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Immigration Progress - Exciting News!! Dust, please?

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Spark,

I''m so happy for you! The light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck and let us know how it all turns out!!
 
******DUST******* for my wedding weekend twin!! (Haha.. since we''re not date twins... ok that was dumb.)

Hope it goes smoothly and quickly!!!
 
Poca - I seriously crack up every time I see "Cougs" STILL! I''m trying to work on a nickname for you but I just can''t think of one ... You just wait lady ... You have one comin although, admittedly, I do have a good feeling about you too!
Too bad! No GTG next week. Boo!
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Any suggestions about must do things in Montreal?? ... aside from my peeing my pants session with an immigration officer??

BB - Thank you! I''m loving the tons and tons and tons of dust!! Woohoo!!

Ally - Thanks so much! With everything you have going on right now ... thanks for taking the time out to wish me luck! I appreciate it! How is it going at home??? Improving by leaps and bounds?

Katy - Thank you as well ... No worries! I get excited about the same type of thing so ... Yay to us!
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Woohooooo!!! I totally missed this earlier, duh me...

How exciting! From one Canadian immigrant to another, welcome to Washington!! Hahaha!! I''m actually from TO then MO then TO again. To Seattle.

Hopefully your interview goes smoothly!
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What great news! I hope all goes well for you with no hiccups! (((((dust)))))
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Date: 1/13/2009 9:05:35 PM
Author: Alienor

Pjean,

Are you switching to a green card based on marriage to US citizen or work? Visajourney is addicting!! My AOS is done and I still go there, lol.

Like you, I was on a F-1 visa and adjusted while in the US. Good luck!!!

Based on marriage. I could probably have applied for an H-1B through work once I graduated, but I'd have to do this eventually, so I might as well get it over with. I do wish, however, that my EAD would hurry the heck up.
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Btw, I love your username. Are you a fan of Eleanor of Aquitaine, by any chance? /end threadjack.

Spark, I don't know that you'd be done by now. I still have to have all the medical exams, and interviews and general ridiculousness. No one can believe how hard it is for me to get residence, probably 'cause they're used to me being here, and I'm Canadian. We've started referring to me as a "stealth foreigner".
 
Based on marriage. I could probably have applied for an H-1B through work once I graduated, but I''d have to do this eventually, so I might as well get it over with. I do wish, however, that my EAD would hurry the heck up.
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Btw, I love your username. Are you a fan of Eleanor of Aquitaine, by any chance? /end threadjack.


Spark, I don''t know that you''d be done by now. I still have to have all the medical exams, and interviews and general ridiculousness. No one can believe how hard it is for me to get residence, probably ''cause they''re used to me being here, and I''m Canadian. We''ve started referring to me as a ''stealth foreigner''.

Ah! :) Alienor is the old name of Eleanor d''Aquitaine and yes, my parents named me after her. I read books about her, such a great lady. I even went to see her resting place! You are the first person who ever caught up on the origin of my name! *shakes hands with you*

You mentioned going through the medical but also waiting for your EAD? What step in the process are you? If your EAD takes more than 90 days, I recommend making an Infopass and getting an inquiry into your case. It should not take more than 90 days, unless you are stuck in a background check.

Sparkalicious and all other immigrants, I feel your pain. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
It took me 10 months myself... Make copies of all paperwork and stay on top of it!
A friend of a friend has a lawyer handling all the paperwork. When I asked her what visa she was applying for, she had no idea. I told her that she should have been getting her interview letter by now and needs to give USCIS a nudge but no, she trusts her lawyer blindly.

Sparkalicious, keep us updated on your interview!!
 
I just saw this, Spark, and I wanted to send you a ton of ****dust****.
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Good luck with the process!
 
Thanks sunnyd!
That's right ... You are a Canada -> US immigrant as well, aren't you?!!
I'm assuming that your process was completely different to mine or am I mistaken? Did you just complete all of this stuff recently?
Any suggestions as to what to do in Montreal in my spare time?? Thanks for the well wishes I really appreciate it! It's one week away today!! I cannot believe it. I have butterflies in my stomach!!
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Thanks for the warm WA welcome. ... We'll have to have our own little Pac NW GTG. I've got to see that beauty of a diamond ring in person.
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Joflier - I agree ... No hiccups! I appreciate the dust! Thank you! and .. Ditto to you ... I hope that all goes well with no hiccups!

Pjean - It's crazy how many of us have been through or are going through this process right now, isn't it? Have fun with that medical. From what I understand there are only 4 authorized doctors across Cda for this medical. 1 in Vancouver, where I went. 2 in Ontario and 1 in Quebec! It's a day long and depending on your age, there are some crazy vaccinations required. I'm so glad that I am too old but if you are under 26, I think, it is mandatory to have the HPV Virus vaccine. I found that really strange. Supposedly these vaccinations are for "public safety" but HPV and Zoster (shingles) virus vaccines ... seriously? Aren't those kind of elective? Just my opinion ... maybe just because I was sick of getting poked & prodded! Anyways ... as I was saying ... a big fat phew that I didn't have to do any crazy vaccines like that ... Just the ones that I already had through the course of growing up etc ... I found the chest xray pretty funny. I've never had one but I felt like I was one of those crazy bridal dress models who place their hands on their hips and push their elbows forward so that they are totally hunched over ... I had to do one of these
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to myself while I was getting xrayed b/c I couldn't believe that in the midst of all this medical stuff I still couldn't get my mind off of wedding stuff!!

I'm glad that I'm not the only one with incredulous friends and family ... Firstly, it's been a crazy long time. Secondly, there are so many hoops to jump. People just assume that you are already in order and when I tell them that I'm still going through the process they just can't believe it ... I may have to steal your nickname b/c I feel very much the same!! I guess it just won't be such a good idea to introduce myself as "The Stealth Foreigner" when meeting my Immigration Officer for the interview.
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Alienor - I'm all over it! Thanks for the fantastic advice. I've kept copies of everything and will be taking copies of everything with me to the interview even though they have acknowledged receipt of certain documents already. I just don't want to risk anything!! I have a consultant, however, nobody cares about this as much as me and my family so I decided to take ownership of it a long time ago. I don't want to leave anything to chance b/c I will have no one to blame but myself! My consultant has been helpful, however, whenever he was dragging his feet, I always followed up with him to get status updates. I am 100% certain that if we hadn't been vigilant that I would still be waiting for an interview. It's just too easy to fall b/n the cracks. Keep nudging your friend ... hopefully, she'll get it sooner than later!

Katamari - Thank you very much! I appreciate the good wishes!

I will absolutely keep you updated! Thank you ladies for continuing to keep my spirits up in this awful waiting period!
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Leaving for Montreal first thing tomorrow morning.
Immigration interview is on Wednesday morning. I''m getting really, really nervous!
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I would be forever grateful if you were able to keep any good wishes and special PS dust coming. I will be sure to update you as to the outcome early next week.

Thank you all for sharing my excitement and for caring enough to offer best wishes! It is very much appreciated.
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How exciting! Hope everything goes smoothly until the 21st. Sending you lots of
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DUST
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Still sending dust for you!!
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I am certain your interview went well!! I am just waiting for the details!
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Date: 1/21/2009 11:32:02 PM
Author: Alienor
I am certain your interview went well!! I am just waiting for the details!
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ditto!!! :-) still sending some dust! :-)
 
Just checking in to see how the interview went.
 
Thank you guys for your well wishes!!
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Sorry for the delay in getting an update to you but I''ve been travelling and just returned today ....

The interview went well. The officer who interviewed me was really pleasant and complimentary of my paperwork. Unfortunately, despite his efforts, he was unable to approve my visa on that date.
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Although I am a Canadian citizen, I was born in Jamaica and I presented them with my ORIGINAL birth certificate. Apparently, my ORIGINAL birth certificate (with all appropriate embossing and stamps etc) is TOO OLD!!!!!! - I''m in my 30s, by the way, so I''m not from the Middle Ages or something ... In order for them to go ahead and approve my visa,even though they conceded that they know that it is not a fraud issue and that they can tell that my b/c is an original, they need me to obtain a NEW birth certificate for myself from Jamaica. Sometime within the last couple of years they have come out with a new "security enhanced" birth registration form, which is now mandatory.

Once I manage to obtain this and send it back to the Consulate with my passport and the "conditional acceptance" letter that they gave me it should just be a matter of formality. I am hoping and praying that this all goes smoothly and very, very, very quickly.

My uncle is on it and he should receive a copy of my birth certificate on Monday and will be Fedexing it to me so that, once received, I can Fedex it to the Montreal Consulate.

Yes - I''m very disappointed that it didn''t happen right away like I needed/wanted it to but I''m hopeful that this means that I''m just that much closer to having this all wrapped up.

Your continued dust is very much welcome and appreciated.
 
platinumrock - Thank you for your wonderful well wishes!!
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AmberGretchen - Much, much appreciated

Alienor - I was sure that you were waiting. I''m sorry for the delayed update! I was jonesing to get on a computer but just couldn''t find enough time to get on one and send an update. Ugh. I''m sorry that I don''t have better news. I''ll still keep you updated!

BB - You''re too sweet. Thank you!

Thanks pjean - I guess that I can say that it did go well but not with the immediate outcome I would have preferred. Fingers crossed and some more dust, I''m hoping that it will be all good.
 
For those who are still interested in updates ....

I received my "new" birth certificate today, as, as per above update, my original birth certificate was "too old" and not on the new security enhanced format.

I should be able to send it off shortly! Woohoo! Let''s hope that that is it. As far as the correspondence reads, I should recv my visa within the next 4 weeks. Fingers crossed!!

On another note - something unrelated ... if you have anymore dust left in ya - I could definitely use it. I''m in a pretty bad situation, something I don''t feel comfy talking about yet and I could really use your dust and prayers to help me get through it.
 
Date: 1/25/2009 7:02:03 PM
Author: Sparkalicious

Once I manage to obtain this and send it back to the Consulate with my passport and the ''conditional acceptance'' letter that they gave me it should just be a matter of formality. I am hoping and praying that this all goes smoothly and very, very, very quickly.

Oh, for Pete''s sake. If that isn''t just typical. What a stupid technicality. I hope it''s cleared up ASAP.

Dust also for oncoming problems - I''m wishing you good things.
 
Spark Sending you a ton of dust for your problems, I hope they get resloved soon.

YAY for getting the new BC, should only be a matter of short time now :D
 
That is a bummer about the birth certificate but now, it should be all good. I highly doubt it would take them more than a couple of days to issue your passport with a visa. :)

Lots of dust for the issue, and remember there is always a brighter tomorrow... :) *hugs*
 
It''s just a formality Sparkalicious - once you send it in, you will be fine. The government is nuts about crossing T''s and dotting I''s. One guy I saw at the Sydney consulate could not be approved that day because his birth certificate had two middle names and his passport only had ONE of the middle names. How nuts is that? It was his second time going through the greencard lottery process (he was lucky enough to win twice...the first time he went through AOS and time ran out and the second time he flew all the way from NYC, where he was living on a work visa, to Sydney to do it through Consular Processing instead) and all of it was extremely stressful for him.

Don''t worry, and an early congrats to you!
 
Hey Sparky, just seeing this thread now sweetie. Yay for getting your visa, bugger about the stupid formalitlies, but it''s good that it''s all working out now.

Sending you heaps of dust sweetie, when you want to vent or talk, we are here, but in the mean time just know that we are thinking of ya buddy *mwha*
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*pouring dust, dust and more dust all over the place*

Good luck getting everything with your visa and your other stuff resolved. We''re here for you!
 
So behind the times...sorry about your BC being sooooo old
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, how ridonkulous! Glad it's getting figured out though, that's good news!

My story wouldn't have helped you any; I moved here when I was 9. So I really didn't have to do anything, my parents did! Sorry!
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Yay for a Pac NW GTG! I wanna see that beaut on your finger as well.
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pjean - Isn''t it just?! I almost had to laugh when he told me b/c there just had to be something, right? Even after waiting for so long, it just couldn''t be so easy, could it?!! Well ... as you know, I did recv my bc (SO QUICKLY!! - thank goodness) and I sent it off and received confirmation from Fedex this morning that it has been received at the Consulate in Montreal!! I''m excited, relieved, glad and just hoping that they are able to review and send me my visa ASAP!! I''ve been a nervous wreck ... Soooo close.
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and thank you! Very, very much appreciated!!

Dee - Thank you, sweetie. I really appreciate it. I''ve been trying to stay away from PS as I''m just a basketcase and can''t stop crying. I''m certain that your dust and good wishes will help with both expediting the immigration process and with my other issue. It''s helped already! I sent off my bc yesterday and tracked that it has been received by the Consulate today. Yay! They say that it can take up to 4 weeks for them to process whatever I''ve sent them, however, I''m keeping my fingers crossed that it is much quicker than that since they just needed to have my "new" bc on file!! My other issue has not yet been resolved and relates to my ering and is a major, major trauma so ... still not quite ready to talk about it yet but it''s nice to know that you are out there and thinking about it. Maybe once the issue is resolved I will be able to talk about it ... right now, if I did, I would fry my keyboard with all the tears I would drown it in! Positive attitude, though, right?!
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Alienor - You are an
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! Thank you!!! I love that you said that. I''m praying that it comes true! Thank you, thank you, thank you! A couple of days???!! Could it be true?!!
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I will absolutely let you know! Sending you a huge virtual hug for the encouragement and for putting that amazing positive thought out there!! I really needed that!

TGal - Thank you. That is incredibly reassuring. The Consulate officer who interviewed me was reassuring as well, however, to hear it from the mouth of someone who has already been witness to the process, or one similar, does help to calm my nerves. I agree, while frustrating that I wasn''t able to ensure that my t''s were crossed and i''s were dotted pre-interview because there was no information about the bc requirements, I certainly understand the government''s need to ensure that they are prudent and thorough. Better that way, right? Inconvenient or frustrating at times, but overall, better.

How incredibly frustrating for that guy! Although it sounds terrible, it''s sometimes nice to know that it''s not just you who is experiencing what seems to be ridiculous. Kudos to him and his perserverance. I''m sure it paid off for him ... eventually ... and that it was well worth the stress and ridiculousness! Anything worth fighting that hard for must be worth achieving.

Thank you for the early congrats. I must be way out of hormonal whack or inhaling cat pee or something because I''m so super emotional right now ... Your congrats brought a tear to my eye and a butterfly to my tummy as it made it more "real" to me ... It IS just that close! Thank you.

Honey - Hey!
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Thanks ... just keeping my fingers crossed that, yes, it will all work out. Thanks for the dust and for the virtual shoulder. Believe me, when I''m ready I''m going to unload and there will be no turning back ... I just can''t unleash the dam yet ... I''m a mess. Total and utter. I need to get a grip and deal with whatever is within my control right now and try not to focus on the other issue, no matter how all encompassing it is. This is one of the reasons that it felt so good to get my bc via courier so quickly and to send it off b/c it gave me something "positive" to focus on. *Mwha* right back at you!

KatyWI - Wow! I''m loving it! Thank you for the factory load of dust and the virtual love! Every little bit helps!! It''s just so kind of you to keep me in your thoughts. I''m very much grateful.

Sunny - No worries, my friend. Love the fancy new shoes to go with that gorgeous dress, by the way!! Ridonkulous is the perfect word, isn''t it? So apropos! A little disclaimer somewhere amidst all of their instructions could have facilitated circumventing the entire issue .. .ugh! Annoying but it''s all good. I''m happy that I was able to have such a quick turn around time. I thought that it might take forever to get a new bc from Jamaica and all in all, it''s been a week now for me to get the new one and send it back to Montreal. Not bad at all. I have to be grateful!
You lucky girl! It feels as though my parents have been working on this since I was 9 so it''s nice that it is finally all starting to fall into place now. Yay!

Again - My sincerest thanks to you all. I will continue to keep you updated as to progress.
 
Spark I am sorry your so upset *BIG HUGS*, the thing about the gov't no matter the country is they take thier time BUT they have the BC and that is all you needed so WHOOT WOO
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it is just a matter of waiting. Just think very soon this will all be behind you 4wks in the grand scheme of things is really just a drop in the ocean, however I am still going to send a TON of dust your way that it gets finshed really really really soon.

As for your ering ring
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, I am sorry something terrible has happened to your lovely, I don't want to start speculating but you know how to contact me if you need someone to listen or support. When/if your ready to talk about we will all be here to support you.

Chin up chickie, it will all work out wonderfully soon for sure
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Ohhh laaadiees!! Gues what came in the mail today??!!
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YESSSS!! My passport with a lovely US Visa stamped smack dab in the middle of it!!
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Thank you for your dust! After so long, I am now free to go and live in the US and work and start a new life together with my FI. I''m so excited and I really wanted to share it with all of you lovely PSers who were there to encourage me throughout this somewhat stressful but definitely uncertain time! My sincerest appreciation!
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I think these emoties say it best :D
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Congrats hun I am SOOOO excited for you best news I have heard all day :D
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Oh Dee - Thanks for the virtual hug and yes those emoties do say it all .. I think that I did some of that myself today!

How was your birthday? Fabulous, I trust.

You made me smile ... even more ... Thank you! It''s so nice to know that other people genuinely care.
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