EC&IC

I don't have insider knowledge, unfortunately. I assume it's sent to a central hub in each city, and then gets dispatched from there? My thought was that having it sent to my house, or even to an address listed in a town near me (90 min from Montreal), would add delays. So I asked for it to be sent to one of the addresses listed in Montreal, and I drove to go get it. It was ready two days after my interview! (On a Friday, which seems to be the trend.) (When I got there, at about 3 pm on a Friday, the offices seemed closed and there was no notice or anything... I was terrified that they were closed for the weekend! Fortunately, one lady waiting there told me that they were on their lunch break [!] and after a 25-min wait, they reopened and I got my papers. And crossed the border the next day!) (This is also a reply to @DijonMustard.)

Yes! 🙂

[Oh sorry, didn't see that others had replied already! I can't even find how to delete my post. 🤷‍♀️] It's this step in the process: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/the-immigrant-visa-process/step-5-collect-financial-evidence-and-other-supporting-documents/step-6-complete-online-visa-application.html

Unless I'm mistaken, what they need to see is proof that you have submitted the DS-260. I had a pdf entitled “Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application Confirmation”, that reads “Thank you—You have successfully submitted an Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Application (Form DS-260)”, and has two barcodes at the bottom. It's printed from the confirmation page after you've submitted the DS-260. I don't remember bringing a printout of the form itself. It might be different in Toronto, though...

The question wasn't addressed to me, but we were in the same situation. As my husband and I are freelancers and because of our intention to homeschool our children, we didn't have any “easy” proof, like a job offer or registration in schools. Here are the documents we sent the NVC initially to prove his intention to reestablish US domicile (included with his I-864): Bank statements proving that we moved a big chunk of our savings to our American bank account; Bank statements proving that we had been using our American credit card for six months in order to build credit; Proof that we were acquiring land to build a house on, a quote from our builder, and a copy of our email exchanges with the bank concerning our construction loan; Proof that my husband had voted in previous general elections, with screen captures going as far back as the electronic system allowed. I wasn't asked any more questions about this at our interview, it seems like that was proof enough. But we did have a joint sponsor living in the US, I don't know if that changes anything.

I agree. My husband was living in Canada with me at the time of my interview and he entered the US with me when I finally got my green card. Your husband has to enter the country either before or at the same time as you, he just can't stay behind and enter later. 🙂 As for a US address and phone number, we used my in-laws’, as we were planning on living with them for a little while before finding a place of our own. Good luck!

I think *some* people have had bad luck with a border officer who thought they weren't allowed to enter the US while their green card application was pending, and then at the interview they had to say that they had been denied entry to the US, and while they explained the situation to the interviewing officer, it created some delays after the interview, for some of them, because the officer had to investigate what really happened. Just in case this happens to you, you might want to bring some print-outs from the USCIS website or other official sources explicitly stating that you are allowed to enter while waiting for your green card! That way you could show them to the border agent if there is an issue.

I think that would create big problems and/or long delays—definitely “a big deal”. As I was waiting for my interview, one lady was talking with an agent saying that she needed to make sure she'd have her passport back within two weeks, I think because she also had an international trip planned, and the agent couldn't guarantee it. They need your passport to validate your identity and stick the temporary green card (sorry for my lack of vocabulary) in it. It's the last step before you can cross the border. Personally, I wouldn't want to do anything to create hurdles to that process, especially after waiting such a long time, but maybe someone else will have a good idea! I hope somebody else can offer ideas!

I had my interview on Wednesday, March 22, and my passport was ready for me to go pick it up in Montreal two days later! I saw on a previous post that they usually release them on Fridays; I don't know if that is true, but it was for me. According to the Google sheet, it seems to usually go faster than two weeks, but it really depends on your case—other users had issues at the interview or didn't get their medical results in time, which resulted in delays. We had to leave our house before the interview, and I had reserved temporary lodgings until the 28th. Fortunately that was enough for us! But it's stressful not to know. Good luck!

Oof, a road test too! Good luck!

I got my Wyoming driver’s license last week with only my Canadian passport containing the (stamped) visa, no other form. My license is valid for one year, based on the visa. I'll have to show the actual green card to extend the expiration date of the license. As yours isn't stamped, you might want to print out a few webpages showing that even unstamped, your visa is valid! At least that's what I would do. Also, I had to pass a knowledge test—so did my US citizen husband, since he had left the country for almost 20 years. I did a few tests online and read a few things specific to my state, and I passed (barely!) on the first try.

Thanks everybody—I'm busy and can't reply individually, but I appreciate everyone's input, and we'll definitely research this healthcare sharing ministry concept more in depth. We've also contacted insurance brokers, but we're still waiting to hear from them. In any case, thank you all.

Thank you. It all feels a bit overwhelming, this shopping for coverage during our current medical situation, but we'll take the time to investigate further, thanks for your input.

Thank you! I'd never heard of that option. Although we're in the middle of nowhere, and the closest provider shown on that website is 350 miles away... But thanks for the idea, it's still a possibility. Thank you. We're in Wyoming, everything is far away, but I will look into this option as well!

Thank you. I will look into that, I have only heard good things from members. I also called insurance companies, but I wouldn't be covered either, it would only become effective May 1 at the earliest, with no retroactive coverage. Only Medicaid could have helped pay past bills, if our income was low enough. (As freelancers, it varies a lot, but my husband had a better year last year...) Thank you.

I got my green card and entered the US last week. We are working on getting health coverage (technically, we applied for a healthcare sharing ministry), but it will take at least three weeks to become effective (it would start on May 1). I just learned that I had a missed miscarriage, i.e., the baby has unfortunately died, but my body hasn't “realized” it. The OBGYN recommended a D&C if it doesn't pass naturally within a few days, and the hospital told me it would cost at least $8,000, up to $25,000 if there are complications (although there is a 30% discount for people who are uninsured). I’m trying to see if there is any way I can get some kind of financial help with this procedure, I don't want to miss any program I didn't hear of. I called Medicaid, since they have a program called “Presumptive Eligibility For Pregnant Women”, but I don't qualify because of our income of the last year. They also have a program called Emergency Services for Non-Citizens, but you have to have been a permanent resident for at least 5 years. I will look into whether I am still covered by my (Canadian) provincial insurance plan, but I assume that since I am not traveling but rather moving here, I will not be covered. So I'm looking into US solutions. Does anybody know of anything? Program, NGO, whatever? I understand that we might have to pay, and that it's what happens when you make such big life changes, but I wouldn't want to just be ignorant of something useful. The stress of the move and the sad situation (this is my 4th miscarriage in a row) kind of mess with my ability to think straight. Thank you.

Congratulations!!! I was wondering when you would update us! I don't know much about stamping, but I seem to remember him telling me that the visa + the stamp were my temporary green card, until I received it by mail. But a quick online search seems to indicate that even without a stamp, you don't have a problem. I would look into it if I were you, but I don't think you need to worry. Congratulations, fellow permanent resident!

I would just like to report on our experience. Despite our after-market TPMS and invoice proving its installation by a mechanic, we were unsuccessful in importing our 2019 RAV4 at the Derby Line, VT POE on March 25. The officer told us that Toyota *had* to install the system, and that he used to work in the field and “knew” it was possible, despite what Toyota Canada had told us. So we entered without importing the car, and a few days later, my husband brought the car to a Toyota dealership in Idaho. They called Toyota engineers, who told them it was indeed impossible... There was no way they could install it. As we live 12 hours from the closest border and because of our family situation, we decided not to try multiple PoEs, and get rid of the car instead. Fortunately, we successfully sold our car to a Toyota dealership in Idaho yesterday! We were very clear about the importation situation, and it took a while to make it clear that we didn't have a separate piece of paper called “title” as American cars do, but they bought it for 25% more money than my husband had been promised as a “Kelly blue book offer” in Canada, and we traded it in for an American car. Done! I'm mentioning it in case anybody has the same issue and wonders if their car can be sold in the US. Thanks to everyone who posted in this thread. It is possible that like previous posters, we would have been successful after multiple tries, but in our case, getting rid of the car was the easiest solution, and we're happy that the issue is resolved.

We sold our car to a Toyota dealership in Idaho yesterday!!! 🥳 We were very clear about the importation situation, and it took a while to make it clear that we didn't have a separate piece of paper called “title” as American cars do, but they bought it for even more money than my husband had been promised as a “Kelly blue book offer” in Canada, and we traded it in for an American car. Problem solved! I'm mentioning it in case anybody has the same issue. It cost us a bit, but less than we expected, and at this stage, we just wanted to get it over with. It would be nice, but no. I think it's the same thing as someone who is already in the US having to go back to the border to renew their visa (at least, that's how it works in Canada, I think). You can't have your car already in the US if you're trying to import it, and an airport parking lot is “already in the US”. Here's the thread we had found on this topic—some people have luck with the after-market TPMS system, but it appears most people don't: —

I don't know... I got the email after seven days, but I don't know when the results were sent. Check your spam, maybe, or wait a day or two? You could also call them back to make sure that they wrote your email down right? But if they say it has been sent, that seems like the most important part!

Yeah, we’re just not sure we want to do the long drive just to be denied again. It would be one thing if we were living close to multiple borders, but we're too far. Although it might be our plan A—first try again to import the car, but if it doesn't work, we'll drive to a Toyota dealership in Canada... Although my husband said that according to what he read, even if they let us in, they're in the wrong, and we might get stuck later. Not sure! If you bought your car in the US, you shouldn't have a problem! But I understand the nervousness!

Just an update—we successfully crossed the border on Saturday, my green card was no issue (although they asked twice to see my packet, and we had to show them the letter that came with my passport, saying the packet was electronic!), but we had to wait two hours at the border and in the end could not import our car... We had read the threads about successfully importing a car without a TPMS (tire pressure monitoring system), since that is the one difference between American and Canadian RAV4s, but our after-market system bought on Amazon didn't make the cut. The border agent told us Toyota Canada was wrong in telling us it was impossible to install, so we had to have it done *by Toyota* before we could import it, but my husband was told yesterday by Toyota in Idaho that they couldn't do it. They even called engineers at the main office, because it seems so absurd. So we will have to go back to Canada (a 12-hour drive to the closest border), sell our paid-off, perfectly good car at a loss, and buy a car here in the US... Just letting you guys know, in case you got a conformity letter that mentions the TPMS. I guess some people got lucky and were able to import their car, but if you aren't one of those, it becomes a mess. From what we understand, until we can get a car registered in the US, our “residency” situation is complicated—we can't give up our residency in Canada since that's where our car is insured. So we'll have to deal with this ASAP. What we should have done is sell our car while we were still in Canada, and have my (American) husband cross the border to buy a car in the US before our move. This is such an absurd situation and reason for trouble. A tire pressure monitoring system! But oh well. At least we're here! Good luck to everyone!

It took seven calendar days. Let us know how it goes! Good luck!

It has to be a good sign! Good luck!!!

I have my passport!!! I got the email today (Friday) at 10:17 saying that the documents were ready for pickup at BLS in Montreal. I saw a previous post saying that they were usually sent on Fridays, and it was true for me. I almost got a heart attack once I got there, at 2:40 pm, after 1.5 hours of driving (with the kids!), and the doors of their offices were closed! No sign or anything explaining it. A lady who was sitting nearby told me she had been told they were on their lunch break...! They reopened at 3:00pm and I easily got my documents. But that was a stressful way to end a stressful 544-day process! We're crossing the border tomorrow. Thank you so much to everyone on this forum, all the posts and comments were extremely useful and we really appreciate it. Good luck to everyone, this is a very difficult process and it was often hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel... But we do get there!