Montreal Consulate EB-2 Interview Wait Time - Part 3

[mmountain 12]

1 minute ago, 13-33 said:

 

Hi everyone  quick question.

 

Had my EB-1 immigrant visa interview in Montreal yesterday. Officer kept passports and said everything looks good pending final travel record check. When I try to check CEAC (Immigrant Visa status), I get:
“Your search did not return any data.”

 

I never checked CEAC before the interview, so I’m not sure what it showed previously.

Has anyone else experienced this message immediately after interview at Montreal? How long did it take before your status appeared (Approved or Issued)?

 

Thanks in advance.

Don't worry about that message. I got same message before and after the interview. Still got passport with visa stamped. 

[kk_canada 4]

1 minute ago, 13-33 said:

 

Hi everyone  quick question.

 

Had my EB-1 immigrant visa interview in Montreal yesterday. Officer kept passports and said everything looks good pending final travel record check. When I try to check CEAC (Immigrant Visa status), I get:
“Your search did not return any data.”

 

I never checked CEAC before the interview, so I’m not sure what it showed previously.

Has anyone else experienced this message immediately after interview at Montreal? How long did it take before your status appeared (Approved or Issued)?

 

Thanks in advance.

Under my name (I am the main applicant), it didn’t find anything either, but under my wife’s name it did. The status changed to issued 2 hours after the interview.

[appleblossom 5,830]

58 minutes ago, 13-33 said:

 

Hi everyone  quick question.

 

Had my EB-1 immigrant visa interview in Montreal yesterday. Officer kept passports and said everything looks good pending final travel record check. When I try to check CEAC (Immigrant Visa status), I get:
“Your search did not return any data.”

 

I never checked CEAC before the interview, so I’m not sure what it showed previously.

Has anyone else experienced this message immediately after interview at Montreal? How long did it take before your status appeared (Approved or Issued)?

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Just checking, you're using the NVC case number, not the USCIS one? I know it sounds daft but it's an easy mistake to make! 

 

Your case status would have been updated all the time with things like 'At NVC', 'In Transit', 'Ready' etc, but if you're definitely putting the right details in then maybe it's just a glitch. Try another browser or just keep checking. 

 

Good luck, and please do update your timeline now you've been interviewed, to pay it forward and help other EB1 applicants. Thanks.

Edited 18 hours ago by appleblossom

[13-33 1]

19 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

Just checking, you're using the NVC case number, not the USCIS one? I know it sounds daft but it's an easy mistake to make! 

 

Your case status would have been updated all the time with things like 'At NVC', 'In Transit', 'Ready' etc, but if you're definitely putting the right details in then maybe it's just a glitch. Try another browser or just keep checking. 

 

Good luck, and please do update your timeline now you've been interviewed, to pay it forward and help other EB1 applicants. Thanks.

Yes, I'm using the case#, Passport # and first 5 letters of my Surname. So far I've tried Safari and Chrome and got the same outcome. Thanks for dropping a note.

[13-33 1]

1 hour ago, kk_canada said:

Under my name (I am the main applicant), it didn’t find anything either, but under my wife’s name it did. The status changed to issued 2 hours after the interview.

Thanks! I just gave that a shot and got the same error message - I'll try a different browser as @appleblossom suggested.

[appleblossom 5,830]

8 minutes ago, 13-33 said:

Yes, I'm using the case#, Passport # and first 5 letters of my Surname. So far I've tried Safari and Chrome and got the same outcome. Thanks for dropping a note.

 

You've not got a new passport since applying? 

 

It's maybe just not working today but keep checking, sometimes the systems go down for maintenance or something like that. 

 

Good luck. 

[13-33 1]

Hi everyone - sharing our E11 full interview experience in case it helps someone else.

 

1. Arrival & Security:
Arrived about 10–15 minutes before our appointment. No major line. Standard airport-style security. Phones placed in small lockers. Staff were professional and polite.

2. First Window (Document Intake):
They checked original civil documents:

• Passports

• Marriage certificate

• Birth certificate (child)

They confirmed:

• Whether this was our first marriage

• Whether our child is biological

• Residential address

• U.S. address for Green Card delivery

• Phone number

I asked about correcting a DS-260 response regarding prior visa refusals for my spouse. The officer confirmed the interview officer could unlock and update it.

3. Second Window (Biometrics):
Fingerprints for both of us. Very straightforward.

4. Final Interview Window:
We took the oath first. Officer was calm and professional.

Questions asked:

• Have you ever been arrested?

• What do you do for a living?

• What does your spouse do?

• What will you be doing in the U.S.?

• Have you been to the U.S. before?

My spouse disclosed prior refusals (B1/B2 12 years ago due to missing school transcript; TN attempt due to incomplete employer details). Officer asked for the years and brief explanation. No probing beyond that.

He stated:

“Everything looks good here, your visa is temporarily approved pending review of your U.S. travel records.”

He kept our passports and gave us instructions for passport tracking. Estimated 2–3 business days for review and up to 2 weeks for passport return.

Total time inside: roughly 45–60 minutes.

 

Overall Impression:
Very document-focused. No deep dive into EB-1 merits. Straightforward and professional. My advice, don't volunteer information beyond what's been asked. Answer clearly and concisely. Bring originals and copies. Stay calm.

Hope this helps someone.

3 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

You've not got a new passport since applying? 

 

It's maybe just not working today but keep checking, sometimes the systems go down for maintenance or something like that. 

 

Good luck. 

No, same CA passport. 

[RRBM 3]

Hello ! 

 

We had our interview last week and wanted to share our interview experience :

 

1. Check IN & Security :

-We arrived 10-15 min earlier than our scheduled interview time - 9 am ( PS: we did a dry run the previous evening to ensure we do not stress ourselves on the D-day)
-There was security officer with a note pad , he collected our passports and verified our appointment time and then opened the Consulate door , it looked like an airport security checkpoint.

-There was a lady that once again verified our names and appointment time and handed out an orange card with the necessary minimum documentation to be presented in the counter upstairs on the 1st floor.

-After this we went thru the metal detectors and were shown the lockers to store our cellphones and /or any wallets.

-Next we went upstairs to the desk where there were 2 ladies who helped arrange all the documents mainly 

• Appointment letter
• Birth certificate 
• Police certificates 
• Marriage certificate 
• Photographs
• Passport 

(All the above with respective photocopies. Although it mentioned originals only for police clearance, Please make copies of police clearance as well. We did not have copies for this and they made the copies for us)
After this she gave a printed token I3XX and asked me to proceed to document counter. 

 

2. Document Check Counter : 
- the lady re-verified all the originals and the photocopies and grabbed our medical file from their folder .
- ⁠she also verified our current address and the address to which our future printed green cards to be mailed after successfully completing the process .
- ⁠we were then asked to proceed for fingerprinting 

 

3. Fingerprinting : 
- ⁠the lady verified the names of the applicants and the token number and collected our finger prints 
- ⁠after which we were asked to wait for our final interview, there was a 65” TV displaying the token numbers and the respective interview counter .

4. Final Interview :

We were asked to proceed to counter # where the officer greeted us and asked us to affirm the oath and retook fingerprints, After which he verified the docs and asked these questions for both myself and my spouse together (no separate questioning)  

•  It looks like you self petitioned on E1 visa 
• What’s the highest level of education ?
• what’s the nature of your job ?
• Have u lived in any country other than India or Canada ?
• How long have you lived in the US and what visas ?

After which he said “ I am approving both of your visa , congratulations and good luck and the passport will arrive in 7 to 10 business day . Thus that ended my GC dream of waiting of 20 +years  since I had first landed in USA .

 

This entire process just took 30 minutes and we were back in our hotel by 9.30 am

 

Although our visas were issued and shipped out the next business day, we are still waiting for it to arrive as Purolator is showing weather delay. 

 

Good luck to all , the staff is very friendly compared to every other consulate we had been to in the past. They are extremely organized and we had a very pleasant experience.

 

 

[SunTazoo 0]

I recently got my i-140 approved in EB1. My priority date is current. Waiting for the case to be transferred to NVC. I have been living in Canada for over 5 years now as a permanent resident and still hold my Indian citizenship. I see the lead time shown from DQ to IL on the IV scheduling tool is 6 months right now (Sep 2025) for Montreal. First, is that real and is that what have been experiencing for EB applications? I could check if I can request my case to be transferred to India but I don't have a good reason to give to NVC other than, the DQ to IL time there is quicker. Have people been able to successfully change their consulate to country of citizenship?  

[appleblossom 5,830]

54 minutes ago, SunTazoo said:

I recently got my i-140 approved in EB1. My priority date is current. Waiting for the case to be transferred to NVC. I have been living in Canada for over 5 years now as a permanent resident and still hold my Indian citizenship. I see the lead time shown from DQ to IL on the IV scheduling tool is 6 months right now (Sep 2025) for Montreal. First, is that real and is that what have been experiencing for EB applications? I could check if I can request my case to be transferred to India but I don't have a good reason to give to NVC other than, the DQ to IL time there is quicker. Have people been able to successfully change their consulate to country of citizenship?  

 

You could change it, but don't think it would be worth it. It might save you a couple of months of wait time overall, but it would be a lot of hassle and cost to have to get to India for the interview etc, and you could be stuck there if you get put in to AP as well.

 

The scheduling tool is usually pretty accurate. 

 

Could you please fill your timeline in (on your profile)? Good luck!