Heather&Matt

Heather&Matt..thanks for prompt response.

How long did it take to get interview date email after NVC case complete date? My case complete on Jan 21, 2011.

Case was completed on Jan 5th...we got our interview letter by email on January 7th.

I started getting my 'proof book' done. It has a year of phone records in it...I highlighted any call made to/from my husband, his work, his mother, his brother etc..anything that would be attributed to him. I have pictures from when we were dating, our engagement, wedding, holidays with each other's family and trips we took. I also have copies of my life insurance policy with his name as beneficiary (no bank accounts as of yet). I have cards he has given me, ones I gave him and also ones that were addressed to both of us (thank you cards, invitations etc..) I guess I could include some emails but we talk on the phone more than email or chat (as we both work 9-5 jobs). As for gifts, I don't really know what I would include...I'm wearing the biggest one he has giving me on my left ring finger

2) If you did Electronic processing then Nvc will send you an email within a few days stating your case is complete and then they will email you once your interview date is set. (however I called a few times to check with nvc)

We didn't do electronic processing and we got an email with our interview date....

http://www.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_courier_information

Is this the site I use to sign up for DHL courier?

As expected, not one issue crossing into the US yesterday. Border guards didn't even want to hear my 'story,' asked me 3 questions and rushed me on through. Makes me more frustrated with 'you're not allowed to cross guy.'

The NVC has been closed for a couple of days over the past 2 weeks because of weather, plus Monday was a holiday, Martin Luther King Day. This will delay some things....

First off hes wrong there is no rule about visiting your spouse through the process

However They do have say whether you get across or not and depending on what kind of mood they are in it is possible that they could deny you at any moment. (stupid). I do not think many people end up being denied entry but it does happen to the best of us.

I agree they have a say on whether to let me across or not, unfortunately. I understand that I may get denied if I didn't have proper documentation or for whatever reason. I think he was just trying to get a rise out of me or just being a jerk. I was actually hoping he would send me for a secondary interview, just so I didn't have to deal with him lying to me anymore. Oh well, its over with now and my husband I were able to go to dinner and the movies together.

Figners crossed for Saturday that I don't end up with the same jerkoff.

my friend went through the CR1 process with the help of a lawyer. She was pregnant for most of the process and her lawyer told her she had NO right to enter the US before she had her visa approved... while i was going in and out of the US with the same processus pending. It's a shame that there is nothing clear about entry with a pending visa.

(but then again, i got stuck in the immigration office once at the toronto airport and i remember clearly hearing the guy in front of me being told by an officer he didnt have the right to enter the US with a pending visa.... oh well)

right...100 other border guards before this guy never said it was a problem. AND if it was a problem then why even let me into the country...no secondary questioning or anything. If it was clear cut then everyone should be consistent. I bet when I cross on Saturday I won't have even a small issue.

Thought I would share my border crossing experience last night. I have been crossing the border a couple times a week to see my husband, and he does the same into Canada. I have never had an issue. I carry all significant ties to Canada with me as well as paperwork from our CR-1 journey. Last night I was told that while my petition is pending I am not allowed to be crossing the border. He went on and on about how they would think I was immigrating to the US illegally. I explained with full confidence that I have been crossing into the US since we have started the immigration process and I have NEVER had any tell me that. As well he kept repeating "while your petition is pending" and I kept correcting him that the petition has already been approved and I have all the paperwork to prove so. He then says "well, someone may deny you enty based on your pending approval, but have a good night." He hands me my passport and I leave.

The thing that really pisses me off about this is that he is practically lying to me. I know, as most of us do, that you are allowed to visit your spouse while the immigration process is in proceedings. If this was such a problem: 1) pull me in for secondary questioning, 2) not ONE border guards has said this to me before, 3) why just let me cross then, if this was such an issue. I have actually had other border guards say "its great you are doing it the right way" or "it must be hard living apart" then you have this guy.

I realize that he was either trying to trip me up or just intimidate me...but it makes me more anxious to finally have this process over with and not having to deal with issues like this anymore.

/rant

I have confirmed it, Heather

Loto

I still feel the need to call you Loto, even though I know your name now

It's to make sure that his car conforms to all the US EPA regulations. I'm not sure how duty works, but the letter the consulate provided us with said that most Canadian cars don't have to pay a duty (assuming it has something to do with NAFTA).

I see. I just bought a brand new car in December so I'm sure it conforms to regulations. I have heard mixed things about duty though. A Canadian friend of ours did the K-1 Visa and apparently had to pay duty when he registered his car with PA. I'm going to look into it more...the last thing I need is to pay duty on a brand new vehicle.

yes we made it! We didn't get in until around 11 or so, I was completely exhausted. I had to drive back up with my dad and return the rental car that we used to get home after the failed POE. Then we had to meet up with someone else with a truck and pickup the trailer that thankfully didn't get banged up in the crash.

Everything went almost ok. POE at Highgate Springs, VT. The guy at the border acted like a complete jerk. We went inside and the guy there was great. The only problem we had, was that my husband ENSURED ME that he had the EPA letter for his car. I asked, I made sure and I got, yup, yup yup, I got it, we're good. So out of all the things I had, I didn't make a copy of that. Guess what he lost? The freaking letter to import his car. .facepalm. In any case, the CBP let us cross without it as long as we came back up with the paper to try again.

Turns out he packed it like an idiot and it was buried at the bottom of one of his boxes... >.<

In anycase, we're here finally and all set. I'm so happy!!!

J-

Congratulations!

Was the EPA to ensure he didnt pay duty on his car? I have been wondering this for myself when my POE comes up.

This thread never dies......until every October NVC filer have their spouse by their side.....and some more

I have a couple more months of waiting....

p.s. Loto I added you as a FB friend...

Congratulations KVP!!!!

I never told them I was getting married, even though our wedding site was literally 2 minutes from the border. If they don't ask, then there is no reason to divulge that information. I crossed into the US "visiting my boyfriend" and the next time I crossed (like 3 days later) I was "visiting my husband." No issues.

You can stop and talk to someone at the border you regular cross at but I am not sure it will matter. You are doing nothing wrong and in some cases the less they know the better...

AGAIN I am not saying lie just no need to tell them anything not asked for.

I like these 2 points

Hello, I am a Canadaian citizen engaged to a USC. We would like to be married in the US but then reside in Canada following that for at least a year. It doesn't seem like any of the visas really apply to the situation and that I should be able to go down as a visitor, be married and return to Canada with my wife. Am I missing something? I would hate to find out that I wasn't allowed into the US for our wedding.

Are there implications then as well for visiting the US after being married? If, at some point, we decide to live in the US can I just apply for an IR1-CR1 at that time or do I have to start that right away? Do you recommend stopping and talking with border officials at the crossing normally used?

Thank you for your time and comments.

You are free to marry wherever...we got married in New York State and I still live in Canada (pending visa approval to move to the US). You are free to go and visit her in the US, make sure you carry ties to Canada with you (rent receipts, bank statements, pay stubs, utilities bills ets..) so they know you plan to return to Canada.

Unless you have a Visa, you cannot just move to the United States.

You can start the CR-1 process whenever you want, we started 3 months after getting married. But it does take about a year before everything is completed and you need to reside in Canada during that time.

You can talk to border guards if you would like to get some more information. We plan on doing to talk about my POE.

Finally, I am not sure about the Canadian Immigration process at all...so I can't give advice on her moving to Canada.

Yea I believe going forward now interviews will be assigned alot quicker. As DS260 will be the new standard

Kinda crappy we got stuck in the middle of the switch over...delaying our NVC process

Nope the cr-1 visa and stamp are valid for one year so you can use the i551 to travel back and forth till you get your greencard.

cr-1 is a multiple entry visa thingy lol

Thanks! I knew I could go back and forth after Approval, but I just was unclear with the semantics of the green card and such.

Question: after POE, do you have to wait for your green card in order to cross the border? I am going to continue to work in Canada after I move to Buffalo, but need to know if I can cross or not shortly after my POE...

Congratulations Lilu!

Time will fly soon, Heather. Good luck to Medical and interview

Loto

Thanks Loto!

Hello,

I have sent the DS 260 and the supporting documents. I just checked the status, it says "completed". Does that mean the case is complete or just the submission is complete?

Thanks for your help.

It means the submission is complete. You'll have to call NVC to find out when it has been reviewed and accepted.

Medical is Feb 15th, which just so happens to be our 2 year anniversary of our engagement. Nothing else to do but prepare binder for interview and get my flu shot for my medical. I hope the next 2 months fly by!

I did notice that the second page our NVC interview letter was blank too, as people mentioned it earlier. After reading this a couple of times over, it says to bring the correct number of photographs to the interview but doesnt say what the correct number is. I'm assuming 2 are sufficient but just double checking as I will get them done this week.

Also, the last page has the letter codes as to what is needed for the interview, there are 'R's beside Immigrant Visa Application...what do the 'R's mean? They dont list it on the code page.