US Idiot strikes again. Where can I get a US bank Drawn M.O. in Ontario?

[Married_my_love 0]

For the AOS Fee Bill, yeah, I went to two Western Unions in London, neither did money orders, and like a FOOOOOOL I went into Canada Post and bought a money order there, in U.S. funds, and now I'm seeing "drawn on U.S. bank" and so I called NVC and they confirmed, NOPE they won't take the postal money order. ARGH.

Are there US banks, sister banks, somewhere here, I feel like such an idiot. My husband has an account at Bank of Montreal, I wonder if they could do a money order drawn on a US bank?

help me here people... help the foolish american in canada get money for the gov't

[Jersey Girl 2]

Get in the car. Go to Detroit. Get a money order at a U.S. bank there. If you do this on a Saturday, call ahead to make sure they're open.

Longshot: A BMO money order in U.S. funds may, in fact, be drawn on a U.S. affiliate bank. It will say so on the mo. In fact, any big bank may operate this way. You don't need an account to buy a mo. Make some calls.

Edited August 5, 2006 by Jersey Girl

[evilcanuck 0]

I went to my bank, Royal Bank...and asked for a US money order. Worked fine for me. I sent in the I129F from canada with the money order I bought in canada.

[BC_Ed 0]

If you find a CIBC open I believe they have bank drafts drawn on Chase Manhatten in the US.

[Married_my_love 0]

Get in the car. Go to Detroit. Get a money order at a U.S. bank there. If you do this on a Saturday, call ahead to make sure they're open.

Longshot: A BMO money order in U.S. funds may, in fact, be drawn on a U.S. affiliate bank. It will say so on the mo. In fact, any big bank may operate this way. You don't need an account to buy a mo. Make some calls.

OMG could you imagine if I drove over to get the M.O. in Deeetroit and didn't get back

I have my letter from the embassy saying I'm "in" but I don't have my stamp in passport yet

that is a good idea though, because I could mail it priority from US and they'd get it fast and cheaper, hmmm, you've got something here.

BMO is closed Saturdays so I'm outta luck there, I have another snaffu that my ATM card was lost and my US bank has tried for 6 weeks to get me a new one, they are being moronic about mailing it to a canada postal code.

Anywho, I just feel el stupido.

[Jersey Girl 2]

Personally, I'd rather get a U.S. mo rather than a Canadian one (drawn on a U.S. bank) because some drone may reject anything that says BMO or CIBC in big letters.

If you opt for The Motor City, and just go down for the day as a visitor, I doubt you'd have any trouble coming back to Canada, especially if you have proof that your Landed Status is approved. Just don't buy a lot of stuff or you'll be pulled aside to pay duty.

You won't need your U.S. bank card. But you will need American cash. Get it at any Canadian bank before you head for the border.

Is there someone in the States who'd let you use their address and forward your mail? It would be handy for things like your U.S. bank card, and who knows what's coming ... At some point, the question of your U.S. domicile and job are going to come up, right? What about the Affidavit of Support?

Here's a trick to make sure you follow inststrctions to the letter. Next time, read every single word on the page, slowly and out loud. Twice. After you've filled out the form, do this agiain. You'll be surpriseed how many things you missed. Or where you forget to write N/A, which is what they like to see rather than a blank, which can be interpreted as avoidance of the question.

When you've quadruple checked everything, give it to someone else to check. After it's put to bed, enjoy a Canadian beer. While you still can!

Edited August 5, 2006 by Jersey Girl

[Married_my_love 0]

Is there someone in the States who'd let you use their address and forward your mail?

I do have someone doing that but my bank wouldn't allow it, long story, but before we left they knew they were hustling to get it because we were leaving on "vacation" to canada. So my contact at the bank already knew I was up here when they made the goof. They're trying for the 4th time this week to mail it to me.

What about the Affidavit of Support?

Bro is doing joint sponsor.

thanks for the re-read- and read again tips. I think last week I was just so blown away we were still in the running, y'know? I have been very frazzled, so I need to calm down and breathe....!

Edited August 5, 2006 by Married_my_love

[Married_my_love 0]

If you find a CIBC open I believe they have bank drafts drawn on Chase Manhatten in the US.

Thanks BC ED! I just talked to the CIBC on my street, they're open on saturdays until 3, and will do the Chase MO for me. MUCH APPRECIATED!!

[Married_my_love 0]

MO in hand, Chase Manhattan, I'm off to Michigan!! Fort Gratiot has a PO open on Sats until 6 pm

Wish me luck at the POE

[Married_my_love 0]

Thanks to all of your GUIDANCE I successfully got a US Drawn MO and also got it in the Express by 3:40 pm in Michigan... no thanks to the mean mean US mail lady who only wanted to say NO NO NO you can't do that!!

The US border toll booth was down, so I got to the border in 1 hr flat, but sat there for 1:25 mins. Once in Michigan I raced to find this mystery post office, not knowing it was inside a GIANT mall. Shoulda seen me running thru this mall, as it was 3:35 and I was told it had to be stamped by 3:40 to get there monday. HA HA!

I got into the PO at 3:39, no kidding, and the postal lady DID NOT like that I was out of breath, I told her I drove 2:40 mins to mail this beloved envelope, and she didn't want to accept my package!!

I assured her she could accept something pre-stamped, and she ASSURED me it wouldn't get there monday... which was quite pleasing when she had to eat her words after she scanned it, and quietly say, "it will be there monday at 3 pm"

neener neener.

[Buttons 0]

lol

[Jersey Girl 2]

You're starting to remind me of Stephanie Plum. She's the screwy star of the detective novels written by Janet Evanovich. Stephanie works as a bounty hunter in Trenton, NJ. She's always narrowly missing some disaster or another as she tracks down the bad guys. It's total comedy. She has a gun but it's always lost at bottom of her purse. She gets tips from her grandmother, who's social life revolves around going to viewings at the local funeral parlour. She's involved with a drop-dead-gorgeous-Italian cop.

Hey, I'm glad you got the mo, and now know how close Michigan actually is. I'm glad you're going to read and re-read the instructions OUT LOUD. But I still have nagging doubts that you're supposed to be living and working in the States. Having a co-sponsor may not be enough, but I'm no expert. It seems you're still the sponsor and they want you to be somewhat stable and reliable. Makes sense, right? You may want to post a question in the CR-1 section and see what people have to say.

Meanwhile, slow down or you'll blow a main gasket. If things take an extra day, no big deal. If this approval is a gift from above, it'll happen with or without the madcap comedy. But if you find yourself in a mall again, here's a reading list that'll keep you calm for the rest of the process.

The Stephanie Plum series

* One For the Money

* Two For the Dough

* Three to Get Deadly

* Four to Score

* High Five

* Hot Six

* Seven Up

* Hard Eight

* Visions of Sugar Plums

* To the Nines

* Ten Big Ones

* Eleven on Top

* Twelve Sharp

Edited August 6, 2006 by Jersey Girl

[Married_my_love 0]

But I still have nagging doubts that you're supposed to be living and working in the States. Having a co-sponsor may not be enough, but I'm no expert.

A petitioner residing in the United States should file Form I-130 at the Service Center with jurisdiction over the petitioner's place of residence. Petitioners residing in Canada can also file with the Vermont Service Center