When we first came back from the interview in Montreal, I checked the U-Haul rates online. The size truck we'd need was only about $215 CAD. But at that time, we weren't sure when we'd be leaving exactly, or if we'd even need the U-Haul truck. Originally, we were planning on taking our 2000 Grand AM to Michigan and hook a U-Haul trailer to it. We eventually found out from Jamie's mother who works at a car dealership, that since the car was leased, we could not take it with us. So, by the end of July we knew that we'd definitely have to rent a U-Haul truck. Jamie called 1-800-GO UHAUL to make the reservation, but since the end of July through to September is their busiest time of year, their rates go up. WAY UP. It ended up costing us over $900 CAD for a one-way, 14ft. truck.

We picked up the truck at a place in Toronto on Wednesday August 27th. The place was a little scary, but we didn't have much choice. There are only a few places that rent out one-way trucks, and it was the closest one to us. We had plans to start packing that same day, but we ended up spending the whole day talking to Jamie's grandmother and aunt. Thursday we packed and loaded up the truck ALL DAY and ALL NIGHT. We got up at about 4am and finished loading up the last bit of stuff and then we were on our way.

At the Border - Sarnia/Port Huron

We pulled up to the border check at about noon. The guards had just changed as we pulled up to the window. The guy/kid asked for our citizenship and Jamie told him that he was coming across on a K-1 Visa. The guy asked if we had the "visa thingy" and I passed Jamie's passport over to him. He opened it, looked at it (I'm not even sure if he was looking at the right page) and said "ok" and handed the passport back. I said "uuuuh... ok what?" and he said "you're ok, you can go". It would have been cool if it was really that easy and this kid obviously didn't know what he was doing. I said to him (trying not to make him feel too stupid) "well... I think we're actually supposed to go in and have his passport stamped and have them take these papers" at which time I handed him the "mysterious brown/orange envelope". He pretended like he was reading the letter on the envelope and said "oh.. huh... ok" handed the envelope back and started writing on the slip that you have to take in to the border patrol office.

We went into the office at about 12:03 and waited in line for about 10 min. An officer called us to the counter took our slip and asked for Jamie's passport and the envelope. He went into another room for about 10 min. or so and came back, asked when the wedding was (twice, to make sure you're not lying) stamped Jamie's Visa and I-94 with a few different stamps and asked for $6 USD. And that was that. At first I thought he didn't give Jamie employment authorization, but I turned the I-94 over and there it was. Thank God.

The crazy part is, that they didn't look in the U-Haul, didn't even ask what was in it, and didn't ask to see papers for our cat Rosie. I guess we got lucky.

Social Security Number

We went to the local social security office on Tuesday September 3rd. Jamie told the woman that he was here on a K-1 Visa and needed a SS# to open a bank account. She took his passport and asked him for his personal info and all that and said that she would get the SS card the next day and would mail it out then too, but if we didn't get it within 2 weeks to call them or bring the receipt in.

On Wednesday September 4th, we called and Jamie was given his SS# over the phone and about a week later he received the card in the mail.

Bank Account

Thursday September 5th we went to the bank and opened an account.

Drivers License

Trying to find something that has the date he got his drivers license on it.

Our Wedding

We were married October 24, 2002 at the Justice of the Peace. My parents and my sister were witnesses.

We didn't want a traditional wedding since we're both very shy people and weddings cost way to much and also, it's pretty much impossible to have a set date because of the immigration process. I thought it would be really rotten if we had set a date, mailed out invitations and then find out that we couldn't get married on that date because of immigration. We didn't want to have a traditional reception either, so we had a Halloween party on the 26th instead. Most of the attention was off of us, but people got to congratulate us and so on, so it worked out great.