look2me40

I have a friend that married a Canadian man (she's a US citizen) and they had a child together who is a US citizen. Unfortunately, there were some problems in the marriage and they are getting a divorce. He only has a greencard at this point (before the 2 year period is up) and he wants to move back to Canada with the child. How would any of this work? Does the Canadian have much of a chance in getting the child? I have tried looking this up on various sites and can't find an answer.

Had our interview back on the 26th of October...approved (AOS). Letter came on the 1st of Nov saying Green Card being printed. Hoping we get it this coming week. All in all, from K1 to now wasn't an awful experience. No RFEs throughout the whole process. No real issues at all that I can think of. Guess we were lucky as well as prepared.

Now Social Security has been a different story....anyway, I thank all the people on the forum for their information and stories. Helped us out a great deal. Couldn't have done it without the forum.

And today we got our interview letter...October 26th. So far so good.

Our EAD and Travel Document have been approved. EAD will be printed within 30 days. Not much movement on AOS though...

We stayed at the same place. Go exploring. Mont Royal...Head to Shwartz' for a sandwich...head over to the Expo area...you'll find plenty to do by riding the metro and walking around.

We had Biometrics on the September 7th.

It's not that hard...just takes some patience and intuition. Hardest part is figuring out what particular part is making things go wrong.

Background. My wife's POE date was 5/7. We got married on 7/1. Applied for SS Card on July 13th. Applied for AOS on 7/23. We applied for the SS card under the married name. It was denied August 23rd due to the fact that her I94 expired before they could issue us a card. Interesting...since A: We applied PRIOR to it expiring and B: It was delayed due to the fact they ignored all the supporting documents (ie wedding certificate) about the name change.

So, we're going to complain and appeal...but I am guessing there's nothing we can do except wait until her EAD arrives. The Biometrics is on the 7th of September...and the only real pressing issue is a job interview tomorrow...which in itself isn't a huge deal because I think she'll offer to intern if she's not ready to work because of the immigration stuff yet.

But for the appeal, do we have any hope? It specifically states on the USCIS website an expired I94 is not a problem IF you're already in process for AOS. We have the evidence that we have applied for AOS and it's in progress...but honestly, I don't know how much trouble I want to go through.

We got our appointment letter for Biometrics. It is Sept 7th. We mailed out our AOS stuff endish July.

If you didn't sign up for email updates then yes, you'll have to wait for the first NOA from them, which will have your receipt # on it. It shouldn't take too long, maybe this week or next. If they have only had it for a week I'm not surprised you haven't heard yet. Don't worry.

We got the email notifications today. BUT, I put the receipt number in to try and add it and says it's not found. So no idea. At least I know they have it and are moving things around.

look2me40, you can sign up for updates online here: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/login.jsp To get updates you'll need your receipt #s. Did you send in the form to get email updates? When did they receive it according to fedex?

It was received on the 26th. I don't have a receipt number for this packet, just the original K1 application stuff. Do I have to wait for them to send me the first letter to get that?

Can someone tell me how to check on the status of the AOS packet? I know it got there via Fed Ex...other than that, haven't heard a thing.

So why exactly can't you work or go to school?

Thanks for the responses. It's always hard to not second guess yourselves on this stuff.

So we got married on July 1 and of course I am back here trying to make sure I complete the next steps right. This site helped us tremendously with the K1 process...My plan at this time is to go tomorrow to do the SSN. I already received 3 certified copies of the marriage certificate in preparation for the steps to come. The certificate has my name and her maiden name, but I am assuming that since there was no place to put her "married name" that we can just use the SS card as the beginning of the new name. We did pretty well on the K1 part and I want it to go as smoothly for the AOS.

So after we apply for the SSN, should we wait til we get it to file AOS papers or just go ahead and file those this week as well? We have until August 6th for her I-94 to expire. Also, from what I read, I need to pay the EAD application fee but not the AP application and biometrics fee since I am paying the "new" fee on the 485? I've read the guides and the instructions for each form several times and I keep questioning my understanding on it.

Any other comments and questions are welcome...in case I am missing something.

While waiting for our K1 interview my girlfriend came to visit before we drove up to Montreal for said interview. Needless to say, I warned her several times about what she should say, what she shouldn't say, etc. Apparently she did so bad while talking to the border security agent at the airport that he straight up said "you know you're telling me all the wrong things here?" Anyway, they sent her back to get further questioning and STILL let her through to catch her flight. That said...it's a ####### shoot every time you try to cross the border.

One edit to the hotel review...had to pay $20 a day for parking. One edit to the consulate review...had to give updated letters of intent to the interviewer in room 7.

For such a draining process, everything couldn't have gone smoother or with less fanfare. I'll do a small review of the hotel/consulate/medical as well as some overall Montreal thoughts.

Hotel: We stayed at Le Square Phillips. We were going to be here a week...with medical on Monday and interview on Friday so I wanted a place central to both the medical and consulate as well as with a kitchen to save on food expenses. The hotel is pretty nice. Has a pool. Located 2 minutes from the consulate and 8 minutes from Medisys. Staff was nice. Free parking in their garage. A little on the more expensive side but well worth it. Only issue came today, when apparently the Olympic Athlete parade is going on down St. Catherine street and ending...yep...in Phillips Square...so I am a tad worried about road closures since we have to get to the airport by 4. If it's an issue there's a shuttle and a bus right down the street so no biggie.

Medisys: Got there about 12:00 for a 12:30 appointment. At the counter she presented her appointment letter, vaccine list, medication letter from Dr. and passport then waited for her name to be called. When called, they took her height, weigh, blood pressure and gave blood. Took eye test with contacts in and contacts out. Signed forms...then went back to the waiting room for X-ray (which apparently comes on CDs now and not the large thing it used to). Went back for X-ray and took off shirt and bra (kept pants on.) Took X-ray then back out to waiting room to hand the lady at the counter a piece of paper. Waited again. Dr comes out and called her back for the last time. Get undressed to socks and underwear (minus bra) and put on gown. Sat on table and Dr. checks the pulse and lungs. Next is the breast exam...asks about any issues with lumps in past. Lays you back on the table and pokes you in the stomach and asks about stomach pain. Dr. checks spine next and asks questions about pain in back. Next he checks reflexes. After that he asks about tobacco use and history. Medical complete...go back out and wait to be called to pay. Medisys accepts cash, debit or credit CAD. 213.22 total after tax. All in all, not a painful experience and completely non evasive. Took about an hour and a half total.

Consulate: Got there about 6:15. First in line on St. Alexandre street with back to yellow posts and facing the door. Door opened about 7:40 (sign does say the hours are 8:30 to whatever though). By the time 7:40 rolled around, there was a line about 30 deep. Anyway, we are asked for our passports and the appointment letter (the portion with the time/date stamp on it.) We hand it to the guard and he tells us to go to the next guard by the conveyor belt. We are asked to empty pockets, take off belts and sweatshirts and place them in bins to go through the scanner. So we walk around to the right and walk through the metal detector. The guard okays us and we grab our stuff and head downstairs. We sit right next to the elevator and wait to be allowed up. (FYI, there's a photo booth right there in that area if you need photos. $4.) The guard steps out of the elevator and takes our letter A and appointment letter. Tells us and a few others to get on board. Inside, someone was leaning against the doors that actually open and the guard warned them. So we get upstairs and sit. Shortly we're called back to window 11. She asked us for passport and copy, birth certificate and copy of it. Affidavit of support and supporting documents...and the police check. That was it. They already had all other documentation with them...including passport photos. (I'd say bring everything in triplicate anyway...never can be too safe.) So she took that information and asked us to go pay the fee at window 14. Paid the fee and went to sit down again, waiting to be called back. Called back to window 11 again. This time she asked if all info was correct on the 156 (I believe) and took her fingerprints. Said we were all set and to go sit down and we'll be called back to room 7 or 8. So about 15 minutes later, we're called back to room 7. An older lady with long gray hair...very nice...was there behind the glass. Asked her to place finger on scanner to test fingerprints. Then she gave us the oath and asked us the following:

1: How did we meet?

2: Who visited whom first?

3: When did I propose?

4: Where do we live?

5: What's my job?

6: Asked her if she liked Maryland.

7: What's her job?

8: Do I have health insurance?

9: When's the wedding?

That was it. All in all a pretty easy process if you pay attention to detail and plan accordingly. I may have taken a little risk scheduling the medical on Monday and the interview being on Friday, but all went smoothly and we were well prepared. We were able to pick up the medical results on Thursday afternoon. The only advice I would give would be to remain calm and use the information in this forum to your advantage. Everything is spelled out for you in detail. The process of gathering information is the daunting part...the medical and interview are a snap if you're already prepared going into it.

As far as Montreal goes, pretty nice city. Some of the places we ate that I would suggest:

Nonno's in Little Italy. Everything tastes very fresh as it's probably all bought at the Marche de Talon that same day. Frite Alore was ok. It's a burger barn with lots of poutine choices. I had a nice goatcheese burger with bacon.

But that's if no other documents are required and everything goes smoothly. Maggies blip that almost caused her not to have her medical results in time was resulting form a medication she took 10 years ago. I would never have thought you'd need a letter for that.

Just be careful everyone. It may only be the delay in the issuance of the visa, but with the way Montreal is right now that delay could last weeks or months.

Yeah. Obviously this whole event is premised on the fact that we have all our ducks in a row. If something goes wrong, something goes wrong. We'll just scramble and deal with it. Really all we can do.

We've done everything we can to be prepared and either it pays off or we get a bump in the road.

We are trying to do the medical on Monday and the interview is Friday. After speaking to the medical people they said they would have the files by Thursday for us. I guess we'll see.

They are already giving out May dates...anyone else with April?

I lied, our date is the 23rd.

April 28th checking in.

No, I've never heard of this. How the heck are you supposed to get them if they won't send it? Did she call only one of the two offices on the list? There are only certain places that you can get it done.

Yeah, it was this one:

Dr. Howard Seiden & Associates

Sanagex Medicine du Travail

5345 Blvd L’Assomption # 115

Montreal, QC H1T 4B3

1‐866‐362‐5603

Doesn't matter...we cancelled the appointment and we're going with the other place in Montreal. They said they'd mail with no issues.

So my fiancee called to schedule her medical and one of the places in Montreal (didn't get a name but apparently it's an hour away from the airport) said they don't mail the medical exam results. Anyone else come across this?