Canucks Advice

[Gigglesngrins 0]

Hello Fellow Canucks!!!!!

Just wanted to take this opportunity to introduce myself and ask for any advice which any Canucks have to offer.

A little about me : My name's Tiffany and I live in Guelph, Ontario. I met my wonderful man Daniel a year ago when he was sent to the shop I work at to do some training. He is originally from Indiana but has been living outside Chicago for the last seven years. He is absolutely incredible and definitely the love of my life. We dated for about 4 months and he was planning on moving to Canada. At that point he had a minor breakdown (just a whole lot of fear) about leaving his job and his home and needed to take some time away. We separated at the end of September last year. We continued to stay friends and with a lot of consideration on his part and some very long conversations, we decided to try and make things work one more time. He has a great job, fabulous friends and the best family anyone could imagine at home in the US and we have since decided that it is me, not him that will make the big move out of the country. We know that we belong together and are so excited to start our life. We have decided this weekend (May 2-4, one year later) that we will be starting the K1 process and hope to be together soon.

I am so glad to have found VJ, and to have also found fellow Canucks who are going through the process. We are starting to get our I-129F package together and I am wondering if anyone has any advice to offer. I have read all the guides and FAQ's on VJ and feel fairly confident that we can make this work. One of the questions I have is in relation to the proof of relationship. Because of us only being an eight hour drive away from eachother, we have normally driven to visit eachother. We don't have many airline tickets to prove I have visited him in the States except when I visited his family in Indy. Will these airline tickets be enough? Outside those, he has travelled up here for work and visited me at the same time but does not have the tickets anymore. I am also curious about lengths of Canadian K1's as opposed to other countries and if I will be interviewed in Montreal since there is a Consulate in T.O.

Thanks for any help that any fellow Canuck can offer!!!!!!!

Tiffany

[giraffemd 0]

Use the guides and ask a lot of questions...everyone here is just so helpful, VJ was my very best friend and saving grace when I started the process, and continues to be all the way through the process. It is overwhelming in the beginning, but put one foot in front of the other and gather all the patience you have....it will all work out...ask away, there are many people here that know all you need to know. Most important keep everything of evidence of your relationship, and be prepared once you file...you may not be making those trips until it is all processed....good luck

[KiminON 0]

good luck to you as you start your journey. you can get an idea of how long it takes from the timelines to give you a bit of an idea. things have recently seemed to slow down some with this new IMBRA law that is in effect.

as proof of having met we sent pictures and passport stamps (we'd not thought of saving boarding passes when we travelled) so next time you cross the border maybe get yours stamped. we also sent pictures and of all things race results showing we did the same race! that was sent with our RFE so it must have been ok. LOL and as the previous poster said, keep everything and anything as proof of your ongoing relationship for when you have the interview. and as for the intervew, yes, you will be required to go to Montreal as Toronto does not process this type of visa.

k

[Flames9_RN 358]

Welcome to VJ and hope you have a smooth Journey. Many Cdns still travel to the USA while the process is ongoing. Mnay dont have any problems at POE (border) some do. I travelled monthly to DC and never had 1 problem. Have Proof of ties to Canada, may help your chances, it may not, all depends on the POE officer. Ensure you read the stickies at the top of the forms,lots of great info. Search feature is ok but it may take awhile to find your results, but there is a 99% chance someone has already asked a similar question. Best of luck

[bamdame 0]

Hello

I think you will get lots of help here. My wife is from Vancouver and if you look at the timeline it should be close to yours. Just like the previous entry, copy everything for your records.

As for evidence...credit card bills showing charges in Canada for him, US for you, passport entry stamps, telephone bills, print up a collection of pistures (pen & ink dates at bottom of them), letters...jsuta few ideas.

As for your question on K-1 visa stays, it is 90 days post entry to get married, no more for anyone. Also, be advised that I would not plan on traveling to the US post your K-1 paperwork being submitted (although is has been done and some will say differently, it could just cause issues).

[Flames9_RN 358]

I'm really suprised how many people think, by trying to enter USA while the VISA process is ongoing in may cause problems. If one is honest, answers the questions, ties to Canada, you shouldnt have problems. Yes one may also get denied, which some have. But again at the interview at the consulates it was brought up during the interview and it never caused a problem. of course that is just going on info from VJ posters. But if you decide to lie at POE then it may cause hassles. A great reesource is Zyggy, he is a USA POE officer. As stated, I travelled monthly to DC, never a problem. Best of luck

[evilcanuck 0]

hey giggles...I too am from Guelph, well not originally but I had moved there b4 I began the visa process....my timeline is sort of accurate....however it took longer to get my paperwork ready to send the checklist to the consulate because I was missing documents and the ontario government saw it fit to take a year to send me my birth certificate. Just as a tip, they are slow, and you need your long form, not the cute wallet sized one I waited a year for, so order it now, passport, i think there is a checklist of what u need for the cheklist somewhere, if not I can let u know.....if you have everything ready you get your interview in like no time....anyways good luck. And yes you have to go to Montreal, they dont do it in Toronto.

[canucker18 0]

Welcome aboard, if you need any help this is the place to ask. Use all the guides and check out for if anyone has asked your questions.

The Canada forum was a saving grace for me as there are things specific to leaving Canada I needed to know.

It's a long journey but very worthwhile.

Good Luck to you and welcome

[Cassie 8]

Welcome to VJ! We are always happy to see more Canucks on the board!

Definitely check out the Canadian section under the Regional Forum section -- we have lots of specific information and tips there.

Many best wishes for a speedy process -- and keep asking questions!

[hockeygal 0]

I'm really suprised how many people think, by trying to enter USA while the VISA process is ongoing in may cause problems.

I think it has to do with all the stories you read on VJ of things gone wrong

Edited May 24, 2006 by hockeygal

[Flames9_RN 358]

I do not think there is that many that have gone wrong. Hard to say. hard to say what people actually say at the POE, what they bring, one only hears 1 side of the story.

[jen&darcy 0]

Welcome to VJ!

I do not think there is that many that have gone wrong. Hard to say. hard to say what people actually say at the POE, what they bring, one only hears 1 side of the story.

Well Darcy and I are one of those ones. Darcy was denied at the POE last May because he couldn't show ties back to Canada. Honestly, when you are traveling back and forth to Canada how many people carry documentation proving ties to Canada. Secondly, with the exception of this last trip, I am always inspected thoroughly. I have had my car inspected, myself searched, and hauled into the Immigration office at the Toronto airport. I am always honest and have never lied at POE.

Ok I will stop ranting now. I just wanted to prove a point that it does happen even to people that are being open and honest.

Edited May 24, 2006 by jen&darcy

[Cygnet 0]

Welcome to VJ, and good luck!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Welcome to VJ!

I do not think there is that many that have gone wrong. Hard to say. hard to say what people actually say at the POE, what they bring, one only hears 1 side of the story.

Well Darcy and I are one of those ones. Darcy was denied at the POE last May because he couldn't show ties back to Canada. Honestly, when you are traveling back and forth to Canada how many people carry documentation proving ties to Canada. Secondly, with the exception of this last trip, I am always inspected thoroughly. I have had my car inspected, myself searched, and hauled into the Immigration office at the Toronto airport. I am always honest and have never lied at POE.

Ok I will stop ranting now. I just wanted to prove a point that it does happen even to people that are being open and honest.

I'm not stating it doesnt happen. One should always show ties to canada when going back and forth with the visa process on going, but many people probably know that? Weird how some people get inspected and others dont. Best of luck

Edited May 24, 2006 by flames9

[Reba 2]

the point being of course is that even if you are denied entry, or sent to secondary inspection, this VERY RARELY negatively affects the outcome of a visa petition or visa application.