Finally the story. We started with a long distance relationship, which caused huge phone bills. We married and finally decided that Haydede would come to the States and get dual-citizenship. With that, we crossed the river Styx and entered into Hades. To say that there was red tape would be the understatement of the century. After 11 months and nearly losing our sanity, we made a four day u-haul trip from Edmonton, Alberta to South Bend, Indiana

We now present some tips if you actually want to go thru this experience.

• First, it's gonna take abou;a year. Do not believe them when they say six months or whatnot. We turned in Haydee paperwork on November 10, 1995. On October 8, 1996- 2 days short of 11 months, she was granted her visa.
  
• Next, make sure that the office gives you all of the paperwork. The office in Edmonton, unknown to us, failed to give us a paper on photographs. As a result of their error we ended up spending nearly $60.00 on photos that we did not need.
  
• Since we're on the subject, photos are tricky. They requirea 3/4 shot of your face with the right ear showing. We never found out what happens with people who don't have right ears. The immigration people are EXTREMELY picky about photos so be sure you have the form.
  
• Check your passport. Do it right now. If it expires at anytime in the next two years, renew it at once. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from when the visa is issued. Example: if the visa is issued on March 1, your passport must be valid until at least September 1. It is better to renew a passport now and not at the last minute, like we had to do.
  
• Be prepared to go to the Immigration office at least TWICE. The first time you will have to fly in and be fingerprinted. Then about three months later you will go back for an interview. In Canada these offices are in Toronto and Vancouver ONLY. Although there are smaller offices nation-wide these are the ONLY two that they do prints & interviews. If you have to go to the Vancouver office, feel free to Mail us if you have any questions. For those outside Canada, sorry we do not know where the main offices are, but most likely in the capital cities.
  
• Form I-130, the affidavit of support. This above all is the most important form that they look at. It shows that you will not become a burden onto the tax-payers. HAVE AS MANY PEOPLE FILL THIS OUT AS YOU CAN It will make the final interview go a lot smoother and less stressfull.
  
• Do not quit your job until you have the actual visa.
  
• For more stuff, look up the Department of Immigration homepage
  or Mail Jon

  
  to see the story of our UHaul trip
  

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