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Newbies to the US from Canada: Anyone else having trouble adjusting?

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Transborderwife Veteran

Transborderwife   4,666

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Filed: Other Country: Canada
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Ok perhaps its a Canadian weather thing but I'm amazed at the lack of places here in Florida with laundry facilities! I hate the laundromat and only tend to go when our laundry has piled up so badly that it must be done!

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NikLR
NikLR

Driving for 2 years in CA with a Canadian license when you are a resident of California is actually against California law which requires new state residents to get a state driver's license within 10

Chalandrae
Chalandrae

I've been in the US for 7 months now and I am still having a hard time. My husband is patient and willing to help me, thank GOD. I miss Tim Hortons like crazy!! Dunkin Donut is similar but I don't l

journadian
journadian

M-ah-zda and m-aw-ada, p-ah-sta and p-aw-sta, zee zed... I'm living through that too. When I see the mazda commercials it weirds me out lol. I remember one time I was giving my postal code to a stor

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Chalandrae Enthusiast

Chalandrae   31

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
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After I pulled a muscle in my lower back and spend 3-4 days in pain (gradually decreasing, so I didn't think it required a doctor visit), I am missing the medication I could buy in Canada (Robaxacet FTW!). The first day I hurt my back, Hubby and I went to walgreens and asked if anything was available. We were told prescription only and ended up buying thermacare patch, but they were only selling the S/m size. I ended up spending an amazing evening covered in medical tape, trying to get the patch to hold in place.

So yes, I miss the over the conter medications. I understand they are more strict concerning that, but I got used to be able to go and get what I needed if I had hurt myself.

Oh, and I know it was mentionned a while ago, but I looked for Kraft peanut butter at the supermarket and they have NONE! My husband was cracking up as I said loudly ; WTH, you guys are missing all the good stuff in this world! (He uses the skippy brand. It's okay)

 

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!

 

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amicablebride Explorer

amicablebride   25

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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
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Yay! New England people! I'm just across the state line from you in Springfield, Ma, and originally from Saskatchewan.

One option to consider until you get your state teaching license is the charter school system. Not sure about Hartford, but they are desperate for teachers in my district, and are willing to help you get your licensure while you work.

Also, for those of us up in this corner of the country, there's an actual Tim Horton's location in New York, which I stumbled upon accidentally on a day trip. I might have cried a little when I found it. :)

Yay It's so exciting to find someone who came from the prairies to New England!! :D

And that's really good to know, I've never even heard of charter schools before... great idea! :idea:

Haha, yes I was happy to see a Tim Hortons in NYC... and once in the grocery store there was a shelf in the cookie aisle that had 6 lone chocolate bars on it... among them were Coffee Crisp and Bounty. They covered the French with a red sticker that had the ingredients in Spanish lol. I just about cried too! :crying:

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,227

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
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Wait what?! There's no Corn Pops in the states?? :crying: I hadn't even realized that yet lol

Oh there are, they are just different and suck.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Chalandrae Enthusiast

Chalandrae   31

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Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
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Yay It's so exciting to find someone who came from the prairies to New England!! :D

And that's really good to know, I've never even heard of charter schools before... great idea! :idea:

Haha, yes I was happy to see a Tim Hortons in NYC... and once in the grocery store there was a shelf in the cookie aisle that had 6 lone chocolate bars on it... among them were Coffee Crisp and Bounty. They covered the French with a red sticker that had the ingredients in Spanish lol. I just about cried too! :crying:

Oh that's wrong! we need our French haha!

And there will be a Tim Hortons in White Plains (Wrong side of the Tappan Zee for me, Damn!), 15-20 minutes away from where I live, yay!

 

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!

 

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goolia Enthusiast

goolia   54

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Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Canada
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Yay! New England people! I'm just across the state line from you in Springfield, Ma, and originally from Saskatchewan.

One option to consider until you get your state teaching license is the charter school system. Not sure about Hartford, but they are desperate for teachers in my district, and are willing to help you get your licensure while you work.

Also, for those of us up in this corner of the country, there's an actual Tim Horton's location in New York, which I stumbled upon accidentally on a day trip. I might have cried a little when I found it. :)

There are a few Tim's in NYC! I've definitely seen one inside Penn station and one in Times Square. They seem to be springing up in the northeast :).

K1, EAD/AP + AOS + ROC = 0 RFE's

 

Next step: Citizenship!

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Mad & J Explorer

Mad & J   25

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Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Canada
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You guys might be interested to know that Ruffles now sells All Dressed chips in the US! I found some at Publix last Friday and was a little over excited. :D

K1 Visa timeline: Application sent to Visa in hand: 10 months and 4 days (Texas Service Center)

02/26/2015: I-129F Application mailed to Texas lockbox

03/05/2015: NOA1 email notification

08/27/2015: NOA2! (176 days)

09/02/2015: Sent to NVC

09/14/2015: Called NVC and obtained MTL case number

09/18/2015: In Transit to MTL consulate

09/21/2015: Consulate received our file (24 days post-NOA2)

09/24/2015: Sent Packet 3 (unprompted, but CEAC status had updated a second time)

09/29/2015: Packet 4 received, interview scheduled. Still haven't received Packet 3, I advise not to wait for it!

10/09/2015: Received Packet 3 in the mail!

11/09/2015: Medical

12/16/2015: K1 Interview in Montreal (111 days from NOA2, 293 days total): Approved!

12/18/2015: CEAC status changed to Nonimmigrant Ready

12/21/2015: CEAC status changed to Nonimmigrant AP

12/24/2015: CEAC status changed to ISSUED! Merry Christmas!!

12/30/2015: Visa in hand

01/15/2016: POE @ Houlton, ME

01/22/2016: Married! (L)

AOS timeline: Application sent to card in hand: 6 months and 7 days.

01/25/2016: Mailed AOS, EAD & AP applications to Chicago via UPS

01/29/2016: NOA1 email notification x3

02/04/2016: Received NOA1 hard copies x3

02/29/2016: Still haven't received biometrics letter, Filed service request

03/30/2016: After more calls to Tier 2 and 2 service requests, letter still not received, USCIS said no appointment has been scheduled. Reached out to Congressman.

04/06/2016: Biometrics letter finally received thanks to Congressman's inquiry (Appointment scheduled 04/18/2016).

04/18/2016: Biometrics appointment

04/25/2016: Officially outside processing times for EAD/AP. Scheduled Infopass appointment for 05/10.

05/21/2016: Finally received email notice that EAD was approved on 05/19 after numerous service requests, infopass appt and ombudsman inquiry

05/23/2016: Received hard-copy letter notifying me that my AP was approved on the same day as my EAD. No hard-copy for EAD yet.

05/28/2016: Received EAD/AP Combo Card (122 days since filing).

06/21/2016: Received email notification of AOS interview (Appointment scheduled 07/21/2016)

07/21/2016: AOS interview. Approved, but file was missing medical. Local office can't issue GC until they receive medical from DOS.

07/25/2016: USCIS case status changed to New Card Is Being Produced!

08/01/2016: Green card in hand. ROC window opens Apr 29, 2018.

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Ontarkie Grand Master

Ontarkie   14,221

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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You guys might be interested to know that Ruffles now sells All Dressed chips in the US! I found some at Publix last Friday and was a little over excited. :D

I was excited too. They lack flavour and the zing but they will do till I go back and stock up.

Spoiler

Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

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amicablebride Explorer

amicablebride   25

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Canada
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I have noticed thrift shops here are rather umm...ghetto compared to ones in Canada.

I've noticed that too. Also their dollar stores are very ghetto compared to Canadian ones. I also miss Kijiji. lol

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Udella&Wiz Mentor

Udella&Wiz   325

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
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Posted (edited)

I had to laugh when I saw this thread. If I were to search back 8.5 yrs ago, I could find the same thread by all of us then. After about 2 months in the US I had the worst case of homesickness a person could have. I hated everything...the ketchup, the garbage food ingredients, the weather in Fahrenheit even :) I hated how the banks worked, I hated having to fill out an old fashioned deposit slip, picking up foreign currency was a nightmare (whereas at TD Canada Trust it was sooo easy). I hated the Dr's offices...they asked so many personal questions (how unconstitutional for god's sake!)

It does indeed get easier - at some point you stop hating everything if you let yourself relax and you'll find yourself thinking how weird something is when you go back home to Canada (yes, it will happen). I started being happy to get 'back home' to Virginia after visiting my family in Canada.

Don't get me wrong, I am fiercely Canadian still, although now a dual citizen. I see the greatness of both sides and I have had work opportunities which didn't exist back in Ontario. My kid settled in and adjusted over a much longer period (it was ugly for about 3-4 yrs)

Don't ever let someone tell you Canada is just like the US, they are so different.

Edited by Udella&Wiz

Wiz(USC) and Udella(Cdn & USC!)

Naturalization

02/22/11 - Filed

02/28/11 - NOA

03/28/11 - FP

06/17/11 - status change - scheduled for interview

06/20?/11 - received physical interview letter

07/13/11 - Interview in Fairfax,VA - easiest 10 minutes of my life

07/19/11 - Oath ceremony in Fairfax, VA

******************

Removal of Conditions

12/1/09 - received at VSC

12/2/09 - NOA's for self and daughter

01/12/10 - Biometrics completed

03/15/10 - 10 Green Card Received - self and daughter

******************

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Teddy B Grand Master

Teddy B   17,252

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
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I have noticed thrift shops here are rather umm...ghetto compared to ones in Canada.

I've noticed that too. Also their dollar stores are very ghetto compared to Canadian ones. I also miss Kijiji. lol

Are you both sure you weren't at Walmart?

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