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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

There are quite a few things I like about the US.

- Food is cheaper than in Quebec.

- You can ask for your food to be put in a box in a restaurant!! Their plates are so BIG I can barely eat half of it, I used to "eat through the pain" because I felt horrible leaving food on my plate.

- Medication price (co-pay). Paid $0.87 for Birth Control and synthroid when Back home it would be around $15. When we first bought my medication last month, I was so surprised I asked the lady if there was a mistake.

I don't like;

-Not having street lights on parkways. I hate being in a car when it's dark. I grew up with lights everywhere, now if I am on a parkway it's so dark is stresses me out!

 

August 2011: Started talking to Brian
June 1st, 2012: Started dating (L)
July 29th 2012: Saw each other for the first time, met Family
August 2013: Got engaged
July 2014: Sent 1-129F petition
July 29th, 2014: Received NOA1.
February 5th, 2015: NOA2!
April 16th, 2015: Medical in Montréal
May 15th, 2015; Interview- APPROVED!
June 22nd, 2015: POE at Champlain Border

September 4th, 2015: Wedding! :dancing:
 

AOS/EAD/AP

February 20th, 2016: AOS/EAD/AP Package sent! (Received 2/25, yay for USPS delays!)

March 4th, 2016: NOA 1 for all 3 applications

March 11th, 2016: Hardcopies with all 3 receipt Numbers received

March 30th, 2016: Biometrics (as a code 2, Maybe have to go again?)

April 25th, 2016: Walk in for the SECOND Biometrics appoinment (Code 3 this time, Officer was not the happiest but told us to come back at noon and he'd let us in.)

May 16th, 2016: Submitted Service Request for I-765

June 8th, 2016: Called USCIS concerning delay, officer put another request in and said the previous one would like be ignored as it was created through their website.

June 21st, 2016: Contacted both NY Senators.

July 1st, 2016: RFIE for I-485.

July 8th, 2016; Sent Evidence Requested by USCIS. (Received July 13th)

July 15th, 2016; Emergency Advance Parole due to Family Emergency

July 27th, 2016; Contacted USCIS Ombudsman as my I-765 has been pending for 5 months.

July 30th,2016; EAD/AP have been approved!

 

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
Timeline
Posted

I really really really like the drive thru things over here! Especially the drive thru bank and the drive thru pharmacy!

Noa 1 August 15th 2011
Noa 2 March 2nd


NVC case numbers March 22nd
My sons AOS and IV bill paid March 23rd (status in progress)
My sons AOS and IV bill shows as paid March 26
My IV bill paid March 26
Both packages sent on March 26
My IV bill shows as paid on March 27th
CC on both cases March 30


Current record holder of fastest through the NVC :D

Medical exam in Stockholm April 13th
Interview on May 16th !!!

POE Anchorage July 12th!! 2012

July 2015 n-400 in the mail

September 2015, interview

October 23rd 2015, Oath ceremony!!!!!​​

Posted

I really really really like the drive thru things over here! Especially the drive thru bank and the drive thru pharmacy!

LOL took wifey to Sonic, to the drive in (some have drive thrus too). She was like this is pretty nice (this location is incredulously slow)

I was like this is super old style they have drive thrus mostly now, sonic is like the only place doing old school drive in still. We went to mcds drivethru and she then didnt seem all that enamored w/ it

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

LOL took wifey to Sonic, to the drive in (some have drive thrus too). She was like this is pretty nice (this location is incredulously slow)

I was like this is super old style they have drive thrus mostly now, sonic is like the only place doing old school drive in still. We went to mcds drivethru and she then didnt seem all that enamored w/ it

Sonic is really cool! Hubby was laughing at me because I was excited to see people with rollerskates on.. I kept staring at them. (Oh, and I love their vanilla shake too, yummy!)

 

August 2011: Started talking to Brian
June 1st, 2012: Started dating (L)
July 29th 2012: Saw each other for the first time, met Family
August 2013: Got engaged
July 2014: Sent 1-129F petition
July 29th, 2014: Received NOA1.
February 5th, 2015: NOA2!
April 16th, 2015: Medical in Montréal
May 15th, 2015; Interview- APPROVED!
June 22nd, 2015: POE at Champlain Border

September 4th, 2015: Wedding! :dancing:
 

AOS/EAD/AP

February 20th, 2016: AOS/EAD/AP Package sent! (Received 2/25, yay for USPS delays!)

March 4th, 2016: NOA 1 for all 3 applications

March 11th, 2016: Hardcopies with all 3 receipt Numbers received

March 30th, 2016: Biometrics (as a code 2, Maybe have to go again?)

April 25th, 2016: Walk in for the SECOND Biometrics appoinment (Code 3 this time, Officer was not the happiest but told us to come back at noon and he'd let us in.)

May 16th, 2016: Submitted Service Request for I-765

June 8th, 2016: Called USCIS concerning delay, officer put another request in and said the previous one would like be ignored as it was created through their website.

June 21st, 2016: Contacted both NY Senators.

July 1st, 2016: RFIE for I-485.

July 8th, 2016; Sent Evidence Requested by USCIS. (Received July 13th)

July 15th, 2016; Emergency Advance Parole due to Family Emergency

July 27th, 2016; Contacted USCIS Ombudsman as my I-765 has been pending for 5 months.

July 30th,2016; EAD/AP have been approved!

 

Filed: Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

We haven't moved yet, but my hubby is equally excited about Free shipping because he buys a lot of things out of the states already, vanilla Coke, and Chick-Fil-A. Everytime we visit my parents he literally begs for us to go to the grocery store to get vanilla Coke and to pick up some Chick-Fil-A on the way home because he loves their chicken sandwiches, haha.

January 2010: Met online and started chatting

May 2010: Met in person for the first time in Canada

March 2011: I moved to Canada (burr, so cold)

March 2012: Became common law in Canada

July 2012: Filed for Canadian Permanent Residency

April 2013: Became Canadian Permanent Resident

April 4, 2015: Got married (L)

December 2015: Decided to move back to the US

Currently saving up to move and waiting to file I-CR ...

Posted

I'm not there permanently yet but already I have my favourite.

Personal space!!! I used to work in London and every lunch break I'd leave the office and try and find a private spot to speak to my now-husband on Skype, read or send texts, check my bank balance, check emails, etc on my iPhone. Impossible. There were people everywhere. Even when I moved to as all town. You could not walk along the street without someone hearing or seeing you. The same with toilet cubicles. Far too small with no personal space in the UK. You often have your thighs pressed up against the disposal box (unless you push it with your foot out of the way as soon as you go into a cubicle like I do). But in the US I like being able to use a cubicle and not have any part of me touching something I don't want it to be touching. And people respect your space too. Back to toilet cubicles - I hate it that when you go into a set of toilets in the UK and pick an empty one with empty ones all around, you can guarantee that the next person to arrive will take the very next cubicle to you, even if there are 15 free cubicles.

Timeline in brief:

Married: September 27, 2014

I-130 filed: February 5, 2016

NOA1: February 8, 2016 Nebraska

NOA2: July 21, 2016

Interview: December 6, 2016 London

POE: December 19, 2016 Las Vegas

N-400 filed: September 30, 2019

Interview: March 22, 2021 Seattle

Oath: March 22, 2021 COVID-style same-day oath

 

Now a US citizen!

  • 4 weeks later...
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

The good:

1. Food prices - everything is way cheaper here than in Canada, not to mention the coupon craze and the whole BOGO idea!

2. House prices - we just bought a house for less than a third of what we would similarly pay in Canada!

3. Sticks of butter - Butter come in a package with four sticks here, and I can't get over how useful it is and why Canada hasn't adopted this idea.

4. Target, Ross, Sonic, & Chick-Fil-a (although the first one recently popped up in Canada)

The not as good:

1. There are 10,000 fast food options. I don't understand the need for that much choice.

2. Health insurance - free health care is the one thing that makes me miss Canada the most.

3. Holidays - Americans go all out for every holiday. Like, overboard. They're productions. FEASTS.

I-129F Sent: 10/27/2014

I-129F NOA2: 5/11/2015

Consulate Received: 6/17/2015

Interview Date: 09/08/2015

Interview Result: AP - Needed new Police Certificate including middle name.

Visa in Hand: 09/18/2015

US Entry: 09/22/2015 (POE: Calgary International Airport)

Marriage: 10/24/2015

AOS (I-485, I-765, I-131) Sent: 11/02/2015

Electronic NOA received: 11/05/2015

Biometrics: 11/18/2015

EAD approved: 01/06/2016

EAD received: 01/13/2016

GC approved: 03/04/2016

GC received: 03/09/2016

Posted

My wife is absolutely addicted to frozen Snickers bars.
HER: honey will that ice cream bar make me fat?
ME: no, if you just have one every now / then its fine, not a lot.
HER: I eat them everyday.
ME: WHAT?
HER: I had 4 today.

ME: :no:

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
Timeline
Posted

Wife: Honey, does this dress make me look fat?

Husband: No, Dear; the dress doesn't make you look fat. You ARE fat!

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

The good:

1. Food prices - everything is way cheaper here than in Canada, not to mention the coupon craze and the whole BOGO idea!

2. House prices - we just bought a house for less than a third of what we would similarly pay in Canada!

3. Sticks of butter - Butter come in a package with four sticks here, and I can't get over how useful it is and why Canada hasn't adopted this idea.

4. Target, Ross, Sonic, & Chick-Fil-a (although the first one recently popped up in Canada)

The not as good:

1. There are 10,000 fast food options. I don't understand the need for that much choice.

2. Health insurance - free health care is the one thing that makes me miss Canada the most.

3. Holidays - Americans go all out for every holiday. Like, overboard. They're productions. FEASTS.

As much as yes, health care was free, I am happy I don't have to play the guess game anymore if I am sick. I was in Quebec (the Laurentides more precisely) and if I had to go see a doctor, NO WAY I could see my GP before a month or two, you have to call months early to schedule an appointment. I had to wake up at 5am and call the clinics hoping it wouldn't be full right away. Sometimes I had to try a couple days in a row before I was able to find a place somewhere.

Because yes, each clinic had a number you had to call at either 5 or 6 am. And usually, all the available places (they called them appointments) were taken within the first 5 minutes.

My husband had a bronchitis back in 2014 and we had to go to the ER at 2am. I was actually impressed to see how quickly it went. (We were out at 7 AM with blood test, Xray, Urine test done!).

Or lately, in OCTOBER he hurt his foot and we went to urgent care. 20 minutes wait before he was called in an office, 25-30 minutes for Xray and we were out.

Of course, you have to pay. But if I had the same service back in Quebec I wouldn't mind paying a little something.

I have to agree about the butter. It's so tiny and it even shows you how many tsp! I wish we had that where I lived.

 

August 2011: Started talking to Brian
June 1st, 2012: Started dating (L)
July 29th 2012: Saw each other for the first time, met Family
August 2013: Got engaged
July 2014: Sent 1-129F petition
July 29th, 2014: Received NOA1.
February 5th, 2015: NOA2!
April 16th, 2015: Medical in Montréal
May 15th, 2015; Interview- APPROVED!
June 22nd, 2015: POE at Champlain Border

September 4th, 2015: Wedding! :dancing:
 

AOS/EAD/AP

February 20th, 2016: AOS/EAD/AP Package sent! (Received 2/25, yay for USPS delays!)

March 4th, 2016: NOA 1 for all 3 applications

March 11th, 2016: Hardcopies with all 3 receipt Numbers received

March 30th, 2016: Biometrics (as a code 2, Maybe have to go again?)

April 25th, 2016: Walk in for the SECOND Biometrics appoinment (Code 3 this time, Officer was not the happiest but told us to come back at noon and he'd let us in.)

May 16th, 2016: Submitted Service Request for I-765

June 8th, 2016: Called USCIS concerning delay, officer put another request in and said the previous one would like be ignored as it was created through their website.

June 21st, 2016: Contacted both NY Senators.

July 1st, 2016: RFIE for I-485.

July 8th, 2016; Sent Evidence Requested by USCIS. (Received July 13th)

July 15th, 2016; Emergency Advance Parole due to Family Emergency

July 27th, 2016; Contacted USCIS Ombudsman as my I-765 has been pending for 5 months.

July 30th,2016; EAD/AP have been approved!

 

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

As much as yes, health care was free, I am happy I don't have to play the guess game anymore if I am sick. I was in Quebec (the Laurentides more precisely) and if I had to go see a doctor, NO WAY I could see my GP before a month or two, you have to call months early to schedule an appointment. I had to wake up at 5am and call the clinics hoping it wouldn't be full right away. Sometimes I had to try a couple days in a row before I was able to find a place somewhere.

Because yes, each clinic had a number you had to call at either 5 or 6 am. And usually, all the available places (they called them appointments) were taken within the first 5 minutes.

My husband had a bronchitis back in 2014 and we had to go to the ER at 2am. I was actually impressed to see how quickly it went. (We were out at 7 AM with blood test, Xray, Urine test done!).

Or lately, in OCTOBER he hurt his foot and we went to urgent care. 20 minutes wait before he was called in an office, 25-30 minutes for Xray and we were out.

Of course, you have to pay. But if I had the same service back in Quebec I wouldn't mind paying a little something.

I have to agree about the butter. It's so tiny and it even shows you how many tsp! I wish we had that where I lived.

Oh wow, apparently health care in Alberta is vastly different from Quebec! The longest I ever had to wait to see my family doctor was about 10 days, but usually could get in within a couple days, although that was in a small town which didn't hurt. I have yet to take advantage of my health insurance here, so we'll see how my opinion changes once that happens!

I-129F Sent: 10/27/2014

I-129F NOA2: 5/11/2015

Consulate Received: 6/17/2015

Interview Date: 09/08/2015

Interview Result: AP - Needed new Police Certificate including middle name.

Visa in Hand: 09/18/2015

US Entry: 09/22/2015 (POE: Calgary International Airport)

Marriage: 10/24/2015

AOS (I-485, I-765, I-131) Sent: 11/02/2015

Electronic NOA received: 11/05/2015

Biometrics: 11/18/2015

EAD approved: 01/06/2016

EAD received: 01/13/2016

GC approved: 03/04/2016

GC received: 03/09/2016

Filed: Country: Canada
Timeline
Posted

Oh wow, apparently health care in Alberta is vastly different from Quebec! The longest I ever had to wait to see my family doctor was about 10 days, but usually could get in within a couple days, although that was in a small town which didn't hurt. I have yet to take advantage of my health insurance here, so we'll see how my opinion changes once that happens!

Haha you're lucky then. My hubby got into a car wreck and ended up on a spine board for 5 hours here in Alberta before he got to a doctor. And at least in my town, when people say they are going to the hospital you have to expect it to be an all day affair where the wait time is usually between 6 and 8 hours. Even going to the emergency room unless you are willing to drive about 1.5 hours away to go to a medical facility in the boonies that actually gets their patients in and out at a decent time.

January 2010: Met online and started chatting

May 2010: Met in person for the first time in Canada

March 2011: I moved to Canada (burr, so cold)

March 2012: Became common law in Canada

July 2012: Filed for Canadian Permanent Residency

April 2013: Became Canadian Permanent Resident

April 4, 2015: Got married (L)

December 2015: Decided to move back to the US

Currently saving up to move and waiting to file I-CR ...

Posted

I love the drinks at Sonic and proper heating/cooling in the house. I'm not there perminantly yet, but there are so many more foods for people with gluten intolerance (me) so that's great too. The schools are also nicer in SO's area than they are in mine, but I am in a bad school area.

K-1 Jan 2016 Applicant timeline.

I-129f sent to lock box 7th January 2016.
Delivered 11th January 2016.
NOA1 sent to CSC January 14th 2016.
NOA1 Hard copy January 21st 2016.
RFE email 10th March 2016.
RFE hard copy - 21th March 2016.
RFE Evidence sent- 4th April 2016.
RFE Received by USCIS- 6th April 2016.
NOA2 Received by email dated 18th April 2016.
NOA2 hard copy - April 21st 2016
NVC Recieved- May 9th 2016.
NVC number received- May 9th 2016.
DS-160 filled out - 9th May 2016.
Medical - May 18th 2016
CEAC in Transit - 11th May 2016.
CEAC update embassy received medical- may 24th 2016
Interview- June 15th 2016. - approved!!
POE- July 13th 2016 -Chicago

Married July 18th 2016. (L)

AOS

Package sent- August 18th 2016

Arrived at Chicago Lockbox- August 20th 2016.

NOA 1 - August 25th 2016 (text received 27th).

AP NOA1- 22nd August 2016 (text received 27th).

EAD NOA1- 22nd August 2016 (email received 27th).

NOA1 Hard copies received- September 1st 2016.

Bio-metrics- 20th September 2016.

Request Initial Information for I-485 - October 6th 2016.

RFIE- Affidavit Support information October 11th 2016.

RFIE- Response sent Overnight USPS. October 17th 2016.

RFIE- Delivered October 18th 2016.

RFIE- Received by USCIS October 20th 2016.

EAD- Card Being produced November 17th 2016.

AP- Approved November 17th 2016.

Posted

So sorry, this will be weird. Since trash was picked up manually in the Philippines, I was like a kid and was mesmerized when I first saw the side/front loader garbage truck pick up our trash. :rofl::hehe:

I am in love with cook-out shakes and I miss NC.

Posted

So sorry, this will be weird. Since trash was picked up manually in the Philippines, I was like a kid and was mesmerized when I first saw the side/front loader garbage truck pick up our trash. :rofl::hehe:

I am in love with cook-out shakes and I miss NC.

Whats a cook-out shake?

 
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