Who's Moving to Philly?.... I am :oD !

[Frazell Thomas 0]

Well I had my interview in Montreal yesterday and it went better than expected I got there bright and early at 7:10 and was the first one in when they opened the doors at 7:30 (with a small line forming behind me).

I had brought a large collection of papers/evidence along with me, but all they wanted to see was my passport, passport photos, my deferral letter from my medical, and my xpresspost envelope...oh well, so I was a little over-prepared . My financial evidence was marked off as not complete, but the lady who took my fingerprints said she didn't need my IRS information I had brought so...

The interview portion was nice. I like how you get to talk to guy in a suit, rather than a guy with a gun strapped to his side and a radio... A little less intimidating. He was nice and we just talked casually (well, aside from the swearing an oath part, that was slightly less casual than most of my conversations). We looked over the photos I had submitted, and he asked when/how we met, when did we get engaged, when did we get married,etc. the usual. He said there was no question about our relationship being true so we moved on to the financial stuff.

Since my husband is a full-time student and has started his own web company, they were a little concerned, since it is not a steady income. We only have 23k CAD in assets (we were able to deduct some of his school financial aid so we didn't have to have much more than that...), with no co-sponsor so we were right on the border-line of acceptable. He asked if there was anyone in the states we could use as a co-sponsor and I told him no one was in any kind of situation who could do that (everyone we know lives below the poverty line), but that my parents in Canada would be able to help us out if we needed any more money, though I knew that wouldn't really help at this moment.

He asked what I did for work, and I told him I work at a UPS store and have worked at various locations with about 5 years experience. He asked if I could get a transfer from the UPS store in Canada to one in the States, but since they are all franchises, that doesn't really work. He hummed and hawed about it to himself (*and I prayed while he did that!*), said we'd come back to that in a bit and went on to talk about my Medical, or lack there of. Basically just said he'd have to wait for my medical results before he could issue the visa, which I already knew, so no surprise there. He went back to the financial side and said that given my experience I should be easily employable when I get there and he'd let it go. (What a relief! I had lost sleep about that a few weeks back...since then I was more worried about my Medical results )

He also up'd my CR-1 to an IR-1 so that was perfect too. All in all, I couldn't ask for a better experience

I was out of there at about 9:30. I think the hardest part of the whole situation is not having a cell phone along Since you can't have electronics, and my family was wandering the city while I was doing the interview and wasn't sure when they should meet back up with me. I thought I'd just call their cells from a payphone, collect. D'oh! You can't call collect to a cell phone. And then I tried using my credit card, since I didn't have any non-toonies in coins, but the stupid thing just kept saying "you do not have access", So I tried 3 more cell phone numbers (my parents each had one, and my sister had hers and mine as well) and it just kept saying "you do not have access"...Walked down the street, tried another phone, same thing...walked down the block found a "desjardins" which I assumed was a bank (which it was) , thinking I would see if I could get change (coins) to see if it was my credit card that wasn't working. While I was in there, I saw another payphone (inside, so nice and warm ) and figured I'd try again. After a few more tries, I got it! You have to dial a 1 before the number (it makes perfect sense, and I'm not sure why I wasn't thinking clearly, probably because I was so happy I was done that interview I had waited nearly 2 years for....and why can't they just say "dial 1 before the number"...that "no access" really does nothing to tell me why it's not working) It cost me $3.90 but it worked . That was definitely the most frustrating part of the whole process. Oh, and I was worried about having to carry all my documents with no "large bags/purses" but a large tote bag was fine, so I used that.

So, in a few more weeks when I get the medical results from Toronto and pass them on to Montreal, I'll be moving to Philadelphia! .....finally

[Emancipation 2]

Congrads!! Excellent news!

[Sprailenes 47]

I'm across the bridge in South Jersey but I'm close enough to say: Welcome to Philly!

Theres a whole bunch of us down here.

[Sandrila 1]

Congrats!

That's great

You'll like here...we live in the burbs of Philadelphia

Welcome

Edited December 19, 2008 by sandrila

[trailmix 77]

Congratulations, great news

[Zee Bee 61]

We live about 15 minutes outside Philly.

Congratulations

[MrsCat 6]

Great news FT! Loved that he was a little lenient on the financial stuff, I mean if you were so close anyways. I hope that medical is cleared up in no time for you!

[JillA 2]

CONGRATS!! As everyone has said there are lots of us in this area, I'm just outside of Philly a little bit north in the 'burbs! I love it here.

[OBX 51]

So happy everything went well - a big sigh of relief I am sure. Best of luck when you move.

[Frazell Thomas 0]

Wow! Thanks guys I already feel welcomed to Philadelphia! Who knew so many of you were around there??

I can't wait to live in the big city. It's going to be awesome! (a REAL mass transit system, )

hmm I have a craving for a cheese-steak now

[MsZ 6]

Congratulations! I wondered how you were doing.

I used to live in Philly and am from S. Jersey and have spent a lot of time in that area. I hope you'll enjoy it. It does take some getting used to... and that accent! I love the Philly accent!

My husband's experience was apparently very nice, too. He came in very tired last night but wanted to tell me about the interview -- the guy asked how we met and my husband said "through our hobby, astronomy" and the guy said, "so your relationship was written in the stars" and then "I have always wanted to say that." Then he asked my husband about astrophotography but I don't think they talked long on the subject. There weren't many questions and he liked our financial and vocational situation and that was that.

When my hub came into the US last night he didn't have a chance to say anything about the visa, the guy took and scanned his passport and didn't even notice the stamp.

Anyway, glad things worked out for you. I hope the medical comes through quickly. Don't know your plans on moving but I hope the timing works out for you.

[JillA 2]

Wow! Thanks guys I already feel welcomed to Philadelphia! Who knew so many of you were around there??

I can't wait to live in the big city. It's going to be awesome! (a REAL mass transit system, )

hmm I have a craving for a cheese-steak now

hehe my Mom is coming here for Christmas and she's never had a Philly cheesesteak before so I have to take her!

[Frazell Thomas 0]

Hey MsZ; That's so cute, "written in the stars". I like that

I plan on moving the 2nd week of January. They said they have to wait until January 6 (my 2nd wedding anniversary) to get my passport in shape because it won't let them do the IR-1 until that date. So hopefully I can get the medical to them by then. They said it takes 10 days to get the results back, which places it right on Christmas day, so I'm factoring in a few extra days for the holidays and the stop in mail flow, and then add a few days for me to get it to Montreal. Then they'll xpress-post it back to me, so that shouldn't take too long I don't think.

I love love LOVE Philadelphia (isn't the old architecture just like WOW! the amount of detail they used to put into buildings still blows my mind). Can you tell I'm a little excited to be moving?

Congrats to you and your husband also

JillA :

Never had a cheesesteak!? You better fix that soon!

When the Sobey's here first came out with Steak-ums I FREAKED out in the store, and even wrote Sobey's an e-mail saying how I appreciated it so much and how it meant the world to me to have a little bit of Philadelphia blah blah blah. All they wrote back was that they do their best to offer a wide selection of products and will pass my e-mail onto their food selection department...I simple thank you would have sufficed

but to have a real cheesesteak again...mmm i can almost taste it

[Sprailenes 47]

Best cheesesteaks is Jim's steaks on South St.

Wow! Thanks guys I already feel welcomed to Philadelphia! Who knew so many of you were around there??

I can't wait to live in the big city. It's going to be awesome! (a REAL mass transit system, )

hmm I have a craving for a cheese-steak now

Ehh Septa is nothing to right home about unfortunately.

[Frazell Thomas 0]

I'll have to try out Jim's on South Street.

And I love me some SEPTA.

I know, I know, it has its problems, but it's way better than Hamilton's HSR! So, hey, I'm excited I can do without a vehicle and that will make me very very happy.