Montreal Consulate EB-2 Interview Wait Time - Part 3

[Canadian24 55]

Hi! Has anyone recently activated their green card and received their SSN card? I’m trying to get an idea of how long the process takes right now to get the SSN card.
In the past 2 years I saw some 2 weeks to months...
Perhaps @appleblossom ?
Thank you!

Edited October 10 by Canadian24

[appleblossom 5,193]

3 minutes ago, Canadian24 said:

Hi! Has anyone recently activated their green card and received their SSN card? I’m trying to get an idea of how long the process takes right now to get the SSN card.
In the past 2 years I saw some 2 weeks to months...
Perhaps @appleblossom ?
Thank you!

 

Mine took less than a week, but that was a couple of years ago. Recently they've stopped sending them out automatically for some categories, EB are still supposed to get them but it'####### and miss. Officially they say you should have it within 3 weeks, after that point you would go to an office and apply in person. 

[Canadian24 55]

@appleblossom Thank you for the info!

[sapkde9 28]

Dear all,

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

I'm happy to share a summary of our recent visa appointment, which I hope will be helpful for those of you preparing for yours.

 

First, there's no need to arrive significantly before your scheduled appointment time. They will reorder you in the queue based on your appointment slot.

 

Here's a breakdown of the process:

 

* **8:00 AM:** We were called in. You'll need your passport with two photographs. After a security check, you'll be directed to a locker for your phone.

* **Upstairs (First Floor):** A desk attendant will ask you to arrange your original documents in the specific order listed on the slip they provide. They will then take the originals, place them in a folder, and return them to you to present at the first window.

* **First Window:** We presented the folder. The officer asked if we had any valid visas in our expired passports and requested to see them. He confirmed our address, phone number, and other details, then asked us to wait for fingerprinting.

* **Second Window:** We were called for fingerprinting, which took approximately five minutes for both my wife and me.

* **Waiting for Interview:** We were directed to wait for our interview.

* **Interview Window:** After about five minutes, we were called to the interview window. The interviewer greeted us, administered an oath (which we signed with fingerprints), and asked the following questions:

* Past work experience in the USA

* If we had ever been denied entry

* If we had ever been arrested

* Where we are currently working

* I was also asked to sign the employer offer acceptance certificate.

 

Our visa was approved, and we were out by 9:15 AM! A long and patient wait came to a close. Many thanks to this forum and its members for helping us understand the process and for providing valuable inputs that eased the tougher tasks.

 

I hope this overview helps you prepare for your appointment.

[sapkde9 28]

On 10/9/2025 at 11:31 AM, sapkde9 said:

Sure,  will keep that in mind.

@Journeyman23 My apologies,

 

I did not feel comfortable enough to discuss the questions you mentioned, with the Consulate staff.  They all looked too busy.

[Journeyman23 4]

6 hours ago, sapkde9 said:

@Journeyman23 My apologies,

 

I did not feel comfortable enough to discuss the questions you mentioned, with the Consulate staff.  They all looked too busy.

No worries, congratulations to you and your family and thanks for sharing your experience!

[T.J 0]

Has anyone received IL in October? The IV tool shows that cases DQ'ed in July 2024 are currently being scheduled for an interview. 

[Single-spite 0]

any one in the process of DQ right now. Wanted to see PDs are getting DQ emails.

[appleblossom 5,193]

5 minutes ago, Single-spite said:

any one in the process of DQ right now. Wanted to see PDs are getting DQ emails.

 

Not sure what you mean by this - do you mean the Welcome Letter email? Or are you asking how long it's taking to be DQ'ed if you've submitted docs? What stage are you at? Please fill your timeline in and then people can help you properly. 

[Single-spite 0]

20 hours ago, appleblossom said:

 

Not sure what you mean by this - do you mean the Welcome Letter email? Or are you asking how long it's taking to be DQ'ed if you've submitted docs? What stage are you at? Please fill your timeline in and then people can help you properly. 

I received my welcome letter from the NVC right after my NIW petition was approved. The letter said to wait until my priority date becomes current. My PD is August 2024, and I’ve updated my status on the spreadsheet. I’m currently waiting to be contacted for document submission and DQ.

Since there was a recent jump in the Visa Bulletin (Table B), I’m trying to find out if anyone has been contacted for DQ yet, and for which priority date range.

[appleblossom 5,193]

1 hour ago, Single-spite said:

I received my welcome letter from the NVC right after my NIW petition was approved. The letter said to wait until my priority date becomes current. My PD is August 2024, and I’ve updated my status on the spreadsheet. I’m currently waiting to be contacted for document submission and DQ.

Since there was a recent jump in the Visa Bulletin (Table B), I’m trying to find out if anyone has been contacted for DQ yet, and for which priority date range.

 

Ah, I see. Not sure what you mean about waiting to be contacted for document submission and DQ? You won't be contacted again now until you're DQ'ed. If you've had your Welcome Letter then you should be able to start the NVC side of things as soon as your PD becomes current in about 10 days time. So log on then and pay the fees etc. 

 

Please do fill your timeline in. It helps you, but it also 'pays it forward' and helps other EB applicants going forward too. Thanks.

Edited Wednesday at 03:59 PM by appleblossom

[Single-spite 0]

12 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

Ah, I see. Not sure what you mean about waiting to be contacted for document submission and DQ? You won't be contacted again now until you're DQ'ed. If you've had your Welcome Letter then you should be able to start the NVC side of things as soon as your PD becomes current in about 10 days time. So log on then and pay the fees etc. 

 

Please do fill your timeline in. It helps you, but it also 'pays it forward' and helps other EB applicants going forward too. Thanks.

May be its not the welcome letter that I was talking about this is what I received. Perhaps its just an acknowledgement letter. I assume, welcome letter email is after this when my PD would be current in table B of visa bulletin? I am just 15 days behind table B

 

Dear [REDACTED]:
The National Visa Center (NVC) received the immigrant visa petition filed by [REDACTED] on behalf of [REDACTED] from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. However, your case is not currently eligible for further processing because there is an annual limit on the number of immigrant visas that the Department of State can issue. For some visa categories, the wait could be many years.

This petition will be eligible for further processing when your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date for your visa category. To learn what the cut-off date is for this petition, review the Visa Bulletin online at usvisas.state.gov/visabulletin.

You will need the following information to determine your cut-off date:

There are two important sections of the Visa Bulletin. The Application Final Action Dates tell you what priority
dates are current for the purpose of issuing immigrant visas. The Dates for Filing Applications indicates the
earliest date the National Visa Center can contact applicants to begin collecting applications, fees and supporting
documents for pending immigrant visa cases. The Visa Bulletin is updated monthly...................................

[appleblossom 5,193]

17 minutes ago, Single-spite said:

May be its not the welcome letter that I was talking about this is what I received. Perhaps its just an acknowledgement letter. I assume, welcome letter email is after this when my PD would be current in table B of visa bulletin? I am just 15 days behind table B

 

Dear [REDACTED]:
The National Visa Center (NVC) received the immigrant visa petition filed by [REDACTED] on behalf of [REDACTED] from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. However, your case is not currently eligible for further processing because there is an annual limit on the number of immigrant visas that the Department of State can issue. For some visa categories, the wait could be many years.

This petition will be eligible for further processing when your priority date is earlier than the cut-off date for your visa category. To learn what the cut-off date is for this petition, review the Visa Bulletin online at usvisas.state.gov/visabulletin.

You will need the following information to determine your cut-off date:

There are two important sections of the Visa Bulletin. The Application Final Action Dates tell you what priority
dates are current for the purpose of issuing immigrant visas. The Dates for Filing Applications indicates the
earliest date the National Visa Center can contact applicants to begin collecting applications, fees and supporting
documents for pending immigrant visa cases. The Visa Bulletin is updated monthly...................................

 

Ah, no that's not the Welcome Letter. You'll be sent that once your PD is current on Table B, it doesn't usually take long so you should have it by the end of the year. 

 

Good luck. 

[MaraR 6]

Hi Everyone , 

We had our interview on Oct. 17, 2025! We've been approved!

I didn't update the spreadsheet , but I want to share the good news and some details for all of you waiting for the interview. The whole process was easy. You go trough the security first , the standard search and metal detector .Then you go to the 3 floor where you stand infront a table and an officer takes your original documents and organizes them in sets per person. You are given a number and asked to sit and wait to be called to a window opening. At the first window the officer takes the documents , asks you a simple question, something as "have you had a name change?" and then you are asked to sit and wait again. The second time you are called to another window you are asked for digital fingerprints. Then you sit and wait again. The final interview is at the third window . The officer was really nice, cheerfull even. You take an oath before he asks you some general questions. Mine were :

- were you arrrested

- where are you going to work

- what is the position , without even asking for job decsription or any other details.

-where you going to live , the address 

-are you working for that company at the moment.

Then you are asked to sign a paper stating that you are accepting the job offer from your sonsor.

Then the officer said :"your application was approved" and he is returning the copies of your documents , keeping the passports for the Visas. The temporary visa will be stamped on the password and the actual green card will be mailed to the US address yu are given. 

The actual intervew is not scarry as I thought, don't be  nervous , the worst part is the waiting for every step of the process...

 

Good luck to everyone waitng and going trough that lenghtly process.Thank you for all the information shared at this forum, all the details and personal experiences.   

[Mano17 9]

Hello Everyone,

 

Just to let you all know that I had my Interview last week i.e. Friday October 24, 2025.  As soon pass through the security check on 1st floor and enetered into the 2nd floor (7.55 AM) there was power outage within the building and it took some time to get the power back and continue their normal routine work.  Once they completed all documentation check, we directed to the next window for the finter prints once those are done they asked us to wait for our turn for the Interview.  My Interview was all good, but as per Visa Officer they still need some additional administrative processing information on my file which they coldn't proceed with due to the power outage their systems not fully operational, so officer couldn't approve my case on same day.  Officer also mentioned there is no other format of form other than Refusal letter with "Additonal process is required. We will contact you when this is complete" option was checked, but officer kept all our passports with them.  At this time my case status is Refused state and will see how it goes further i'll keep you posted here.  Please let me know, if anyone aware of how long normally it takes when the Refusal reason as above mentioned.  Thank you all.

Edited 7 hours ago by Mano17