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christinebee

Do Canadians get issued an immigrant visa prior to a green card?

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christinebee Apprentice

christinebee   1

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Canada
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I am a Canadian married to an American citizen and am in the process of getting a CR1. This may be a dumb question but 10 years ago (I was still a kid) my grandma sponsored me to move to the US. I got a green card but probably was only in the US for a month before coming back to Canada and surrendering the green card. On my DS260, there is a question that asks if I've ever had a visa issued for the US, and the month and year it was issued. I'm guessing that I technically received an immigrant visa before I got the green card ten years ago, so I have to answer yes. But I have no idea when it was issued (which they ask as well). I have a rough idea... Is it ok if I estimate as best I can or should I go through the obstacle of finding when it was issued? (I know I have to do a FOIA in order to dig into it but it'll take a month and I really want to get my paperwork moving!) Is it a big deal? Thanks in advance.

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,267

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
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Welcome to the forum. Someone should be along to answer your interesting question. If there's no firm answer or timely solution, you might attach a brief statement to explain matters as best you remember them.

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01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.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

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,227

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
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I am a Canadian married to an American citizen and am in the process of getting a CR1. This may be a dumb question but 10 years ago (I was still a kid) my grandma sponsored me to move to the US. I got a green card but probably was only in the US for a month before coming back to Canada and surrendering the green card. On my DS260, there is a question that asks if I've ever had a visa issued for the US, and the month and year it was issued. I'm guessing that I technically received an immigrant visa before I got the green card ten years ago, so I have to answer yes. But I have no idea when it was issued (which they ask as well). I have a rough idea... Is it ok if I estimate as best I can or should I go through the obstacle of finding when it was issued? (I know I have to do a FOIA in order to dig into it but it'll take a month and I really want to get my paperwork moving!) Is it a big deal? Thanks in advance.

Can you ask your parents or your grandmother?

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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christinebee Apprentice

christinebee   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Canada
 Timeline
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Posted

Can you ask your parents or your grandmother?

I have, but they don't seem to be very reliable with the details. They know it was in 2003, I guess that's over 10 years then! But that's about it. I think I can narrow it down a little by assuming we got the visa not too long after the interview date (that was September 2003). But I guess i'm just hoping that my best guess will be okay and they would understand if i'm off by a month or two. I just know doing the FOIA to get the info would also require a notarized letter and such and I just want to keep things moving and get my green card asap

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christinebee Apprentice

christinebee   1

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Canada
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Posted

You went through Consular Processing at a consulate in Canada, right (and not through Adjustment of Status in the US), right? Can you just look at your old passport from that time?

I did do Consular Processing. Thought about looking at the old passport too but I don't have it either as my parents kept it for me at the time (I was only 13) and they've divorced and moved many times since then so it'd be a miracle if it still existed! But thank you for the idea!

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Penguin_ie Grand Master

Penguin_ie   5,993

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ireland
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Estimate as best as you can, and then include a short explanation on a separate piece of paper explaining the situation.

Bye: Penguin

Me: Irish/ Swiss citizen, and now naturalised US citizen. Husband: USC; twin babies born Feb 08 in Ireland and a daughter in Feb 2010 in Arkansas who are all joint Irish/ USC. Did DCF (IR1) in 6 weeks via the Dublin, Ireland embassy and now living in Arkansas.

mod penguin.jpg

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Pitaya Grand Master

Pitaya   2,577

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: China
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Welcome to the forum.

Completed: K1/K2 (271 days) - AOS/EAD/AP (134 days) - ROC (279 days)

"Si vis amari, ama" - Seneca

 

 

 

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