leonsgal70

Everyone going through this process needs a little laugh...sure beats

Dont be afraid. Never give up. I feel your pain. Ive been there. And yes they might have the power. But dont let that get to you or bring you down. Because you would be giving them the satisfaction and whom believes in them. Be strong and never give up. And dont be hesitant on venting. If you want you can vent to me. im a good listener. not much of a talker it seems it gets me in trouble lol (I gotta learn to deal with my emotions better) good luck and be prepared and calm and collected as many said in here even tho its very hard to do believe me.

We're sorry to hear about your miseries. Hang in their and hopefully things will be ready in due time. Until them, know that with each day you stay apart, it gets easier.
We're sorry to hear about your miseries. Hang in their and hopefully things will be ready in due time. Until them, know that with each day you stay apart, it gets easier.

I've always thought this was a really interesting page - look how few immigrant visas Canada processes!
Immigrant Visas

So, I've managed to sleuth out 7 of us waiting for interviews, some of whom sent back DS-230 as far back as February. So here is a thread for us to hang out while there's nothing better to do. Or vent.
Name...............................I-130 Filed...........................DS-230 Returned............................Interview Date
dawnlinnet .......................Oct 2009..................................Feb 2010
superspur.........................Nov 2009.................................Feb 2010
birdnerd.......................... Jan 2010..................................Mar 2010
Adichiwa......................... Jan 2010..................................Mar 2010
choles..............................Mar 2010 (?).............................Apr 2010
leonsgal70.......................Mar 2010.................................Apr 2010
kimberlyk21....................Mar 2010.................................May 2010
Still to come:
Abike..............................Sept 2009
canok..............................Feb 2010 (?)
Saad & Sumera................Mar 2010
dabigbass.......................May 2010

Where to begin!
I arrived in Montreal Sunday night, after a bit of getting lost I finally found my hotel. I stayed at Le Square Phillips which is an absolutely beautiful hotel. A bit pricey but a great room with a kitchenette. It felt like a little apartment, was very clean and the staff were super friendly. I ate at a little Mexican place on Peel St (about 5 blocks from the Consulate.. a 10 minute walk) called Carlos and Pepes. They had really good guacamole and chicken Fajitas.
I was planning on being up at 6ish so I could be awake, grab Timmies (about a 1 minute walk from the hotel) and get to the consulate, which was only a 5 minute walk away. I woke up before my alarm (5:40 ew) so I was awake and out the door before I expected. Got to the consulate at about 6:15 and lined up on the side with the yellow posts. At around 6:30 I was joined by Tdotgirl who is really nice, and another girl came at about 6:45. Shes not on VJ but she does read it. Dalene was shortly after that. We all stood in line and had a good laugh at the people who lined up on the other side thinking they would get in ahead of us. They looked angry when the security dude told them to go to the end of the line behind all of us.
They opened the doors just shortly after 7:30. You give them your Passport and appointment letter, so have those out. The security guards seemed a little stressed, make sure you just wait for them to give you instructions or you will get a stern talk to like I did (I put the box with my coat on the belt to go through the scanner, apparently you aren’t suppose to do that on your own). They then get you to walk through a metal detector, give you a letter (underneath said letter is the window you will be called to) and get you to walk down the stairs and sit on a chair while you wait for the elevator. They give you the list of things to get ready, but quite a few things they ask for are left off the list. At 7:45 the elevator guard comes down and collects all the people with letters A through E and takes you up to the 19th floor. You go sit at the far end of the room and wait to be called. As I had letter A I was called first, to window 11.
The lady behind the window was very very nice. She has long blonde hair, and a great bubbly personality. She asked for (in order..though most of the order seemed random): My passport, the DS-160, DS-156k and 2 copies of the DS-156, my Birth Cert and copy, copy of my bio page, medical (without the xray), the letter of intent, I-134 and supporting documents, my police check, photos, and my expresspost envelope. I think that was all. Then she gave me a piece of paper to take to the cashier at window 14. This is important so make sure you remember it. You DO NOT have to line up behind everyone else waiting on the right side of the red separator. Stand on the left side of it. You will be called to the window first. Then I went back, gave it to her and sat down to wait for a little bit while she got something ready to take my fingerprints. You do left hand first, all fingers together flat on the screen, then right hand, then your thumbs. After that she sent me back to the waiting room to be called.
I really don’t remember how long it was, not long though, maybe 10-15 minutes? And I got called to room 8, which is in the little hallway (I have encluded a rough sketch of where the rooms are so you have an idea where you are going!) I walked in, and there was Paul Mayer behind the glass. He really is super friendly, really smiley. After I did the oath, he said everything looked great, told me I had to sign something and then it would be pretty much a home run. As others have said he told me he had to ask me a few questions just because. He asked me how we met, when we figured out it was the real deal, when we decided to get married and if I’m planning to work when I move and what I’d like to do. For the proof of support he kind of said something along the lines of “I see you brought a huge attaché with you, is there anything good in there you want me to see?” He said what he really loves asking is for your 1 or 2 favorite photos. I gave him my favourite photo and the birthday card Wes sent me, he gave me both back. He congratulated me on being approved and asked how I felt now. I was so relieved I almost started crying in the booth lol. He told me he had to go through some of the stuff with me on how long the visa lasted for, the time limit to get married, filing AOS. We talked about VJ during the interview too and he assured me like he assured others that they are doing everything in their power to get the backlog of CR1 and K1’s out the door, that part of the problem with the backlog as well as staffing and summer rush is that of visa’s that have number limits on it and the need to crank them out as fast as possible so that other countries don’t steal any of them. He also told me Fridays are K1 only days, so thats why so many people have gotten Friday dates
It was easy and painless like everyone said and I wish I hadn’t freaked out so much. Mr. Mayer did a great job putting me at ease and I’d like to thank everyone at the consulate for making the day nice and smooth.

Well, you and I have almost identical timelines...
We submitted our I-130 form in Calgary on March 19
Got our letter requesting our DS forms and checklist on May 7
Couriered it out today so will keep updating our time line from here.
Good luck!!

Wow, don't these people have real lives where they can meet people and ask, "Hey, what's your name and number?".

click link for commercial

Please pass this onto Everyone you Know:
200,000 gallons a day are currently leaking into the Gulf Coast and more than 400 wildlife species are at risk.
As the oil spill gets to the shore, Coastal Louisiana wetlands are at grave risk.
Last year, activists like you urged President Obama to adopt important new policies to protect Louisiana's endangered wetlands.
Now it is urgent that President Obama take immediate action to support coastal Louisiana wetlands.
TAKE ACTION
The link

Please pass this onto Everyone you Know:
200,000 gallons a day are currently leaking into the Gulf Coast and more than 400 wildlife species are at risk.
As the oil spill gets to the shore, Coastal Louisiana wetlands are at grave risk.
Last year, activists like you urged President Obama to adopt important new policies to protect Louisiana's endangered wetlands.
Now it is urgent that President Obama take immediate action to support coastal Louisiana wetlands.
TAKE ACTION
The link

I live in Arizona and hope other states decide to follow!

Kinda disapointing to see no names on the bottom of that list have any interview dates scheduled. No interviews scheduled in Montreal(Minus Cndwife)
Lets hope those names get dates soon!

HI! BILLY MAYS HERE WITH OXYCLEAN!!!
FWIW, You can be reasonably sure you can see commercials for it on YouTube.

Hi,
Just wanted to let everyone know that VIA is having a 60% off sale if you book by the end of the day on Sunday for travel from now until July 31!
Great opportunity to save on your trip to the MTL or VAN consulate

When I zoomed in closer, I thought I could see a woman standing there holding a rather large envelope. Could that be one of us?

I think its a persons duty to help those that are going after you, as you were helped by those before you. Its kinda like a pay it foreward thing, and when I get a PM saying "thank you, your advice totally helped me out!!" I feel like I have done my good deed for the day!

Help the other "young" VJ'ers....

Told my husband I was thinking of bringing him a tshirt that had our twin granddaughters holding American flags with "Please let Grandpa come home" on it, but figured that wouldn't go over well.

I went casual. Wore capris and my converse top.
I treated it like they were interviewing me because they wanted to add awesome to America.
/:P

grand opening
Good morning, Y !

Hi Coralie. I don't know the answers to all of your questions (I'm not sure if you need to tell Canada that you are leaving), but as for visiting family in Canada, once you have your Green Card in hand, this will not be a problem, and you will not need a visitor's visa. Info found here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp#exemptions

Ok, so as my POE rapidly approaches, all of these random "OMG..WHAT NOW?" moments are popping up. I am a canadian permanent resident (South African citizen). Do I have to let the Canadian government know that I am leaving? And also, does this mean that I will have to apply for a canadian visitors visa when I want to visit my family up here? (At least until I get my citizenship in the states).
Thank you! (Eventually I will cross the border and be out of everyones hair!).

I'll tell you a short story.
There was a girl once, she fell in love with this guy, he told her he loved her, she was sold.
He started off with some slapping on the butt, just enough for it to hurt just a little. She asked him to stop, he slapped her in her face. For the next year the girl was sexually, verbally and physically abused. She got pregnant at some point, he punched her belly till she got a miscarriage. She thought he would change his behaviour. He went to see someone but dropped out because he thought he was too good for it. He stopped hitting the girl for a few weeks then started again. This happened at least 6 times, he promised to stop, he broke it. It eventually ended with the girl halfdead raped in the hospital. The guy got arrested and put to jail (for the rape, abuse and drugsdealing)
Clue of this story? It begins with something small, and it never stops. Once a animal tasted blood it wants it always.... He got turned on off the hitting, the abuse, the cries for help.
Don't let yourself get into a situation like this. Get out before it gets worse, cause it will. Look for help, look for counseling yourself. It helped that girl, and it will help you.
And don't worry, the girl is now happily married, left with memories that her new American husband washes away with just a look in her eyes.

There may be financial reasons that are holding you there with this husband as well as love. Your child is in danger, you are in danger. Had that child not been in your arms you might be dead right now. He has already told you that you have not seen "who he really is" I suspect he really is a monster. He's slammed your head and punched you in the head knowing you had a migraine. Trust me deep down he feels you wont leave. Inside he is positive you won't leave. If you have made any friends in the three years I suggest you leave while he is at work or out with friends never giving him any idea you are leaving don't even talk about it. Be about it. When he leaves pack up at least 2-3 weeks worth of clothes for you and baby, grab some cash so you will be fine. I am suspecting he controls the money though. You are a woman you know how to be sweet to get what you need from your husband. You need just 2-3 weeks to clear your mind and really decide what you need to do. When you are in the situation you are surrounded by him and his needs, wants and feelings. Away from him you can think about you and your baby and your needs. I'm not telling you to divorce....however am telling you to be smart. If he thinks you are not coming back I guarantee he will do anything to get you back and that means going to counseling. If you are serious about the counseling you cant start feeling bad for him when he's begging you to come back. You have to stand firm. Make him to make the counseling session appointment don't come back until you at least attend 1 session. remember Greater is he who is in you that he who is in the world. If God be for you who can be against you. Bye the way he does sound bipolar and may need medication to correct his behavior.
Men treat you how you invite them to treat you. If you can't be strong enough to leave for you....then do it for your child. The next time he decides to hit you while shes in your arms your child could be hit or killed. I worked in juvenile court as an attorney for almost 2 years...many children died in the arms of their mother as father was punching and beating mom and mistakenly hitting child.
Whatever you do.....DO NOT STAY AND KEEP ACCEPTING THIS BEHAVIOR. MAKE A MOVE NOW. I DID..GOT DIVORCED EARLY LAST YEAR FROM A MAN VERY SIMILAR IN BEHAVIOR TO YOUR HUSBAND ESPECIALLY WHEN HE DRANK. NOW THAT MAN HAS A CHILD ON THE WAY WITH ANOTHER WOMAN AND BEATING AND VERBALLY ABUSING HER.
iN THE NAME OF JESUS I COME AGAINST EVERY DEMONIC ASSIGNMENT AND ATTACK ON YOUR LIFE AND THAT OF YOUR CHILD. I PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS ON YOUR LIFE AND YOUR DAUGHTER'S LIFE. NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER IN JESUS NAME. HOLY SPIRIT LEAD THIS WOMAN AND CHILD WHERE YOU WILL HAVE THEM GO. STRENGTHEN HER, ENCOURAGE HER, INCREASE HER FINANCES, MAKE HER TO LOVE HERSELF AND HER CHILD MORE, GIVE HER SUPERNATURAL WISDOM ON HOW TO HANDLE THIS SITUATION. LET YOUR WILL BE DONE IN HER LIFE AND THE LIFE OF HER CHILD IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME I PRAY A HEDGE OF PROTECTION OVER HER AND HER CHILD..SEND YOUR MIGHTIEST ANGELS LORD TO ENCAMP AROUND HER LORD IN JESUS NAME I PRAY AMEN.