Original Documents at IR1 Visa Interview

[On s'en va 0]

Hi All,

I believe I might have misunderstood the Montreal Consulate's directions. They gave us a checklist of things to gather for the interview (affidavit of support, birth and marriage certificates, photographs, etc.). We were not quite sure if we were supposed to send the originals they were requesting with the checklist or not. I had a free phone consultation with an immigration lawyer, and she said to send the originals with the checklist by mail so I did.

We have now received the letter stating we can schedule an interview. This letter also has a list of the original documents that we need to bring to the interview, but they did not return our originals with the letter nor indicate if they have kept the ones we mailed in. They would not have thrown them away, would they?!

Do any of you have advice on what we should do?

[OBX 51]

Hi All,

I believe I might have misunderstood the Montreal Consulate's directions. They gave us a checklist of things to gather for the interview (affidavit of support, birth and marriage certificates, photographs, etc.). We were not quite sure if we were supposed to send the originals they were requesting with the checklist or not. I had a free phone consultation with an immigration lawyer, and she said to send the originals with the checklist by mail so I did.

We have now received the letter stating we can schedule an interview. This letter also has a list of the original documents that we need to bring to the interview, but they did not return our originals with the letter nor indicate if they have kept the ones we mailed in. They would not have thrown them away, would they?!

Do any of you have advice on what we should do?

I am a little confused as to why Montreal requested the documents; did you not submit them to NVC or did you do electronic processing?

[Ryan H 3,796]

Call the NVC and ask them if they sent the originals in the file to the consulate. You may need to speak to a Tier 2 person about this.

Call the consulate and explain that you sent the originals to the NVC and see if they are already in the file. If yes, ask if you need to bring originals again.

[Angie'nMark 0]

Hi All,

I believe I might have misunderstood the Montreal Consulate's directions. They gave us a checklist of things to gather for the interview (affidavit of support, birth and marriage certificates, photographs, etc.). We were not quite sure if we were supposed to send the originals they were requesting with the checklist or not. I had a free phone consultation with an immigration lawyer, and she said to send the originals with the checklist by mail so I did.

We have now received the letter stating we can schedule an interview. This letter also has a list of the original documents that we need to bring to the interview, but they did not return our originals with the letter nor indicate if they have kept the ones we mailed in. They would not have thrown them away, would they?!

Do any of you have advice on what we should do?

Did you file by electronic filing? If you did not they should have your originals. Of course they do day that you should have made a copy of all documents that you sent in.

[On s'en va 0]

I am a little confused as to why Montreal requested the documents; did you not submit them to NVC or did you do electronic processing?

We have done all of the application process through the Montreal Immigrant Visa Unit. (No, it was not electronic processing. I didn't know we could even do that.) I believe now that they were not asking us to send the documents to them, but to collect them to have them ready for the interview. It's a shame because we took a few months to gather some of the documents on the list that we could have gotten together, like translations and police certificate, while waiting for their reply and interview date.

Thanks for you help. I think it's really awesome that you take the time to help those of us who are lost and confused.

[On s'en va 0]

Did you file by electronic filing? If you did not they should have your originals. Of course they do day that you should have made a copy of all documents that you sent in.

No, we did not file electronically, but we definitely made copies of everything. My guess is they have the documents. My wife was just a bit anxious. Well, I guess we both are. It's been a rather confusing process so far.

I had to move back to the states for school last month while she's still back in Montreal.

Thanks for your help.

[Angie'nMark 0]

No, we did not file electronically, but we definitely made copies of everything. My guess is they have the documents. My wife was just a bit anxious. Well, I guess we both are. It's been a rather confusing process so far.

I had to move back to the states for school last month while she's still back in Montreal.

Thanks for your help.

Ok, well bring the copies that you have.

When I went for my interview for the CR-1 in Montreal, one of the employees told me directly: "When you do electronic filing, I get your file totally empty. If you do regular filing I will have the copies of the documents that you send already in your file." Then she showed me an empty file, mine!

So, I feel that you should be ok. You will have your back-up copies of everything to show them, so it should be totally fine. We did e-filing, and I expected them to already have everything for me but they didn't. We forgot to bring one of the originals, but everything still worked out.

Good Luck!

[Ryan H 3,796]

When I went for my interview for the CR-1 in Montreal, one of the employees told me directly: "When you do electronic filing, I get your file totally empty. If you do regular filing I will have the copies of the documents that you send already in your file." Then she showed me an empty file, mine!

This makes me curious. I thought the whole point of electronic filing was to have everything you submit to the NVC electronically transferred to the embassy or consulate where the interview is taking place. Anybody else who has filed electronically encountered this?

[Angie'nMark 0]

This makes me curious. I thought the whole point of electronic filing was to have everything you submit to the NVC electronically transferred to the embassy or consulate where the interview is taking place. Anybody else who has filed electronically encountered this?

Well, they can access your whole file, but they have to do the extra step of downloading it from NVC. That is what the agent told me in Montreal. This is the reason you are to bring the originals, as that is what becomes the contents of your active file. Whereas, if you paper file, they already have built the file for you, and that is what gets transferred to the consulate.

The reason for e-filing is not so they can have all your papers, it is foremost to expedite the acceptance process for you. They still need to have all the originals in the end. Essentially it is enough to have electronic copies at the NVC stage, but once it gets to the consulate, and in order for them to make the final determination, they always need the originals in their hands.

I think they are still trying to work out all the kinks in Montreal though.

[OBX 51]

We have done all of the application process through the Montreal Immigrant Visa Unit. (No, it was not electronic processing. I didn't know we could even do that.) I believe now that they were not asking us to send the documents to them, but to collect them to have them ready for the interview. It's a shame because we took a few months to gather some of the documents on the list that we could have gotten together, like translations and police certificate, while waiting for their reply and interview date.

Thanks for you help. I think it's really awesome that you take the time to help those of us who are lost and confused.

Okay, sounds as though you were filing through DCF. I think you are correct in that they were asking you to collect them for the interview but regardless they should have them in your file. I know it is very difficult to get any replies out of Montreal but perhaps an email confirming that they did in fact receive your documents might be an idea. I would also second Angie'nMark's suggestion to bring copies of the originals you submitted. Good luck.

On a different note if you are filing via DCF you might want to check out this thread from the Canada forum regarding re-establishing domicile. Montreal has been very picky about this issue lately.

Establishing Domicile

Edited September 25, 2010 by OBX

[Darnell 8,478]

Ya - was a DCF case - no worries there.

If you submitted stuff WITH THE DS-230 - then Montreal already has it - don't sweat that part, at all.

If any I-864 data has CHANGED, then you'll need to prep new I-864, submit on interview day.

That's about it, for DCF - except for that nasty 'proving up of USA domicile', on the USC spouse.

Good Luck !

PS - since yer getting so close - hey ! Please fill out yer timeline over at http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=85827 (choose DCF case type)

Edited September 25, 2010 by Darnell

[Ryan H 3,796]

Well, they can access your whole file, but they have to do the extra step of downloading it from NVC. That is what the agent told me in Montreal. This is the reason you are to bring the originals, as that is what becomes the contents of your active file. Whereas, if you paper file, they already have built the file for you, and that is what gets transferred to the consulate.

The reason for e-filing is not so they can have all your papers, it is foremost to expedite the acceptance process for you. They still need to have all the originals in the end. Essentially it is enough to have electronic copies at the NVC stage, but once it gets to the consulate, and in order for them to make the final determination, they always need the originals in their hands.

And I still continue to wonder. Will Consulate personnel still look through a file once it reaches them electronically? Especially one that is front-loaded with evidence of a relationship prior to and after a wedding ceremony?