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ceciliaottawa

Interview at Consulate with tourist visa?

By ceciliaottawa in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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ceciliaottawa Contributor

ceciliaottawa   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Argentina
 Timeline
Posted

Hi All,

Hope someone knows something about this!

I am in Canada on a work visa which expires in 5 months (been in Canada for 13 months already). I got married here to a US citizen and he filed the i-130 in the U.S. I just got my NOA2 last week but seeing the time that Montreal takes to give interviews I am afraid it will be after my work visa expires. So, I have 2 options but not sure if either of them are feasible:

1- I can extend my stay in Canada as a tourist and attend the interview in Montreal but with a tourist status (note we did not file DFC)

2- I can transfer my case to Argentina (where I am from) if the interview is given after my work visa expiration. The problem with this option is that I was planning on doing Electronic Processing at the NVC but if I change consulates after NVC Argentina does not have the EP option and I am afraid that will create a problem.

Does anyone know if I can attend the interview as a tourist in the country of the consulate??

Thanks a millon in advance!!

USCIS (200 days)

2010-07-21: I-130 Sent

2010-07-29: NOA1

2011-02-14: NOA2

NVC (65 days)

2011-03-01: Received NVC case#, IIN# and Beneficiary ID#

2011-03-02: Gave NVC Operator e-mail addresses. Sent OPTIN email.

2011-03-03: Sent DS-261 (online)

2011-03-04: Received and paid AOS fee. Received DS3032 by email.

2011-03-07: AOS fee appears PAID

2011-03-08: NVC Received DS-261 according to AVR.

2011-03-08: Received IV fee bill by email but Online Payment portal not working! L(

2011-03-10: Sent AOS package by email.

2011-03-14: Finally NVC portal working... Paid IV fee.

2011-03-14: OPTIN email accepted! (12 days after sent)

2011-03-15: IV fee appears as PAID. Submitted DS-260 online form & documents by email.

2011-04-01: Review completed but showing missing docs that were there. Sent to supervisor for a second review.

2011-04-14: Second review completed but still rejecting Argentine PCC. Off to getting a new one :(

2011-04-27: New Argentine PCC sent (checklist response)

2011-05-04: SIF & CC!!!!!!!

2011-05-13: Interview date assigned

Medical / US Consulate / POE

2011-05-25: Medical in Montreal

2011-06-21: Interview

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Wayne and Claudia Proficient

Wayne and Claudia   40

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Colombia
 Timeline
Posted

Hi All,

Hope someone knows something about this!

I am in Canada on a work visa which expires in 5 months (been in Canada for 13 months already). I got married here to a US citizen and he filed the i-130 in the U.S. I just got my NOA2 last week but seeing the time that Montreal takes to give interviews I am afraid it will be after my work visa expires. So, I have 2 options but not sure if either of them are feasible:

1- I can extend my stay in Canada as a tourist and attend the interview in Montreal but with a tourist status (note we did not file DFC)

2- I can transfer my case to Argentina (where I am from) if the interview is given after my work visa expiration. The problem with this option is that I was planning on doing Electronic Processing at the NVC but if I change consulates after NVC Argentina does not have the EP option and I am afraid that will create a problem.

Does anyone know if I can attend the interview as a tourist in the country of the consulate??

Thanks a millon in advance!!

Correct me if I am wrong VJ nation, but I don't believe you have a choice but to return to Argentina for the interview. The paperwork will be sent to your home nation's US Embassy. You are not allowed to interview at the US Embassy in Canada since you are a citizen of Argentina. You may be able to extend your tourist visa but you will have to fly to Argentina for your interview. Make sure to get PCC from Canada before leaving since you have been there past 6 months.

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

Service Center : Vermont Service Center
Consulate : Bogota, Colombia
Marriage: 2009-08-01
I-130 Sent : 2009-09-29
I-130 NOA1 : 2009-10-06
I-130 Approved : 2010-03-18
NVC Received : 2010-03-23
Case Completed at NVC : 2010-09-16
Interview Date : December 16, 2010
Interview Result : APPROVED
Visa Received : 12/27/10
US Entry :12/29/10
Two-year green card received: 1/19/11
SSN received: 2/2/11
Lifting of Conditions Filed 10/1/12
Lifting of Conditions NOA 10/9/12
Lifting of Conditions Biometrics Appt 10/31/12

Lifting of Conditions Approved 12/10/12

10-yr green card received 1/8/13

N-400 Naturalization Application 10/1/2013
Marital Bliss: Endless

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   43,430

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

You are wrong.

I do not know if you can transfer to a Tourist Visa, you would need to find out.

Being on a tourist visa may cause issues with the Consulate as opposed to being on a work visa, if you can get a tourist visa ask the Consulate if they will still deal with your case.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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  • 2 weeks later...
ceciliaottawa Contributor

ceciliaottawa   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Argentina
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks to both for your responses.

According to NVC they will process my case as if I where to interview in Montreal (I guess they are the ones deciding where to send my paper work).

They said that in the event that the interview is after my work visa expires and that the Consulate in montreal does not accept me with a tourist visa they will transfer the case to Argentina.

But again, I cannot get the answer to my question of whether the consulate will take me with a tourist visa. If my calculations are somewhat correct, I should be getting my interview just about the same time my work visa expires. I ope they don't make me transfer everything for just being a couple of days off!! I do not even want to imagine how much time this will add to the process..

The Consulate in Montreal does not take any phone calls nor they answered my emails... I guess I have no other choice but wait and hope for the best. If anyone happens to know please advice me!!

Thanks again

USCIS (200 days)

2010-07-21: I-130 Sent

2010-07-29: NOA1

2011-02-14: NOA2

NVC (65 days)

2011-03-01: Received NVC case#, IIN# and Beneficiary ID#

2011-03-02: Gave NVC Operator e-mail addresses. Sent OPTIN email.

2011-03-03: Sent DS-261 (online)

2011-03-04: Received and paid AOS fee. Received DS3032 by email.

2011-03-07: AOS fee appears PAID

2011-03-08: NVC Received DS-261 according to AVR.

2011-03-08: Received IV fee bill by email but Online Payment portal not working! L(

2011-03-10: Sent AOS package by email.

2011-03-14: Finally NVC portal working... Paid IV fee.

2011-03-14: OPTIN email accepted! (12 days after sent)

2011-03-15: IV fee appears as PAID. Submitted DS-260 online form & documents by email.

2011-04-01: Review completed but showing missing docs that were there. Sent to supervisor for a second review.

2011-04-14: Second review completed but still rejecting Argentine PCC. Off to getting a new one :(

2011-04-27: New Argentine PCC sent (checklist response)

2011-05-04: SIF & CC!!!!!!!

2011-05-13: Interview date assigned

Medical / US Consulate / POE

2011-05-25: Medical in Montreal

2011-06-21: Interview

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  • 1 month later...
ceciliaottawa Contributor

ceciliaottawa   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Argentina
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

If anyone reads this post later and is confused whether they can interview in Montreal or not I wanted to clarify: NVC confirmed to me that as long as they can schedule an interview in Montreal before my work visa expires then I can interview in Montreal. Now, in my case that might not be possible since I am having issues with my Argentine PCC which has delayed everything.

As far as tourist visas are concerned, seems like they are valid too. NVC only wants to see proof of 'legal status' in the country of residence. But issuing a tourist visa in Canada takes about 5 months right now so that is not an option for me.

USCIS (200 days)

2010-07-21: I-130 Sent

2010-07-29: NOA1

2011-02-14: NOA2

NVC (65 days)

2011-03-01: Received NVC case#, IIN# and Beneficiary ID#

2011-03-02: Gave NVC Operator e-mail addresses. Sent OPTIN email.

2011-03-03: Sent DS-261 (online)

2011-03-04: Received and paid AOS fee. Received DS3032 by email.

2011-03-07: AOS fee appears PAID

2011-03-08: NVC Received DS-261 according to AVR.

2011-03-08: Received IV fee bill by email but Online Payment portal not working! L(

2011-03-10: Sent AOS package by email.

2011-03-14: Finally NVC portal working... Paid IV fee.

2011-03-14: OPTIN email accepted! (12 days after sent)

2011-03-15: IV fee appears as PAID. Submitted DS-260 online form & documents by email.

2011-04-01: Review completed but showing missing docs that were there. Sent to supervisor for a second review.

2011-04-14: Second review completed but still rejecting Argentine PCC. Off to getting a new one :(

2011-04-27: New Argentine PCC sent (checklist response)

2011-05-04: SIF & CC!!!!!!!

2011-05-13: Interview date assigned

Medical / US Consulate / POE

2011-05-25: Medical in Montreal

2011-06-21: Interview

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Boiler Grand Master

Boiler   43,430

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Wales
 Timeline
Posted

It would be unusual for a Consulate to interview someone with a Visitor Visa.

Would encourage Consulate shopping apart from anything else.

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

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