You may end up with a 221g and notice to return for a second interview. You do not detail the issue (your choice) but withholding something can backfire on you. whether they will allow you to submit additional documentation at the time of the interview is up to them.

Hmm. That's a really interesting point about the decision taking place before the interview. This makes it seem kind of futile, but worth taking evidence in case. Thanks.

Good job, Ashen!

Wow I feel bad. I only waited 43 days compared to some people who waited 100+

You are lucky, babe : ) It's all good, as I'm lookin from over here. I'm thinking wow! Think of all those people not on VJ... they scheduled a LOT of interviews for November.

The stat ashen put in the spreadsheet I think is more helpful than "Days from NOA2 to Interview" ... because in cases like mine where there is a 2 month gap between receiving P3 and sending it back, I'm skewing the numbers higher. 102 days is more accurate for me than 162+.

PS if you need a calculator for the date: http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html

I was in a similar situation, broke up soon after NOA2 and I got P3. Visited, broke up. After that, I did nothing - didn't cancel, even though we'd discussed doing so. You can see from my timeline that it took 2 months to send P3 back to the consulate. It needed time. I visited the US and we got back together. I submitted P3 shortly after that. It is probably worth not 'undoing' anything quite yet.

Agree with other posters, you need to talk, you need time to think. Not clear on who is the USC.. he is? Every situation is different, but I really felt like reacting too quickly and backing out of the visa process might mean we have to be long distance even longer as we started the process again. It took some faith.

K guys.... I decided to go pyscho tonight. Here we go.

Montreal November Interviews Spreadsheet

You should be able to edit it as well (just add yourself.. don't go crazy. lol).

You. Are. Awesome.

Aha, and the NEXT thing. I believe no food is allowed across. But I have cats. Cats need to eat, and cats can sometimes not handle food changes well. My cats are on a special diet. It would be lovely if they didn't confiscate my $100 worth of cat food tins.

Directly from the USCIS site:

"All pet foods made in Canada are PROHIBITED. Pet foods in original packaging clearly labelled "Product of U.S.A." or "Made in the U.S.A." are enterable"

I know some cats can have very sensitive stomachs when it comes to switching food. Maybe you could order some from the States and start switching over now so by the time you move they're used to it and ready to go. Just a thought. What kind of food are they on now?

Thanks for reminding me of that joe_robin, I'd read that before, but forgot the part about the import thing.

OK. So this food is Medi-Cal brand, which is Canadian. But -- the label says (albeit in small print) Imported by Medi-cal (Guelph address)... Made for Royal Canin Pet Food Company by Mars Petcare USA. Something like that. It doesn't say "Product of U.S.A." or "Made in the U.S.A." but I think it's saying it's made in the USA and imported to Canada.

Oh, the details.

Hm... I'll have to get a bit more specific, then. Mine is looking along the lines of:

PACKING INVENTORY

Container #--------Item---------------------------------Quantity-----------Serial Number

-------#-------------Acer Aspire 6920-6428 Laptop--------1----------------#####

-------#-------------Curtis Portable DVD Player------------1---------------#####

But I was only getting that specific with electronics... things I thought they might cause a fuss over. I was just going to lump my movies/books into medium-sized tote containers and label the outside to correspond with my inventory list. (Of course, as per my fiance's request, I have to do my book containers with half books/half clothes, to make life easier on him, haha. I do have a LOT of hard covers.)

I suppose it is a good idea to label each item in there, though, making them less likely to open the containers. I was hoping to not list each cable/computer accessory I had, as THAT may raise a few eyebrows... ah well.

Yeah I concur with LilMermaid, that it does get too much at some point. Last time I moved (15 min away lol) I knew I would be keeping some boxes packed so I wrote down a pretty detailed contents list. It was so useless.

Aha, and the NEXT thing. I believe no food is allowed across. But I have cats. Cats need to eat, and cats can sometimes not handle food changes well. My cats are on a special diet. It would be lovely if they didn't confiscate my $100 worth of cat food tins.

I'm still a ways away from actually packing up, but my PLAN is to number each box, then have a running list that corresponds to each number. For my many, many book boxes, I'm not planning on getting into specifics. Then again, I only have one of the books on KnJ's list, so I should be fine.

For other boxes, I'll probably itemize them a bit more...but only three or four comments per number / box, I'm sure.

This system should help both the border guards, and ME when I go to start unpacking.

I hadn't thought about valuing though. Hmm...

Hahaha that's not even the most radical of them. Other titles include "Bisexuality" (an academic tome), "####### Carnival" (hahaha yes.), "Homosexual Desire" (a kind of freudian analysis -- this is the best. and not in most bookstores).. I took Anthro and Communication studies, and focused a lot on identity. So I have a really awesome collection of books. Huzzah.

I duno if the valuing is overkill. I've read quite a few people's accounts of POE that they only glanced at, or didn't even bother with the household and personal effects in the UHaul.

eta - i have a whole box of stuff that's yoga related -- oooh which reminds me. I saw a thing on that CBP faq about US Resident bringing back professional goods/tools of trade.

I'm a yoga teacher and someone donated 10 mats to me to run classes for charity. I have them in my possession, and want to bring them. Would I have a problem? Some of them are really new. They're unwrapped, but not unrolled... Yeep. I would feel bad selling them and making money off a gift.

Ack, you valued everything too? Haha, so much for me thinking I was being paranoid by simply listing things...

I have so many books and movies. What did you base the value on, cover price?

actually those prices were coming out of my a$$ I didn't list values on my books and CDs

basically, most people over-value what their ####### is worth. I think about what I might pay to buy a book at a used book store or yard sale, and aim halfway between. I duno what the actual rule is. For insurance, what it would cost to replace that item.

And so actually, it's a great way to make choices about what to take. Those plates I have, I paid $25 for the whole shebang at a garage sale, but is heavy and unweildy? Nope, not coming with. The big heavy rock I picked up in Thunder Bay with beautiful amethyst all over it? Yup, coming with.

*shrug*

So yeah. The valuing, I'm not sure about. My strategy is this: I will list every single thing that is going in a box if the box has assorted items in it. I am being very descriptive. That way, I won't have to unpack if later on/last minute I figure out I have to value everything. I think valuing everything isn't necessary, but I could be wrong. But repacking just to re-do the inventory would be horrible.

But listing each tshirt in the box, with a description and value... is getting into OCD-land. And I know from second-hand experience, it's not fun.

For those of you traveling with your things across the border, how precise are you being with your packing inventories?

I'm listing everything. I taped closed my books and CDs without listing each item in them though. Not sure about this. Not sure if I should eliminate any questionable literature from my collection...?

but if it's a box of miscellaneous things, I listed each thing. I've seen some people's lists on here, where they have itemized each thing and the value of the goods.

Death in Venice by Thomas Mann - 0.50

Manufacturing Consent by Noam Chomsky - 1.00

Virtually Normal (an argument for gay marriage) by Andrew Sullivan - 0.50

Notes on Underground by Dostoyevsky - 0.50

History of Sexuality Vol I, II & III - 2.00

....

Ok I have a lot of ** literature.