June Interviews for Canucks - 2015

[fellaamazing 72]

I was able to register today! Hooray!!! We booked our flights last night. We're coming from Vancouver =)

Just booked my medical exam with Dr. Cheema for next week. Thanks for your help everyone! You guys are the best!!

Congrats

[YVRDualCouple 5]

Very important suggestion: YOU ask some questions, too!

Don't let the interview officer be the only one to ask questions, you owe it to yourself to ask the questions noted toward the end of this post.

We had our Montreal Interview in mid-April (2015). Everything was in order, the interview went smoothly. The consular officer (interviewer) told us in clear, unmistakable terms, "we will be issuing your visa," and that we should be hearing about the courier/Loomis delivery to Vancouver within 7-10 days. My Canadian husband was handed the "Welcome to the United States of America" form letter.There were no caveats, and no mention of potential delays. Have a nice day.

6 full weeks have now gone by, and we have not received his visa packet (including his Canadian passport). Trying to get an informative, helpful answer out of the Consulate, on our own, has proven impossible. Online, our file still says "ready," not "issued." On the phone the Consulate receptionist actually told me to contact my member of congress. I've done that, and am awaiting their response.

Here's the suggested questions:

At the end of your interview, if you are led to believe you are approved (as we were), ASK THEM TO CONFIRM THAT THEY HAVE APPROVED YOU. THEN ASK IF THERE IS ANY POSSIBLE REASON WHY YOU WOULD NOT RECEIVE YOUR PACKET ON SCHEDULE. Ask if they are overloaded, or working on schedule. Tell them you've heard cases are sometimes substantially delayed post-interview without explanation, and ask them why this might happen. If they say it's possible, ask them how you can best get it resolved.

I'm not advocating that you be pushy or combative--that will not get you anywhere. Just polite, and inquisitive. It's good for them to be reminded that people on the outside of their consular bubble talk about their service.

The person on the other side of the glass is real and has feelings. This is your ONE chance for you to connect with someone, inside the machine of your visa journey, on a human level. Take advantage of that. I can only wish we'd had this advice 2 months ago. You can thank me later.

Mind you, I'm no immigration expert--other than the fact that I immigrated (successfully) from the US to Canada over a decade ago, and am now sponsoring my Canadian spouse for the reverse journey.

Chances are the Consulate will do just what they say they will. But YOU could also end up like us: more waiting, being filled with anxiety, emotionally exhausted, and financially stressed ... and even watching job opportunities for my spouse slip by.

[JJ Day 22]

I have an April 30th CC and was scheduled for a June 17 interview (IR-1). I think/hope I have everything I need. I'm a little nervous about the issue of domicile because my husband lives with me in Canada, but I have a long list of proof that he plans to move on July 1. My hope is that I can move with him at the same time (fingers crossed, since we have to vacate our current apartment on June 30), but we do have a back-up plan if I'm denied at the interview. He'll still go ahead on July 1 and I'll temporarily move in with a friend. It seems silly that they would make us do this, but we've leaped through much bigger hoops in the 18 years we've been together, so one more won't be the end of the world. I'm trying to be as calm about this as possible and take things as they come, one step at a time.

[YVRDualCouple 5]

I have an April 30th CC and was scheduled for a June 17 interview (IR-1). I think/hope I have everything I need. I'm a little nervous about the issue of domicile because my husband lives with me in Canada, but I have a long list of proof that he plans to move on July 1. My hope is that I can move with him at the same time (fingers crossed, since we have to vacate our current apartment on June 30), but we do have a back-up plan if I'm denied at the interview. He'll still go ahead on July 1 and I'll temporarily move in with a friend. It seems silly that they would make us do this, but we've leaped through much bigger hoops in the 18 years we've been together, so one more won't be the end of the world. I'm trying to be as calm about this as possible and take things as they come, one step at a time.

JJ: do not ignore my advice. ASK THE INTERVIEWER about potential delays.

We are now in a very similar situation to yours. We lived together in Canada for years (and were married long before even thinking of coming to the US), but I now must live in the US for domicile--plus we put the wheels in motion for our new life here...we bought a home in the States and even our cats already moved across the border. But alas, we are now approaching SEVEN WEEKS with no visa. My husband is doing same as your plan: living with friends. But that is getting old.

Don't let the Consular Officer say "have a nice day" without you asking them if they're promising that your visa is being issued by a certain time, or if it could be delayed. If they say delays are possible, ask them why, how long it could drag on, and what you can do to prevent delays.

Thank me later.

[JJ Day 22]

Thank you for the fair warning. I will definitely ask, although I've learned not to expect anything about this process to be completed quickly or universally. Everyone seems to have a different experience and timeline, so I'll try not to worry about what I cannot control and ask questions when necessary. I hope your husband receives his visa soon!

Edited June 1, 2015 by JJ Day

[Udella&Wiz 325]

You can of course ask for guarantees but they are human and this is a government 'firm'. Things move at a snails pace (back to the government comment), they have mountains of other work besides 1 particular person's VISA and situations do occur where something was missed or incorrectly reviewed or needs extra review after the fact. We hear on VJ about it all the time Being demanding and asking for exact timing and asking what their delays are and why isn't going to make any friends. They know everyone coming through that door just wants to be together as a family.

All that said, I know its hard to wait if you're stuck in AP and I'm not trying to minimize your pain.

JJ: do not ignore my advice. ASK THE INTERVIEWER about potential delays.

We are now in a very similar situation to yours. We lived together in Canada for years (and were married long before even thinking of coming to the US), but I now must live in the US for domicile--plus we put the wheels in motion for our new life here...we bought a home in the States and even our cats already moved across the border. But alas, we are now approaching SEVEN WEEKS with no visa. My husband is doing same as your plan: living with friends. But that is getting old.

Don't let the Consular Officer say "have a nice day" without you asking them if they're promising that your visa is being issued by a certain time, or if it could be delayed. If they say delays are possible, ask them why, how long it could drag on, and what you can do to prevent delays.

Thank me later.

[fellaamazing 72]

From following what others have posted.... it generally takes about a week to get the results.... best I've seen is 3 business days later.....

For an extra $50 they can courier the results back to you.

That's the route I'm going since I do not want to have to go back to get the results (I hate driving the 401 as it is ) and we will be taking the train from Windsor to Montreal for the interview....

Christina: Any luck with interview date?

[ChristinaG 91]

Thanks for checking in.....

Montreal typically schedules the 1st and 3rd week of the month........ but alas nothing yet :P

[ChristinaG 91]

Christina: Any luck with interview date?

....and now we have our interview dates!! We're scheduled for July 24th :)

[fellaamazing 72]

....and now we have our interview dates!! We're scheduled for July 24th :)

Congratulations!!

This gives me an idea. I won't have my interview before late August.. I am still waiting for my mail in payment to show up, and they open my DS-260

[ChristinaG 91]

Congratulations!!

This gives me an idea. I won't have my interview before late August.. I am still waiting for my mail in payment to show up, and they open my DS-260

typically you should be able to expect to get your interview date 50-60 days after your CC date

Best wishes!!!

[fellaamazing 72]

Almost completed both DS-260.

I already emailed documents long ago. But turns out I have to still get pictures taken and submit those too.

I plan on going to CVS to get them, but I doubt they give the digital one. I would have to probably scan them and send them.

[ChristinaG 91]

Hey June interviews ----- Could you do me a favour and post whether or not your US spouse went to Montreal with you and were they allowed in to accompany you??

There were some in May where their US spouse was turned away at the Consulate. I am really hoping mine can accompany me!! I want to see if this was just because of how busy they got in May or if this is a full-out rule change

Thanks and greatly appreciated!!!!

[vanderch 0]

The grass is always greener on the other side! Even if you can book your own interview, Montreal doesn't show any dates indefinitely - it's so stressful. I've read horror stories on VJ where they don't release dates for 1-2 months. Even if you call or email, they just say to keep checking. I spent 2-3 weeks spamming the refresh button on the website 5 minutes of everyday.

Good luck on your journey!! I'm just glad this community exists. Without, I don't know what I'd do.

We have been checking the calendars every 5 minutes or so for 8 weeks. I begin to think that there is an error in our application that is stopping us from seeing the calendar properly. What does everyone see on their computer screen? I see June and July calendars side by side, pale bluish grey background to the slightly brighter blue grey numbers. The background to the days of the week is black. It does not say anywhere that there are no appointments available. Clicking on any of the days does nothing. Is this how it should look? How does it look when there IS an appointment available? Does the number on the day become black?

[jonilui 9]

We have been checking the calendars every 5 minutes or so for 8 weeks. I begin to think that there is an error in our application that is stopping us from seeing the calendar properly. What does everyone see on their computer screen? I see June and July calendars side by side, pale bluish grey background to the slightly brighter blue grey numbers. The background to the days of the week is black. It does not say anywhere that there are no appointments available. Clicking on any of the days does nothing. Is this how it should look? How does it look when there IS an appointment available? Does the number on the day become black?

Yeah, that's how it looks. But it is insane you've been checking for 8 weeks. Are you applying for K1 visa? If you are, that's weird. I made my appointment about 8 weeks ago, and even checked a few weeks ago out of curiousity to see how many appointments have been booked and there were still a lot available. I would call the consulate and ask them if any appointments are available