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Hi folks - I'm driving my stuff next weekend to NJ - I have already activated my CR1 visa a few months back. Do I need to have any forms for the border with me? I would appreciate your response!

Congrats Jonesg111 - that's awesome!

We moved to NJ from NY in July 09 but I didn't need to drive until now. I would like to avoid doing the road test if possible and just use my UK license and do the knowledge/vision tests...anybody have experience with this?

Do they ask how long you've been a NJ resident? Is it likely they could even verify if I said we just moved here a month ago?

No sure about UK license, it is likely the same procedure as is for Canadian. I had to give knowledge and vision test - no road test.

They do not as how long have you been in NY.

Does anyone have experience with getting a NJ DL after moving on immigrant visa? Do you have to take the knowledge/driving test to swap DLs?

Thanks in advance...

it seems as people who are getting double denied are the ones with petitioner in Canada with visitor or PR status. As you know the PR card requires you to stay in Canada for 2 years every 5 years so there is a potential conflict with US immigration at the same time. It may be prudent for petitioners to move back to ensure domicile in these cases...my 2 cents. Other explanation could be just the different CO who is more strict than others...if it happens to be the same CO in all the cases here.

Got my visa today - Days in AP just under 90...

Feisal - please update.

Good Luck all!

Congratulations INK! Time to run to the border EH ..

Drive to the border is more like it - but thanks EH

Got my visa today - Days in AP just under 90...

Feisal - please update.

Good Luck all!

Hey Jones - I received my visa today - just when I thought it was going to be a long time bang there it was in the mail...

Darlene - Did the CO give you a sheet that explains domicile? The CO at my interview was a woman and she was very nice and professional. She highlighted the exact rules of domicile in the sheet as well as the part that explains what they want you to provide. Did your CO do that? I think the other CO seems to bring his personal blend into this grey area...

We are in very similar situation except for the fact that my wife is a dual citizen. I have also worked extensively in the US on L1A and TN visas and am also doing well in canada, but yet we have decided to move to the US. I do not think any of this is relevant.

Hi Ink, yes they did give a sheet on how a petitioner can re-establish domicile in the U.S. I do have a residence there and other things, but it boiled down to him wanting me to turn in my Canadian PR card and/or getting a job in the U.S. because he didn't feel that the others were enough. The sheet does list some stuff, but in the end, it says the determination is up to the CO. Did you resolve your residency issue yet? If so, what did you decide to do?

Amazing timing - I received my visa today - was so not expecting it So there is hope...

I provided them with lease agreement with wife's parents, job offer, school registration for daughter, and house sales listing in canada.

Darlene - Did the CO give you a sheet that explains domicile? The CO at my interview was a woman and she was very nice and professional. She highlighted the exact rules of domicile in the sheet as well as the part that explains what they want you to provide. Did your CO do that? I think the other CO seems to bring his personal blend into this grey area...

We are in very similar situation except for the fact that my wife is a dual citizen. I have also worked extensively in the US on L1A and TN visas and am also doing well in canada, but yet we have decided to move to the US. I do not think any of this is relevant.

BTW I can send you the sheet they gave me - just send me a personal message with email.

Darlene - Did the CO give you a sheet that explains domicile? The CO at my interview was a woman and she was very nice and professional. She highlighted the exact rules of domicile in the sheet as well as the part that explains what they want you to provide. Did your CO do that? I think the other CO seems to bring his personal blend into this grey area...

We are in very similar situation except for the fact that my wife is a dual citizen. I have also worked extensively in the US on L1A and TN visas and am also doing well in canada, but yet we have decided to move to the US. I do not think any of this is relevant.

Sorry to hear - I don't think that you've been provided correct information about having to move back and re-establish domicile. We were denied for lack of domicile, but the CO was very clear about my wife not having to move back to US. This is becoming very common in Montreal and has happend to a number of people lately such as Avery, Jones11, stc. The CO gave us an information sheet that specifically stated that you do not have to move back - you just have to prove intent to establish domicile and things to provide such as lease papers, school registration, job offer, and evidence to relinquish residence in canada. The only thing difference in your case is that you are a PR and my wife is a dual citizen, but I do not see this requiring you yo move to US...I would suggest that you look into this more before picking up and move.

Ok so it is the domicile question that you are concerned about, and rightfully so - it's an important issue when filing DCF. I did answer your question in one of your other posts but it seems to me that you feel that you don't have any of the items that people have listed that they used to prove domicile so you are just looking for more ideas?

First of all, instead of thinking of all the things you don't have, it's a good idea to start thinking about all the things you do have or can have.

I have some questions for you:

- So you don't/can't have a lease from your Aunt, so when the two of you arrive in the U.S., you get off the plane in NY - where are you going?

NO, WE COULD GET A LEASE FROM HIS AUNT BUT WE DO NOT WANT TO LIVE IN CHICAGO. WE WANT TO LIVE IN NY. IDEALLY WE WOULD MOVE AT THE SAME TIME TO NY.

- You mention that your Husband is a dual citizen - has he ever lived in the U.S.? Does he have a U.S. Social Security Number?

HE HAS NOT LIVED IN THE US BEFORE. HE WAS BORN IN CANADA. HE HAS A SSN.

- Has your Husband filed his U.S. tax returns while living in Canada?

YES HE HAS DONE THAT THIS YEAR. WE HAVE THEM WITH US.

- Remember that you are trying to prove 'reestablishing domicile'. Have you looked for work at all? A place to live? Do you have a quote from a mover?

WE DO NOT LOOK FOR A JOB BEFORE WE KNOW WHEN WE COULD GET THE GREEN CARD. BECAUSE IDEALLY WE WANT TO MOVE AT THE SAME TIME.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO TAKE 6 MONTHS MINIMUM OR MORE, THEN IT IS TOO EARLY TO LOOK FOR A JOB NOW.

IT IS THE SAME REASON FOR NOT HAVING LOOKED FOR A PLACE.

THE QUOTE FOR A MOVER SEEMS EASY TO GET AS I READ ON THE FORUM. BUT IT IS TOO ERALY TO DO IT, ISN'T IT?

thx!

Driving license and bank account will not help you with proving the 'intent' to re-establish domicile and neither can a lawyer. we had to provide proof for domicile and were given a letter in out interview that explained what really counts as evidence. This includes things like lease agreement, job offer, school registration, and evidence to relinquish residence in canada such lease expiration notice or house sales listing. If you can get couple of these items the I would say you should be fine. Remember it is the intent you are trying to prove so getting some of thjis is not entirely impossible...

I posted this on another thread but its now been three emails and two weeks to try and find out what is happening. So far no response of any kind, any advice?

Same happened to me - I got my wife (USC) to write instead and she gets responses most of the times...

Its almost 90 days m still stuck in AP - this sux bad

Sorry to hear Feisal...

Update on my file, called DOS on Monday AP completed and final processing underway. They already have my passport so should get it soon. keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully you'll be done very soon based on timeline...

My wife and kids are leaving for the US while I wait for the IR-1 visa. They will be without medical insurance until I get there and officially transfer internally to the US organization of my company, at which point they'll have insurance via my employer. My question is what is the best way to get them covered during the transitional period (~2 months)? I have been looking into Bluecross and they offer coverage for about $325 for my wife and two kids...anyone has experience with this?

Are you looking for catastrophic insurance or insurance to cover routine procedures/visits?

I would say mostly emergencies - we are not too concerned about regular visits as we have quite a few MDs in family in the area there...

My wife and kids are leaving for the US while I wait for the IR-1 visa. They will be without medical insurance until I get there and officially transfer internally to the US organization of my company, at which point they'll have insurance via my employer. My question is what is the best way to get them covered during the transitional period (~2 months)? I have been looking into Bluecross and they offer coverage for about $325 for my wife and two kids...anyone has experience with this?

Wednesday will be week four. They expect us to give up our home (which we did) and our jobs (which we did) - establish a domicile in the US (which we did). I just wish they would hurry up. It's extremely taxing to be trying to live off what little you have left of your savings to actually MOVE down there. =(

We sent in an email about address change yesterday since our house is closing soon. In reply, they said that my file is currently being reviewed for visa issuance...sounds like good news is near.

Congrats Marm!

FEISAL, Can you please add me to your tracker. I'm a Canadian citizen originally for Pakistan and had my CR-1 interview in Montreal on Aug 11 and find myself in AP as well - just found out today after calling DOS (Thanks to Marm!) since enbassy won't tell me about AP officially. They have my passport since just after the interview as I was asked to send in evidence of domicile that has been approved so only step to go is AP...hopefully a small one.

Good luck all!

Called DOS this AM and indeed this is where my case is in AP since the interview on August 11. anyone been throught this before out of Montreal lately?

Takes them quite a while to respond from what I have seen. INK hasn't posted in a while but in October she had still been waiting 9 weeks.

Yea I've talked with him a few times and still no response.

It appears that I might be in some sort of AP - they have responded a couple of times to my wife and said that their 'admin work' is not yet complete. I'm think it may be a name check of some sort since I have a very common pakistani last name though I have lived in Canada for last 20 years...

I've been told from another VJer that I can call DOS to find out if that is the case.

we'll see what is it all about...

Avery also sent her stuff in October so she might be able to tell us about timing.

I did get an acknowledgement that it was received and will be reviewed and some emails since mostly in response to miscommunication from consulate.

1133 days later, that's 3 years, 1 month and 8 days and leaving soon

Good news to everyone dealing with Montreal I'm out of there, it took an extra 43 days but now we're done. Reply e-mail from Montreal's OP5 to my early morning question, "it was mailed Friday".

See you in OAS if you haven't been through yet

Ron

Congrats Ron! They should give you a free pass on the AOS given the time you waited. Do keep up in your prayers now...I don't know if anything else will work at this point.

Nope - they said that thye sent email in error. we are still waiting 9 weeks in. There is another member waiting for 7 weeks now. No idea what is going on but it seems like there are significant delays

Just a word of caution, don't get your hopes up on this getting done in 4 weeks. Backlog in Montreal has resulted in significant delay in this process as well - this is 9 weeks waiting for us and another member is at 7 weeks now...sorry to be the bearer of the bad news but good luck!