SF2007

She got her visa. Done deal!

Great, good job!

Go to your appointment. They won't be able to say whether they can issue your visa or not because of the missing information, but if you tell them you will have the document in a matter of hours (or less than 3 days), they will give you a pass so you can come back and deliver it personally at the consulate.

If you have to mail it to them later, your package will go through their mail room and it's at least 4 weeks delay before they can do anything with it.

Good luck!

Very happy for you all! Wish you guys a smooth POE

Well this is just perfect. Neither of us has a job and it's going to be nearly impossible for one of us to live on our own in an apartment while we wait for this. I really wish one of you with jobs could trade places with us.

You can educate yourself about timelines and see trends here : http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Your expectations are unfortunately very unrealistic. Everyone has their own ordeal. Gotta make it work somehow. Keep in mind once you have scheduled your appointment you can keep looking for an earlier opening. Once in a while they will release a few. The better prepared you are, the more flexible you will be to snag one.

Montreal is a slow consulate and every applicant here can confirm most thing you mail them sit for about 4 weeks before they do something with it.

So, even if you were to find out your packet 3 has been mailed and were to mail your package tomorrow ASAP, you still have a month to go before they process it and mail/log your Packet 4. Then only will you be able to make an appointment with the consulate and schedule your fiance's medical. Your consulate appointment will be at least 2 months away when you can book it. After you appointment, should you be approved on the spot, you will most likely not receive your visa before a couple more weeks. So I'd be tempted to say you have another 14 weeks to go. That's 4 weeks for them to treat your Packet 3, another 8 weeks before an available interview and 2 weeks to receive your visa.

I wish you the best. Hang in there!

Edit : Go Coconuts!!! Glad you set a POE date

However I was able to get a joint bank account with Bank of American prior to getting my social. They would not issue me a credit card prior to having my social but I was allowed to obtain debit card. Depends where you live, I read some state laws do not allow it. Might want to check it out. If you do it today, you might show proof that you applied for one.

Good luck!

I would't stress so much about it if you have other proofs of bona fide relationship. They can understand there are somethings you can't get done prior to having your social.

If he's added you to utility bills throw those in there. Anything that shows your name and address can be proof of residence : utility bills, driver's license, car and home insurance, if he added you as a beneficiary for his life insurance, if you're on the same health plan, got a cellphone, etc.

I received my NM driver's license having in hand my foreign license, my passport with visa, my SS and 2 proof of residence (car insurance in my name and my name on utility bill). It was pretty long at the counter because they do these often here, but I got no problem with it. Have a look at your MVD website it will list their requirements.

Good luck!

Quick question Folks My wife and I are happy and married on 07/29/2011 we are alsmot done putting togeather the AOS package sending off this week,My question is her I94 expired on 08/05/2011 would we encounter any troubles or issues if were were to get on a plane of a trip to Florida or Vegas?..

No problem if she has a valid passport and you are traveling within the U.S.

This is the only official website (CSC) Canadian applicants are required to register on if going through Montreal : http://usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/ss_country_welcome

I believe instructions can be found online in the left menu. You need to register for courier (DHL) first.

Hi everybody!

I have a question before POE The day at the interview at the consulate I was given my medical interview results + chest xrays and after of course the usual envelope to give at POE officers.

Will I be asked for the medical results at POE? I would like to keep a copy of my DS-3025 with vaccines records for AOS. You think I can make a photocopy?

The custom officer will keep your medical and everything in the sealed envelope at the POE so make a photocopy of DS-3025 as you will have to provide it when you AOS. If you apply for AOS within a year, they will accept your DS-3025 as proof of medical instead of having you do a whole new one.

However DO NOT OPEN anything that is sealed otherwise you void your visa.

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I just want to hear a "the visa has been approved" when I call DOS! The waiting for the actual passport and Visa is ok, I just feel like I'm in such limbo! How long did it take for you to hear you were approved or did you just wait to get the email rather then calling DOS?

I called DOS every other day and I was in the same limbo you are. We knew it had been issued and printed 3 days before they mailed it back. You unfortunately won't be told so far ahead but good news is, once they do issue and print it, it moves quickly. Until then, it's most likely sitting on someone's desk waiting for it's turn. But don't worry, if you mail them everything correctly along with your passport it'll be fine.

It's so great to be able to have this kind of conversation - it makes the extra waiting bearable! And, thanks for continuing to post after already receiving your Visa!

I came up awesome people who offered me great advice when I was going crazy with the K-1 process . I'm now trying to pay it back a little

Good luck and try to enjoy your last days in Canada. It'll be a while before you can visit back!

Sorry about that, but i thought since everybody have already filed their adjustment of status, i thought they could help me with my concerns.

They will on your post

I had the same issue a few months ago. If you have registered on CSC website and it still won't show up, they can fix your DHL registration problem if you email them at : contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com. You will receive a "don't call us we'll call you" generic answer but in a few days, they will actually reply saying they have registered your DHL location.

Here is the information you need to send so they can help you set it up :

Applicant ID # :

Case Number :

Passport number :

Date of birth :

Name in passport :

DHL Location :

Good luck!

Edit : typo.

To everybody who have filed their AOS, I need your help. Im starting to fill-up the forms and I dont know what to write on some of the questions, please help me.I want to make sure what i've written is right before submitting it.

I THANK YOU FOR YOUR IMMEDIATE REPLY.[/size]

Please don't use this post for your application questions and create your own post. This is for July 2011 fillers.

My question - has anyone else had to send additional documentation to the Montreal Consulate via DHL after their interview? And, if so, how long did it take for you to get you passport and visa approved and back in your hands? I've tried tirelessly to find some topics around this but no luck. Any insights, experiences suggestions would be most appreciated. What happens now?

I have for a K-1. My medical results were incomplete at the time of my interview. I mailed it afterwards through DHL and it took the consulate 4 weeks from the moment my package was signed for before they sent me my passport back with my visa.

If you go through your paperwork, they gave you a sheet notice that explains how to mail missing forms through DHL for an incomplete application. It does say it causes a 4 to 6 weeks delay. Anything going through Montreal's mail room implies more waiting

Hang in there!

Didn't cause delays in my case. Started with my passport and then had to get a new one mid way through, brought both passports to the embassy and they only wanted to see the current valid one. They didn't seem to care that I had to get a new passport midway through.

Good to know

Hi . I am from India. i met my girl on Internet . she is from USA. Well i gotta chance to visit her few months back on Tourist visa . we met and spend some time together.Now I am back To India. we want to apply for the fiance Visa. The problem is we are not financially sound. she is poor and so am I. I was wondering if our fiance Visa petition would be accepted as it doesn't seem that we can support each-other financially. Well she earns enough to fulfill her needs. I can do work once I am there too.. and she has filled for bankruptcy before as well ..please answer I need help.

If your girlfriend does not meet the 125% poverty line requirements she will absolutely need a co sponsor to petition for you. The financial burden is on the USC not the foreign fiance. She needs to prove she can financially provide you and that you won't be living off Uncle Sam's dime. It is a requirement and if it's not met your petition will be denied.

Sorry to tell you this but don't count on being able to work quickly when you do move to the U.S. If you go the K-1 route, it doesn't come with work authorization. You will need to apply for it after you two marry and it's a 4 months wait. You might want to consider a CR-1.

We haven't started the K-1 process yet, but we are starting to look at the forms and gather necessary documents and hope to start soon. My Canadian passport is supposed to expire in May 2012 (9 months from now). Would it be advisable to renew it now, or would it be ok if I wait?

You need a passport that's valid for another 6 months when they will issue your visa. You have at least 10 months to go before you get at that stage if you have not applied yet. If you start using a passport number on your applications and switch midway, it will likely cause delays in your processing.

You are within a year of it's expiration so you can apply for a new one. If I were you I would renew the passport right now and use the new passport number on the application forms.

Good luck!

Ok thanks everyone for the feedback

I POE'd on June 15 2011, here's my review : http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?trim=no&poe=Toronto&page=1&dfilter=0

I'm pretty sure I have to book it. They said so in the letter they sent me, and from what I've read online Direct Consular Filing an I-130 requires me to book the appointment. Although it'd make my life a lot easier if I didn't have to...

Oops my bad. I assumed you are applying for a K-1. Spouses are assigned an interview appointment.

Issued = Approved

Printed = actually created on a printer.

There have been VJ members who experienced delays picking up visas due to printer "issues."

When I last spoke to them prior to getting my visa, I did ask the agent to confirm my visa had been printed and not just issued.

Does it often take a few months to nab an appointment?

Yes, it often takes more than a month. Unfortunately there is no system and you have to be a hawk The system will allow you to make an appointment when they open new slots. It happens randomly. You can schedule as soon as possible and keep an eye open for an earlier appointment and reschedule. When I was at that stage (March) the earliest appointments available were 3 months later. But, towards the end of the month, closer appointments got available maybe due to cancellations.

In the meantime, make sure you have everything you will need ready.

Thanks!! I mailed out Packet 3 yesterday and I tracked it on DHL's website and Montreal received it today. I called DOS today and it's not showing up on their system yet. I asked the rep if I can book my interview once they have mailed out packet 4. He said, "No!" Apparently, Montreal books it for you, which I thought was weird. Maybe he doesn't know too much about the k1 visa?

Anyway, once they receive packet 3. How long does it usually take for them to review it and send out packet 4. I just want to book my interview already.

DOS can only see in the database what's been updated. And Montreal is slow to update. The consulate books spouse visa applications interviews only. For a K-1, you will have to book it yourself on the CSC website. Instructions will come with your Packet 4. When I was going through this stage back in March/April, it was an average of 4 weeks between sending in Packet 3 and them mailing your Packet 4.

As Pocheros said some people, including myself, never actually received their Packet 4 by mail so be diligent about calling DOS to be updated. When they tell you it's been sent to you, go ahead and book you interview, and then your medical. There's nothing more in the packet itself than what is listed online on Montreal's website : http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_pkt4

You can ask friends to write and sign a letter that states they've known you and your husband for X amount of time, see you regularly and believe you are a legitimate couple that you are in a loving relationship and live under the same roof.

Other ideas : A letter from the US Spouse's employer stating that you are listed on your spouse's 401K, healthcare, life insurance, emergency contact list.

Can my fiance come stay her on a visitor visa then later file for the K1 visa?

It is illegal to misrepresent yourself and enter the US with a visa with the intent of using it for another purpose. A visitor has to leave and has no immigrant intent. Your fiancé cannot come as a visitor with the intent of marrying you and staying during the process.

You can either petition for him as a fiance or a spouse (if you do get married before you apply) while he remains his country. He can visit you during the process. If he does so, he needs to bring proof of strong ties to his country.