That was fast

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

Hey everyone,just wanted to introduce myself. I like you am going through waiting for a visa. K1 to be exact - I'm from the Toronto area, shes from Jacksonville Florida. The route I chose was to get an immigration lawyer to make the process of interacting with the government a little more palatable. Our package was finished up and mailed out in late June, received on Canada Day (good sign I hope) in Vermont. We got the Notice of action 1 on July 10th. Then apparently our case was moved to the Texas center. We freaked out not knowing what was going on. Thankfully this forum helped and we feel better because we also have a notice which I think around here is classified Notice of Action 2, which we received yesterday in the form of an email and at the same time physical mail at her home in Florida. I've been reading and apparently that's very uncommon with months of waiting for that, so I'm grateful. Hopefully our visa will be processed soon and then I'll do my physical (its really dumb Canadians need this) and interview. We've been deeply in love for 5 years and can't take anymore delays.

I do have some tips passed along to me from my lawyer for people in similar circumstances - when putting your evidence of relationship packages together, Include EVERYTHING. We put in our phone records, printout of text messages, photos of us on every single occasion we visited, us with each others parents, notarized signed letters of happiness from our family and friends, trip receipts, travel booking itineraries, pictures of the engagement ring, receipt for the ring, Notarized love letters to each other, etc..

Also, if you don't have one - both of you should get a NEXUS card. Apparently this is good evidence of character for the immigrant as you've already been background checked and had some biometrics done. Not only that you will find the border almost virtually invisible when you travel. If you live in Southern Ontario you can also cross at the whirlpool bridge with a maximum 30 second waiting time pretty much at all times of day and flying is a breeze with your own lane for customs and security when you fly from Pearson. As a final side benefit, if you haven't filed for your visa yet (my lawyer keeps telling me to NEVER do this once it's filed), you can both travel over the border TOGETHER. We have gone on many sightseeing and shopping tours to Western New York, hassle and worry free.

Good luck to everyone and I'm sure I'll chime in often as I still need to get everything together to import my car and get a mover for my stuff.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

Oops, I got a notice of action but it was NOT the approval. Not yet. That sucks, but I'm sure it won't take too long with all of the junk I included...lol I guess im waiting for NOA 3 then.

[cee-gee 20]

Have you already received a hard copy of your noa1? If you have, what you may have received was an rfe (request for evidence), you won't know until you receive it. If it is an rfe, once you physically receive it you can send in the requested information. After that (if no other problems arise), you should receive an noa2 (there isn't an noa3).

We went with a lawyer too (our biggest mistake), and received an rfe. I thought when hiring a lawyer, we shouldn't have had any problems (as they should be experienced and know the process). I know hiring a lawyer wouldn't make the process any faster, but I thought it would put my mind at ease and things like rfe's shouldn't happen. Luckily, we hired our lawyer in stages and was able to continue on our own. After you receive your noa2, you have to wait for your lawyer to schedule everything... I was able to do it on my own in 2 days, if we had waited for our lawyer; it would have been about a week (I was able to call NVC for my case number and email the consulate- whereas a lawyer will wait for the hard copy to come in the mail before scheduling anything). I know I sound bitter about having a lawyer, whatever works for you, right?

You're lucky that your nexus lines are so short, where I live the nexus line is usually longer than the regular line! But not always, and when there isn't a line up, nexus does come in handy!

My fiancé and I have travelled together many times (before we filled and after- even one day before my k1 interview), and we have never encountered any problems while travelling together; it's actually been easier!

And I know with the excitement of everything, it can be easy to start planning. Don't get too ahead of yourself and start planning movers until you have your visa in hand, even if you have been approved; you can go into ap (which can take a couple of weeks). Better to be safe than sorry!

I'm not trying to put any worry in your mind, but anything can happen.

I hope you have a smooth- worry free journey!

Good luck!

[NikLR 13,232]

The transfer notice was just a transfer notice not NOA2. NOA2 is the decision on your case

Read up on the K1 and Montreal thread at the top of the forum since that is where you will be going for your interview.

You can do your medical at any of the physicans on this page: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Canada&cty=Montreal

There are plenty to choose from in the Toronto area. LOL Just remember most of them take cash only and you can book the medical after you book your interview date. Just remember you'll have 6 months from the medical date in which to move to the USA. Then you have 90 days in which to marry.

[lifeincandiland 0]

hey floridaboundcanuck, i'm also headed to Jax! We sent in our application in late April and just got notice that the approved case is on its way to NVC. All the best with everything, i'm sure I'll see you around the forums!

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

Have you already received a hard copy of your noa1?

Yup, and no request for evidence has been given. Then I received a transfer notice, which I mistook for a NOA 2, even though a NOA is written right on the paper.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

The transfer notice was just a transfer notice not NOA2. NOA2 is the decision on your case

Read up on the K1 and Montreal thread at the top of the forum since that is where you will be going for your interview.

You can do your medical at any of the physicans on this page: http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/index.php?ctry=Canada&cty=Montreal

There are plenty to choose from in the Toronto area. LOL Just remember most of them take cash only and you can book the medical after you book your interview date. Just remember you'll have 6 months from the medical date in which to move to the USA. Then you have 90 days in which to marry.

You just dropped my jaw with this one. I can't believe they only process K1's in Montreal. That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Toronto has the largest consulate in the largest city in the country with a full 3rd of the countries population surrounding it and I have to go to a province that thinks it's its own country and has a whole different culture and language? That's just great. Thanks for the info though.

[floridaboundcanuk 7]

hey floridaboundcanuck, i'm also headed to Jax! We sent in our application in late April and just got notice that the approved case is on its way to NVC. All the best with everything, i'm sure I'll see you around the forums!

Sweet....good luck. Maybe I'll see you around the Town Center.

As for the processing times, I hope to god this goes by faster. We started planning for this LAST SEPTEMBER. The last stretch is killing me.

[NikLR 13,232]

You just dropped my jaw with this one. I can't believe they only process K1's in Montreal. That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Toronto has the largest consulate in the largest city in the country with a full 3rd of the countries population surrounding it and I have to go to a province that thinks it's its own country and has a whole different culture and language? That's just great. Thanks for the info though.

They process K1 in Vancouver and Montreal. CR1/IR1 only have Montreal (I had to go there from Alberta). Luckily the Montreal consulate is downtown and as far as I understand, only a 5.5 hr train ride from Toronto. I was there for about a week getting my medical and interview. I think it's dumb that there is only 1 panel physician in the west and that's right near Vancouver.

Edited August 19, 2013 by NLR

[Udella&Wiz 325]

You just dropped my jaw with this one. I can't believe they only process K1's in Montreal. That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Toronto has the largest consulate in the largest city in the country with a full 3rd of the countries population surrounding it and I have to go to a province that thinks it's its own country and has a whole different culture and language? That's just great. Thanks for the info though.

You're going to an American consulate - they'll speak English Where they send you is dependent now here the Canadian Fiance lives. It is what it is and at least Toronto is close like someone noted above

Just a courtesy note - there are plenty of Francophones in the Canadian forum, careful on the Quebec comments - just saying

[carocaro 22]

You just dropped my jaw with this one. I can't believe they only process K1's in Montreal. That's the most retarded thing I've ever heard. Toronto has the largest consulate in the largest city in the country with a full 3rd of the countries population surrounding it and I have to go to a province that thinks it's its own country and has a whole different culture and language? That's just great. Thanks for the info though.

Alberta girl will be also remain quiet on that ;-)

Edited August 20, 2013 by carocaro