Canadian DCFs Waiting for Interview in Montreal

[Norah 0]

great! good luck

[Stephen&Kim 1]

We actually got chewed out alittle for bringing too much information, also my lovely lawyer made about 200 too many copies at about a dollar piece ofcourse.

However even as such if I had to do it again I would of still brought pretty much what I did, I suppose it could be different for everyone though they really didn't look at much except the consent letters for my step children.

What kind of consent letters were required? My husband the USC has just petitioned for me (the Canadian, his wife) and my son (his step-son). We thought we might have to get a letter and take it to the courts to create a new final court order. Can you tell me about the consent letters? Please?

[sammy060382 1]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I finally arrived in the U.S. on Sunday. The movers have yet to arrive so we are still living with a very minimal amount of things right now. However, the last couple of days have certainly been filled with excitement as we start our new life out here.

One strange thing I thought i'd ask about to anyone else that has now made the move to the U.S. - my husband was informed by the customs official at the point of entry that he would receive his SSN in 6 to 8 months. I was floored when I heard this and this doesn't seem to match other people's experiences on this board. Was the custom's official just wrong or confused perhaps? My husband did check off the box on the DS-230 form that he wanted to apply for a SSN number as well, but my assumption is it would arrive shortly after we moved here. Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks,

- Sam

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

Stephen&Kim - in my case, when we went to our interview, I had to have either a notarized letter from his biological father stating that he gave consent for me to take my son to the US to live, along with a copy of his ID OR a court ordered custody document stating that I had sole custody and that his father had NO access. Since he hadn't ever been in my son's life, I went to the court and got my original custody doc from 15 years ago changed to SOLE custody with NO access for my ex - it was exactly what the consulate needed from me.

That's just my experience, I think sometimes it varies slightly on what exactly the letter and/or court docs need to say.

Good luck with everything.

Sammy - I *think* that if your hubby doesn't get his SS in 3 weeks you should just go down to your local SS office, bring along his green card and apply for it in person. I received my SS card approx. 2 weeks after I went to the office.

[OBX 51]

Sammy - I *think* that if your hubby doesn't get his SS in 3 weeks you should just go down to your local SS office, bring along his green card and apply for it in person. I received my SS card approx. 2 weeks after I went to the office.

^^Agree. I checked off the appropriate box on the DS-230 but went to the local social security office three weeks after my POE and applied. I had my card 6 days later. Good luck!

[housewife 1]

My husband got his SS card about 8 - 10 days after arriving. We wanted it faster and SS said there is a 3 week wait as they usually send it and they did.

Good luck to everyone. We are happily enjoying our US life, it's so good to be home (I'm the USC)

[birdnerd 5]

Hi all,

Glad to see people are still using the thread, although it's pretty quiet now. I hope that's a good thing, in that there aren't loads of people waiting around for interviews...

I'm not 100% up on the new system, but I'm happy to answer anyone's questions to the best of my ability.

As for SSN, I can't really help, as I already had one from a previous job in US.

I-130 Sent : 2010-01-25

I-130 NOA1 : 2010-02-26

I-130 Approved : 2010-03-25

Packet 3 Received : 2010-03-25

Packet 3 Sent : 2010-03-26

Packet 4 Received : 2010-09-17

Interview Date : 2010-10-20

Interview Result : Approved

Visa Received : 2010-10-20

US Entry : 2010-10-28

Comments : Appear to have been caught up in the backlog at Montreal prior to the implementation of the new online scheduling system.

Processing Estimates/Stats : Your I-130 was approved in 27 days from your NOA1 date.

Your interview took 236 days from your I-130 NOA1 date.

Edited May 9, 2011 by birdnerd

[LuvIllinois 1]

I find this really frustrating...DCF is supposed to be faster, yet a ton of people are getting interviews 2 months before I did! The possible shut down caused a bit of a problem and I was lucky to snag an interview date before it all went down, but I'm trying to reschedule for an earlier date (mine is for July 12). My mother in law just suffered a heart attack on the weekend and it would be nice if we could get there asap. There are people on the regional forum that just got May dates (looks like they are possible K1? not too sure).

Don't mind me...I'm just venting. I'm still happy to have one coming up, but with this new development with my MIL, I would like to get going, as would my hubby (USC).

Edited May 9, 2011 by LuvIllinois

[Stephen&Kim 1]

I find this really frustrating...DCF is supposed to be faster, yet a ton of people are getting interviews 2 months before I did! The possible shut down caused a bit of a problem and I was lucky to snag an interview date before it all went down, but I'm trying to reschedule for an earlier date (mine is for July 12). My mother in law just suffered a heart attack on the weekend and it would be nice if we could get there asap. There are people on the regional forum that just got May dates (looks like they are possible K1? not too sure).

Don't mind me...I'm just venting. I'm still happy to have one coming up, but with this new development with my MIL, I would like to get going, as would my hubby (USC).

I thought I read somewhere (maybe even on the Montreal website) that you can expedite based on medical emergencies. Check out the montreal consulate website and look up expedites. You never know you may be able to speed things up.

Hope all turns out well for you and your MIL.

[LuvIllinois 1]

I thought I read somewhere (maybe even on the Montreal website) that you can expedite based on medical emergencies. Check out the montreal consulate website and look up expedites. You never know you may be able to speed things up.

Hope all turns out well for you and your MIL.

Thank you! I checked on the expedited info and there is a possibility of going that route. I'm not sure they would consider her illness "grave", she is being monitored at home and really doesn't know what is happening but we are pretty confident she will not die from it. Not sure they would be able to expedite in this case, but both inlaws really could use our help. My hubby is an only child and his Dad had quadruple bypass surgery 10 years ago and now his mom is having heart issues. They really need us there asap.

[sammy060382 1]

Hi everyone,

I thought i'd provide a quick update on how we're doing.

We've now been down in the States for over a month. It's been an amazing ride and it still feels like there still a lot that needs to get done even now (eg. getting an American driver's license, establishing credit, etc.). My husband was one of the many intending immigrants who ended up having to go to the SSN office even though he checked off that wanted to apply for his SSN at the same time as the permanent residency on the DS-230 form. Anyways, his SSN card arrived shortly after so that's all done now.

I think housewife noted that her husband had a lot of trouble getting credit cards, cell phones, etc. due to having no credit.

Well, my husband is having the same difficulties. He just recently got rejected by AT & T when he tried to get a 2 year plan for his IPhone and can't seem to get anywhere when he tries to apply for a credit card. It's definitely a weird feeling for him since he can't help but feel a little pessimistic as a result.

Otherwise, we're really enjoying ourselves and are getting used to life here.

Best of luck to anyone with an upcoming interview. It's a long journey, but it will be worth it!

- Sam

[adv 0]

Hi.

I have a question, which I hope someone can assist with. Do I apply for a normal visa when I want to submit the I-130?

I am a foreigner living in Canada with my family (USC) for 10 months. I have been invited to study at a US University for end Sept11, and it is now May22nd. I would like to immigrate to the US using the I-130 but not sure on the timing. My classes in the US starts end September. The other alternative is to get a F-1 visa, as the school is sending me an I-20.

A follow up question: my of 9 years does not work, and she is USC who has been here in Canada with me. She is here in Canada, vancouver, without a working permit. She is here as an accompanying spouse, and I am here on a study permit.

Timing is key, and if I don't apply for the GC, then I would have to come back to Canada end of the year and then apply, which would be really inconvenient.

The other alternative is to apply for the F-1 and then in August/ September apply for the I-130, but then I am concerned about crossing the border, and the questioning of my intent with going to study in the US.

Thanks for any advice.

adv

[mllover 0]

Adv, your question is a bit confusing but let me try to understand. You are Cdn? Your spouse is USC living in Canada?

You want to immigrate to US and attend school?

So why not get the 1-120 student visa and then get your spouse to move with you to US. Then you can submit an inbound application

for a US GC (NOT DCF). Then you HAVE to stay in the US while it's processing anyhow...

[Norah 0]

sitting in a hotel in Montreal, appointment in the morning. Hope it all goes well.

[housewife 1]

Hi everyone,

Glad to hear everyone who moved around my time of moveing is doing good. Nice to hear from all.

Update, we are doing well. Husband (the canadian) is so happy and enjoying the quality of life and I'm happy to be home. We both started a new business here together, so I now have 2 small businesiness at the moment and one of which required a course, and a test to get licensed.

Cost of living is so much cheaper. DH still is amazed at the huge difference in cost of living. He says he will have made back the moving expenses in a year or less.

As fo the credit, for us it was easier. For me, I kept one US credit card always no matter how long I lived in Canada so I had credit.

For my husband being with TD Canada and American Express it took about 8 weeks but he got his credit transfered (TD US will as a courtesy do a credit check on active open canadian td accounts and so will Amex) you have to wait till you have a US SS# and you will have a lot of back and forth with proof of stuff but after the inital paperwork it was all ok and my husband now has US credit and all is great. His phone went on mine so frustrated for him but not a big deal as he got the phone immediately.

Be patient. I can say that for us, looking back, no matter how frustrating it was, it went fast. In all of 8 - 10 weeks, DH was all set like he lived here forever.

8 - 10 weeks in the thick of it seems a long time but looking back it seems like we did everything so fast. Good Luck to all and happy moving.