MtlMama

I just started an antidepressant that is working great, and I'm wondering if an existing prescription can be transferred from a Canadian pharmacy to a US pharmacy. Our POE is next month.

Thanks, K

WOOHOO SHAUN!!! Sushi celebration when you get here!

YEAH!!!

*bump*

Since Wyatt was probably their "A" person, I'm sure he's just now waiting or even finishing the interview part of everything...

Does anyone know what the "A" signifies? We were "A" people, but it still took forever and I don't think we were out until noon (if memory serves, which it sometimes doesn't).

K

Our XpressPost Visa packet has been accepted at the post office today (yay), I'm curious how long do you think it'll take to get to the Niagara Region? The CO said it could come by Friday but he doubts it. We are doing regional and CPosts website said it can be next day or 2nd day. Well it was accepted today, I'm banking on Monday, but has anyone been in a situation where it was sent from Montreal and made it even farther in a short amount of time?

Also,

The CO said when we POE to make it count, he said to have at least something showing our address and or accounts or something. He also mentioned getting advanced parole so my wife could travel back and forth until the actual green card comes, what's he talking about, the stamped passport acts as the green card.

I'm still at my parents address, the only ties my wife has to US right now is she has bank accounts with Bank of America..and me. I want to POE ASAP, just to get it out of the way and to start the processing of stuff so we get SSN, green card, etc sooner, rather than later.

I was hoping to do it this Saturday if we got it tomorrow...if we did, we wouldn't be turning right around, we have a party to go to, but if we don't get it, shes not going to that party in the states. We'd just be coming back into Canada later that night then sitting and waiting until our house and closing goes through, THEN we'd come over withi the Uhaul...

what do you all think?

Thanks.

I'm a bit confused about what they meant by "make it count" at POE. I understood that all the domicile proof we sent (US address, accounts, etc.) would be contained in "THE ENVELOPE" that we present at POE. ??

The only person I know of that has done this, recently, is simstar - and she hasn't posted in a long time.

Technically you can do this. I don't know if I would do it tomorrow if I were you. You are supposed to be taking up residence in the U.S. - if you use your visa and then go to another country for 4 months, that might be frowned upon.

That is just my opinion though!

I read Simistar's post on activating at Peace Arch and it sounded pretty nerve-wracking.

I was also considering activating and returning to finish up, but now I think I'll just do activation with POE and save myself further stress.

Let me know what you do, I'll be curious to see how it goes.

I decided to step things up a notch and I'm cutting out any white/refined grain and sugar in general.

From now on I'm only going to eat whole grain pasta, brown rice, whole wheat breads and I've cut out every beverage except coffee, water and green tea. I'll also let myself have wine once in awhile.

This is what I did last year to lose weight and it worked really well for me. I think my body reacts really quickly to sugars. Especially my midsection!

Jumping on the weight loss bandwagon! I started mid-day swims this week, feels wonderful. I plan to add morning yoga (sun salutation) next week. I'm sticking with five, small meals (a combo of protein/fruit or protein/veggie with some starch - mostly whole wheat bread). My only vice is Coffeemate, I have about two cups coffee/day with liquid coffeemate. I can't give it up!

The worst part is they are not only talking about reducing service, but also more price hikes.

I mean how does that work?

We get less service and higher prices?!?!?! What the hell!!!!

Fantastic! They decide to not offer Saturday service just in time for my return!! Lol.

Actually, Le Dauphin isn't considered a cheap hotel. It's actually ranked as one of the better ones in the downtown core. I still wish I could have just had a Motel 6 for $60 or something, but c'est la vie, as the French say.

I was surprised to learn that there are no shuttles to Le Dauphin though. I was also wondering if I could just surreptitiously jump on a shuttle for a hotel that's near Le Dauphin...but I bet they'd check your hotel reservation first.

I suppose I could take public transit to the nearest Metro station then go from there. Hmm... Yes, I'm thinking as I type. So sue me.

Walk down Viger about three blocks, you're at Metro Square-Victoria. Take the metro to Berri-UQAM. They have a huge section with buses that take you out to the airport. Very reasonable.

http://www.autobus.qc.ca/anglais/horaire_an.html

Congrats on the approval Mal!!

And good luck to the rest of you this week!

Congrats, Mal! And best of luck to everyone!!

So what did you send in December to support your evidence of domicile?

What DIDN'T I send? Lol...

Job offer

Letter and receipt of registration for son's daycare

Letter from family doctor agreeing to take my son

Notice letter (signed by employer)

Non-renewal letter for our duplex lease (signed by Landlord)

Letter from local realtor

New US driver's license

New US checking account

Oath of affidavit (notarized)

Formal lease with my family

Moving quotes

Health insurance quote

I'm probably forgetting something, but those are the biggies.

I had (duh) forgotten to write down our Xpresspost tracking number. I did check the delivery notice number online and it provided lots of details (date attempted delivery, returned, dropped at postal outlet for pickup).

Turns out, we could have picked up our package that evening, instead of waiting until next day after 1pm, as noted on the notice! <smile> Oh well, at least I found the tracking info that morning and we got it a few hours earlier!

K

Congrats!!!

KnR

Thanks for all the congrats everyone! I feel like a giant millstone has just been lifted off my shoulders.

Yeah, I agree with Bowflex. I could have got a 2:00 return flight (or something like that), but I decided to get the 6:00 PM one instead, just in case.

I would agree. Taking anything other than an evening flight would be "iffy." You just never know how long you'll be there.

True! I can't wait to be in your boat!

One more question, after you contacted the Senator's office, did they contact you back? I faxed in everything but they haven't contacted me stating that they received my fax or anything of that sort.

One Senator got back to me within two days. Never heard back from the other one. My congresswoman's office called me early this week. Of course, I phoned them all today, thanked them for their assistance, and notified them that we now had my husband's visa approval.

K

AMAZING!!! Congrats!!! Do u think getting the Senator involved helped you out??

No idea. I would be surprised though, because it came so soon after I contacted them.

Guess it's just like they say, every case is different and our just took that long to process!

K

I asked this before, when we were "visa pending." Now, with visa approval/passport in hand, I wanted to get some advice on doing POE.

I would like to do POE asap, then return and finish up (packing, arrangements, etc). Reason: we will be doing a land crossing with our car, rental truck, rambunctious toddler, AND a pet bird (Miss Lili, our green-cheeked conure) that needs to have a pre-arranged appointment at the border (for veterinarian check and processing).

So, I really would rather not do ALL this customs stuff, and POE, at one time. When I posted this last time, I did get one response saying it's fine if you don't cross the border and just do POE, return and finalize everything. Just would like to hear from more people. Understandably nervous after all that we've been through!

K

Have you received the passport and visa yet or are you still waiting?

JUST got it today! Yeah!!!

you mean HAD been,lol

I don't think I've ever enjoyed PAST tense so much!! Lol!

How exciting! Have you set a move date yet?

As soon as possible!!!

We had a note for xpresspost delivery attempt in our mailbox last night, but with everything we've been through I couldn't believe it until actually seen!

Husband picked up the package this morning and there it was!!! I have never been so excited/relieved/exhausted/did I mention relieved?? in my whole darn life!!

WISCONSIN HERE WE COME!!!!!

K

I DO wish that they would state the Xpresspost mailer requirement on the checklist. I mean, here on VJ we have the tacit understanding that it's needed...but for those hapless folks who have just done things according to USCIS requirements the whole way through, they must really get a last minute shock!

It's really not so bad. We didn't bring a mailer when we filed the I-130. They were very nice, told us where a postal outlet was (just around the corner). We just popped out and got one then returned.

K

Holy #######, I could be waiting that long?

What will the expiry of the visa be? I mean, if they date it from the day I got the email of my case being approved, but then they don't issue it for months, is the 6 month expiry still the same?

This is ridiculous.

You think THAT is long? <haha> My husband's passport has been at the consulate since mid-December.

Lets hope Feb.9th is lucky for the both of us Jones!! How long do the senators take to reply back to you? I preferred to be contacted via email because I'm not home during their office hours because I'm working....

Still waiting here. No word back from Senator or Consulate!

Welcome to our world, Astronaut. I consulted a lawyer in the States earlier in the process (after our refusal for domicile). She aptly termed it a "circularity issue." Check out all the domicile posts (including the pinned post, LOTS of info). Hopefully, you'll be better prepared than we were. Good luck!

AND, we could have done the K3 (back in the day) but chose NOT to. <haha, sob> It seemed like a lot of extra money for what could feasibly take just as long or longer to process. Thought we were being smart.

Hey there! By the time I discovered that I129F (K3) apps were to be "administratively closed" if they were received at the same time as the I130, my forms were already mailed off. Now I wait to see what happens.

Has anyone actually received a response regarding a I130 and I129F sent at the same time & received after Feb 1st? Did they still process it, or was it administratively closed?

Can't describe how frustrating this is! I'm a short ferry ride away from the Vancouver office for a K3 visa interview, but if the K3 app gets administratively closed, they'll want me to wait longer for the PR process, fly to Montreal, and deal with the proof of domicile situation too.

Already talked to my senator's office about this last week, and they're looking into it.

How do I even know WHEN to put my house up for sale here in Canada, if I know know when our family can move? Yet if we still own a house in Canada by the time of the Montreal interview, it sounds like they don't like to see that either!

Welcome to our world, Astronaut. I consulted a lawyer in the States earlier in the process (after our refusal for domicile). She aptly termed it a "circularity issue." Check out all the domicile posts (including the pinned post, LOTS of info). Hopefully, you'll be better prepared than we were. Good luck!

The thing I think I miss most about turkey dinners is the smell in the house when the turkey is about 3 hours away from being ready. It is just heavenly.

I just plain miss THANKSGIVING! Always had to choose between coming home for Thanksgiving or Christmas over the years, and Christmas always won out. I can't wait to move back home and not miss anymore holidays!!!

K