I just received the following e-mail from MTL:

"Hi, Unfortunately due to our workload it takes at least six months to book an appointment. Thanks #3"

They're not using names or initials anymore, just numbers. It kind of reminds me of old tv show "The Prisoner." I guess that makes all of us still waiting #2

The delay is getting worse and since when did IRs/CRs need to book an appointment? Do they mean from today? What about those people who have already been waiting 6 mos.? That might make it 12 mos. for an interview, about the same as Juarez.

Grumble grumble grumble

Book an appointment??? Is today "International mess with good citizens who just want to be reunited with loved ones" day?

Haha- I remember the Prisoner.

It also reminds me of Fruit of the Loom underwear inspectors.

My numbered person has a more formal salutation:

Thank you.

Operator 6

Oh yeah? Well my respondent was Operator 2! ( )

I wonder what is going on over there; I wonder if it's become a headless henhouse?

Who is number 1?

Seriously this sucks for those waiting. Contact your senators and the Department of State.

You'd better believe I'm going cause a ruckus. So much for the Hart-Cellar Act of 1965. What happened to the whole reunification of families idea. What we need is a real Texan like LBJ in the White House. I don't even mind if he strangles our PM again.

At least they respond to your emails!

They never sign mine, just give a vague non-answer and move on with their day

Flood the SOBs with e-mails. I've had plenty e-mails that have gone unanswered. Keep bugging them and don't give up. That's what they want!!!

Now I'm flooding them with Senator inquiries in addition to my emails...They didn't even answer my Senator in 30 days!

I was just bragging with the fine signature Operator 6 has. I've probably only sent 5 emails total, this is the only one signed by an operator and for another one I never got an answer (and only received 1 real answer ever - a question about the police certificate )

Anyway, has anyone else written to Mary Marshall - consul general in Montreal?

I'm working on the letter right now.

Somewhere in this forum I read that it seemed like the U.S. Consulate in Montreal was scheduling "everyone" for an interview in November, as if they are going to try to get people with their U.S. sweeties before the end of the year.

Has something just changed? Again?

How discouraging...

Hi,

No they are talking about the IR1/CR1 and IR5 visa interviews, the K visas seem to be rolling along.

Check out the Montreal timeline to interview thread http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=39547
- Liz keeps a copy of a timeline for K visas in her signature there. Good luck!

Thank you kindly trailmix!

If they don't even reply to Senators....

Has anyone had any success with writing the ACTUAL consul general as someone suggested??

I sent my letter earlier this week, will post here when I get a reply so watch this space!

I wish I had her e-mail address before mailing Washington I would have taken the wind out of her fn sails, specially about the breathalyser system they have and how it is broken.

Last time I checked the Consul General for the U.S. Consulate in Montreal is a MS. Mary Marshall. I'm sure she'll get any mail addressed to her

I heard she only gets mail delivered to her office when CR1's get interviews...is that true?

I hope not lol

Ok, well I got a response to the letter I sent to Mary Marshall in Montreal on October 2nd.

It was actually sent by someone else in the office, no surprise there and did not answer my questions (again no surprise), basically, they were:

Why is there only 1 place interviewing IR1/CR1 visa applicants in this huge country:

Concerning your objection to the distance required to travel to the interview, please note that in 1996 the Department of State consolidated all immigrant visa processing throughout Canada to one post - Montreal (Oh really????). Worldwide, in each country, there is only one immigrant visa issuing post. The DOS also designated Vancouver and Montreal to process the K1 and K3 visas, which are nonimmigrant visas (you don't say, or rather you do, which is information I already stated in my letter/question).

I also asked why it takes such a long time to get an interview - up to six months generally and voiced my concern about it

With regards to your concern about the length in time before you husband is scheduled for an immigrant visa interview, we are unable to give a precise date yet since his case is not yet documentarily qualified to proceed blah blah blah.

How are the K1 visa interviews scheduled vs the IR1/CR1 (this was before the rash of IR interviews) and why can't we get an answer from NVC or Montreal on how/when an interview will be scheduled. When we call NVC and ask they say speak to MTL when we contact MTL they say speak to NVC:

"Concerning the K1 and K3 visa processing, once the National visa Center assigns the Montreal or Vancouver case numbers that petition is then forwarded to the appropriate post for that office to send out all the necessary documentation for processing. Once these cases are qualified they also are on a waiting list for a date to be assigned for them".

Other than those two things, she took the opportunity to let me know that the NVC had sent out a checklist for my Husband's PR card on October 11th (yes, I already know that they are ignoring the copy I sent on October 3rd and I have resent it now - but gee thanks for pointing that out again).

She also said:

"We also note that on August 20, NVC advised you that the form I-864 AOS still required supporting documents, ie the necessary tax information. We also note that you are presently residing in Canada and take this opportunity to advise you that you must also demonstrate that you meet the domicile requirements".

Well, I note that August was 2 months ago! I also note that I sent them further supporting evidence of my U.S. domicile (which has already been accepted) and that although their form says not to include foreign income they wanted it on the DS-230 AND they wanted my Canadian tax returns. I don't have a crystal ball.

So I got some non-answers and a stern note from her about my RFE's from NVC AND a veiled threat about proving domicile.

What a complete and utter waste of time.

WOW, that sneaky Ms. Marshall. Does she even have the right to access your file if it isn't at the consulate?

Apparently, anyway I have cooled down a bit now, but I've got to say the woman's letter had the desired effect which was to tick me off, good for her!

PS - August was 3 months ago, blame that statement on my not-so-cool state when I was typing that out

So, basically the letter served as a "duh, isn't this obvious? now stop wasting my time before I throw your case to the back of the queue" threat.

How very banal.

lol, yes it was, hope the woman who responded is on holiday when my Husband goes for his interview.

Oh Trailmix, that sounds simply horrible...a typical politicians non-answer.
I swear they must go to a special school to learn those skills.
The rest of us, civilians, have learnt to be forth-coming and tell the truth, and most importantly to say, "I don't know" when appropriate.
These words have probably never left a politician's lips.
Ha!