part IV, the big IR1/CR1 DQ'd message group...

[Canada_F3 10]

On 3/31/2022 at 12:17 PM, affy said:

Hello everyone! Thank you so much again for the kind words and patience as I return from a very whirlwind trip to Montreal. Honestly feeling quite out of it and a bit shell shocked, but I'll do my best to describe how everything went yesterday while it is all fresh. 

 

Let's start with Dr. Appointment - I went to Dr. Mascarenhas' office. I emailed him as soon as I got the interview letter (Monday) and got a response back within 10 minutes giving me an appointment for the next day (Tuesday) understanding the urgency (given that MTL only gave me a week to get organized). Showed up for my appointment at 9:30am the next morning. Thankfully I had previously collected my vaccine history from BC health as that is where I grew up. I passed it off to him along with proof of my recent flu shot and Covid vaccines and he quickly checked things off of a list. I do not have any underlying conditions or medical history of note, so that took not more than 20 minutes. 

 

He sent me off downstairs to get my chest Xray which also took no more than 5 minutes. I then walked across the street to lifelabs for bloodwork which took about 1.5 hours. This is the part that tends to be backed up with lots of people waiting and had me nervous my results wouldn't show up on time. All that said, after that was complete it was out of my hands. The doctor gave me a deferral letter ahead of the appointment in case the results did not show up on time. Thankfully,  I got confirmation that my results were received in MTL on Friday last week. 

 

I flew to MTL on Monday and stayed at an Airbnb close to the Consulate. No late check outs unfortunately so I had to walk over to the Best Western nearby and pay $5 for them to hold my stuff. They were SUPER understanding and helpful so if anyone ever needs a plays to stash things during your interview, I would recommend them. 

 

Fast forward to Wednesday morning (My interview was for 10am). I showed up at 9:50 and waited in line outside for about an hour. (IT WAS VERY COLD!!! MAKE SURE YOU PREPARE FOR THAT!!) They then escorted me through security and up to the 3rd floor by elevator. I then sat in a large room with chairs and booths with numbers - waiting for my number to be called on the screen. I waited for about 45 minutes to be called to the first counter. 

 

Here they collected originals and copies of all of my documents. They did not ask for my husbands birth cert even though I had it. My named changed when I was very young so they needed originals and copies of that, which thankfully I had. They kept my police report. 

 

I then went to counter 12 and paid my fees. They sat me back down and asked me to wait one more time as they prepared for my interview. Waited about 15 minutes and was called to a new window. The lady asked the following:

1. Who is the petitioner? And what is your relation?
2. Is this your first marriage? Is this his first marriage?
3. What do you do for work?
4. What does he do for work?
5. Where do you plan to live?
6. When did you meet? How did you meet?

And that was pretty much it. After that she took my passport and gave me back the originals and sent me on my way. 

 

I was having issues signing up for the courier portal. (As I think many others have) The error I continued to get was "case number not ready for appointment" which is hilarious because it definitely happened. I called the number they gave me to get answers: 438-793-1947 (dial 1 for english, dial 3 for immigration visa services, dial 1 to register for courier, dial 1 to speak to an agent.) 

 

They then gave me the following instructions to get set up:

 

EMAIL: canada_contactus+ca+ivcasenumber+en@visaops.net

 

Subject line: Case number not ready to schedule appointment

 

In the body of the email: provide your name, DOB, scan PDF copy of email MTL interview letter.

 

I just got the tracking details this morning so I'm all set to go. Not sure if the above has been covered in FAQ but thought I would share my experience here. 

 

Thank you again all of you wonderful people ❤️ 

how many days after interview we get passport back with visa stamped  for Montreal consulate ?

[affy 35]

23 minutes ago, Canada_F3 said:

how many days after interview we get passport back with visa stamped  for Montreal consulate ?

I got my tracking information a day after my interview. According to Canada Post, I should be able to collect it Mon/Tues. I will update once I have the Visa on hand. 

[Canada_F3 10]

On 3/14/2022 at 3:28 PM, From_CAN_2_US said:

Refer to Page 5 of the FAQ:

"What option do I select when registering for the return courier?

“I have received a Consular interview appointment date from the National Visa Center (NVC) or the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) and I have been instructed to register my appointment on this site” and “I need to register an immigrant visa appointment” are the options you want. "

How many days after the interview we get back our passport with visa stamped?

[From_CAN_2_US 1,100]

21 minutes ago, Canada_F3 said:

How many days after the interview we get back our passport with visa stamped?

It varies. Anywhere between 3 working days to 3 weeks. For some it has taken even longer, but that was around Oct to Dec 2021 when MTL was holding record number of interviews for CR1/ IR1.

Edited April 2, 2022 by From_CAN_2_US

[DamAk 33]

7 hours ago, Canada_F3 said:

Thank you @DamAk how many days after interview you get back your passport with visa stamped 

No problem! It took 6 weeks to get the approval. 

Please review my timeline for additional details regarding the interview. 

[Canada_F3 10]

20 minutes ago, DamAk said:

No problem! It took 6 weeks to get the approval. 

Please review my timeline for additional details regarding the interview. 

@DamAk  why it takes 6 weeks to get approval? Others are getting approval on same day and received visa stamped within 5 days after the interview!

[Canada_F3 10]

4 hours ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

It varies. Anywhere between 3 working days to 3 weeks. For some it has taken even longer, but that was around Oct to Dec 2021 when MTL was holding record number of interviews for CR1/ IR1.

Ok, now it takes less time to get back the passport then earlier?

[From_CAN_2_US 1,100]

11 hours ago, Canada_F3 said:

Ok, now it takes less time to get back the passport then earlier?

I have seen Montreal speed up recently, yes, but never is ever consistent with immigration.

 

You never know when you are hit with a long AP, or issued DS 5535 or something weird such as then needing you to come back because they didn’t take your fingerprints properly. One person even got their passport stamped with a visa and then before they sent it back to them, they revoked it and issued a DS-5535. They had to wait months after that to get their visa.

 

Nothing is certain until you have your passport back in your hands, so don’t make concrete travel plans until then.

 

But yes in general it now takes between 3 days to 3 weeks to get it back.

[darth vader 133]

For folks who have submitted updated information about their intent to reestablish domicile, how do you upload this to CEAC. Do you upload under "AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT & FINANCIAL EVIDENCE" section? and what do you select the category of the documents? "OTHER" or "PROOF_OF_U.S._DOMICILE"? Thank you!

[Canada_F3 10]

2 hours ago, darth vader said:

For folks who have submitted updated information about their intent to reestablish domicile, how do you upload this to CEAC. Do you upload under "AFFIDAVIT OF SUPPORT & FINANCIAL EVIDENCE" section? and what do you select the category of the documents? "OTHER" or "PROOF_OF_U.S._DOMICILE"? Thank you!

Any hotel recommendations near Montreal consulate!!!

[Matt&Corinne 6]

Hi everyone, this might be something that was already asked but I couldn’t find an answer on the NVC site about it. My wife and I are planning our honeymoon (since we never actually went on one) but it would be fairly soon after we arrive in the US (planning to go to Cost Rica in July, hopefully we’re done with the immigration process by then); would I have any issue leaving and coming back to the US prior to the I-551? Also how does that differ than the stamp in your passport? Would that initial stamp in your passport cover you for 6 months from your medical appointment of being able to enter the US? 

 

Again apologies if this was already asked 

[From_CAN_2_US 1,100]

3 hours ago, Matt&Corinne said:

Hi everyone, this might be something that was already asked but I couldn’t find an answer on the NVC site about it. My wife and I are planning our honeymoon (since we never actually went on one) but it would be fairly soon after we arrive in the US (planning to go to Cost Rica in July, hopefully we’re done with the immigration process by then); would I have any issue leaving and coming back to the US prior to the I-551? Also how does that differ than the stamp in your passport? Would that initial stamp in your passport cover you for 6 months from your medical appointment of being able to enter the US? 

 

Again apologies if this was already asked 

Once you enter the US with your IR1/CR1 visa, your passport is stamped by the border agent and that serves as a substitute for your green card for 1 year from the date of your initial crossing the border (date of stamp received at the border). You can travel in and out of the US using this stamp on your passport. So you can go on your honeymoon.

 

The 6 months validity of medicals is irrelevant after first crossing.

[darth vader 133]

For folks who uploaded more documents to CEAC just before their interview - did the petitioner sign any of the documents such as cover letter or domicile update? or did you just type it and upload it.

[From_CAN_2_US 1,100]

2 hours ago, darth vader said:

For folks who uploaded more documents to CEAC just before their interview - did the petitioner sign any of the documents such as cover letter or domicile update? or did you just type it and upload it.

I am not sure what you mean by cover letter. Never heard of any such requirement. I don’t know about domicile update, as the petitioner in my case never lived anywhere but the US.

 

One thing for you to note - I understand you are a Canadian PR. Upload your PR card on your CEAC. Also carry your PR card and a copy just in case they ask for it during the interview. Normally if you upload it on CEAC, they don’t ask for physical copy during interview.

 

Edited April 3, 2022 by From_CAN_2_US

[From_CAN_2_US 1,100]

Update - I received my Green card in the mail today. Crossed border on Feb 12, so faster than expected.

Edited April 3, 2022 by From_CAN_2_US