We called the Montreal consulate this afternoon and were informed that while our case was "qualified" for an interview as of Sep 20th, interviews letters would not be sent out until "4-12 weeks" and that interviews for "June/July" had just been completed for November. Which means Aug/Sept people would get interviews sometime after that!

We have emailed both Montreal and Vancouver to find out IF it is possible to even have our case transferred from slow Montreal to faster Vancouver. We asked the Montreal operator about transferring and she said we should wait but didn't say it was not possible, so we figured why not formally request it and we have.

Has anyone tried to have their case transferred from Montreal to Vancouver?

Has anyone complained to Montreal consulate about their backlog and long delays for an interview?

Based on our research, it seems that Vancouver will be able to interview us much much sooner than Montreal. We are hoping we can get this all done within a month and will let you know what happens.

I have seen a few get transferred from Mtl to Van, but it was because they had moved there, not based on wanting the interview sooner. If ya don't ask, you don't receive. Best of luck

And do let us know if you get it cause I would do it as well.

I got transfered from Montreal to Vancouver but the reason was because the NVC messed up ...

When I called the NVC to find out the status of our petition the person told me that everything was good and that my file petition was forwarded on to Montreal ... I asked him why they would do that when I live in Vancouver area ... It took me a good 15 minutes to explain to him exactly what I was saying and eventually he understood ... Apparently, they had looked at where I was born (Chicoutimi, Quebec) rather than the city I reside in (Langley, BC) and sent it off to Montreal ... He told me they would take care if it right away and that my petition would be forward to Vancouver ...

They gave instructions to Montreal to send it to Vancouver once they received it ... It delayed us about a week but it sure was better than going through Montreal ... Just so you know, through the whole process I still had a MTL# rather than a VAC# even though I was being processed through Vancouver ...

Good luck in getting it sent to Vancouver ... If it was possible I certainly would look into it ... Vancouver usually gives you an interview date of about a month from when you fax in your checklist ... Vancouver also does everything by fax and email rather than mailing things in like Montreal ....

I seriously considered this myself and got in contact with both Montreal and Vancouver. Montreal is more than willing to transfer your case but you need to have an address there. I couldn't figure out a way to do it, but if you know someone in the right area who'd be willing to help you out, you could always do that.

Edited to add: "There" being in the area that goes to the Vancouver embassy.

Really cause I have all kinds of addresses I could give them. I just think now that I should get a date soon so I am afraid to change it over now just in case.

Yes, we transferred the case to Vancouver because we were afraid Montreal would take so long, since March. It was a bit of a hassle because I didn't know who to ask to do that. I started with NVC before they even got the case, kept asking them, they said they would do it when they got the case, took down the new address in the west. I called to check on it one day later and they said they finally got my case but already forwarded it to Montreal. (The auto response still said they didn't have it) They advised me to call Vancouver so that they can request it from Mtl.

So I started emailing Vancouver, they said I should call Montreal. Montreal said they'd forward it when they received it but didn't have my case, and kept saying it for 3 weeks untill I got a paper from NVC saying they actually forwarded my case 2 weeks after they said they did it on the phone. Anyway, once I called Mtl and they said they got the "data load" of my case, and typed in a note to forward it to Vancouver. And when they received it they sent it promptly to Vancouver. When I emailed Vancouver to check on it they said they got it and sent out Package 3. Van scheduled the interview already 3 weeks away.

So... I never said I wanted to move because it was faster, simply that my fiancee moved in the 6 months since we applied (she grew up in a western province so she had family there, and went to school in Van so she has friends there)

Consulates were accomodating and fairly prompt. Vancouver is very responsive via email and did pretty fast processing. Montreal was more or less responsive as well.

Thanks for sharing your experiences. We have emailed Montreal, NVC, and Vancouver about our reguest and so far we have only heard back from Montreal - mostly informing us that they are the only ones that process the I130 immigrant visas. But they did tell us in their last email to give them an address in Vancouver and that they will forward our K3 there. So far I think this is what we are going to do and see what happens. At this time we do not know if Vancouver will accept our Packet 3 info that was completed for Montreal (mostly the medical) but I guess if we have to redo it there - we will. It still seems that we should be able to get a quicker interview. When we spoke to Montreal last week they informed us that they just finished booking June/July for November. We will keep you posted.

I'm curious as to what kind of address you have to have in the west if I wanted to consider this route? Do you have to have something that's in your name, or could it be a trusted friend's address?

I was fortunate because I was getting it changed by the NVC and they said that if I changed it at that stage it would delay the process by atleast a month and encouraged me to send it on to Vancouver. Thank GOD I found you guys and VisaJourney, it has taken 6 months for it to get to the consulate. I wish you the best of luck in getting it changed.

Okay - so we did it....we sent in our request to Montreal and asked that our K3 be transferred to Vancouver with all our Packet 3 info which we have completed already. Gave an address (my name in c/o and a friend's address). Will keep you posted on what happens next. Say a prayer for us.

Actually, from my understanding, only Montreal does handle K-3s, although I may be wrong. I may be getting it confused with the I-130, though. You might want to check on the K-3 forum about this but I am pretty sure other Canadians from the west have complained that they had to go all the way to Montreal for their interview because that was the only Consulate processing K-3s. K-1s are done at both Montreal and Vancouver so transfers between them would be possible.

Van does K3 as well as the k1's. Mtl is the only place in canada that does the cr-1

Montreal sent an email this morning saying:
"Please be advised that your file has been transferred to Vancouver today.
Thank you"

One thing good I can say about Montreal is that they do respond to our emails fairly quickly.

Now lets see where this goes.

So did you have to give a reasoning? Or did you just say you wanted a faster interview? Did you have to give them a West Coast address?

Inquiring minds want to know! I'm pre-NOA2, and if this is a pretty easy process, I might have them do it at NVC. Especially considering Craig lives in Thunder Bay, which is ohhhhh....about as far away from Montreal as you can get and NOT go to Vancouver.

Cass (bebop the great)

James and I have complained as nicely as possible about the fact that K3 is suppose to get you into US faster than I130. We stated that we have no problem with waiting for our Montreal interview for the I130 (they are the only ones that can do that one) but that we 'respectfully request' to have our K3 transferred to Vancouver for quicker interview date. We gave them all the facts of the differences between the two and that we want to be together as soon as possible and don't see why we couldn't have it done in Vancouver. They replied couple of times with different things and then finally said - give us an address and we will transfer your case, so we did. Starting it at NVC level may be a lot better if possible - before it even goes to Montreal.

Good luck with the processing then:-). Glad to know you could transfer the K-3.

If things are the same as they were a couple of weeks ago, you should be able to get an interview very quickly. I wasn't planning to get my K3 but changed my mind, and sent them an email requesting a date just over a week away. They did it!

Can't say enough about the staff at the US Consulate in Vancouver. They're super-efficient and very pleasant.

WOW!!!!! It worked...Thank You Lord!!!! We got little scared since the time we asked to be transferred to Vancouver, because we had not had even one reply to numerous of our emails to Vancouver (and faxes and calls). But I just got the email.....yes....interview is November 06, 2006. I cannot wait till James gets home from work and I can tell him the great news. We have been dying to be together - as all of you know what that is like.

Ask and though shal receive, lol Great news.

Congrats on your interview date. It's great that they're doing what they can to reunite people after the IMBRA screw-up.

FYI - one week after our case was transferred from Montreal to Vancouver, we received an email from Vancouver (October 17th). The email was short - confirming that yes they have our case (still with MTL case#) and that interview has been scheduled for November 6th and also informing us that letter is being sent out. Two days later Packet 3 was received at my friend's address in Vancouver. I think this is automatically generated when they receive a case. The packet was basically the same, except requesting the DS230 done online and faxed to them with the checklist (which I do not have to redo - they have all that from Montreal). On October 24th the official letter for the interview was received at my friends' house.

Anyone considering switching over, beware that calling Vancouver or getting quick responses to your emails may not be as successful, BUT they do get you a quick interview, so make sure you have all the things done on your checklist - you don' t want to be caught off guard. Also - as long as your medical is done by one of the Doctors' on the list from Montreal - it is acceptable by Vancouver.

So this is it - flying to Vancouver on the 5th of November (James is meeting me in Toronto and we are going together) and entering US on the 7th with my love. Thank You Lord.

That is great news for you, I am so happy and I am thinking I might do the same thing. On the fence about it as I don't know if I do it before the end of the month I could hopefully get an interview in November. You know it is like moving lines in the grocery store it would be just my luck that it slowed down there lol. Let us know how the interview went.