Crossed at Coutts/Sweetgrass

[laura428 0]

We crossed the border at Coutts, AB / Sweetgrass, MT on Saturday afternoon so as to kickstart the whole SSN process for my hubby. When I called earlier in the week, I was advised to arrive between 8:00am and 4:00pm - a supervisor would be on duty just in case we needed them. Very glad to have gotten this advice, too, as the staff seemed to not know what to do with my husband. They got the supervisor, who actually pulled out a manual... whole thing took about 50 minutes after entering the building. (Plus the 20 minute wait to cross into the States, plus the 45 minute wait to cross back into Canada... way long while trying to keep a nine month old and two and a half year old entertained!)

Everyone was very nice, however. My husband also asked about what we'd need to do when we finally move everything down to the States. They told him to just provide our movers with copies of the visa page of his passport, the Canadian citizen page (called it something specific but can't remember... the one with his photo and info), and a copy of my US passport as well.

So, a very long trip (when added to the two and a half hours to Lethbridge (where we stayed overnight), and an hour fifteen to the border... then back again). I wish we'd had someone to watch the kids (and am sure they Holy cow, it DOES exist! wish we'd had someone, too), but it turned out ok. We're back, my husband's SSN should arrive at my folks' place in several weeks, and we'll be able to apply for a mortgage as soon as, if not before, we move down there.

I'm beginning to see that light at the end of the tunnel. Yay...

[tommysgirl 0]

Glad you made it across Laura

Thanks for mentioning phoning ahead as we will be crossing at a smaller border point also. Good to know.

[Flames9_RN 358]

As your probably already aware, by checking off the box doesnt gaurentee that the SSN wil arrive as planned. I waited for quite awhile, no SSN, had to make a trip down to the local SSn office!!

Same thing happened when I crossed in Maine, they had to get the book out and make a few phone calls, but al went well. congrats

Regarding the mortgage, he may not even be required. We just bought in the DC area and the mortgage stuff went on my wifes credit, was if I didnt even exist, lol I'm not on the mortgage, but when we came to closing I am on the actual house deed. Actually saved a few $$ (like $9) becuase the damn mortgage company charges you for the credit check, lol Best of luck

[laura428 0]

As your probably already aware, by checking off the box doesnt gaurentee that the SSN wil arrive as planned. I waited for quite awhile, no SSN, had to make a trip down to the local SSn office!!

Same thing happened when I crossed in Maine, they had to get the book out and make a few phone calls, but al went well. congrats

Regarding the mortgage, he may not even be required. We just bought in the DC area and the mortgage stuff went on my wifes credit, was if I didnt even exist, lol I'm not on the mortgage, but when we came to closing I am on the actual house deed. Actually saved a few $$ (like $9) becuase the damn mortgage company charges you for the credit check, lol Best of luck

About the SSN, I know... keeping our fingers crossed that we don't have a problem. About the mortgage... I WISH we could just apply using my credit, but we have a bit of a problem. Although I have an excellent score, my lack of revolving US credit causes me to be automatically declined for anything. Incredibly aggravating... even had one guy tell me that he could see my history, and saw that it was excellent, but could do nothing to help me without revolving credit history. (I got some bad advice when I moved to Canada five yrs ago... told I couldn't hold a US credit card outside of the States, so I naively canceled all of them. Oh, the regret.) So I thought, ok, I'll apply for a Canadian AMEX and do a global transfer, no problem... then soon after getting to the US, I'll have revolving credit with a great score, no prob. But AMEX requires personal income, not just household, and as a stay at home mom, I have none.

So...

I have excellent Canadian and US credit scores, but no US credit history and no income.

My husband has good income and Canadian credit score/history, but no US credit.

The mortgage broker we're working with is working with us to get the best rate with our situation... basically putting all of the mismatched pieces together. But because of my lack of US credit history, we'll need to rely on our Canadian histories and use my husband's income... hence the need for work status and SSN.

Make sense?

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yeppers, best of luck

[blahblah 0]

hey laura....

we got blaine's SSN in the mail 2 weeks after he activated his visa; hopefully, you'll have just as much luck.

we've started the mortgage process as well - the two lenders we've talked with have been more than willing to build a US credit history for blaine, using his canadian creditors (he has excellent credit, as well). perhaps you can explore that angle? email me if you want more details.

when are you guys planning to move? soon, i'm assuming.

take care!

kara

[laura428 0]

hey laura....

we got blaine's SSN in the mail 2 weeks after he activated his visa; hopefully, you'll have just as much luck.

we've started the mortgage process as well - the two lenders we've talked with have been more than willing to build a US credit history for blaine, using his canadian creditors (he has excellent credit, as well). perhaps you can explore that angle? email me if you want more details.

when are you guys planning to move? soon, i'm assuming.

take care!

kara

hey kara!

fortunately, we've got a great mortgage broker who seems willing to do what it takes to get us a good rate. he's willing to use brian's canadian credit history, as well as mine, so i think we'll be ok. if we run into any problems, though, i'll be giving you a shout.

we're moving as soon as we sell the house. we've had it on the market for two weeks... tons of showings (at least one a day), but no bites yet. two weeks seems like forever with the way calgary's been the last six months or so, but apparently things are starting to slow down here. supply has gone up (the number of listings is pretty much in line with any other september), so buyers have more to choose from. we're not worried, though... chatted with our realtor today who assured us that our house is priced just right. she's convinced we'll sell in the next week or so. hoping that's the case... with a 30-day close, we're hoping that the kids go trick or treating in warmer weather!

how's everything there? are you still at the same email addy?