DS-230

[bsd058 296]

I have been reading about what to expect after submitting the I-130 and I had a question about number 35 on the DS-230. I honestly have no clue how many times I've entered the US let alone naming the approximate times I've been in the US by date. I grew up on the border of the US and Canada and so I remember going there to the Ponderosa or the Sweden House Buffets for my birthday or after church on Sundays. I remember sleeping over because I had friends there. I remember going to theme parks like Cedar Point or Detroit vs. Toronto baseball games, or other events at the Silverdome. I remember going Christmas shopping at Birchwood Mall in Port Huron.

The point is that I've gone to the US so many times, that there is no way I could remember all of the times I've entered the US. Plus, since Canadians don't need a visa to enter the US, there would be no way I could find out. You never used to need a passport to enter the US until after 9/11. Anyways, since I've been to the US literally hundreds of times (too many times for me to count) I don't know how I could answer DS-230.

Can anyone offer some input on this as to how a Canadian who has entered the US a lot and cannot even remember all of the times they entered because they were younger? Should I just wait for this step and call the NVC when they request the form?

Thanks.

[canadian_wife 1,829]

Nice avatar by the way!

Anyway, NVC knows that those of us in border towns travel to the US a lot. I wrote a letter and said that due to being in a border town I crossed many times, no visa necessary, I never violated the terms of my admittance nor did I over stay.

I then listed the few times that I rememberd, the most recent times, and how long I stayed. It was a non issue

Good luck - that avatar makes me think I've posted in places that I havent.

[bsd058 296]

Nice avatar by the way!

Anyway, NVC knows that those of us in border towns travel to the US a lot. I wrote a letter and said that due to being in a border town I crossed many times, no visa necessary, I never violated the terms of my admittance nor did I over stay.

I then listed the few times that I rememberd, the most recent times, and how long I stayed. It was a non issue

Good luck - that avatar makes me think I've posted in places that I havent.

Haha. I think I might have copied it from you. But I thought it was cool, so I wanted to keep using it. Hope you don't mind.

Ok, I think I can tell them when I've gone to the States for the past 5-6 years or so. I'll just do what you did. Write them a letter explaining my situation and name a bunch of times I went in the past 5 years or so by plane. I should have the stamps in my passport still for those ones.

Thanks.

[jaycali 415]

Yea, I would just list the most recent ones you remember, and then "multiple entries before xx/xx/xxxx with no violations or overstay." If they ask you at the consulate, you have a good excuse lol.

I sort of have the same problem, but to a far lesser extent. And I have stamps to count at least!

Edited June 9, 2012 by jaejayC

[Hugglebuggles 60]

You really don't need to list them all. Many people have had success just writing something like "multiple entries" They understand that many of us crossed frequently since childhood. Personally I just made a list of the times I crossed to visit my husband (then fiance) since that was relevant to our visa petition, but even that wasn't totally necessary.

I think the passport law didn't take effect until like 2007-08. And even after that in all the times I crossed I never received a single stamp, so its hard to remember exact dates.

[Saylin 1,605]

I also had the same problem: visiting the US multiple times since I was a baby. No way could I possibly remember everything.

Here's what I did though: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit (Feel free to take and tweak)

[bsd058 296]

I also had the same problem: visiting the US multiple times since I was a baby. No way could I possibly remember everything.

Here's what I did though: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lNEm0btviWXw89jNWv0fh1sgPpo8-f2DpVXdv3SFWss/edit (Feel free to take and tweak)

That's a good format to use. Thanks.