We sure hope you get that interview letter soon. We're frustrated with our waiting on Montreal and this whole torturous process. But it is no where near what you have and are going through with them
I agree with your idea of Montreal having to answer just what they do in the run of a day.
Good luck and hope you do hear something soon

Congratulations

Hi Riblet:

I made a excel spredsheet of this data, to allow me to sort, But This system will not let me upload
this type of file ..

Colin

Well, I just got a typical reply from my email asking WHY the 4 more month delay in processing interviews. Wanna guess what they said?

"Hi, you are on the waiting list for an appointment date. It could take 4-6 months"

That's it. I tried reading between the lines, but for the life of me, I couldn't find an answer to my QUESTION, which was WHY??????

It's all good though, my congressional aide seems to have a real keen interest in this, and so do a lot of the Presidential Candidates (most of whom are still serving in Congress or the Senate). They got a little earful from me as well. I'm just glad we don't need stamps for emails, cause I would have just gone broke emailing everyone in the US about what a sucky job Montreal SEEMS to be doing. I couldn't SAY for SURE that is the case, because they have NEVER provided an EXPLANATION for these delays. So technically, they could be up to their ears in work, OR they could be hanging out at the coffee machine or checking out deals at Amazon.com for all we know. Hopefully, I'll have an actual answer for everyone shortly.

Alan & Sharon (Alan is the ANGRY one, Sharon just cries a lot).

GRRRRRRR! We have two people that mailed in their packet 3 end of December with interviews and we still have not heard about an appointment for us (packet 3 sent in end of November)! I am about to pull my freaking hair out here... Congrats to you with interviews...but dangit I'm pissed!!!

we were bypassed by a few as well but it wasn't for long..........it'll happen......i know its a sucky feeling watching ppl get by you. many times i was typing congrats whilst crying

It's great news that some of you are getting interview letters, but Alan and Sharon -- how frustrating that is -- and two lousy emails too. I'm hopeful that Montreal will start getting back on track soon. I too spoke to my congresswoman (who happens to be the Chair of the Immigration Committee in the House) but her people have not gotten back to me at all. I hope you have more luck than I did!

Hey Riblet - You can add me to the list I guess I'm going to stick with MTL for now

piosenka................K1.........03/27/07...04/24/07

ACTION:

added piosenka


Member Name..........Visa Type.....NOA2.......Sent to MTL.......Packet 3......Interview Date................Visa Arrived in Mail
lynamatic...............DCF........05/27/06...05/31/06..........06/05/06......05/29/2007
Darkchild80.............K1.........07/14/06...08/??/06..........09/06/06......11/20/2006 VISA GRANTED!
J&K.....................K1.........07/18/06...07/25/06..........08/10/06......11/22/2006 VISA GRANTED!
Jersey Girl.............K3.........07/27/06...08/04/06..........08/28/06......01/18/2006 VISA GRANTED!..........
Leafgal.................K1.........08/03/06...08/03/06..........09/01/06......11/16/2006 VISA GRANTED!
MyheartsinCanada........K1.........08/03/06...08/22/06..........11/24/06
jg_am...................K1.........08/08/06...08/14/06..........08/25/06......12/14/2006 VISA GRANTED! (chgd by Choice from 11/15)
smallcan999.............K1.........08/25/06...08/09/06..........09/12/06......12/15/2006 VISA GRANTED!
Colin Wilson...........DCF.........08/16/06...??/??/06..........08/31/06......
ljs.....................K1.........08/18/06...09/06/06..........09/18/06......11/14/2006 VISA GRANTED! (exp due to child)
karlita.................K1.........08/30/06...09/??/06..........10/23/06......03/29/2007 VISA GRANTED!
billsgirl...............K1.........08/31/06...09/05/06..........09/18/06......11/27/2006 VISA GRANTED!
Jenash820...............K1.........09/05/06...09/??/06..........11/22/06......03/21/2007 VISA GRANTED!..........03/27/07
mozplay.................K1.........09/07/06...09/11/06..........09/25/06......01/17/2006 VISA GRANTED!..........01/19/07
Officer’s Fiance........K1.........09/07/06...09/15/06..........10/02/06......01/25/2006
Zaurok..................K1.........09/11/06...??/??/06..........11/22/06......04/12/2007
Amy and Brian...........K1.........09/12/06...01/24/07..........03/01/07......
Tracy...................DCF........09/19/06...09/19/06..........10/19/06......05/22/2007
Kipster.................K1.........10/03/06...10/13/06..........10/23/06......01/16/2006 VISA GRANTED!
Married_my_love.........DCF........10/05/06...10/05/06..........10/19/06......11/22/2006 VISA GRANTED!
Amanda.Lise.............K1.........10/02/06...10/12/06..........10/20/06......01/23/2006 VISA GRANTED!
CutienPurg..............K3.........10/03/06...10/18/06..........10/27/06......04/19/2007
kristenm................K1.........10/04/06...??/??/06..........11/15/06......02/27/2007 VISA GRANTED!..........03/02/07
EmilyRugBurn............K3.........10/05/06...??/??/06..........10/20/06......03/19/2007
Nicodemus...............K1.........??/??/06...??/??/06..........11/07/06......03/28/2007
Davin & Rachel..........K3.........10/24/06...??/??/06..........12/19/06......
cdngrl..................K1.........10/27/06...11/??/06..........12/21/06.....05/07/2007
Alan & Sharon...........K1.........10/30/06...11/20/06..........12/11/06......
Mephys..................K1.........10/31/06...11/22/06..........11/23/06......04/04/2007 VISA GRANTED!..........04/05/07
Maryam416...............K1.........11/01/06...11/30/06..........01/08/07.....
Necrotica...............K1.........11/07/06...11/20/06..........02/24/07.....
cuci....................K3.........11/11/06...11/22/06..........01/02/07......03/07/2007 VISA GRANTED! - took cancellation app't
Len and Bren............DCF........11/14/06...11/??/06..........04/16/07.....
LadyK1..................K1.........11/??/06...11/27/06..........12/08/06.....05/30/2007
Presgirl................K1.........12/06/06...12/22/06..........01/17/07.....
Ron/Sharon..............K1.........12/08/06...12/28/06..........04/16/07.....
lynamon.................K1.........12/13/06...01/03/07..........01/30/07.....
Lana Rascoe.............K3.........12/13/06...01/08/07..........01/17/07.....
Allie...................K1.........12/22/06...01/03/07..........01/22/07.....
Laura0588...............K1.........01/17/07...01/31/07..........03/07/07.....
sapa_uscan..............K1.........01/25/07...02/07/07..........02/22/07.....
Lance27.................K3.........01/31/07...02/07/07..........02/22/07.....
Tinker..................K1.........02/22/07...03/06/07..........03/27/07.....
piosenka................K1.........03/27/07...04/24/07..........


Member Name..........Visa Type.....NOA2...........NVC Received.......Packet 3 @ NVC....NVC Complete....Packet 4....Interview Date...Visa Arrived
thermophile............CR1..........03/??/05........06/??/05..........03/08/07............
neiks..................CR1..........05/02/06........05/30/06...........unknown............09/20/06........11/23/06......12/22/2006
software...............CR1..........05/04/06..............................................11/11/20........01/16/07......02/22/2006
wrumug.................CR1..........07/31/06........08/11/06..........10/13/06............11/20/06........12/05/06......01/22/2007
languageladki..........CR1..........08/03/06........08/21/06..........10/13/06............01/04/07........02/17/07......03/16/2007....03/20/07
emt103c................CR1..........08/03/06........08/17/06..........10/20/06............11/14/06........01/16/07......02/15/2007
amarceau...............CR1..........09/07/06........09/22/06..........11/20/06............01/11/07........02/??/07......03/20/2007
cuci...................CR1..........10/11/06........10/??/06..........02/23/06............04/04/07........
Carlos at Tessa........CR1..........10/13/06........10/30/06..........11/27/06............02/13/07........03/22/07......04/12/2007
ernie..................CR1..........10/31/06........11/20/06..........02/??/07............03/05/07........03/??/07......04/25/2007
love_the_garden........CR1..........11/04/06........
shann76................CR1..........unknown...........................11/13/06............02/02/07........02/??/07......03/29/2007
AmCan..................CR1..........11/21/06........
Our Mao................CR1..........12/04/06........12/06/06..........01/29/07............02/13/07........03/??/07......04/13/2007....04/18/07
riblet.................CR1..........12/06/06........12/14/06..........02/06/07............02/20/07........03/18/07......04/18/2007

soon... one day soon....babys grow up way too fast!

at the point were at in our lives, I cant give mtl but another month or so before i just start looking for work in canada, and just start the move that direction. My wife and 6month old baby just isnt working out so well staying with her mother... and i just cant afford rent in canada + mortage in the US=P

I could rant and rave all day... but where would that get me?... hehe, lets try some positive reinforcement!

Hura MTL! You can do it!.... hit the "print" button...... put the letter in the envelope... Atta Boy!... now step over to the mail bin.... good job!

We need a cheerleader chant:

Go, go Ol' Montreal
Please don't get mad, when we call
Rest assured we're going crazy too
But we're not nearly as crabby as you

Please don't mind this silly chant
It's a more humorous, healthy way to rant
Missing our loved ones is all we can do
Productivity is where you need a clue

All we want is an interview date
So don't email back at us with so much hate
We do so much research, to not get robbed
AND WE SURE AS HELL DONT WANT YOUR JOB!

LMAO .......i snorted and pee'd a lil bit

So, based on this, my fiancé isn't going to get his interview until sometime in August. And I say, yet again, MONTREAL HAS HAD OUR FILE SINCE NOVEMBER. My fiancé never even got Packet 3 in the mail; he actually had to pick it up!!!

*rips my hair out*

I just got an email from the Montreal Consulate. They recieved my package 3 on Jan 17th.
They said in the email that my interview could be in four months due to the backload of interviews to be done to date.
Unbelievble.

Do they mean 4 months from present or 4 months from Jan 17 when they received packet 3
Last weeek they emailed me stating June, July. I'm close to your timeline

I contacted my Congressperson last month (March 16th), right after one of the consular employees quoted June / July to me and stated that Montreal was way behind. The person I spoke with told me that she'd contact me again after she had spoken to Montreal. Well, yesterday I received an email follow-up. The congressperson's representative phoned Montreal and was given basically the same info that we'd been given -- no interview, a letter will be mailed. What is different is that the consulate denied being behind on the scheduling of interviews and said they were well within the timelines. They also said that they would call the congressperson's office back with an update -- which they didn't.

Fast forward to yesterday when I receive a telephone call and an email from the congresswoman's office, with an attached letter sent to Montreal dated yesterday. When the congressperson's office didn't hear back, they generated this letter requesting timeline information ASAP. The congressional aide was so angry that Montreal hadn't gotten back to her that she spoke to my congressperson directly and complained. According to the aide, Montreal is having a number of issues right now.

I haven't heard anything else from the congressional aide, and to be truthful, I don't expect to. I guess I will just continue with this most horrendous of waits and try to think positively.

Sorry for the ramble....

Definitely keep us posted if you hear anything new

Can I be added to this list?

comelly - CR1 - NOA2 4.19.07

Thanks!

Just a Note .. I just Called Montreal today( Friday April 27,07 12:05 PM ), and (after your hit # 4) quote it says:

" Please be advised for today and today only The immigrant visa Office will not be answering their Calls .... Thankyou "


Colin

Seems they just keep getting worse with each week that passes

Wow that's interesting! Maybe they could get some work done.. I'm hoping their not answering calls so they can have a huge meeting and come up with a plan on how to catch up on the queue!

Unbelievable......... and Unacceptable both at the same time! UGH.. feeling for you guys as you wait!

unreal!!

At least they left a msg!!

It may as well have been ,,l, for a message .....gd flames you're the eternal optomist.....I appreciate that

If it were I leaving a message, would be, "your interview is scheduled for April 21, if you have missed the date, one must start over from the beggining, have a super day." lol

lol what a jerk... if i called and heard that i'd snap!

oh yes, I would have a pause, then a mean cruel laugh!! Just kidding!!

ok now ur a focker

You can add me to the waiting list for an interview with Montreal now. ;-)

[melytha / MelythaChristine]
K1 Visa
NOA2 - March 21, 2007
Packet 3 received - April 23, 2007
Packet 3 returned - April 27, 2007 (Montreal should receive it on April 30, 2007)


Hoping for September/October. (Well, earlier would be nice, but that doesn't seem likely!)

Welcome aboard. Sit back and hold on tight Montreal is full of ups and downs. Good luck

Hey Mel - Do you remember how long it took to get packet 3 from Montreal once NVC sent it to them? I am anxiously waiting for packet 3 right now :>

I think it took about three and a half weeks. If you can find the signature in my other sn (melytha) it shows the dates. I'm using two computers and both are signed in automatically... had some issues with a password a few days ago and haven't fixed it yet so I can post from the same name from both computers!!! I was kind of anxious about receiving Packet 3 too... they said they sent Packet 3 on April 12 but I didn't get it in the mail until April 23rd. Also, NVC said they sent to Montreal in early April so it took a few weeks for Montreal to get the packet together I guess.

You can email the Montreal consulate and ask if they sent you your packet yet; that's what I did!

Ya, I might bug Montreal, but I'm tryin to save up my annoying emails to them for later on I'll give em another week or so!

It took 9 days for my packet 3 from the time NVC forwarded case to Montreal
NVC sent to Montreal Jan 3. Packet 3 arrived to me Jan 12

The email they sent me was actually very polite and courteous... but yeah, I'm not going to be emailing them more than I 'have' to.

Latest Update on the Consulate.

From what my Congressman's office is telling me, Montreal (and all consulates for that matter) will do about as much work as necessary to keep their workload close to the projected timelines. Once it begins to get well in excess of their capabilities to keep up, they will eventually bring in help from the State Department temporarily to get processing times back in line. What this means IS, the projected timeline is an AVERAGE processing time, and as long as they are within that AVERAGE, nothing much will happen. They have a directive to bring their caseloads to within that average timeline, not to actually MEET it. The local Consular officers will, once the processing will exceed the MAXIMUM processing length, request additional help so that they can catch back up, but as soon as the case load is back within their projected AVERAGE, the help is released.

What this means to US. If the projected processing times on their website say 6 months, then the timeframes can be anywhere from one day to ONE YEAR. Now they don't want to have too many of us at the UPPER end of that range, but they ALSO do not want too many in the LOWER range either, because then their average timeline would be reduced, and any increased workload would make them look bad by missing their goals. With a faster average processing time, this creates more opportunity to MISS that goal more often, thus making that Consulate look bad. No Consular official wants to look bad. So they concentrate all of their efforts at keeping the status quo. So those applications that were submitted back in August, and have had to have corrections, replies from us, etc. all of a sudden begin to receive more attention as their time on file reaches the threshold of processing time. So then, OTHER processing comes to a halt, or is put on the back burner temporarily, which pushes EVERYONE back.

Evidently, they are now approaching that dreaded UPPER END, after having caught up previously with a backload at the end of last year. It goes in cycles with them. Get caught up, process normally and begin to fall behind again, then send out for more help, pull 24 hour shifts (any of you here long enough will remember getting emails on Saturdays and Sundays for a brief while).

What can WE do? Call your congressional offices, senators, lawyers, etc. Place ENOUGH pressure on Montreal, and they will YELL FOR HELP from the State Department to quell the uproar before someone's head is handed to them in a basket. Now, IF you are willing to let the cycle take it's natural course, it will probably peak within the next few months, and then Montreal will suddenly be sending out masses of appointment emails. BUT, we can speed up that process NOW by doing some calling to officials that CAN do something about it.

The good news is, if your Congressman's aides are as good as mine (she is actually INTERESTED in my Fiancee's state of despair) they will email, call, then DEMAND some answers. The woman heping us actually told me "Don't worry sweetie, we are going to get your Fiancee here asap, you just let me handle this for you". Now THAT will bring a smile to your lips

WOW... now that's an answer... Good for you for being vocal and getting your concerns heard! Wishing you a speedy approval!

Wow, our tax dollars/pollitcal system actuall at work.

I wonder if this has anything to do with Montreal's response to my congressperson that they are not outside the timeframe?

My latest reply from Montreal -- Actually from my congressperson's aide...


Monday, April 30th


Dear Sinead:



Below is the text of the response we received through the Montreal Consulate. Although the consulate does not specify a date, it does let us know that we can expect an appointment date issued in June to be scheduled no later than the end of August (6 to 8 weeks later).



I hope that this information is helpful to you. I imagine that this is not what you wanted to hear and I wish that they had been able to give a specific date at a minimum. If you like, please call me in June and I can follow up again, this time hopefully getting a definitive date.



I will keep your file open for follow up.



Best regards,


---

Congressional Assistant

Office of Congresswoman ---



Letter From Montreal to my Congresswoman:


Dear Congresswoman ---:



Thank you for your letter regarding the fiancé visa application of ---. We received notification on January 17 that Mr. --- had collected the necessary documents and was ready for an interview. Unfortunately, our current demand for immigrant and fiancée visas far outstrips our resources. As a result, we have a backlog of up to six months for appointments to become available.


Because our automated systems schedule interviews only one month at a time, and then only 6 to 8 weeks in advance, it is not possible for us to accurately predict when a future appointment will be available for any specific case. But given the long waits that other fiancée visa applicants are experiencing, it is doubtful we will be able to accommodate Mr. --- before June at the earliest. I regret that the size of our workload makes it impossible to expedite appointment dates to meet pre-arranged plans.



I hope this information is helpful.



Sincerely,

---
Consular Section Chief

US Consulate General Montreal



A few thoughts:

Alan and Sharon noted that we really needed to put pressure on Montreal. This proves it.

This letter from the Cosular Section Chief tells us that appointments are scheduled through an automated system and that they are scheduled one month at a time and 6 to 8 weeks in advance. Is this consistent with our experiences at VJ?

They have a backlog of 6 months? Why aren't they seeking State Department help (per Alan's note)?


I'm moving between tears and anger right now. And they are so damn nonchalant about the whole thing!

I'm sorry if this is a stupid question, but how exactly do we get our congresspeople involved? Does anyone have a generic letter they can share?

The thought of my fiancé not having his interview until anywhere from August to October makes me sick. At that point, it would have been over a year since we started all this. This stress from this whole ordeal post-NVC has contributed to my health problems and played a role in me losing my job. And what about the I-134 and the supporting documents? How long are those good for? If I have to redo all of those, I am screwed. If they ask him what job I do, he'll probably be denied the visa when he tells them I'm unemployed, if I still am at that time, which is a possibility because of my health problems flaring up so badly.

Talk about putting some pressure!!! I know it's frustrating, but we all need to hang in there. We are calling MTL tomorrow (day off since I got root cannal about one hour ago) and in the most obvious case that they don't have an interview date for us we already have the contact info for our Congresman's Director of International Somethingstuff. Then we will also jump in the pressure wagon. If they need help (MTL) they should ask for it!!!! Sheesh!

Off topic: how amazingly informative is the London Consulate website.... the COMPLETE OPPOSITE to the crappinessssss of amcits.

I think this is a Link to find your rep and send a message

http://www.house.gov/writerep/


Regards

Montreal gave us an interview date of May 9th at 8:30 a.m. when Jon called through! I'm still in shock ...

Congrats!!

Whoa, that's next week! I hope you get your interview letter in the next couple of days. And congrats!

Congrats to you I'm right in your time line I'm trying to call Montreal only a busy signal though

Whoa, they let you know only 8 days before? I'm confused! If Jon hadn't called, would you have known your interview date? I mean, it's great news and congrats... but, did they just decide to fill your case in when someone else cancelled or something? Does it have to do with your involvement with your congress person?

that's incedible news !!!!!


Congrats!!!