NVC Thread for Canadians

[Dualie 185]

I have a question hopefully someone here will have some insight on. My interview is on Feb 10, and I know I will be able to pick up my passport in Winnipeg when it arrives there. My question is...I have loose ends to tie up (employment; leases; pensions) before I can move. I am planning to move sometime toward the end of April. That being said, my husband lives only 3.5 hours away in ND...can I visit him in the meantime BEFORE actually crossing with the visa? Or is this unwise? I don't want to risk anything so if it's not smart, I guess I can suck it up and wait until April. I am not sure if this has been asked before, so I apologize if I am being redundant.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

[seavan123 1]

I have a question hopefully someone here will have some insight on. My interview is on Feb 10, and I know I will be able to pick up my passport in Winnipeg when it arrives there. My question is...I have loose ends to tie up (employment; leases; pensions) before I can move. I am planning to move sometime toward the end of April. That being said, my husband lives only 3.5 hours away in ND...can I visit him in the meantime BEFORE actually crossing with the visa? Or is this unwise? I don't want to risk anything so if it's not smart, I guess I can suck it up and wait until April. I am not sure if this has been asked before, so I apologize if I am being redundant.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

From what I understand, the best option would be to cross the border when you get your greencard - go through the interview at the border at your earliest convenience and then you are able to travel back and forth from Canada to the US at your will. I just had my interview today and got approved! But i am still a student in Canada until May of 2015, so I plan to go back and forth to school as I need to. Hope that helps! I think you are supposed to spend the majority of the year in the US - but I can't remember how much...perhaps someone else can respond to the details of this

[Dualie 185]

Thank you for responding seavan123. I was asking because I can't quit my job until April, and I work shift work - 12 hour shifts - which makes it very difficult to commute. I think you are right though, and I will just hold off and cross once I have given my notice and am on terminal leave. That way if there is anything I am required to handle across the border, I can go as a US resident and stay with a friend. The last thing I want to do is complicate things at that point. Thanks again!

[NikLR 13,227]

From what I understand, the best option would be to cross the border when you get your greencard - go through the interview at the border at your earliest convenience and then you are able to travel back and forth from Canada to the US at your will. I just had my interview today and got approved! But i am still a student in Canada until May of 2015, so I plan to go back and forth to school as I need to. Hope that helps! I think you are supposed to spend the majority of the year in the US - but I can't remember how much...perhaps someone else can respond to the details of this

You, unlike the other poster, will want to be cautious about doing this. Make sure any fees you may owe are completely paid before you activate your visa. Get your last medical check ups done by your doctor etc. Once you become a resident of the USA, you are no longer a resident of Canada. Tuition, medical care, etc... is all based on residency, not citizenship.

I have a question hopefully someone here will have some insight on. My interview is on Feb 10, and I know I will be able to pick up my passport in Winnipeg when it arrives there. My question is...I have loose ends to tie up (employment; leases; pensions) before I can move. I am planning to move sometime toward the end of April. That being said, my husband lives only 3.5 hours away in ND...can I visit him in the meantime BEFORE actually crossing with the visa? Or is this unwise? I don't want to risk anything so if it's not smart, I guess I can suck it up and wait until April. I am not sure if this has been asked before, so I apologize if I am being redundant.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

You have 6 months, but you can certainly cross and activate your visa if you want. As I stated above, just be careful because of residency issues. Because you're working part of the year in Canada, you will have a little bit of interesting things to do regarding taxes (you still have to file in Canada) in both countries.

[Dualie 185]

You, unlike the other poster, will want to be cautious about doing this. Make sure any fees you may owe are completely paid before you activate your visa. Get your last medical check ups done by your doctor etc. Once you become a resident of the USA, you are no longer a resident of Canada. Tuition, medical care, etc... is all based on residency, not citizenship.

You have 6 months, but you can certainly cross and activate your visa if you want. As I stated above, just be careful because of residency issues. Because you're working part of the year in Canada, you will have a little bit of interesting things to do regarding taxes (you still have to file in Canada) in both countries.

Yes, the 2015 taxes should be interesting for sure. I put my question to CBP and I will go with what they suggest. They were quick with a response regarding bringing six months worth of meds across the border. This is going to be an interesting spring...

[NikLR 13,227]

Keep form 2555 in mind for the US taxes. It's the foreign income exclusion form.

[Dualie 185]

Thanks NLR! Will do

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Put in my AOS and IV packages via email just now. I'm hoping they'll open it tomorrow and I'll get a scan date early in the week. I want this to be done so bad!

[mrs thb 331]

I have a question hopefully someone here will have some insight on. My interview is on Feb 10, and I know I will be able to pick up my passport in Winnipeg when it arrives there. My question is...I have loose ends to tie up (employment; leases; pensions) before I can move. I am planning to move sometime toward the end of April. That being said, my husband lives only 3.5 hours away in ND...can I visit him in the meantime BEFORE actually crossing with the visa? Or is this unwise? I don't want to risk anything so if it's not smart, I guess I can suck it up and wait until April. I am not sure if this has been asked before, so I apologize if I am being redundant.

Thanks in advance for your advice!

You, unlike the other poster, will want to be cautious about doing this. Make sure any fees you may owe are completely paid before you activate your visa. Get your last medical check ups done by your doctor etc. Once you become a resident of the USA, you are no longer a resident of Canada. Tuition, medical care, etc... is all based on residency, not citizenship.

You have 6 months, but you can certainly cross and activate your visa if you want. As I stated above, just be careful because of residency issues. Because you're working part of the year in Canada, you will have a little bit of interesting things to do regarding taxes (you still have to file in Canada) in both countries.

just another question to throw out there with this topic...if I understand NLR correctly (that yes you can visit without activation).

should one decide not to activate the visa that is in hand but decides to delay activation and visit...... does one also need to keep the number of days spent in the US in mind prior to the 6 months timeline on the visa lapsing? I would think so. this twisted journey sometimes gets me remembering one thing but forgetting another!!!!

to elaborate with an example... hypothetically a visa given May 2015....would indicate an activation by Nov 2015. if one spends 90 days in the US prior to the visa being issued, then one would only have 89 days left to visit the US before the 6 month visa window expires (and, of course to keep residency).

argh...if only life was simple!!!!!

Edited January 11, 2015 by mrs thb

[NikLR 13,227]

just another question to throw out there with this topic...if I understand NLR correctly (that yes you can visit without activation).

should one decide not to activate the visa that is in hand but decides to delay activation and visit...... does one also need to keep the number of days spent in the US in mind prior to the 6 months timeline on the visa lapsing? I would think so. this twisted journey sometimes gets me remembering one thing but forgetting another!!!!

to elaborate with an example... hypothetically a visa given May 2015....would indicate an activation by Nov 2015. if one spends 90 days in the US prior to the visa being issued, then one would only have 89 days left to visit the US before the 6 month window expires (and, of course to keep residency).

argh...if only life was simple!!!!!

No you likely CANNOT visit without activating the visa. Rarely a K1 may get through but it's up to the CBP officer.

You can return to Canada after activating your CR1/IR1 visa (thus turning it into a green card, valid for 1 year) to do anything you need or want. But understand during that time you are no longer a Canadian resident and do not qualify for any Canadian benefits like CCTB, Universal Child Care, GST cheques, or provincial health care.

You will have 6 months from the medical date to activiate the visa and should you choose to go to the USA bring your package because the CBP will most likely make you activate the visa and "POE".

Edited January 11, 2015 by NLR

[Dualie 185]

No you likely CANNOT visit without activating the visa. Rarely a K1 may get through but it's up to the CBP officer.

You can return to Canada after activating your CR1/IR1 visa (thus turning it into a green card, valid for 1 year) to do anything you need or want. But understand during that time you are no longer a Canadian resident and do not qualify for any Canadian benefits like CCTB, Universal Child Care, GST cheques, or provincial health care.

You will have 6 months from the medical date to activiate the visa and should you choose to go to the USA bring your package because the CBP will most likely make you activate the visa and "POE".

Ah, thank you for clarifying. Think I need to rework logistics...

[NikLR 13,227]

I realized due to that other post that I wasn't clear. Sorry about that!

[Dualie 185]

I realized due to that other post that I wasn't clear. Sorry about that!

That's quite alright!

[mrs thb 331]

No you likely CANNOT visit without activating the visa. Rarely a K1 may get through but it's up to the CBP officer.

You can return to Canada after activating your CR1/IR1 visa (thus turning it into a green card, valid for 1 year) to do anything you need or want. But understand during that time you are no longer a Canadian resident and do not qualify for any Canadian benefits like CCTB, Universal Child Care, GST cheques, or provincial health care.

You will have 6 months from the medical date to activiate the visa and should you choose to go to the USA bring your package because the CBP will most likely make you activate the visa and "POE".

ah ha, thanks for clarifying......you the wise gal!!!

and we ALL appreciate it!!!

thanks NLR!!

[Dualie 185]

Put in my AOS and IV packages via email just now. I'm hoping they'll open it tomorrow and I'll get a scan date early in the week. I want this to be done so bad!

We went off on a tangent there...I hope you get your scan date soon. I did EP and I got an email within 5 days or so...can't quite remember. But I know that besides the wait (it was 58 days I believe) I had no difficulty with NVC. I did have to call for the CC and find out about the interview, but with any luck your journey will be smooth also. Fingers crossed for no checklists for you!!