DS 156

[hockeygal 0]

I was just looking at the forms I need to eventually fill out for the consulate part of the process and saw this question...

can I ask how other Canadians answered this? I am assuming that most of you, like me, have been to the USA too many times to possibly count. There is no way I could even list the amount of times I have crossed the border inthe past 4.5 years of this relationship, let alone to see my sister the past 25 years, and vacations, and shopping, and because I felt like going for the day for kicks.

I'm sure there is a simple answer for this... would "regularly since birth" be acceptable?

[Shanny 0]

i was also concerned about this question.

i am still waiting on my I-129f approval, but i have started filling out this form.

i think i might just say that i have crossed the border several times throughout my life but then also give them dates that i have visited the US in the last year.

this way, they at least have some kind of dates to go by.

hope that helps.

good luck.

[jen&darcy 0]

I guess my fiance too will have to think about that question. He is a long-haul truck driver and used to cross the border on a weekly basis. Hmmm!

[hockeygal 0]

ok, that is what I figured too - make a general statement, then maybe use the last year as a detailed example. I an't imagine what else they'd expect!

[Jersey Girl 2]

hockeygal, I agree with your strategy. After all, Canadians don't need a visa to enter the U.S. for visiting/shopping.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I filled out mine as best possible, then included a sheet that described I been in the country numerous time for work and pleasure form such a such year to present. And signed the paper.

[Krikit 1,165]

We asked about this. We were told they were checking to see if the beneficiary had ever overstayed a visit. Because I was in the same situation, I entered "Numerous times but none beyond 3 weeks", which was the maximum amount of time I'd spent on a visit to the U.S. I received my visa May 11th.

[no one 0]

I'm still waiting for my package 4, so I'm nervous about this question...

On mine, I wrote the dates for my four most recent trips to the U.S., and then wrote something along the lines of "Numerous times from 1990-2000 for family road trips" and listed all the states I'd visited. Now that I'm reading this thread, I guess I should've stated approximately how long I'd stayed in the U.S. for the trips (the duration of each road trip was around one wk in length, max, but the Consulate can't read my mind now, can they? )

hockeygal, I agree with your strategy. After all, Canadians don't need a visa to enter the U.S. for visiting/shopping.

This is where I'd screwed up too, on afterthought.

I'd THOUGHT we don't need visas, but after I'd sent off my packet 3 stuff to the Consulate, I realized that in fact, I'd been stamped twice for a B2 visa on my passport!

They don't send RFEs from this point onwards, right...?

*keeps her fingers crossed for packet 4*

[Marilyn. 340]

I put the approximate dates for the major trips I took... and then stated that I have been to the US numerous other times or something along those lines

from what I recall they just ask for the month and the year ....

[Flames9_RN 358]

Wish one could edit their posts at anytime!! Yes I estimated the dates as well.

[canucker18 0]

I did the same as others. I attached a supplimental sheet and put a little paragraph that stated something along the lines of living 3 hrs from the border and since being a child I had crossed numerous times for shopping, weekend away, etc.

I also stated that the timeline detailed the most recent crossings to the best of my ability but were approximations.

Then I put approx. dates for the last 2 years of what I could recall. I made sure I put down any big trips, or holiday ones as I am sure they would make sense of that.

I had no problems and no questions were asked of me.

I had been crossing every 2-3 months for the past 2 years.

Hope this helps!

[hockeygal 0]

great - thanks guys!

[Reba 2]

I did basically the same thing. I listed all the trips from the past year that I could remember, and then adended with "and various other trips since birth that lasted at minimum 1 day, to no more than 3 weeks in length"

Heck, sometimes we'd go over the border just for lunch. They're used to that at any of the consulates in Canada that grant visas.

[Shauna 0]

I asked this question of the forum too - and I ended up listing all the visits I could remember for the last 18 months, and also listed "frequent visits of no more than a week (family holidays etc)" I was of the mind that too much info was better than not enough, and I assume they have ways of checking those cards they make you fill out at customs at the airport where most of my travelling was from. In any case I have my interview on June 16 th and have had no problems yet! Under type of visa, I ended up putting "none".

[Krikit 1,165]

We asked about this. We were told they were checking to see if the beneficiary had ever overstayed a visit. Because I was in the same situation, I entered "Numerous times but none beyond 3 weeks", which was the maximum amount of time I'd spent on a visit to the U.S. I received my visa May 11th.

I should clarify that we asked the VSC this question.... not VJ. They said they did not require a specific list of trips.... they just wanted to know I hadn't overstayed a visit.