DCF filing questions - medical related

[BecomingKristin 1]

Hi, 
Just wondering if anyone has done a DCF for a medical reason. I would rather not disclose my medical issue, but I am a service-connected disabled veteran living in BC and the healthcare system is so slow I'll die waiting for treatment, I will be in treatment for 2 years or more for this illness and it is life threatening. I emailed Montreal and they told me to file a request to file a DCF, so I've sent that in. I am wondering what I can expect for timelines, given the severity of the issue, and process-wise what is different? My husband and I did a K-1 visa back in 2008-09, followed by an AOS. Our time line is below (as best as I can remember it 😆).  Before it comes up, yes, I have verifiable domicile/residence in Canada, file my taxes there, etc. I travel back and forth right now for treatment.  

Questions - 1. has anyone else done this for a medical reason? Wondering if their response will be different/faster than for job situations. 
2. Has anyone done this in the last year? Wondering how the process is now vs. the prior threads, looks like it continues to evolve
3. What's the process as compared to the K1? Is it the same? Will my husband absolutely have to go to Montreal for an interview?

Also, I saw a question about the COVID vaccine- is that still a requirement?

Many thanks,
Torva Kristin

 
🇺🇸 US-born citizen 
Married to a 🇨🇦 citizen 

Timeline

Oct 2008 - Filed for K1 
Jul 2009 - K1 approved, Married, filed for AOS 
?? 2010 - Green Card 
July 2016 - Filed for immigration to Canada 
October 2016 - Immigration approved 
December 2016 - Landed in Canada, Green Card surrendered 
November 2020 - File for Canadian Citizenship 
June 2022 - Canadian Citizenship Ceremony 
Sep 2023 - Medical diagnosis, travel back & forth to the US 
Mar 2024 - Disease Remission
November 2024 - Disease recurs, return to the US for treatment, deemed incurable / chronic condition 

December 2024 - Service-connected disability with The VA approved, 100%
January 3, 2025 - Emailed Montreal for approval to do a DCF filing with medical records and proof of domicile. 

[Lemonslice 5,389]

Covid vaccine is still required.  Flu vaccine in seasons.  Others depending on age.  

 

Vaccine waiver is possible, but adds about a year to the process.  Might not be viable if you are trying to expedite it.

 

Hopefully, you get approved to DCF, but they might also argue that you (as a US citizen) are able to move back home for treatment and wait.

 

---

On another note, if your disability is permanent, your spouse is also eligible to some benefits from the VA.  Something to look into later.

 

 

[BecomingKristin 1]

Thanks for the reply! I thought of that possible response.  I haven't been able to work because of the illness, and contended that maintaining separate households was not feasible. as well, I need him here for caregiving while I go through treatment.
RE VA stuff, thank you for that - I'm not permanent yet, that's another process I am starting on once I get the documentation from my doctor. Yay government things.

[Lemonslice 5,389]

3 minutes ago, TorvaL said:

Thanks for the reply! I thought of that possible response.  I haven't been able to work because of the illness, and contended that maintaining separate households was not feasible. as well, I need him here for caregiving while I go through treatment.
RE VA stuff, thank you for that - I'm not permanent yet, that's another process I am starting on once I get the documentation from my doctor. Yay government things.

Crossing my fingers that everything is approved promptly.  Best of luck.

[Ontarkie 15,100]

~~Moved to the DCF forum, from the Canada forum- as the OP is looking for DCF timelines which might bring more replies to the thread.~~

[wheresmyrainbow 1]

On 1/8/2025 at 3:49 PM, TorvaL said:

Hi, 
Just wondering if anyone has done a DCF for a medical reason. I would rather not disclose my medical issue, but I am a service-connected disabled veteran living in BC and the healthcare system is so slow I'll die waiting for treatment, I will be in treatment for 2 years or more for this illness and it is life threatening. I emailed Montreal and they told me to file a request to file a DCF, so I've sent that in. I am wondering what I can expect for timelines, given the severity of the issue, and process-wise what is different? My husband and I did a K-1 visa back in 2008-09, followed by an AOS. Our time line is below (as best as I can remember it 😆).  Before it comes up, yes, I have verifiable domicile/residence in Canada, file my taxes there, etc. I travel back and forth right now for treatment.  

Questions - 1. has anyone else done this for a medical reason? Wondering if their response will be different/faster than for job situations. 
2. Has anyone done this in the last year? Wondering how the process is now vs. the prior threads, looks like it continues to evolve
3. What's the process as compared to the K1? Is it the same? Will my husband absolutely have to go to Montreal for an interview?

Also, I saw a question about the COVID vaccine- is that still a requirement?

Many thanks,
Torva Kristin

 
🇺🇸 US-born citizen 
Married to a 🇨🇦 citizen 

Timeline

Oct 2008 - Filed for K1 
Jul 2009 - K1 approved, Married, filed for AOS 
?? 2010 - Green Card 
July 2016 - Filed for immigration to Canada 
October 2016 - Immigration approved 
December 2016 - Landed in Canada, Green Card surrendered 
November 2020 - File for Canadian Citizenship 
June 2022 - Canadian Citizenship Ceremony 
Sep 2023 - Medical diagnosis, travel back & forth to the US 
Mar 2024 - Disease Remission
November 2024 - Disease recurs, return to the US for treatment, deemed incurable / chronic condition 

December 2024 - Service-connected disability with The VA approved, 100%
January 3, 2025 - Emailed Montreal for approval to do a DCF filing with medical records and proof of domicile. 

 

 

Did you have any luck with the DCF?

[BecomingKristin 1]

We were extremely fortunate, and were able to do the DCF. All in all, it was a 3 month process, 4 if you count moving time.

Here's what happened:  
Jan 2 - emailed Montreal office requesting to file DCF. I used subject line I-130 Filing Urgent Request.

My reply came the same day, asking for basic information, why the request was being made and where to send it to. "Once we receive all the information, the Visa Chief will review the case and will advise if you can file your I-130 in Canada.  When you reply to us, please include “I-130 Filing in Canada” in the subject line of your e-mail." Did that with supporting documentation the following day and did not hear back immediately.  I had also asked them to give me the Vancouver email address so I could get the process scheduled there. 2 weeks went by before I finally got the Vancouver email address to use, and so I just emailed them and requested an appointment without waiting for anyone to say I could. This is important, I think because it sounded from the email like I was going to get some magical pre-approval before I went and did this, but that does NOT happen. Initiate with Montreal, and once acknowledged, get an appointment with your local consulate to file.

1/21 I emailed  the Vancouver Consulate to request the appointment.
1/24 I got a reply from Vancouver telling me what we would need and to reply once we had it all and they would schedule an appointment. I replied immediately, expecting another 10 days to go by... 2 days later, on a Friday, we received an email scheduling us for the following Wednesday! 
1/29 Appointment in Vancouver to file for a DCF Just a note -- when you file at a consulate, SAVE YOUR RECEIPT and bring it to your interview! The Montreal consulate had NO record of us paying the initial filing fee and gave my husband an attitude about it until he produced the receipt. 
2/20 - we received packet 3 and completed it. Just a note, you do not need an FBI clearance if you previously lived in the US. That was very confusing and I had to ask Montreal directly. Took 2 days to get a reply by this point they were pretty responsive which was fantastic. Completed packet 3 and submitted it 2/24. 
2/27 - Received packet 4 with an interview date 4/1. 
3/21 - Medical completed 
4/1  - interview completed 
4/8 - Passport & packet received in the mail ** The manila envelope has a rubber band around it with a piece of paper stressing "DO NOT OPEN" well, the rubber band had ripped  a 1.5" tear in the upper right side of the manilla folder - big enough for about 5 CBP agents to gather around and discuss it while we were crossing! 🙈
5/10 - Landed at Peace Arch, in Blaine, WA. 

6/2 - Car imported in Del Rio, TX weeks later and that's a whole saga for a different thread and I do not want to get into so here is what I will say: give your car manufacture more than 30 days to give you a letter stating your car is rated for US highways and has no recalls.  

I did contact my local congresswoman's office for assistance in early January when I thought I was getting nowhere. They'd helped me with a VA issue and were happy to jump in and support my situation (medical condition needing treatment and wanting my husband with me). But by the time I got her assistance, things were already moving and she never had to call on my behalf or chase anything down. It was great to know she was there to support, but thankfully, we never needed to rely on her. 

Good luck! 
TorvaL

Edited June 20, 2025 by TorvaL

[wheresmyrainbow 1]

That's great to hear, thank you for the detailed update!  We might be doing the same thing in a few months, also in Vancouver.  Best wishes for your life back in the States!

Edited June 22, 2025 by wheresmyrainbow

[Difficultcan 0]

Hi! I’m currently waiting to hear back from Montreal regarding the visa chief approval, I was wondering if Vancouver asked if you had gotten approval? I’d love to just email Toronto or Ottawa asking to make an appointment but I’m concerned they’ll call me out for not having approval yet. It’s been 2 weeks since I heard from the Montreal consulate 

[BecomingKristin 1]

On 1/13/2026 at 8:05 AM, Difficultcan said:

Hi! I’m currently waiting to hear back from Montreal regarding the visa chief approval, I was wondering if Vancouver asked if you had gotten approval? I’d love to just email Toronto or Ottawa asking to make an appointment but I’m concerned they’ll call me out for not having approval yet. It’s been 2 weeks since I heard from the Montreal consulate 

I got back an email to my initial request that said the below after a few days. -- so I provided all that information to them. I followed up 1 week later - nothing. Then, I followed up another week later and jut asked " could you kindly tell me who to contact at the Vancouver Consulate so I can set up an appt" and they gave me the contact information (VancouverIRSB@state.gov, I imagine they are all the same). Note that I never got official approval of any kind. I just decided to try anyway.

So depending on what you have already gotten from Montreal, I would say it couldn't hurt. If you haven't even gotten the below information, I would just follow the directions and request to file the I-130 in Canada. If you've already done this step, I would send each Toronto and Ottawa an email and say you'd like to schedule an appointment to file for I-130 in Canada and that you're pending approval.  I will share the email I sendt below the email that Montreal Sent me, with dates so its less confusing


Email from Montreal: 1/2/25
Hello,

 

Thank you for your inquiry.

 

Information on filing I-130 petitions can be found at Filing Immigrant Petitions Outside the United States.   We hope you find this information helpful. 

 

The applicant does not have to come to Montreal to submit the I-130 petition. Any U.S. Consulate in Canada will accept it. In fact, some consulates might be able to provide earlier appointments than Montreal. If the application is accepted by a consulate, they will forward it by mail to Montreal for further processing.

 

If you are confident that your case falls under any of the above exceptional circumstances found in Chapter 3 - Filing | USCIS, and provide the following information and scanned documents to support your case

 

1. Please provide Petitioner’s address/residence
2. Please confirm that Petitioner is currently residing in Canada
3. Has the Petitioner already filed a petition with USCIS?
4. Please provide an explanation of the exceptional circumstances (include scanned documentation to support the case, e.g. employment letter, deployment orders, medical documents, etc. ). 

 

In addition, please provide the following:

 

1. Petitioner’s Last Name:
2. Petitioner’s Maiden Name:
3. Petitioner’s First Name:
4. Petitioner’s Alias (Also known as):
5. Petitioner’s Middle Name:
6. Petitioner’s DOB, POB:
7. Applicant’s Last Name:
8. Applicant’s Maiden Name
9. Applicant’s First Name:
10. Applicant’s Middle Name:
11. Applicant’s DOB, POB:
12. Family relationship Petitioner-Applicant (child/spouse/parent ):

 

Once we receive all the information, the Visa Chief will review the case and will advise if you can file your I-130 in Canada.  When you reply to us, please include “I-130 Filing in Canada” in the subject line of your e-mail.

 

Please let us know if we can be of further assistance.

Regards,

 

OP13

Consular Correspondence Unit | Immigrant Visa

Informations consulaires | Visa d’immigrants

U.S. Consulate General

Montreal, Canada
*********************************************
(I replied back with the requested info to Montreal on 1/03/2025) -- never heard back from them about approval. I followed up 1/10/25 and still nothing. 

On 1/21/2025 I emailed Vancouver: 


Hello, 

 

I am requesting your assistance in filing an I-130 in Canada. Your email address was provided by my contact at the Montreal consulate. 

 I am seeking a Direct Consular Filing of I-130 for my husband, a Canadian Citizen, as I am a US Citizen and 100% disabled US Veteran battling stage 4 cancer and require specialized treatment in the United States. A full explanation is attached.  

 Montreal Consulate informed me of the following: 

The applicant does not have to come to Montreal to submit the I-130 petition. Any U.S. Consulate in Canada will accept it. In fact, some consulates might be able to provide earlier appointments than Montreal. If the application is accepted by a consulate, they will forward it by mail to Montreal for further processing.

For this reason, I am requesting an urgent appointment to file the I-130 package in Vancouver. 

My information: 

1. (insert all the questions Montreal asked and I answered to Montreal, just copied and pasted them here for clarity - more is better I think)..

Address: 

<given> 

 

I have not filed a petition with USCIS. 

Attached, please find a letter of explanation, proof of domicile in Canada (lease) and medical evidence of (my condition), treatment plan with a US treatment team and my evidence of disability with the VA and a photo of my US passport.

I appreciate your attention and assistance in this matter. 
//Signed//
*********************

I received a reply from Vancouver on 1/24 telling me what information I would need to complete the application in person, and to email them once I had all of it in place. we had most of it in place, so we emailed them back and said we had it all -- and on 1/27 received an email booking us me for 1/30! hopefully it moves fast for you as well. Just be ready for anything... 

AND KEEP YOUR RECIEPT OF FILING FEE from the consulate you file at!! Montreal had no record of us paying. Thankfully, I'd kept the receipt and given it to my husband to take to Montreal - otherwise he would have had to pay another $650 or whatever it was.


Hope this helps - let me know if you have another questions! good luck 🍀