Timberline

Congratulations to you! Have a safe journey!

Thank you very much Jeannie and good luck next week at your interview. Just be yourself and it really is a breeze

I just got back from collecting mine at DHL office

I leave for Missouri on Tuesday.

Congratulations and good luck to everyone

Thank you! Your good luck may have gotten me my DHL email as well! I wonder if they send them out en masse? I can't wait to have it in my hands.

Awesome iampatricias I'm guessing they do send out in bulk. I just want mine in my hands too.

Good morning all,

It's Saturday and I've just booked my own Montreal interview this week. Of course, my head is full of plans that I'm not allowed to make so here I am on VJ, trying to get informed about the next few weeks.

After browsing through 10 pages of Canada-forum threads looking out for passport wait times, it seems this question comes up pretty regularly but hard facts are somewhat obscured within the posts. Hence, this poll!

Your participation is greatly appreciated and feedback is very welcome!

Had my interview in Montreal on April 15th and just had notification from DHL that my passport will be available to collect from my local office in a few days. There is a tracing facility to keep an eye on it's location. That is what I call speedy

Good luck everyone who is waiting!

Approved at Montreal yesterday

I had one large 13 pocket expanding folder and a Document folder (one pocket thing). In the expanding one I had all my copies from i130's,payments,flights,evidence,phone calls,chat logs, pretty much anything I could think of.

In the one pocket document folder I had my passport and copy, appointment letter and copy,the ds320 and copy,birth certificate and copy,i864 and copy, Ok everything that was asked for on the "appointment letter" lol.

I brought these items in a "grocery bag" the reusable type think it was from loblaws and I had no problems with it.

I had one large 13 pocket expanding folder and a Document folder (one pocket thing). In the expanding one I had all my copies from i130's,payments,flights,evidence,phone calls,chat logs, pretty much anything I could think of.

In the one pocket document folder I had my passport and copy, appointment letter and copy,the ds320 and copy,birth certificate and copy,i864 and copy, Ok everything that was asked for on the "appointment letter" lol.

I brought these items in a "grocery bag" the reusable type think it was from loblaws and I had no problems with it.

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like i have everything in order then .... whew

I think you should be fine.

I've read reviews where they saw other people being turned away, but it was for having backpacks, or purses, or large bags. I've not seen any reviews on where they were turned away for having folders/portfolios/binders.

And nope, nothing else to pay at the interview.

thank you very much for taking the time to respond and putting my mind at rest

I have my interview this week and just freaking out over last minute stuff. I appreciate anyone's advice of the following:

I am concerned about how much to take I have a A-Z expanding file which contains all papers completed and filed: (DS-230, DS260), payment receipts as well as copies of marriage cert, birth certs, income tax submissions, police checks, etc.

But I also have a canvas type folder which is zipped that contains all my evidence, i.e. telephone bills, emails, photos, airline tickets and basically proof of our relationship to present date.

I keep reading that people are turned away from the US embassy by bringing too much, but this is a portfolio of my evidence. Do you think both these folders will be ok???

Also, payments of $404 and $88 were paid months ago. Is there anything else to pay at the interview?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

A tentative agreement has been reached. So things should be back to "normal". This is sigh of relief for some of us. Hopefully this will mean that everyone else will be able to schedule their interview as well.

yayyyyyyy What are they talking about next Thursday for ?? Could we go through this all over again ?? My interview is on Friday !!

I'm scheduled for 15th April .... i have everything crossed right now for a deal to this mess

I had no problem. Hard to get through on the phone but they WILL call you back, usually same day. I asked for a date (a few days away) and got it but once you're there, it's a first come basis. When you get a call back, she will go through all the things you need to bring with you. Best if you can get your vaccinations done in advance because they will charge you if they do it.

I heard these threats actually have happened quite often when Republicans and Democrats stalemate but in the end the government does not shut down.

Thank you ... i do hope not. It's been a long wait already

Interviews scheduled for a day the government is shut down will be rescheduled. Visa interviews don't qualify as an essential service. I would expect they will be rescheduled for the earliest available date and that people will be squeezed in to the schedule as fast as possible.

Oh gosh, what a mess. They are already playing with our lives ... won't someone please give us a break

I'm not sure since I don't work at an embassy presently. There are several embassy functions that are considered essential, primarily those that deal with security and safety as well as high level posts. Those positions are not the ones that would be interviewing you so I am guessing if the government is closed you definitely should check before going to that interview. I would contact them this week and ask what happens and how they plan to reschedule interviews.

thank you for that advice

Yes, Mike, all government buildings will be closed and non-essential workers will be "locked out" essentially. I heard today that they are considering even blocking government email so people definitely can't work. Government contractors are also not allowed to work on their current government sponsored projects, so the USCIS website and telephone line won't be staffed by contractors.

Short answer, yes, it will affect your timeline.

However, I'm pretty optimistic that there won't be a prolonged shut down. It will actually cost more for them to shut it down than it will be for them to keep the govt. open. I don't expect another 3 week shut down, but a few days is possible.

(I work for the government in another department and that is the latest update we've been given today-we will be getting a better update tomorrow and definitely by Thursday or Friday we'll know if it's going to happen for sure.)

What will happen to interviews already scheduled ?? mine is scheduled in Montreal on 15 April

I believe NVC and embassy visa issuing will stop. I am in a similar boat, about to get expedited out of VSC, what if mine is in the post when NVC closes

Look at J & K's response. It looks like there is nothing to worry about .... good luck

Whew thank you for taking the time to respond and putting my mind at rest.

It doesn't mean very much. The entire government will not stop working. It will only effect non-essential government functions like national parks, some parts of the departments of education, agriculture and energy, and other really obscure government offices.

Key functions like defense, DHS, the department of state (embassies and consulates), FBI, CIA, Medicare/Medicaid, and Social Security will operate as usual.

What is all this news about possible Government shutdown might happen on Friday?? What does that mean and how would that affect US Consulates?? My interview is scheduled in Montreal on Friday 15th April. Can anyone enlighten me .. please and thank you

This message is to the girl I met today at the Toronto medical. I never got to see you go and to wish you all the very best at your interview on Monday. I hope you see this. Good luck, I'll be thinking of you. Let me know the good news

Is anyone else staying at the Best Western in Drummond Street, Montreal on night of 14th April ????

Hi everyone ... Got my interview in Montreal for Friday 15th April woo hoo. Is anyone else travelling from Toronto on Thursday 14th and booked hotel yet???

I am travelling alone and would be great to meet any of you doing the same thing

Thank you so much for that information, it was really helpful.

Any idea what I will need from my husband in the US to file my taxes in Canada?

My husband lives in USA, I live in Canada and currently awaiting an interview date in Montreal. It's time to be submitting our taxes and wondered if anyone can help us on how to do this, without us being held up any further.

We married in March 2010 in Canada and he has made several trips to see me but we have not yet been able to live together and have no financial commitments in each others' Countries. We obviously file as married, but does anyone know what else we need to do? Thank you for any help.

The train or the plane is a matter of choice. The train takes you right into the city, within a block or two of the Consulate, so you avoid any additional commuting. If you click on the link in my signature you will also find useful links about hotels in Montreal, etc.

Moving from the K-3 forum to the Canada Regional forum.

Your link is so very useful and helpful. I thank you for that information.

city bus: http://www.admtl.com/Passengers/AccessAndParking/STMBuses.aspx

SHuttle: http://www.transitfly.com/yul

I did the shuttle back in 2004 frm Airport to downtown area! Was excellent! You take the bus from airport to train station---Then u get in a smaller bus that takes you to the hotel (thats included in price) And its just the reverse on the way back! Too easy!

Welcome to VJ

That is awesome info. thank you so much