US outland applicants' thread :)

[Aquakitty]

What ism this AOR?
My husband is a student in USA
I sponsor him last year
Here is my time line
We received your application for permanent residence on July 31, 2015.
We started processing your application on October 1, 2015.
Medical results have been received.
We sent you correspondence on January 27, 2016. If you have not yet provided the information or the requested documents, please do so as soon as possible. Please wait until you receive the correspondence before sending us additional information, as the correspondence will outline all information that is required.
Documents was send
Now waiting ....
What's next guys
Please help !
Thxs

What VO was his application sent to? Just because he is in the USA doesn't mean it was sent to Ottawa. Often applications are sent to the applicant's country of citizenship. If he's Indian and it was sent to New Delhi for instance, that would explain the long time, as sometimes cases take longer there. I'm sorry you've had to wait so long.

My question though is, if he's a student in the US, how is he going to relocate to Canada?

Oh and, AOR stands for "Acknowledgement of Receipt". You are far past that.

 

[ryanntheredhead]

Hi there! So after spending way too much time tracking down all of the info I needed, my application was signed for on June 1st, 2016 and I am still waiting on AOR. Now to continue to fill my time in Canada in legal ways until I hear back and that leads me to a few questions:

1) I do have a DUI arrest from 2008 on my FBI certificate but I sent proof that the charges were dropped and case dismissed. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and know whether or not they will ask for a rehabilitation application? I am starting to gather all of those documents just in case.

2) I originally drove across the border with my partner and they almost didn't let me in because of the DUI arrest but then said they would count it as a juvenile offense since I was 18 and let me go. Since then, I have left and re-entered Canada on planes with no mention of the arrest. The CBSA officer said it's because they don't check as strictly when you fly. Is that true or do you think she was just trying to scare me about getting all my ducks in a row?

3) I know I can't enroll in school or anything but I was wondering if there were restrictions on me doing a yoga teacher training, for example. I basically want to become as hireable as possible as soon as I get the right to work here and I want to do teacher trainings and personal trainer certifications but I don't want to break any laws in doing so. Anyone know how this works?

Thank you so much in advance!

 

[Aquakitty]

Hi there! So after spending way too much time tracking down all of the info I needed, my application was signed for on June 1st, 2016 and I am still waiting on AOR. Now to continue to fill my time in Canada in legal ways until I hear back and that leads me to a few questions:

1) I do have a DUI arrest from 2008 on my FBI certificate but I sent proof that the charges were dropped and case dismissed. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and know whether or not they will ask for a rehabilitation application? I am starting to gather all of those documents just in case.

2) I originally drove across the border with my partner and they almost didn't let me in because of the DUI arrest but then said they would count it as a juvenile offense since I was 18 and let me go. Since then, I have left and re-entered Canada on planes with no mention of the arrest. The CBSA officer said it's because they don't check as strictly when you fly. Is that true or do you think she was just trying to scare me about getting all my ducks in a row?

3) I know I can't enroll in school or anything but I was wondering if there were restrictions on me doing a yoga teacher training, for example. I basically want to become as hireable as possible as soon as I get the right to work here and I want to do teacher trainings and personal trainer certifications but I don't want to break any laws in doing so. Anyone know how this works?

Thank you so much in advance!

1) You shouldn't need rehab as you have proof of the dropped charges.

2) If you brought your proof to the border it wouldn't have been an issue, or shouldn't have been. I don't really know if what she said is true, I suppose it makes sense they check for DUI history more at the border if you are the one driving. Airports generally have a lot more screening so it makes sense they'd need to do less criminal history checking.

3) As long as the course is stand-alone and 6 months or less in length, it's ok.

 

[julies879]

What is the fastest way to get a new passport when one expired? We need a renewal ASAP.

 

[Decoy24601]

What is the fastest way to get a new passport when one expired? We need a renewal ASAP.

When I applied for my first passport to visit my husband (then boyfriend) I was able to get it in about 4 weeks if I remember correctly. There's an option where you an pay for expedited processing and overnight shipping. If you have immediate travel plans I think there's an even faster option, but you would have to go directly to a passport agency and ask. You'd also have to prove that you need it. The website says that takes about 8 business days: https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/passports/renew.html

 

[carr1]

What is the fastest way to get a new passport when one expired? We need a renewal ASAP.

Are you in Canada? I renewed mine last year by going to the US consulate in Toronto and applying, I received my new passport in 9 days without paying for expedited.
If you're in the US still you can pay to expedite your passport renewal.

 

[Decoy24601]

Are you in Canada? I renewed mine last year by going to the US consulate in Toronto and applying, I received my new passport in 9 days without paying for expedited.

Really, that fast? I'm in Canada right now myself and after I land I want to change my last name on my passport and am looking into how to do that and how long it takes (at a US consulate).

 

[carr1]

Really, that fast? I'm in Canada right now myself and after I land I want to change my last name on my passport and am looking into how to do that and how long it takes (at a US consulate).

I renewed mine for the same reason (name change) I made an appointment at the US consulate, had all my paperwork completed before hand, picture in hand, cash for fee and showed up for the appt. the appt took less then an hour, they check all your supporting documents and then hand them back to you. You have to provide a Canada post envelope you bring with. I received the new passport in 9 days or maybe even 7, it was super quick.
There is a whole process laid out on the US embassy website.

https://ca.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/how-to-renew-a-passport/

 

[Decoy24601]

I renewed mine for the same reason (name change) I made an appointment at the US consulate, had all my paperwork completed before hand, picture in hand, cash for fee and showed up for the appt. the appt took less then an hour, they check all your supporting documents and then hand them back to you. You have to provide a Canada post envelope you bring with. I received the new passport in 9 days or maybe even 7, it was super quick.
There is a whole process laid out on the US embassy website.

https://ca.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/how-to-renew-a-passport/

Awesome! Thank you.

I'm curious though, where did you get to have the passport photos taken? There's a few places near I am that I think will take US passport pictures that I found when getting my PR photos done.

 

[carr1]

Awesome! Thank you.

I'm curious though, where did you get to have the passport photos taken? There's a few places near I am that I think will take US passport pictures that I found when getting my PR photos done.

I had my new passport ones done at same time as my PR card ones for my app, at Costco if you're a member it was $7.50 per set. But now my passport and PR card are the exact same picture basically
I had my passport updated right after I applied.

 

[Decoy24601]

I had my new passport ones done at same time as my PR card ones for my app, at Costco if you're a member it was $7.50 per set. But now my passport and PR card are the exact same picture basically
I had my passport updated right after I applied.

Ah, good to know ;D. Thanks for the information.

 

[carr1]

Ah, good to know ;D. Thanks for the information.

That was at Costco in Ontario Btw. You're welcome and good luck on the passport renewal!

 

[Decoy24601]

That was at Costco in Ontario Btw. You're welcome and good luck on the passport renewal!

Well, worst case scenario I can just take a day trip to Bellingham (I live just south of Vancouver) and get my passport photos done at a walgreens there or something. ;D

 

[setec-astronomy]

Well, worst case scenario I can just take a day trip to Bellingham (I live just south of Vancouver) and get my passport photos done at a walgreens there or something. ;D

If you're in the Lower Mainland, it might be worth your going through the Seattle passport agency office, which can do same-week turnaround if you have proof of upcoming travel (which, given your residing in Canada, should be trivial), and you can pick it up as soon as it's ready. But of course, it does cost more than the other suggested route. But if you did need it in more of a hurry, it can help. (I got my first passport about two weeks before embarking on a last minute trip around the world that way.)

 

[Decoy24601]

If you're in the Lower Mainland, it might be worth your going through the Seattle passport agency office, which can do same-week turnaround if you have proof of upcoming travel (which, given your residing in Canada, should be trivial), and you can pick it up as soon as it's ready. But of course, it does cost more than the other suggested route. But if you did need it in more of a hurry, it can help. (I got my first passport about two weeks before embarking on a last minute trip around the world that way.)

Thank you for the info ;D. I think I'll probably end up going to the consulate since I don't really need my passport right away, but it's good to know that getting one through the consulate is fast and I have a backup option.