Follow to join Montreal US consulate

[bdmonaco_cad 1]

Hello,

I got my Green card through Employment based category two years ago in Montreal US Consulate(Consular Processing). My spouse and kids were marked as follow to join on my DS-260 when I got my green card. They are now ready to come to US and I am wondering how I should initiate the Follow-To-Join process? I tried emailing Montreal US consulate but no luck so far. I would appreciate if anyone knew how to start the process. Thank you!

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

11 hours ago, bdmonaco_cad said:

Hello,

I got my Green card through Employment based category two years ago in Montreal US Consulate(Consular Processing). My spouse and kids were marked as follow to join on my DS-260 when I got my green card. They are now ready to come to US and I am wondering how I should initiate the Follow-To-Join process? I tried emailing Montreal US consulate but no luck so far. I would appreciate if anyone knew how to start the process. Thank you!

There is only a one year timeframe after you got your GC for Follow to join.   You need to talk to your employer attorney. 

[bdmonaco_cad 1]

Thanks! I think you are talking about K1, there is no time frame as long as you are an LPR. They will lose the follow to join benefits if I become US citizen.  
https://www.uscis.gov/family/bring-spouse-to-live-in-US

Edited June 1 by bdmonaco_cad

[Pinkrlion 2,724]

1 hour ago, bdmonaco_cad said:

Thanks! I think you are talking about K1, there is no time frame as long as you are an LPR. They will lose the follow to join benefits if I become US citizen.  
https://www.uscis.gov/family/bring-spouse-to-live-in-US

You stated Follow to Join. That. Is I-824. Maybe you were just using wrong term. You can file 1-130 at anytime. 

[bdmonaco_cad 1]

It is follow to join using Consular processing. I-824 for people who did processing inside the US, it clearly says on the form. The link I sent earlier has details on follow to join consular processing, all I need to know is if anyone has ever done a follow to join outside US, specifically using Montreal Consulate. 

[SalishSea 17,921]

6 hours ago, bdmonaco_cad said:

It is follow to join using Consular processing. I-824 for people who did processing inside the US, it clearly says on the form. The link I sent earlier has details on follow to join consular processing, all I need to know is if anyone has ever done a follow to join outside US, specifically using Montreal Consulate. 

No.   Your only option is to petition them for an immigrant visa, using an I-130.   It will. E an F visa (family members of LPRs).

[jan22 3,056]

On 6/1/2024 at 7:00 AM, Pinkrlion said:

There is only a one year timeframe after you got your GC for Follow to join.   You need to talk to your employer attorney. 

Generally, there is no time limit for follow-to-join, unless a child involved will turn 21.  See 9 FAM 502.1-1(C)(2):

https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM050201.html.

 

Unless you can still access the cases for spouse and children on the NVC website and submit documents, etc., you will need to get an answer from the consulate in how to proceed.

 

 

[bdmonaco_cad 1]

Thank you for your response! I found out that DOS/NVC made some sort of updates to my derivatives case few days ago but not sure what has been updated. The status says ‘Ready’ with following message, anyone has any idea if I need to do anything or just wait? The first part of the message says to schedule an interview, 

 

“Your case is ready for you to schedule an interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal. If you have already scheduled an interview appointment, please prepare your documents as directed in your appointment letter and appear at the Consulate on the appointed date and time. Otherwise, please wait until you have been notified of your interview appointment. Additional information about how Immigrant Visa interview appointments are scheduled can be found at: http://nvc.state.gov/interview

For more information, please visit TRAVEL.STATE.GOV.”

 

 

[Vert_jabuka37 0]

@bdmonaco_cad hello, I am also wondering what the process is to schedule interview for my spouse for follow to join benefits at Montreal.  My spouse  is listed as follow to join on my ds-260 several years ago.   My spouses CEAC status is listed as Ready.   Did you know ever receive a response back from Montreal to your email inquiry?  Were you able to schedule interviews for your family? 

Edited September 21 by Vert_jabuka37

[bdmonaco_cad 1]

@Vert_jabuka37 Yes I was finally able to get a reply from Montreal., they have sent me a packet 3. Here are the steps you need to take,

1. send email to montreal-iv-dv@state.gov

2. Subject should be as follows 

“Update DS-260 MTL[yourcase#]
3. In the body of the email

a) inform them when you had obtained your immigrant visa

b) request them to update your wife’s status from follow-to-join to accompany.

c) include your wife’s name as it appears on DS-260 and date of birth.

d) be very polite and request them to make the above update so that you can process your wife’s immigrant visa.

 

you will likely get a response in 3-4 weeks. Email them again if no one replies back. In my case I had to send it 4 times and finally I was able to start processing my derivatives immigrant visa.

 

good luck!