ANY OTHER SURPRISES I SHOULD BE AWARE OF???

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

EXCELLENT! I will read up on this when I get back.... i'm leaving in a few hours...gonna get some zzz's.... so excited to spend a few days with my hunny bunny!!!!! i'm driving down and the weather is nice, hopefully no rain during my drive to PA

wish me luck!!!!

I am self employed...so no letter from employer.... and my lease expires in June... prepaid... a lot that helps.... but I have my whole file with me, and one main factor is that my son is included in my visa app, and he won't be with me...so duh, I hope the empty carseat in the back and the fact that it is march break and I have to be back to get him to school Monday...will do the trick... or else i'll be back on here tmrw night.... and stuck here till June HAHA!

Thanks for all the great info!

Edited March 18, 2009 by poprocks

[Carlawarla 1]

EXCELLENT! I will read up on this when I get back.... i'm leaving in a few hours...gonna get some zzz's.... so excited to spend a few days with my hunny bunny!!!!! i'm driving down and the weather is nice, hopefully no rain during my drive to PA

wish me luck!!!!

I am self employed...so no letter from employer.... and my lease expires in June... prepaid... a lot that helps.... but I have my whole file with me, and one main factor is that my son is included in my visa app, and he won't be with me...so duh, I hope the empty carseat in the back and the fact that it is march break and I have to be back to get him to school Monday...will do the trick... or else i'll be back on here tmrw night.... and stuck here till June HAHA!

Thanks for all the great info!

Enjoy your visit!

[Krikit 1,164]

Wow I honestly never thought of any of this until just now. I was so caught up in getting everything done with the petition, the actual move hasn't really been in my mind. I guess i'm lucky though: i'm not bringing my car over (its a 1995, whats the point?), I live with mom and dad still so no getting out of rent contracts or canceling utility bills (anything I forget to change will be sent to them anyways), no pets, I don't have much stuff so I can just fit it all in my fiance's grand prix... But health insurance? I know my fiance has good coverage, but he probably can't add me until after the wedding can he? And a drivers license... I'm not so sure that's going to be easy for me either (I only have a G2, I'm going to have to take a test I bet...)

I guess all this time I was thinking that my stress is over once the k-1 petition is approved but... not so much!

I was told my Canadian health insurance will cover me for 30 days past my last official day at work. Once you marry your husband can add you to his insurance as a life-changing event. My husband has Blue Cross/Blue Shield and they added me right away with no problem.

And ketchup and ketchup chips and kraft dinner Actually check out this:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=pmZ...1CPIAopHsCBq5OA

Not sure who started that or if it gets updated?

Yes, I keep it current.

Have a great visit, Poprocks! Let us know how things went at the border.

[Gypsyangel 11]

- make sure you understand car licensing and driver's licensing in your state. In NJ you need a green card before you can get a driver's licence. If I'd known that I would have managed some things differently. Even though it says on the web site that you just need your passport and the I-94 and a few other things, it's not true in NJ!

Excellent list!!

Regarding NJ driver's license: For the 6 Point ID verification did they not accept your passport with the visa stamp? Do they just require a written test? Any idea how long I could drive in NJ with my Ontario license before I would need to change it?

So many questions!!!

I thought I had it all figured out with the 6 Point ID verificatin thing ... but I was wrong. I went to the MVC before my I-94 expired, and was told that I needed to have 60 days left on my I-94 for them to give me a drivers licence. Part of the 6 Points is that you need your SSN. Well, it took about 6 weeks to get my SSN so there was no way I could apply for my driver's licence and still have 60 days left on the I-94 (which in my case was only valid for 90 days).

90 days on I-94 less 42 days (or six weeks) to get SSN = only 48 days

Now, if you could get your SSN faster or if your I-94 is valid longer you might have a different experience, but it seemed like the 60 days was completely arbitrary anyway. It wasn't written down anywhere so who knows if it's true. I also went back when I had my AOS NOAs and Biometrics letter and they still weren't interested. I even tried different offices to see if I'd get different answers. Nope.

At the end of the day it seems you need a green card to get a driver's licence (maybe EAD would work but I didn't try). I just got my green card so I'm going to write my test next week (cross your fingers for me!). In the meantime I have been driving with my Canadian driver's licence with my Ontario plates. Our real estate agent who is also a cop told me not to worry about it as long as I could show that I had made every effort to get a driver's licence and to carry the AOS paperwork with me in the car.

I managed to get on my husband's insurance but they keep bugging us for a NJ driver's licence and we've been putting them off . They could cut me off any time. Also, I had to renew my Ontario plates in November. I did it on-line so and had the sticker sent to my sister's address but I did have to tell a little lie by putting my Canadian insurance company on the application even though I'd cut that off in July.

So, what I would have done differently is I would have updated my Ontario plates before I left Canada to ensure they'd carry me through to getting my green card. And I was lucky that my husand's insurance company would insure me without a NJ driver's licence. Others haven't been so lucky. Another reason to apply for AOS soon after you arrive!

I hope that helps!

[OBX 51]

I thought I had it all figured out with the 6 Point ID verificatin thing ... but I was wrong. I went to the MVC before my I-94 expired, and was told that I needed to have 60 days left on my I-94 for them to give me a drivers licence. Part of the 6 Points is that you need your SSN. Well, it took about 6 weeks to get my SSN so there was no way I could apply for my driver's licence and still have 60 days left on the I-94 (which in my case was only valid for 90 days).

90 days on I-94 less 42 days (or six weeks) to get SSN = only 48 days

Now, if you could get your SSN faster or if your I-94 is valid longer you might have a different experience, but it seemed like the 60 days was completely arbitrary anyway. It wasn't written down anywhere so who knows if it's true. I also went back when I had my AOS NOAs and Biometrics letter and they still weren't interested. I even tried different offices to see if I'd get different answers. Nope.

At the end of the day it seems you need a green card to get a driver's licence (maybe EAD would work but I didn't try). I just got my green card so I'm going to write my test next week (cross your fingers for me!). In the meantime I have been driving with my Canadian driver's licence with my Ontario plates. Our real estate agent who is also a cop told me not to worry about it as long as I could show that I had made every effort to get a driver's licence and to carry the AOS paperwork with me in the car.

I managed to get on my husband's insurance but they keep bugging us for a NJ driver's licence and we've been putting them off . They could cut me off any time. Also, I had to renew my Ontario plates in November. I did it on-line so and had the sticker sent to my sister's address but I did have to tell a little lie by putting my Canadian insurance company on the application even though I'd cut that off in July.

So, what I would have done differently is I would have updated my Ontario plates before I left Canada to ensure they'd carry me through to getting my green card. And I was lucky that my husand's insurance company would insure me without a NJ driver's licence. Others haven't been so lucky. Another reason to apply for AOS soon after you arrive!

I hope that helps!

Thanks again for the info. I will be entering (eventually) the US on a CR1 visa so hopefully my SSN won't be too far behind me. My car is almost 10 years old so a new one is on the horizon. I was just hoping to get through a month or so once I arrive. I will be all clear as far as my renewals for Ontario are concerned.

Good luck on the test. Have you tried your luck with the online sample test?

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

I MADE IT!!!!!

HAHA!

So they let me through... I did get major questioning and a big fat hairy eyeball the whole time.... but i'm here!!!! The selling point on my behalf was the babyseat in the back! I guess he figured no crazy woman wouold be so desperate for a greencard that she would abandon her child.

HAHA! I'm happy though.... I was really psyched to see my hunny bunny, as we have only been seeing eachother once a month lately and we only have a couple of visits left before June.... plus a wedding.... so I am writing from PA... I went to Target... major road block! lol! they could not enter me into the system for a card app, with a Canadian address, so they used Damon's address and my financial info... it came back needing further clearence.... I hope it doesn't get flagged for half Canadian half US info or as fraudulent? I may have to call them I thought it would be easy...

Maybe I try JC Penny?

[Marilyn. 340]

I'm not removing the U no matter WHAT anyone says. It belongs there!

- bring comfort food you may not be able to get it in the U.S.

Coffee Crisp.

Stock up on Coffee Crisp.

And Kit Kat's.

They just don't taste the same south of the border.

M.

and Mr Bigs.. they don't have them down here

a few weeks ago I saw Coffee crisps at Big lots.. I was going to buy a couple and something else and went to the check out but the line up was too long even for coffee crisps so I put them back and I promised myself that the next time I went I would buy myself some but lo and behold the next time I went they didn't have them anymore

Edited March 19, 2009 by *Marilyn*

[JillA 2]

I'm not removing the U no matter WHAT anyone says. It belongs there!

- bring comfort food you may not be able to get it in the U.S.

Coffee Crisp.

Stock up on Coffee Crisp.

And Kit Kat's.

They just don't taste the same south of the border.

M.

and Mr Bigs.. they don't have them down here

a few weeks ago I saw Coffee crisps at Big lots.. I was going to buy a couple and something else and went to the check out but the line up was too long even for coffee crisps so I put them back and I promised myself that the next time I went I would buy myself some but lo and behold the next time I went they didn't have them anymore

Yeah I find Coffee Crisps all over here, they are at the grocery store, dollar store, etc. I don't consider Coffee Crisp only available in Canada anymore.

[Marilyn. 340]

I'm not removing the U no matter WHAT anyone says. It belongs there!

- bring comfort food you may not be able to get it in the U.S.

Coffee Crisp.

Stock up on Coffee Crisp.

And Kit Kat's.

They just don't taste the same south of the border.

M.

and Mr Bigs.. they don't have them down here

a few weeks ago I saw Coffee crisps at Big lots.. I was going to buy a couple and something else and went to the check out but the line up was too long even for coffee crisps so I put them back and I promised myself that the next time I went I would buy myself some but lo and behold the next time I went they didn't have them anymore

Yeah I find Coffee Crisps all over here, they are at the grocery store, dollar store, etc. I don't consider Coffee Crisp only available in Canada anymore.

well, every time I have gone back to Big Lots I keep looking for them and they are never there.. I also used to find them at the Dollar Tree but they stopped selling them there too.. I haven't really seen them anywhere else

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Oh - another suggestion I just remembered - bring a copy of your local telephone book with you. It has useful numbers for government agencies as well as your local service providers. You never know when you might need to get in touch with someone 'back home' that you weren't anticipating and having your phone book with you will come in handy.

[Residentangel 1]

When my wife was in Canada I did get a Best Buy card, bought a tv, and then added her to the account. While I was paying on the tv she was actually building credit and two weeks after she got here (about 6 or 7 months later) she actually had a score in the high 600s and she was able to lease a car in her name only.

They didn't ask for any other information or anything? You just added her name to your account? I'm curious because my soon-to-be has a best buy card as well and this intrigues me.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Residentangel

[antda 13]

Poprocks- (I posted this before on VJ...But I hope this can help you too....)

If I were you, I would just forward your mail to another location in Canada, which hopefully might be cheaper there and/or have someone else in Canada pick up your mail for you (family member, friend, neighbour, co-worker, new tenant, etc.) at your former location.

In the meantime, tell everyone that you know of about your new address.

And don't forget to inform the various government, financial, legal, etc. agencies about your address change too.

As for moving, from Canada to the USA (I've been here in the USA since 2006), I did the following:

I notified:

-Revenue Canada and Elections Canada (with the "final tax return" in 2007, to prevent tax fraud and to officially notify the Canadian government that I'm not living in Canada anymore, and had to cancel and return those GST cheques I'm not entitled to and would be in trouble for keeping such)

-Passport Canada (when they added my married name to my maiden name passport in 2007)

-Passport Canada again (when I applied for a new passport recently in my married name in 2009)

-I closed my Canadian bank account in Canada (2007)

-I let someone in Canada collect my personal mail for me, and then notified those people by mail that I moved (2006-Present)

-Family, friends, and other acquaintances that I keep in contact with (2006-Present)

-The Office of the Attorney General (optional...but this was after I received the forwarded jury duty notice in 2009....I had no choice there but to tell them that I moved and that I couldn't serve on a Canadian jury)

I didn't notify:

-Social Insurance (Human Resources Canada, I think) as I wouldn't be working in Canada anymore and wouldn't need a new card.

-OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance) as my card already expired and I can't use it here, so I never renewed it.

-MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) as my license was automatically transfered, surrendered, and destroyed here by the DMV in NYS. Note: You cannot have 2 driver's licenses at the same time (at least that's the way it is here in NYS), so you would either have to pick between the American one or the Canadian one to keep.

Anyone else I need to notify, I can't think of, and haven't done such.

Hope this helps. Good luck on the rest of your immigration journey too.

Ant

P.S. Lol..I'm pretty sure you won't be wanting that Canadian jury duty and/or elections Canada notice sometime later on down the road while you are in the USA...(that's another story)..But yes, that happened to me here in the USA, despite notifying such government agencies years ago about my move....lol....grr.....luckily someone in Canada forwarded that mail to me...otherwise I would have been in trouble there...especially with the jury duty notice...lol....

[antda 13]

Poprocks- By the way, here are some other "surprises" that I've encountered along the way too..

-The conversion from metric to non-metric.....

-Canadian English versus American English spelling and/or grammar rules...

-You will learn your SSN number by heart...It's needed for basically everything financial-related around here...

-The DMV is the best government agency! (lol..from my experience, anyways..)

-The USCIS is the worst government agency! (lol..I'm sure you'll all agree here too..)

-Save up for immigration-related fees! They keep on increasing and increasing....(and yes, I'm still in USCIS debt...lol..)

-Have everything "co-mingled and joint"....(lol..especially needed when dealing with the USCIS...)

-New words/phrases: "Co-pays", "HMOs", "What medical insurance do you have?"

-Milk is sold in gallon plastic jugs, and not plastic bags...

-Canadian Smarties are different from American Smarties (which are Canadian Rockets)....

-In some parts of the USA, it is colder than in some parts of Canada...

-American border guards are stricter than the Candian border guards...Have your paperwork ready when crossing borders!

-American patriotism can be a little too much at times...

-Nevertheless, Americans are generally nice and friendly towards Canadians..Which is a good thing!

Lol..I'm sure there are more things that I can think of....but I'll rather you discover the surprises on your own...

Hope this helps. Good luck with your journey, and may you find more surprises along the way too...

Ant

Edited March 17, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Malrothien 6]

Ant, this thread was from last year.

[antda 13]

Ant, this thread was from last year.

Mal-Lol..Then why was it listed on the Canada forum as a recent topic?

Someone else "resurrected" this old thread...(looking...my guess is VJ user "Residentangel", who posted here today...)

And poprocks...Did you find any more "surprises" along the way too?

Nevertheless, hope this message thread helps everyone else too..

Ant

Edited March 17, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA