Montreal Consulate EB-2 Interview Wait Time - Part 3

[kk_canada 4]

3 minutes ago, EB5_lurker said:

We got our visa processed at the US POE last week and our physical card will be mailed to US address on file. Do we need to apply for Social Security number or it gets mailed along with your GC ? 

It depends on whether you checked the box next to SSN in the DS-260 form.

 

How long did it take them to send the green card after entry to the U.S.? It has been 10 days for me, but the status is still “Immigrant Visa Fee Payment Received.”

 

I am checking on https://egov.uscis.gov/, if I understand correctly.

[appleblossom 5,856]

52 minutes ago, kk_canada said:

It depends on whether you checked the box next to SSN in the DS-260 form.

 

How long did it take them to send the green card after entry to the U.S.? It has been 10 days for me, but the status is still “Immigrant Visa Fee Payment Received.”

 

I am checking on https://egov.uscis.gov/, if I understand correctly.

 

They stopped sending SSN's out for most, even if that box is ticked, last year. So most have to go and apply in person now.

 

It takes up to 90 days to receive the GC, 6-8 weeks is about the norm though. Yes, keep checking on there, it'll tell you when it's been sent for production. 

[mam521 2,944]

2 hours ago, SunTazoo said:

DOS website has the following language "

• Immigrant visa applicants are now generally required to interview in their country of nationality, the consular district designated for their place of principal residence, or their designated processing post.  Beginning November 1, 2025, the National Visa Center will begin scheduling applicants in their place of residence or alternatively, their country of nationality if requested.  If an applicant requests to interview in a location other than the applicant’s assigned consular district or country of nationality, the National Visa Center may request additional information to confirm that location is an applicant’s place of residence, or to confirm whether an exception may be appropriate."

So I was wondering if people have been able to get their country of citizenship assigned as their consular post successfully. 

 

Yes, I said typically, they require proof of residency.  You can request your country of nationality, but if you aren't residing in said country, they may choose not to receive the transfer case.  It is entirely at the discretion of the receiving consulate.   

 

One also has to consider that just because you interview, doesn't automatically ensure you get your passport back straight away.  Everyone goes through a level of AP and persons from certain countries take longer than others, often due to the home country's data recording and records systems.  If you take vacation, etc to interview abroad and expect to have your passport back within 10 days but your AP takes longer, you may not be able to fulfill those obligations where you reside.  At least if you're a PR or have a work visa for Montreal and you live and work in Canada, you won't forfeit those obligations if you interview locally and your AP takes longer.  

 

59 minutes ago, EB5_lurker said:

We got our visa processed at the US POE last week and our physical card will be mailed to US address on file. Do we need to apply for Social Security number or it gets mailed along with your GC ? 

You'll need to apply for the SSN in person.  You can do so with your endorsed I-551 in your passport; no need to wait for the physical card to show up.  Book now, because sometimes the appointments are quite far out, depending on your SSA office. 

[kk_canada 4]

44 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

They stopped sending SSN's out for most, even if that box is ticked, last year. So most have to go and apply in person now.

 

It takes up to 90 days to receive the GC, 6-8 weeks is about the norm though. Yes, keep checking on there, it'll tell you when it's been sent for production. 

Thank you for telling this. I didn’t know they ignore that box on the form. I was naively waiting for my SSN, thinking it would arrive soon.

[appleblossom 5,856]

10 minutes ago, kk_canada said:

Thank you for telling this. I didn’t know they ignore that box on the form. I was naively waiting for my SSN, thinking it would arrive soon.

 

It used to, but they announced last year that was stopping for most - I'd give it another week or so just in case, but be prepared to go to an office and have to apply in person. Have you got Informed Delivery set up? Then you'll know if it's on the way or not before it arrives (ditto the GC). 

[kk_canada 4]

10 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

 

It used to, but they announced last year that was stopping for most - I'd give it another week or so just in case, but be prepared to go to an office and have to apply in person. Have you got Informed Delivery set up? Then you'll know if it's on the way or not before it arrives (ditto the GC). 

Got it, thank you. When I was going through the border, the CBP officers had a chat among themselves where they were discussing that this is a new feature, and one of the officers didn’t know about it. They were saying it has been working for about a year. That’s why I thought it definitely works.

 

Regarding the informed delivery:

No, I didn’t even think that I could sign up for Informed Delivery before receiving my SSN. I’ll try to do it today.