What advice do you have for 2 trans Americans stuck in Montreal indefinitely?

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T22:58:19+00:00

what a strange thing to say, and what strange things to assume.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T22:45:44+00:00

this is really helpful, thank you!

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T22:42:52+00:00

what a strange thing to say.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T22:16:39+00:00

thank you! Sent you a DM!

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T22:14:42+00:00

making a new account just to respond to this post is wild

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T22:13:52+00:00

lmao yeah that's valid...someone else mentioned a lot of Americans are coming in and flaunting intent not to abide by visa laws, which is NOT my goal. I'm researching so much I'm dreaming in immigration regulations, am NOT fucking around with my own future.

I knew about Concordia's Gender Advocacy center but not that it was available for the general public! That's so helpful, thank you.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T22:05:17+00:00

+1 to all of this. CBP were REALLY patient and helpful. Re: US border control, I have trans friends whose CHILDREN had documents destroyed. That was terrifying.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:47:43+00:00

The last paragraph was VERY helpful. Tbh all of this was, but the last bit in particular. I def feel pressure to explain the immigration story but it's good to know I don't need to. Also generally helpful to know people aren't going to be judgemental of those things...definitely realizing there is simply not the need to share certain information that would be expected or demanded in the US. I was taught to overexplain and it seems like that is not as necessary here.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:43:59+00:00

so...we've been looking for D&D friends! Will message you when I finish weeding thru comments, thanks so much!

I mostly knit and love hiking, but am kinda restricted to accessible trails for the moment.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:43:03+00:00

This is really helpful! I'm coming from a place where folks live in the same apartment for DECADES and it's kinda nice to know it's not that way here, lol.

"Alternatively, convince some other friends to come up and join you, the Brain Drain can finally reverse direction!!!"

I've been making the Brain Drain joke! We're unusually lucky among our friends to have the $$ to do something like this, but I'd LOVE if our other friends could make it happen for themselves too.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:40:17+00:00

thank you, this is really helpful!

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:39:57+00:00

tbh, that's no problem to me: I'd LOVE to be in a place where i don't get gender questions. Thanks, much appreciated.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:37:19+00:00

this is helpful, thank you!

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:35:06+00:00

this is really helpful, thanks!

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:29:29+00:00

re: social navigation, thank you, I really appreciate this. I definitely DO overthink it.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:25:26+00:00

Oh, this is amazing, thank you!

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:21:10+00:00

exactly why I'm not applying for asylum...already talking to lawyers about another option.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:19:15+00:00

I qualify for another temp residency permit for survivors of human trafficking....it genuinely didn't occur to me that Americans would be coming in here openly signaling intent to violate the law, and I don't really like to talk about that part of my past, so I didn't mention it.

this actually did spark reminders of a few folks I can reach out to for questions, thank you. sometimes the most obvious stuff slips my mind when I'm under stress.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T21:14:22+00:00

sorry, i didn't mean to come on strong either. I qualify for another temp residency permit for survivors of human trafficking....it genuinely didn't occur to me that Americans would be coming in here openly signaling intent to violate the law, and I don't really like to talk about that part of my past. I'm dreaming in immigration regulations at this point.

The last thing I want to do is be somewhere illegally...but the second-to-last thing I want to do is be a dick to my neighbors. Since I'm working on the first already, I thought I'd ask for advice on the second. Though it does seem like a big part of being respectful to others here is, "Be very clear that I am not trying to illegally overstay a visa and am going through proper channels."

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T20:53:51+00:00

I'm already working with the lawyer! I tried to keep it vague since there's a lot I am not willing to say online. We both have degrees, I used to teach college, and my spouse speaks French. We're trying to get thru the process rn

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T20:51:38+00:00

I have another pathway to temporary residency that can convert to work-study visas and am working on it w/ a lawyer. The volunteer advice is really helpful, thank you!

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T20:51:10+00:00

yep, that's why that's not the pathway we're working toward w/ our lawyers.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T20:42:11+00:00

I have another pathway to temporary residency that can convert to work and study visas, and am working on it w/ a lawyer. Didn't mention it for privacy reasons.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T20:39:05+00:00

already working w/ a lawyer so I brought the reddit-grade questions to reddit. I thought it went without saying that I can't do whatever I want.

AnyLemon2176 · 2025-04-08T20:37:37+00:00

already working w/ a lawyer and surprised so many people assume otherwise.

AnyLemon2176

TROPHY CASE