were any of you ever majorly stressing out over finances before leaving and when in the states

[francie 0]

no im not. im a citizen of another country. i have an option to file for a residency here but my fiance hate the cold weather in canada and so we decided that il just move in california.

[trailmix 77]

so i called service canada just now. i am here in canada on a work visa but i pay ei and the other stuffs that a canadian pays. i asked the lady if i will bable to be grant a claim and she said that i she cant give me an answer until i filed for a claim.

this is her instruction:

1. file for a claim online when you're already in the usa.

2. fax a copy of ROE from canada and any document from the usa that says i am able to work e.g. greencard, ead blah blah..

questions:

you file for ead after you get married right? and then wait for 3months or so to get it?

you should file a claim for EI within 30 days of your last employment?

so how can i give them an ead if it will take me longer time to wait for that than filing an ei?

sorry for the confusion!

Not confusing. You ask, if you have to wait 3 months to get EAD, how can you give this to the EI office if you have to file within 30 days.

Well the answer is, of course, you cannot.

So what you do is go ahead and file and IF they say you need your EAD you will have to wait until you get it to submit it.

[SapphireDreams 71]

so i called service canada just now. i am here in canada on a work visa but i pay ei and the other stuffs that a canadian pays. i asked the lady if i will bable to be grant a claim and she said that i she cant give me an answer until i filed for a claim.

this is her instruction:

1. file for a claim online when you're already in the usa.

2. fax a copy of ROE from canada and any document from the usa that says i am able to work e.g. greencard, ead blah blah..

questions:

you file for ead after you get married right? and then wait for 3months or so to get it?

you should file a claim for EI within 30 days of your last employment?

so how can i give them an ead if it will take me longer time to wait for that than filing an ei?

sorry for the confusion!

Not confusing. You ask, if you have to wait 3 months to get EAD, how can you give this to the EI office if you have to file within 30 days.

Well the answer is, of course, you cannot.

So what you do is go ahead and file and IF they say you need your EAD you will have to wait until you get it to submit it.

I could be wrong, cause I'm just trying to figure all of this out myself, but we should provide them with the I-94 that we get when we cross - as the document that qualifies us to "work". I believe that is what others have done. It appears that they are not approving based on that anymore, and that once we get the EAD, they accept that and being the payments.

[RYCK 0]

EI is so dam slow to do anything that perhaps by the the time you hear anything you may already have your EAD ....

[JillA 2]

Thanks Sapphire! I never thought about that and technically, it will be my best friend filling out the form.

I just figured I couldn't collect EI if I was living in the States as well. Is that possible and I was just misinformed?

Yes! Many of us collect EI when moving to the US, it doesn't matter. Now, lately alot of people on K-1s have been getting rejected, so it's not a guarantee you'll be approved. But it's worth the try!

Two things jump out at me while reading this thread. One is yours JillA that says "now, lately, alot of people on K-1's have been getting rejected..." What can you tell me about that? It may be because they're not following the rules, but I'd sure like to know why.

The second comment was the OP saying because she was quitting that she wouldn't be able to get EI, and minnew saying that she didn't think she could collect EI until her EAD.

domegirl, yes, you can quit, and it can say you quit on the ROE...and don't wait for the ROE before you apply either. You've quit to relocate to the US to marry your husband, or live with your husband, so you can collect EI.

minnew, I did hear that people are not eligible for EI between their arrival date in the US and their EAD now as well, however two things to keep in mind. One is that you have to apply for your benefits before 30 days are over from your leaving your past job. You should apply for your EAD as soon as you get married, it shouldn't take that long to come in, much faster than they've been in the last few years anyway, and you'll get your monies backdated (minus 2 weeks), from your EAD approval date.

Hi Carla,

Jenni and Bo recently applied for EI and was refused, they sent her a letter stating until she could prove she was eligible to work (EAD or GC), she was not entitled to EI (she is on a K-1). Someone else was also refused, I can't recall who now. Anyway someone posted in the EI thread about recent changes how K-1's no longer get the EAD stamp at ANY poe and that may mean K-1's no longer can collect EI? Not sure, I even told Jenni to talk to Donna at the EI office she helped me and I am collecting it.

[RYCK 0]

I talked to Donna last Wed. she really wasn't any help .. she told me that K-1 is a work visa and to put work eligible on my cards .. but your always left in someone elses hands that will approve it or not.. I assume i'll be waiting at least another month or so to find out if they will pay me or not. and if they tell me i need an EAD then i'll get the EAD to them when it comes can only do what they ask of you ... but i'm sure it will be like a social security number .. some will get it some won't ...

[minnew 4]

Thanks Sapphire! I never thought about that and technically, it will be my best friend filling out the form.

I just figured I couldn't collect EI if I was living in the States as well. Is that possible and I was just misinformed?

Yes! Many of us collect EI when moving to the US, it doesn't matter. Now, lately alot of people on K-1s have been getting rejected, so it's not a guarantee you'll be approved. But it's worth the try!

Two things jump out at me while reading this thread. One is yours JillA that says "now, lately, alot of people on K-1's have been getting rejected..." What can you tell me about that? It may be because they're not following the rules, but I'd sure like to know why.

The second comment was the OP saying because she was quitting that she wouldn't be able to get EI, and minnew saying that she didn't think she could collect EI until her EAD.

domegirl, yes, you can quit, and it can say you quit on the ROE...and don't wait for the ROE before you apply either. You've quit to relocate to the US to marry your husband, or live with your husband, so you can collect EI.

minnew, I did hear that people are not eligible for EI between their arrival date in the US and their EAD now as well, however two things to keep in mind. One is that you have to apply for your benefits before 30 days are over from your leaving your past job. You should apply for your EAD as soon as you get married, it shouldn't take that long to come in, much faster than they've been in the last few years anyway, and you'll get your monies backdated (minus 2 weeks), from your EAD approval date.

Thanks Carla! That's the plan! I want as little gap as possible between my I-94 expiring and me receiving my EAD card, which means we send out AOS ASAP after the wedding. I will be working pretty much up until the day I move, so no problems there! Its just hard not knowing if my EI will be rejected during the date of arrival to when the I-94 expires, or if I will have to wait until my EAD comes. I wonder why they have been rejecting some people lately?

[lgg 2]

WOW!

Am I ever glad I found this post -- too bad so late into it so I'm replying up near the top!

But yeah, this has been my main concern since I got married to my USC... I'm an independent girl and have always taking care of myself so...

I'm working about 3 jobs in order to keep myself debt free and save money so that I can still live and help out like I normally do now.

The thing is... I live alone in a large apartment that I LOVE and i had chances to move in with friends and such but I didn't want to. I felt like I deserved to keep my place and live alone while I can before I live with my husband. not the best financial choice but from a mental health stand point the best!

But just wanted to say, this thread made me feel better because it's kind of hard these day trying to get it all done, right? Pay the bills, stay out of debt, enjoy life and still pad up the coffers so that we're not a financial drain on hour spouses once we get to a country that is in a bit of a financial piss-poor state.

Anyway... good luck to you all -- thanks a bunch for posting this, it makes me feel better and not quite so alone in trying to get it all done.

Best,

LGG

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to vent a little on the subject of finances. I don't make alot of money at my current job and i feel like every penny is being sucked down the drain.

If its not every day bills, its all those other crappy things that pop up like friends b-days or having to take my cat to the vet and spend 250$ there.

Then of course there is the matter of my debt which is not HUGE but still busting my chops every month to pay it down and fast as possible and it seems to be taking forever. I'm so afraid i won't have finished paying it by the time i'd have to move.

Then of course come all those beautiful bills that go along with the visa. passport, photos, translations, fees for this and that....medical fees that are ridiculous, FEES...FEES...FEES....ARGH!

I'm moving to Florida and being there without a car is pretty much impossible where i live. Moving from Montreal where I have taxis and the bus and metro at my disposal is going to be hard once again. After using the small amount of money I have saved for a used car I will be probably be at the financial mercy of my fiance which makes me feel bad. He says I shouldn't feel bad and i know i probably shouldn't but not being able to work and contribute sucks.

Anyone else ever felt like this?

[lgg 2]

And again... WOW!

This is my life now! No shopping for books or anything -- I buy food and second hand clothes and that's it... have been saving like a fiend but it's hard with all the bills and stuff coming up.

and yeah, I'm freaked out about the car issue too! I've always lived in Vancouver, Montreal or Toronto -- I ride a bike for gods' sake! I cannot imagine how I'll deal with having to get, maintain and drive a car! But i'll tell you, I'm going to do it my way and there will be biking and walking involved!

Anyway,

Again, ever single word I'm reading in this post is my life to this date!

Thanks again, guys...

LGG

Oh ya! I've totally changed my spending habits the past 5 months. No more shopping for clothes or shoes and all that good stuff i used to buy before. Even going to Chapters to buy a book is a big no-no considering i can easily spend 100$ while i'm in that store. LOL. My birthday is coming up in about 2 weeks and whatever cash i get for that from friends is going right into my savings pot where as usually i would buy whatever i wanted.

The only really big purchase I need to make right away in Florida will be my car and I'm hoping to buy used and not spend more than 5000$ on it. I used to live there and my parents owned gas stations and garages down there so our old head mechanic said he would try to help me out there. Thank God for good friends.

And of course my other big purchase is my kitchenaid mixer. I totally have to buy one once I'm down there. I'm a baking fanatic and thats another thing that will keep my super busy on those long days while my fiance is at work. Then he can have goodies to take to the office and I plan on donating the other batches i bake to the local abused women's shelter through my local police station. Cake makes people smile

Oh and I forgot to mention to you all, if you want to save big on something, make it your groceries. For the past year I have been involved with mothers online and other women who coupon and let me tell you....BIG SAVINGS THERE. Many of the women i know save 40-60% off their grocery bills. Couponing at the grocery store may seem like no big deal but you can actually come away with a lot of great things for pennies on the dollar or even free. Definitely a must for those of us who love to eat.

[Carlawarla 1]

Do you know if it was an outright refusal for Jennie and Bo? Or did they say your case cannot proceed until you have your EAD?

Did they tell them that he/she could apply then when they got their EAD? I'm confused, because if you're eligible, then you're eligible. If they've moved the dates because you can't be covered now before your EAD, fine, but when do they want you to apply now?

[Mephys 2]

I quit my job and moved to the US a few days later, then the week after I was here I filed for EI under my K-1 visa.

I did send them the sheet that explains that K-1 are eligible for work, and stated the same on the report cards. It took them a while to process all that and I talked to them over the phone a few times as well. And by the time it was all processed I had received my EAD. My K-1 was expiring in July and I got my EAD 3 weeks later.

So I filed in April, got my EAD in August, and in september they paid me everything from April to August all at once. I asked about the 3 weeks when I was not eligible between July and August and the lady said it was "waived". I got EI until I got my job in December.

I really don't know if I just got lucky or what, but it was sure great to have that kind of money to help around.

[betazed 0]

Fortunately I've paid off my student loan in full, so it's one debt I no longer have to worry about while in Seattle. I do have 1 credit card with a $500 balance left, but I should be able to pay that off as well by next week.

I'm very fortunate of my job. In terms of work, everyone's been sad about my leaving, but they understand that I got married to the guy I've been with even before I joined my job. They've been aware of this relationship for a good 4 years, and the marriage since last year. They did advise to give them "ample" notice; however, it;s because my job requires an enhanced security check & typing/general computer test prior to hiring anyone. Also, I also think they need me to train my successor on certain programs.

What I'm worried about is how long will I have to go without a job? Like many of the Canadians in the forum, the hardest adjustment will be from being in a full-time job to no job at all, especially with the economy in its current state.