OMG!
"Can you believe how crazy things are here?"
posted by blumaroo at
12:40 PM
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0 comments
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
Security Measures
Since I've been going on about US government bureaucracy stuff, I thought you might be interested in learning about visiting US Consulates and Federal Buildings. It's definitely a whole new world out here!
TORONTO U.S. CONSULATE
Back in August, Toby and I went to the US Consulate while we were staying with my aunt Eva in Toronto. We thought we'd get a heads-up on how the whole Permanent Resident application process worked. In the end, we didn't find out, but we did learn a lot about how security works at these places.
We arrived to find a 10-person lineup outside the consulate building. Outside security guards must be instructed to be extra surly. We had to line up in single file against the wall. U.S. citizens seemed to make up a different line-up and were ushered in way faster than visa people. Since the visa office closed at 1pm, they let many of us in at 12:55pm. We were told that no food, water or electronics would be allowed inside. Anyone with a cell phone had to hide the phones in bushes around adjacent buildings.
Once inside, we had to pass our belongings through an x-ray machine, forfeit our passports for recording to another security guard, while yet another guard watched us through airport-style metal detectors. Luckily Toby and I had read the "Before You Visit" info page and knew not to bring large bags, electronics, nor sustenance with us.
We were told to go to the crowded visa waiting room, where we took a number and waiting for half an hour. Finally we were called up. Since we had not one, but TWO questions to ask, the information person was quite rude, saying, "We closed at 1pm, make your second question quick!" Whatever.
Thankfully, there were public bathrooms within the building.
VANCOUVER U.S. CONSULATE
I arrived about 20 min early for my K-3 visa interview, and found nearly 30 people in line at the "9:30am" placard, and about a dozen at the "10:00am" line. (My interview was scheduled for 10am.). While I knew not to bring food, water, and electronics, I was at a loss as to how to carry and store my pile of documents and that life-size chest x-ray I was told to bring along. In the end, I opted for a shoulder bag, having the x-ray stick out, and hoped for the best.
About 30 minutes after I arrived, the surly outside security guard pointed to me, and asked if I was at the consulate for a K-visa interview. I replied, "Yes", and he pulled me out of line and took me to the entrance. He also informed me that my bag was too large. Apparently there was no space inside the building for such large bags! I proceeded to take out all the contents, trying not to drop anything important into snowy puddles. As the guard let me inside, he said my bag would be alright after all. Great.
I juggled everything back into the bag while simultaneously walking through the doorway. No small feat for one as clumsy as I am! This entrance was obviously once a back exit, having about a 6 ft x 6 ft floor area and a stairway going up. In this small space, we were told to surrender our bags and jackets for visual inspection, and we had to walk through a metal detector. All belts had to be removed. Then we were waved upstairs.
Confusion at the top of the stairwell, where consular visitors were vomited into a giant open area, with passages to several possible destinations. Without obvious signage, I went to the one room in sight, a large waiting area and clear line-ups. Here, I took out my passport and documentation and headed for the nearest line-up: the Cashier.
Luckily, the cashier that day was friendly. She told me I was in the wrong place, that I needed to tell the security guard to let into the elevator and up to the 20th floor, but she also glued my photos to the proper places on my various documents. Hurray for nice people!
Outside that busy waiting area, and into the confusion at the top of the stairs. This time, I found a security guard who was trying to deal with far too many confused people. He let me into the elevator and buzzed me up to the 20th floor. (The elevator required a special pass to permit it to go to various extra-secure floors.)
At the 20th floor, there was another visual inspection of my bag, and another metal detector. I guess that's in case I managed to fashion some sort of unsavoury metallic item using resources scrounged from the elevator. Or something. They called someone to tell them I was coming, and checked my name off of some list. I was escorted to another waiting area which had required a security code at the door.
Inside, I found another confusing hallway of kiosk windows, which I later figured out to be interview windows for people applying for visiting visas to the US. My area was a more of a room than a hallway, and had only a handful of kiosk windows. Finally I was called to the window, and surrendered all my documents, and told to wait. Let me put in a good word for that kind man who took care of all the documents. He looked through everything to make sure it was all there, told me what would be happening. (What a concept, telling people what's going to happen so they're not left waiting and wondering "what next?"!) He even went so far as to mention that my file looked good and that I probably would have no trouble getting the visa!
Then, it was a waiting game. In that 1.5 hrs, I met two other women, who were interviewing for fiancee visas. They too were pulled out of the line-up outside. Maybe that outside security guard had one of the dozen or so passport photos I've had to submit thus far! We learned of each other's stories, how we met our significant others, and other such relevant details. They certainly helped the time pass! It's nerve-wracking, waiting to be interviewed for something so important, but not knowing what questions might be asked, not having a clock, being dehydrated, hungry and with a full bladder!
Finally we were each called to the kiosk window by Nice Man to be finger-printed using a fancy optical machine. Then, we got to walk down the long hallway of kiosks to find the cashier on this floor, and pay our $100 US fee. (Forms claimed this fee was for a machine-readable visa to be imprinted into our passports, but the fee was to be paid whether or not the visa was granted. So, really, it's just another administration fee, and they should simply name it as such.)
More waiting, then the immigration officer gave each of us a 5-minute interview. The two fiancees were both missing documentation. Hopefully they'll have that sorted out by now. One woman was to get married in Las Vegas April 21st, so she definitely needed the visa before then! My interview was fairly straight-forward. I was asked: my wedding date, Toby's birthday, what he did, how and where we'd met, what my specialty in physics was, whether or not I had ever worked with weapons of mass destruction, what I planned to do work-wise. Then he said that everything was in order, and that my visa was a go. Rejoice! I let out a sigh of relief and was even able to share a bit of banter with the immigration officer while he signed a few documents. (He was, after all, wearing a salmon-pink shirt and a wild tie under his gray suit; I figured he ought to have a sense of humour.) Nice guy came back to the window and told me to return at 2pm to that window to get my passport, visa and more documents. Yay!
I had just enough time for lunch and returned to find the consulate entrance strangely devoid of people. The same routine (security at this back exit, security at the top of the stairs, and more security at the 20th floor.) This time, though, my bag was swabbed for a chemical analysis in addition to the other measures. I met the immigration officer at the elevator and he joked that he finally got to take lunch. Nice man at the kiosk windo handed me my passport, complete with visa imprint, and a whole package of paperwork to be given at my point-of-entry to the US.
FEDERAL BUILDING, NEW YORK
Here, confusion began before even entering the building, as construction blocked-off the most obvious entraceway. The line-drawing pointed to my entrance. At the top of the steps leading to the entrance, a security guard asked to see my Infopass. This was a printout from an online appointment scheduler, with which I had made my appointment 2 days earlier. He let me down the 10-or-so steps, where there was another security guard. He also asked to see my Infopass. (Uh, redudancy, anyone?) I got to wait outside for a minute, then let into the airport-security-like area. Guards here were annoyed that visitors weren't listening to instructions, "Put all your stuff into your JACKET pocket, remove your jackets." Not too difficult to follow, but I guess these visiting Americans felt that they were exempt from these instructions. So we proceeded ever so slowly to the x-ray machine, where we deposited our bags and jackets, removed our belts, and walked though the metal detector.
Past the security area was yet another guard, who informed me I was to go to the 3rd floor after seeing my Infopass. Upstairs and through a maze of crowd-control ropes, I showed my Infopass to another security guard, and entered a short line of people to ask questions about immigration. While the person answering my questions was very polite and friendly, he ended up giving me incorrect information. He got me a number, and told me to wait in the large room across the hall. Which was not as simple as just crossing the hallway, of course. More mazes then finally to the huge room.
Visitors entered this room near its centre, with each side showing about 10 kiosk windows and about 150 seats arranged in neat rows. They were calling "B222" when I walked in, and I was "B272". If I had been thinking I would have gone up to the 31st floor right then to apply for my Social Security Number, but alas, I hadn't thought that far ahead. Instead, I waited for an hour and half for my number to be called. At the appointed kiosk window, I was informed that the package of forms I was there to receive was not, in fact, dispensed in that room. WHAT? Instead, I had to go to the first floor Forms Room to pick up the forms. GRRRR!
I head up to the 31st floor, where the security guard asks me what I'm there for. He hands me an application, tell me to press "1" on the keypad next to him, which causes a computer to spit out a number for me. There are signs everywhere saying that cell phones must be turned inside federal buildings. Yet one loud man is negotiating into his cell phone. Security guard gets up and mumbles, "Why are people always making work for me?" (yay for New York work ethic) and yell at the loud man to turn off his cell phone. There's another hilarious sign: "Warning: it is a federal offence to kill, kidnap, maim, injure, forcibly assault, abuse, intimidate or threaten a federal employee in the course of his/her work". Uh, isn't it generally a federal offence to kill, maim, assault and abuse? Anyway, I wait a total of 45 minutes to apply for my Social Security Number. Which I find out I can't do until I receive my Employment Authorization Document. At least this man had the decency to say, "Sorry you had to wait to find that out."
Back to the first floor I go, and into the Forms Room. This room looks like it used to be a large storage hall, where they've plunked down a long counter ripped up from somewhere else, and a lone man with boxes of forms sits and hands out forms. A large sign on his kiosk window reads, "No questions will be answered." I get my package of forms, and am told to read the instructions. Thanks. I was thinking of just randomly scribbling across the forms before he told me to read the instructions first.
It takes a few moments to figure out where I can exit the building, since all exits seem to be roped off, and the entrances are guarded with metal detectors (for visitors) or electronically-gated entrances (for employees). Finally, a guard removes a rope and lets a few of us bleary-eyed visitors leave.
This was a 5-hour day and I'll get to repeat it when I return to ask about the confusing package of forms (which I'm not even sure I need to, are am supposed to, submit) and to apply for my Social Security Number once I receive the right documents.
SUMMARY
What have we learned from all these adventures? US Immigration offices seem to like rows of kiosk windows. Don't bring food, water, electronics or anything else into the buildings. But you need to have copious documentation which magically all fit into your jacket pockets.
TORONTO U.S. CONSULATE
Back in August, Toby and I went to the US Consulate while we were staying with my aunt Eva in Toronto. We thought we'd get a heads-up on how the whole Permanent Resident application process worked. In the end, we didn't find out, but we did learn a lot about how security works at these places.
We arrived to find a 10-person lineup outside the consulate building. Outside security guards must be instructed to be extra surly. We had to line up in single file against the wall. U.S. citizens seemed to make up a different line-up and were ushered in way faster than visa people. Since the visa office closed at 1pm, they let many of us in at 12:55pm. We were told that no food, water or electronics would be allowed inside. Anyone with a cell phone had to hide the phones in bushes around adjacent buildings.
Once inside, we had to pass our belongings through an x-ray machine, forfeit our passports for recording to another security guard, while yet another guard watched us through airport-style metal detectors. Luckily Toby and I had read the "Before You Visit" info page and knew not to bring large bags, electronics, nor sustenance with us.
We were told to go to the crowded visa waiting room, where we took a number and waiting for half an hour. Finally we were called up. Since we had not one, but TWO questions to ask, the information person was quite rude, saying, "We closed at 1pm, make your second question quick!" Whatever.
Thankfully, there were public bathrooms within the building.
VANCOUVER U.S. CONSULATE
I arrived about 20 min early for my K-3 visa interview, and found nearly 30 people in line at the "9:30am" placard, and about a dozen at the "10:00am" line. (My interview was scheduled for 10am.). While I knew not to bring food, water, and electronics, I was at a loss as to how to carry and store my pile of documents and that life-size chest x-ray I was told to bring along. In the end, I opted for a shoulder bag, having the x-ray stick out, and hoped for the best.
About 30 minutes after I arrived, the surly outside security guard pointed to me, and asked if I was at the consulate for a K-visa interview. I replied, "Yes", and he pulled me out of line and took me to the entrance. He also informed me that my bag was too large. Apparently there was no space inside the building for such large bags! I proceeded to take out all the contents, trying not to drop anything important into snowy puddles. As the guard let me inside, he said my bag would be alright after all. Great.
I juggled everything back into the bag while simultaneously walking through the doorway. No small feat for one as clumsy as I am! This entrance was obviously once a back exit, having about a 6 ft x 6 ft floor area and a stairway going up. In this small space, we were told to surrender our bags and jackets for visual inspection, and we had to walk through a metal detector. All belts had to be removed. Then we were waved upstairs.
Confusion at the top of the stairwell, where consular visitors were vomited into a giant open area, with passages to several possible destinations. Without obvious signage, I went to the one room in sight, a large waiting area and clear line-ups. Here, I took out my passport and documentation and headed for the nearest line-up: the Cashier.
Luckily, the cashier that day was friendly. She told me I was in the wrong place, that I needed to tell the security guard to let into the elevator and up to the 20th floor, but she also glued my photos to the proper places on my various documents. Hurray for nice people!
Outside that busy waiting area, and into the confusion at the top of the stairs. This time, I found a security guard who was trying to deal with far too many confused people. He let me into the elevator and buzzed me up to the 20th floor. (The elevator required a special pass to permit it to go to various extra-secure floors.)
At the 20th floor, there was another visual inspection of my bag, and another metal detector. I guess that's in case I managed to fashion some sort of unsavoury metallic item using resources scrounged from the elevator. Or something. They called someone to tell them I was coming, and checked my name off of some list. I was escorted to another waiting area which had required a security code at the door.
Inside, I found another confusing hallway of kiosk windows, which I later figured out to be interview windows for people applying for visiting visas to the US. My area was a more of a room than a hallway, and had only a handful of kiosk windows. Finally I was called to the window, and surrendered all my documents, and told to wait. Let me put in a good word for that kind man who took care of all the documents. He looked through everything to make sure it was all there, told me what would be happening. (What a concept, telling people what's going to happen so they're not left waiting and wondering "what next?"!) He even went so far as to mention that my file looked good and that I probably would have no trouble getting the visa!
Then, it was a waiting game. In that 1.5 hrs, I met two other women, who were interviewing for fiancee visas. They too were pulled out of the line-up outside. Maybe that outside security guard had one of the dozen or so passport photos I've had to submit thus far! We learned of each other's stories, how we met our significant others, and other such relevant details. They certainly helped the time pass! It's nerve-wracking, waiting to be interviewed for something so important, but not knowing what questions might be asked, not having a clock, being dehydrated, hungry and with a full bladder!
Finally we were each called to the kiosk window by Nice Man to be finger-printed using a fancy optical machine. Then, we got to walk down the long hallway of kiosks to find the cashier on this floor, and pay our $100 US fee. (Forms claimed this fee was for a machine-readable visa to be imprinted into our passports, but the fee was to be paid whether or not the visa was granted. So, really, it's just another administration fee, and they should simply name it as such.)
More waiting, then the immigration officer gave each of us a 5-minute interview. The two fiancees were both missing documentation. Hopefully they'll have that sorted out by now. One woman was to get married in Las Vegas April 21st, so she definitely needed the visa before then! My interview was fairly straight-forward. I was asked: my wedding date, Toby's birthday, what he did, how and where we'd met, what my specialty in physics was, whether or not I had ever worked with weapons of mass destruction, what I planned to do work-wise. Then he said that everything was in order, and that my visa was a go. Rejoice! I let out a sigh of relief and was even able to share a bit of banter with the immigration officer while he signed a few documents. (He was, after all, wearing a salmon-pink shirt and a wild tie under his gray suit; I figured he ought to have a sense of humour.) Nice guy came back to the window and told me to return at 2pm to that window to get my passport, visa and more documents. Yay!
I had just enough time for lunch and returned to find the consulate entrance strangely devoid of people. The same routine (security at this back exit, security at the top of the stairs, and more security at the 20th floor.) This time, though, my bag was swabbed for a chemical analysis in addition to the other measures. I met the immigration officer at the elevator and he joked that he finally got to take lunch. Nice man at the kiosk windo handed me my passport, complete with visa imprint, and a whole package of paperwork to be given at my point-of-entry to the US.
FEDERAL BUILDING, NEW YORK
Here, confusion began before even entering the building, as construction blocked-off the most obvious entraceway. The line-drawing pointed to my entrance. At the top of the steps leading to the entrance, a security guard asked to see my Infopass. This was a printout from an online appointment scheduler, with which I had made my appointment 2 days earlier. He let me down the 10-or-so steps, where there was another security guard. He also asked to see my Infopass. (Uh, redudancy, anyone?) I got to wait outside for a minute, then let into the airport-security-like area. Guards here were annoyed that visitors weren't listening to instructions, "Put all your stuff into your JACKET pocket, remove your jackets." Not too difficult to follow, but I guess these visiting Americans felt that they were exempt from these instructions. So we proceeded ever so slowly to the x-ray machine, where we deposited our bags and jackets, removed our belts, and walked though the metal detector.
Past the security area was yet another guard, who informed me I was to go to the 3rd floor after seeing my Infopass. Upstairs and through a maze of crowd-control ropes, I showed my Infopass to another security guard, and entered a short line of people to ask questions about immigration. While the person answering my questions was very polite and friendly, he ended up giving me incorrect information. He got me a number, and told me to wait in the large room across the hall. Which was not as simple as just crossing the hallway, of course. More mazes then finally to the huge room.
Visitors entered this room near its centre, with each side showing about 10 kiosk windows and about 150 seats arranged in neat rows. They were calling "B222" when I walked in, and I was "B272". If I had been thinking I would have gone up to the 31st floor right then to apply for my Social Security Number, but alas, I hadn't thought that far ahead. Instead, I waited for an hour and half for my number to be called. At the appointed kiosk window, I was informed that the package of forms I was there to receive was not, in fact, dispensed in that room. WHAT? Instead, I had to go to the first floor Forms Room to pick up the forms. GRRRR!
I head up to the 31st floor, where the security guard asks me what I'm there for. He hands me an application, tell me to press "1" on the keypad next to him, which causes a computer to spit out a number for me. There are signs everywhere saying that cell phones must be turned inside federal buildings. Yet one loud man is negotiating into his cell phone. Security guard gets up and mumbles, "Why are people always making work for me?" (yay for New York work ethic) and yell at the loud man to turn off his cell phone. There's another hilarious sign: "Warning: it is a federal offence to kill, kidnap, maim, injure, forcibly assault, abuse, intimidate or threaten a federal employee in the course of his/her work". Uh, isn't it generally a federal offence to kill, maim, assault and abuse? Anyway, I wait a total of 45 minutes to apply for my Social Security Number. Which I find out I can't do until I receive my Employment Authorization Document. At least this man had the decency to say, "Sorry you had to wait to find that out."
Back to the first floor I go, and into the Forms Room. This room looks like it used to be a large storage hall, where they've plunked down a long counter ripped up from somewhere else, and a lone man with boxes of forms sits and hands out forms. A large sign on his kiosk window reads, "No questions will be answered." I get my package of forms, and am told to read the instructions. Thanks. I was thinking of just randomly scribbling across the forms before he told me to read the instructions first.
It takes a few moments to figure out where I can exit the building, since all exits seem to be roped off, and the entrances are guarded with metal detectors (for visitors) or electronically-gated entrances (for employees). Finally, a guard removes a rope and lets a few of us bleary-eyed visitors leave.
This was a 5-hour day and I'll get to repeat it when I return to ask about the confusing package of forms (which I'm not even sure I need to, are am supposed to, submit) and to apply for my Social Security Number once I receive the right documents.
SUMMARY
What have we learned from all these adventures? US Immigration offices seem to like rows of kiosk windows. Don't bring food, water, electronics or anything else into the buildings. But you need to have copious documentation which magically all fit into your jacket pockets.
posted by blumaroo at
1:22 PM
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0 comments
How to Apply for Permanent Resident Status in the USA
It's time I outlined the process get permanent resident status (aka Green Card) here in the US. Remember that I'm married to a US Citizen, so presumably this is about as 'easy' a relationship as one might expect.
AUGUST 2005
Toby files I-130: Petition for Alien Relative. (Cost: $185US)
This begins the process to bring me legally to live and work here in the USA. The forms include 5 copies of biographical information (Form G-325A), including our parents' names and birth places, our last 5 years of residences, and education history. We're also required to send 2 passport photos for each of us ($20 US).
SEPTEMBER 2005
Toby receives I-797C: Notice of Action.
This form essentially says that the I-130 has been received and the processing of it has begun. It allows Toby to take the next step.
OCTOBER 2005
Toby files I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiance(e). (Cost: $170US)
This form, although originally designed to be equivalent to the I-130, but for fiance(e)s, is now required to begin the expedited process for Temporary Permanent Resident status for foreign spouses (K-3 Visa) and children (K-4 Visa) of US Citizens. It includes another 5 copies of the same biographical info required for the I-130 (which we didn't have the foresight to have photocopied, so got to fill out by hand yet again), and another 2 sets of passport photos (for another $20 US).
OCTOBER 2005
Toby receives another I-797C: Notice of Action.
It says that the I-129F has been received and will take 60-180 days to process.
NOVEMBER 2005
Toby receives another Notice of Action, which requests a copy of our full-sized marriage certificate; the wallet-size certificate was insufficient for their visa process. Toby replies promptly with a photocopy of the larger certificate.
DECEMBER 2005
Toby receives a notice that my visa application (i.e. temporary permanent resident status) has been approved, and that I should receive a package in the mail shortly. Amazingly, since I am living in Toronto, my application is being processed at the Vancouver Consulate.
JANUARY 2006
I receive the visa application package. It requires more biographical information forms, plus instructions on other stuff I need to collect. I fax in my initial form immediately. I get vaccinated against mumps, measles, rubella (ouch #1), and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (ouch #2). Cost: $160 US. (Wouldn't it be horrible if the US was paralysed by widespread measles because *I* didn't get immunized?!)
JANUARY 2006
I'm in Toronto to acquire the requisite documentation. I go to the Toronto Police Commission to get a nation-wide criminal background check. This arrives within several days (Cost: $27 CDN). I have a 7am appointment with one of the 4 approved US Immigration Inspection physicians in the Toronto-area (Cost: $180 CDN). This includes: physical exam, chest x-ray to look for tuberculosis, and blood work to test for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. In several days, I return to the doctor's office to pick up my results in a sealed envelope, plus the extra-large x-ray negative which proves to be a pain to cart around. I also get 10 passport photos taken, since it is unclear whether I need 5 or 8 or 10 photos for the interview and application. (Cost: $40)
After collecting all these things, I fax another form to the US Consulate in Vancouver to say I have all the required documentation, and that I would like my visa interview the first or second week of March.
JANUARY 2006
I receive a package asking me to appoint a Choice of Agent in the US to receive mail (since mail in foreign countries may be less reliable) regarding my Permanent Resident Application. I file form DS-3032: Agent of Choice, appointing Toby to receive my mail, and include a cheque for $100 US to cover the cost to process this information.
JANUARY 2006
Toby receives notice in the mail that he has been appointmed by me to be my agent. He must file the Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee Bill and get a money order for this fee. (Cost: $380 US)
In addition, Toby is required to file I-864: Affidavit of Support, claiming he is willing to support my becoming a Permanent Resident. Why the original petition is not indicative of support, we have no idea. (Cost: $70 US, money order required)
FEBRUARY 2006
I receive notification of my visa appointment in Vancouver will be March 10th at 10am. I am reminded to bring along all required documentation, blah blah blah. I fly to Calgary (with stopovers in Toronto and Vancouver) (Cost: $189 US) to attend Jen's and Bob's wedding at the end of February.
MARCH 2006
As mentioned in my last blog post, I take a bus to Castlegar and then to Vancouver (approx. $175 CDN). In Vancouver, I attend my interview (Cost: $100 US), get fingerprinted using an optical scanner, and receive my K-3 Visa. Hurray! I'm now allowed to live in the US. The visa is a cool-looking printed form attached right into my Canadian passport. Very official-looking indeed!
I was told by the Toronto approved physician that I'm to bring my xray, but others being interviewed that morning were told that it is the customs officials when you cross the border with your visa who require the xray. I've dragged this annoying negative across the continent and no one wants to look at it. Oh, except friends who find these things fascinating. (=
MARCH 2006
I fly from Vancouver to Baltimore (with stopovers in Las Vegas and Houston) (Cost: $494 US) to meet up with Toby after nearly a month apart. At the Vancouver airport, I have more paperwork to file. The customs official receives a sealed package from the US Consulate, which I have hand-delivered. I am then required to bring all the paperwork and my luggage and that damn x-ray to a special Secondary Inspection Room. Here, more border officials process my paperwork. It takes approximately 30 minutes in total, and NO FEES! I do have to get my right index finger printed, using a real ink pad. (Makes me wonder what they'd do if I were missing my right index finger?) And I get form I-94: Departure Record stapled into my passport.
MARCH 2006
I file I-765: Application for Employment Authorization. (Cost: $180 US). This form requires copies of my passport, visa and I-94. I also need to include two passport photos ($10 US). I should hear back within 90 days. Hopefully I'll be authorized to work (get my Employment Authorization Document), which will then allow me to apply for my Social Security Number. With the SSN (equivalent to the Social Insurance Number in Canada), I'll be able to apply for work, get a bank account, get credit cards, etc.
MARCH 2006
I go to the local Immigration Office on Manhattan to inquire about filing for an "adjustment" to my status. I'm not certain, but I believe this form allows the evidence presented for my K-3 visa to be used towards my permanent resident application. I'll let you know as I'm about to fill this out soon.
Toby also needs to file back taxes in the US (of which he will have none, but the paperwork must be filed) to add to his claim of supporting me as a permanent resident. I wonder what they'll make of his ability to support me, since he hasn't made any money in the US for the last 8 years?!
There, you are now up-to-date on the workings of the US Immigration system. There are so many passport photos of us around, I feel like every second US bureaucrat ought to have a copy on their desk by now! The fees are also horrendous. And I'm sure there the rest of the Permanent Resident application process will cost as much as the whole thing has cost so far. Blech! I'd better be able to work soon so we can start recouping the costs of the visa/green card process! I've probably forgotten a step or two, but I think it's mostly here.
AUGUST 2005
Toby files I-130: Petition for Alien Relative. (Cost: $185US)
This begins the process to bring me legally to live and work here in the USA. The forms include 5 copies of biographical information (Form G-325A), including our parents' names and birth places, our last 5 years of residences, and education history. We're also required to send 2 passport photos for each of us ($20 US).
SEPTEMBER 2005
Toby receives I-797C: Notice of Action.
This form essentially says that the I-130 has been received and the processing of it has begun. It allows Toby to take the next step.
OCTOBER 2005
Toby files I-129F: Petition for Alien Fiance(e). (Cost: $170US)
This form, although originally designed to be equivalent to the I-130, but for fiance(e)s, is now required to begin the expedited process for Temporary Permanent Resident status for foreign spouses (K-3 Visa) and children (K-4 Visa) of US Citizens. It includes another 5 copies of the same biographical info required for the I-130 (which we didn't have the foresight to have photocopied, so got to fill out by hand yet again), and another 2 sets of passport photos (for another $20 US).
OCTOBER 2005
Toby receives another I-797C: Notice of Action.
It says that the I-129F has been received and will take 60-180 days to process.
NOVEMBER 2005
Toby receives another Notice of Action, which requests a copy of our full-sized marriage certificate; the wallet-size certificate was insufficient for their visa process. Toby replies promptly with a photocopy of the larger certificate.
DECEMBER 2005
Toby receives a notice that my visa application (i.e. temporary permanent resident status) has been approved, and that I should receive a package in the mail shortly. Amazingly, since I am living in Toronto, my application is being processed at the Vancouver Consulate.
JANUARY 2006
I receive the visa application package. It requires more biographical information forms, plus instructions on other stuff I need to collect. I fax in my initial form immediately. I get vaccinated against mumps, measles, rubella (ouch #1), and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (ouch #2). Cost: $160 US. (Wouldn't it be horrible if the US was paralysed by widespread measles because *I* didn't get immunized?!)
JANUARY 2006
I'm in Toronto to acquire the requisite documentation. I go to the Toronto Police Commission to get a nation-wide criminal background check. This arrives within several days (Cost: $27 CDN). I have a 7am appointment with one of the 4 approved US Immigration Inspection physicians in the Toronto-area (Cost: $180 CDN). This includes: physical exam, chest x-ray to look for tuberculosis, and blood work to test for HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. In several days, I return to the doctor's office to pick up my results in a sealed envelope, plus the extra-large x-ray negative which proves to be a pain to cart around. I also get 10 passport photos taken, since it is unclear whether I need 5 or 8 or 10 photos for the interview and application. (Cost: $40)
After collecting all these things, I fax another form to the US Consulate in Vancouver to say I have all the required documentation, and that I would like my visa interview the first or second week of March.
JANUARY 2006
I receive a package asking me to appoint a Choice of Agent in the US to receive mail (since mail in foreign countries may be less reliable) regarding my Permanent Resident Application. I file form DS-3032: Agent of Choice, appointing Toby to receive my mail, and include a cheque for $100 US to cover the cost to process this information.
JANUARY 2006
Toby receives notice in the mail that he has been appointmed by me to be my agent. He must file the Immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee Bill and get a money order for this fee. (Cost: $380 US)
In addition, Toby is required to file I-864: Affidavit of Support, claiming he is willing to support my becoming a Permanent Resident. Why the original petition is not indicative of support, we have no idea. (Cost: $70 US, money order required)
FEBRUARY 2006
I receive notification of my visa appointment in Vancouver will be March 10th at 10am. I am reminded to bring along all required documentation, blah blah blah. I fly to Calgary (with stopovers in Toronto and Vancouver) (Cost: $189 US) to attend Jen's and Bob's wedding at the end of February.
MARCH 2006
As mentioned in my last blog post, I take a bus to Castlegar and then to Vancouver (approx. $175 CDN). In Vancouver, I attend my interview (Cost: $100 US), get fingerprinted using an optical scanner, and receive my K-3 Visa. Hurray! I'm now allowed to live in the US. The visa is a cool-looking printed form attached right into my Canadian passport. Very official-looking indeed!
I was told by the Toronto approved physician that I'm to bring my xray, but others being interviewed that morning were told that it is the customs officials when you cross the border with your visa who require the xray. I've dragged this annoying negative across the continent and no one wants to look at it. Oh, except friends who find these things fascinating. (=
MARCH 2006
I fly from Vancouver to Baltimore (with stopovers in Las Vegas and Houston) (Cost: $494 US) to meet up with Toby after nearly a month apart. At the Vancouver airport, I have more paperwork to file. The customs official receives a sealed package from the US Consulate, which I have hand-delivered. I am then required to bring all the paperwork and my luggage and that damn x-ray to a special Secondary Inspection Room. Here, more border officials process my paperwork. It takes approximately 30 minutes in total, and NO FEES! I do have to get my right index finger printed, using a real ink pad. (Makes me wonder what they'd do if I were missing my right index finger?) And I get form I-94: Departure Record stapled into my passport.
MARCH 2006
I file I-765: Application for Employment Authorization. (Cost: $180 US). This form requires copies of my passport, visa and I-94. I also need to include two passport photos ($10 US). I should hear back within 90 days. Hopefully I'll be authorized to work (get my Employment Authorization Document), which will then allow me to apply for my Social Security Number. With the SSN (equivalent to the Social Insurance Number in Canada), I'll be able to apply for work, get a bank account, get credit cards, etc.
MARCH 2006
I go to the local Immigration Office on Manhattan to inquire about filing for an "adjustment" to my status. I'm not certain, but I believe this form allows the evidence presented for my K-3 visa to be used towards my permanent resident application. I'll let you know as I'm about to fill this out soon.
Toby also needs to file back taxes in the US (of which he will have none, but the paperwork must be filed) to add to his claim of supporting me as a permanent resident. I wonder what they'll make of his ability to support me, since he hasn't made any money in the US for the last 8 years?!
There, you are now up-to-date on the workings of the US Immigration system. There are so many passport photos of us around, I feel like every second US bureaucrat ought to have a copy on their desk by now! The fees are also horrendous. And I'm sure there the rest of the Permanent Resident application process will cost as much as the whole thing has cost so far. Blech! I'd better be able to work soon so we can start recouping the costs of the visa/green card process! I've probably forgotten a step or two, but I think it's mostly here.
posted by blumaroo at
12:23 PM
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Monday, March 20, 2006
Photos from the Western Canada Tour
What a sweet puppy Birdie is! Especially when food is a possibility!
A rare photo showing Sam as a dignified cat!
A trip to Vancouver would not be complete without lots of yummy food! Here is the partial spread for hot pot night.
The Baltimore Aquarium is at the Inner Harbor and has much to see. We especially enjoyed 'meeting' Calypso, the rescued green sea turtle who lost a front flipper due to hypothermia. The seahorses were also fantastic - we witnessed a female depositing eggs into her mate's pouch (they pair-bond for life), while another male had just released a score of baby seahorses! They were tiny, nearly transparent things floating about in the tank. We came back an hour later and they were noticeably larger, although we're unsure as to how these babies could grow, given the lack of baby food. This photo shows patrons outside the aquarium during a fire alarm.
posted by blumaroo at
1:48 PM
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Western Canada Tour
I've been away for almost a month, and am finally back in NYC. Hurray! The whole purpose of the trip was to interview for my K3 visa - the temporary permanent residency status for spouses of American citizens. This interview was the take place in Vancouver (obviously, since I officially was living in Toronto!).
First, I flew to Calgary to see my friends Jen and Bob get married. The flight path was long (12 hrs), taking me from New York to Toronto and Vancouver before landing in Calgary. I only stayed a few days, so my apologies to Calgarians I didn't get a chance to see. Jen's and Bob's wedding was lovely - full of personal meaning and wonderful people. I loved how they had an open house the night before, so that guests could meet one another in a more informal setting. I also loved that they had all the guests get Polaroids taken, all hammed up for the camera in silly costumes (boas, viking hats, masks). These events certainly broke down any ice! While in Calgary, I stayed with friends Dan and Kate, who just moved west during August - the same time we moved east! Their house is always a wonderful place to come home to, filled with treasures and beautiful artwork and lush plants. Thank you for taking care of me!
I then took an overnight bus to Castlegar to stay with my parents for a week. This was another 12-hr journey, and though I was able to get some sleep on the bus, it wasn't a restful night! But the trip was certainly worth a week of yummy food and that general feeling of 'being taken care of' that parents always provide! I got to meet their new puppy, Birdie, who is a large-and-still-growing bundle of energy! She's very well behaved and full of joy! Unfortunately, my cat Sam, who now lives with my parents, has not quite warmed up to the dog yet. In fact, Sam throws a fit every time he sees Birdie! And though Sam now ventures outdoors, he's still the shedding, affectionate kitty that he was when we were in Edmonton. I was glad to have had time to hang out with my much-missed cat! My time in Castlegar also introduced me to duplicate bridge - a gruelling 27-hand evening!
Another 12-hr bus ride took me to Vancouver. This time it was a day trip, which was both good (beautiful scenery) and bad (annoying loud passengers). We got to ride along a very snowy Coquihalla Highway - so glad I wasn't driving! While in Vancouver, I stayed with ever-hospitable friends Andre and Deb. As usual, these visits involve yummy food and fun activities! We went wall-climbing, ate out lots, and generally had a great time being full and silly!
The main point of the whole trip, of course, was for my interview at the US Consulate. The day dawned snowy and I feared the poor weather would cause havoc for the buses. Luckily, there were no problems. I arrived early, and waited in the "10:00 am" appointment line. 10am came and went, and still a dozen or so people were waiting in the 9:30am line! Eep! Then the security guard asked if I was there for a K visa, which I was, and pulled me out of line and sent me inside. Several wrong lineups and security checks later, I found myself on the 20th floor, having paperwork processed. It ended up being a 90-minute wait, without food, water, a clock or a bathroom. At least there were two other women waiting to be interviewed as well, and we had a wonderful conversation getting to know one another! Both were finacees of Americans and were hoping to get to the US soon so they could be married. Unfortunately, both also ended up needing more paperwork done before they could be approved. Miraculously, all my paperwork was in order (an immigration lawyer with a client in the waiting area said this was rare indeed for applicants to be approved their first time!) and after a fairly short and straight-forward interview, I was approved. Yay! I had lunch with Deb and Andre (who both work downtown near the consulate) then headed back to the US building to pick up my visa. Hurray!
A few days later, I was on an overnight plane ride to Baltimore, where Toby was for a physics conference. Yet another lengthy ride, taking me on a convoluted route through Las Vegas (where "The Strip" was visible from the air) and Houston (where much signage declared that handguns must be in checked luggage) and finaly to the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. It was yet another shuttle bus ride, commuter train trip, and a taxi fare before I arrived at the hotel in Baltimore. Boy, was I exhausted! But definitely worth being able to see Toby again! We spent a few days in Baltimore then took a train back to NY Thursday night.
It feels good to be home!
First, I flew to Calgary to see my friends Jen and Bob get married. The flight path was long (12 hrs), taking me from New York to Toronto and Vancouver before landing in Calgary. I only stayed a few days, so my apologies to Calgarians I didn't get a chance to see. Jen's and Bob's wedding was lovely - full of personal meaning and wonderful people. I loved how they had an open house the night before, so that guests could meet one another in a more informal setting. I also loved that they had all the guests get Polaroids taken, all hammed up for the camera in silly costumes (boas, viking hats, masks). These events certainly broke down any ice! While in Calgary, I stayed with friends Dan and Kate, who just moved west during August - the same time we moved east! Their house is always a wonderful place to come home to, filled with treasures and beautiful artwork and lush plants. Thank you for taking care of me!
I then took an overnight bus to Castlegar to stay with my parents for a week. This was another 12-hr journey, and though I was able to get some sleep on the bus, it wasn't a restful night! But the trip was certainly worth a week of yummy food and that general feeling of 'being taken care of' that parents always provide! I got to meet their new puppy, Birdie, who is a large-and-still-growing bundle of energy! She's very well behaved and full of joy! Unfortunately, my cat Sam, who now lives with my parents, has not quite warmed up to the dog yet. In fact, Sam throws a fit every time he sees Birdie! And though Sam now ventures outdoors, he's still the shedding, affectionate kitty that he was when we were in Edmonton. I was glad to have had time to hang out with my much-missed cat! My time in Castlegar also introduced me to duplicate bridge - a gruelling 27-hand evening!
Another 12-hr bus ride took me to Vancouver. This time it was a day trip, which was both good (beautiful scenery) and bad (annoying loud passengers). We got to ride along a very snowy Coquihalla Highway - so glad I wasn't driving! While in Vancouver, I stayed with ever-hospitable friends Andre and Deb. As usual, these visits involve yummy food and fun activities! We went wall-climbing, ate out lots, and generally had a great time being full and silly!
The main point of the whole trip, of course, was for my interview at the US Consulate. The day dawned snowy and I feared the poor weather would cause havoc for the buses. Luckily, there were no problems. I arrived early, and waited in the "10:00 am" appointment line. 10am came and went, and still a dozen or so people were waiting in the 9:30am line! Eep! Then the security guard asked if I was there for a K visa, which I was, and pulled me out of line and sent me inside. Several wrong lineups and security checks later, I found myself on the 20th floor, having paperwork processed. It ended up being a 90-minute wait, without food, water, a clock or a bathroom. At least there were two other women waiting to be interviewed as well, and we had a wonderful conversation getting to know one another! Both were finacees of Americans and were hoping to get to the US soon so they could be married. Unfortunately, both also ended up needing more paperwork done before they could be approved. Miraculously, all my paperwork was in order (an immigration lawyer with a client in the waiting area said this was rare indeed for applicants to be approved their first time!) and after a fairly short and straight-forward interview, I was approved. Yay! I had lunch with Deb and Andre (who both work downtown near the consulate) then headed back to the US building to pick up my visa. Hurray!
A few days later, I was on an overnight plane ride to Baltimore, where Toby was for a physics conference. Yet another lengthy ride, taking me on a convoluted route through Las Vegas (where "The Strip" was visible from the air) and Houston (where much signage declared that handguns must be in checked luggage) and finaly to the Baltimore-Washington International Airport. It was yet another shuttle bus ride, commuter train trip, and a taxi fare before I arrived at the hotel in Baltimore. Boy, was I exhausted! But definitely worth being able to see Toby again! We spent a few days in Baltimore then took a train back to NY Thursday night.
It feels good to be home!
posted by blumaroo at
1:26 PM
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