Renewing my passport? (and a couple of other things)

[samack 79]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post, but I've been reading pretty much everything here - related to my case or not - since we started this process in January. I can't stress enough how valuable of a resource this is, because I likely would have been totally overwhelmed without it. In fact, I've found out about a few things in the past week alone that had the potential to slow everything down considerably had I not discovered some specifics in advance. I'm sure this has come up before, but I've waded pretty deep into the topics on this board (and I hope I was right to post my question here) and the board related to the K1 process in general, but I haven't seen anything that answers my question directly. Apologies if there's been an oversight on my part and this is actually a common question.

We received our NOA2 last week after what felt like forever. I was beginning to worry that we were actually going to wait for the entirety of the 5 month processing estimate. We're now waiting for our file to be sent to the NVC and then on to the embassy in Montreal, and I decided that it was best to start gathering up some of the things that are going to be needed down the road for the interview. Living in rural New Brunswick has taught me to do everything well in advance because of processing and shipping times, and the dreaded "oh, we don't do that here". While printing out instructions and other documents for the binder I'm putting together, I noticed that, at the time of your interview, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned entry into the US. Obviously we can't be sure when that's going to be, but my current passport is going to be expiring at the end of January, 2017. I'm currently assuming that everything will be done in July-August, though obviously not making any firm plans based on that because of how unpredictable this process can be, which means that my passport is set to expire either just before or just after those 6 months are up. Now, I know that the best option here is to renew my passport so that I don't encounter that problem at all, but my question is about when I should do that. Had I known sooner, I would have done it already. The current processing time for passport renewal is around a month, but I'm always worried that something will go awry and it'll end up taking longer than that. I wouldn't be concerned other than the fact that Packet 3 requires a scan of the biographic data page of your passport. Would it be better to renew it now and potentially risk delaying being able to send in P3, or would it be better to use it for my P3, renew it right after, request to have my old passport returned to me, and bring both with me to the interview to account for the discrepancy in the passport number? If proof of validity for 6 months is needed at the P3 stage, I guess my question is already answered.

Then again, maybe it's better to have to potentially delay sending my P3 than it is to risk not having a valid passport for the medical? I'm beginning to think my fiance is right when he tells me that I'm overthinking everything .

I also have a couple of other questions:

Immunizations: I have a call in to the public health nurse, but would like to be informed myself before I discuss things with her. I'm not sure that many people around here are familiar with the K1 process (I've gotten puzzled looks when I mention it - "...you mean...like that 90 Day Fiance show?"). I have absolutely no idea where my immunization record is and the only person who would know passed away around this time last year. Varicella isn't an issue because I had chicken pox when I was little, but I'm under the impression that I would have received the MMR and Td/TdAP vaccinations already because NB is, apparently, one of the provinces that makes those mandatory for children entering the public school system. I also have very vivid, tear-filled memories of my young self getting needles. That said, I definitely haven't had the Td/TdAP booster at any point in my life. I've read that you can get a blood test to show that you've had your initial vaccinations (do I just ask my doctor for that? she's new to the area and her patients and recently gave me some medical advice that doesn't make me all that confident that she's aware of the policies specific to New Brunswick so I'd like to go into that discussion informed as well), but if I received Td/TdAP when I was around 4 and have made it to the age of 28 without a booster, will I need to get the whole series of shots again? If so, I'll only have time to get the first unless I want to delay the whole visa by a year for the sake of getting the entire series. Is just the first one enough?

Background check: My cousin recently had to have two background checks done, one for work and one for school, and was able to walk into our local police station and get them free and on-site. I was just reading about having to submit electronic fingerprints and an application with a fee and actual processing times. Is this just based on the reason why you need one, or should I also be able to get mine immediately? Mine will be coming back completely clean.

I'm sure most of this has come up before, but I've waded pretty deep into the topics on this board (and I hope I was right to post my question here) and the board related to the K1 process in general, but I haven't seen anything current/that answers my question directly. Apologies if there's been an oversight on my part and all of this is redundant.

Thank you for all of your help!

[Teddy B 17,252]

You can get expedited or urgent service for your passport at an an extra cost. My wife had hers done within 3 days the last time we visited Windsor. I think it was na extra $60 if I remember correctly.

You can read more here: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/passport/times.asp

I believe this is the passport office you would need to go to in New Brunswick for expedite service.

Passport offices

Fredericton
Frederick Square
77 Westmorland Street, Suite 430
Fredericton, Nouveau-Brunswick
Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Edited April 21, 2016 by Teddy B

[falcngrl 3]

I had my doctor test for immunity and turned out that despite having boosters I wasn't immune to two of the three. Worth getting done and then you can get a new vaccine if needed

[NikLR 13,230]

Just get a new tdap and mmr.