SF2007

Yes it is such a wonderful forum and everyone has been so helpful!

Should I address my P3 to any specific department?

If you send in your P3 before it arrives, just make sure you send it to Montreal's Consulate mailing address. It's different than its street one.

The United States Consulate General's mailing :

315 Place d'Youville Suite 500

Montréal, Québec

H2Y 0A4

Nope. There is nothing in Packet 3 that isn't listed on the instructions on that website. There's no new numbers, your new case number that NVC provided you is yours for the end of the process. Packet 3 also instructs you to register for a DHL location that the consulate will send your Visa to.

That website is here: http://usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/ss_country_welcome

That is also the website you will use to book your interview. But don't go that far until DOS has informed you that Packet 3 has been logged and Packet 4's on its way.

You can send it DHL, but that wasn't convenient for me so I sent it Xpresspost and it got there the next morning, signed for and confirmed.

Makes my day!!!

You are able to send in Packet 3 without actually receiving the paperwork. The entire Packet 3 checklist and forms are included on the consulate's website here:

http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_pkt3

I did this, with the help of JeannieL, who also did this. I simply sent everything Xpresspost and made sure to put my case number on all pages I sent in, including the envelope.

Well, that'd be great. My P3 was supposedly mailed on Feb 28 but I haven't gotten anything yet.

Really, so there is no other referral or case number than the on you get from NVC?

Don't you have to send your paperwork with DHL only?

Thanks!

What is that "proof of status" and is it for the petitioner or beneficiary?

They didn't ask me any yet... odd.

We were just told today by DOS that Montreal mailed our Packet 3 on Feb 28. I'll let you guys know when I receive it.

Hi guys,

I called DOS this morning, and they told me that Montreal embassy sent me the packet 3 yesterday. I was wondering am I supposed to send any documents back to the embassy with packet 3, or I just have to have them ready for the day of the interview?

Thank you

I am waiting for my P3 from Montreal as well and it is my understanding that it will contain instructions to register with DHL.ca and you will have to mail back your P3 forms completed.

If you want to start filing them (recommended to speed up the process) you ca find the content of P3 here : http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_pkt3

Have any of you guys got your P3 from Montreal yet?

My case was forwarded by NVC on Feb 11 but I still haven't heard from them.

Great news for you!

Still waiting for my P3. I might just call DoS as well today...

Congratulations!

Anyone else out there still waiting for packet 3 from Montreal?

Any experience, advice, or tips (other than just keep waiting) would be greatly appreciated!

I`m on the same boat as you Canadiana, waiting on my Pkt3 from Montréal (I am the beneficiary). Check my timeline in my signature. I haven`t heard from them yet but NVC confirmed they sent our file on Feb 11 so it shouldn`t be very long.

Keep us posted

Cheers!

Hey guys,

I wonder if any of you would have some words of wisdom to share about renewing your passport while waiting for a visa.

I am currently waiting for Pkt3 for a K1 visa in Montreal. My Canadian passport expires in April 2012. At this rate, i will likely be interviewed in June. Is it required for me to renew it before the interview because of its duration or should I wait after the interview?

I have all my travel stamps from customs in it, including my trips to visit my fiance and I think it might be a handy proof of relationship. On the other hand, if my passport needs to be good for a year after interview, then I would need to renew it prior, right?

Thanks much!

If I were you, I would return to Vietnam and take the CR-1 route. Seriously.

Ok I get it now!

You entered on a visitor visa AND are planning to adjust status from the US? Not gonna happen hun

You can only adjust status from an immigrant visa and you entered on a visitor visa.

It's ok you got married but you absolutely can't stay. You might want to consider the K3 (visa for spouse). There is a section dedicated to it on this forum.

I advise you strongly to not overstay your visitor visa. Guaranteed that will harm any immigration application. Especially if you didn't tell the officers about your USC fiancé.

I wish you the best and be patient!

No harm done as long as you didn't lie and stayed polite. Entering the US is always to up the custom officers. It happens that people have do withdraw their application for entry at customs (that's what happens when you're denied) when entering on a visitor's visa and it doesn't harm their K1 application.

It is unclear to me if you entered the US on your K-1 and married your fiancée on Feb 11 or if you were visiting while it's pending. Did you enter with your K-1, married and will now file for AOS?

If you did enter on your K1 and married you HAVE to file for AOS.

The instructions say to do it in Internet Explorer....Try that. I normally use Firefox too but did the forms in IE and had no problem.

Hope that helps.

Correct, it does work as intended with Explorer.

Thanks

mine too that whole senator inquiry is a myth i think...they dont get any special treatment according to mine.....

6 months is the new 5 months. VSC didn't let us open any service request until we hit the 6 months mark.

Officials have a direct line. Our congressman`s office got an expedite for us at 6 months when we asked them to inquire on our behalf. We were approved 2 weeks after for a total of 190 days wait.

Hang in there!

Thanks so much for all your positive responses. We are prepared with everything and are looking forward to some time together. The stress of the K-1 and being apart is so trying at times. We really need this time together to enjoy being an engaged couple.

If questioned, always say the truth, stay polite and don't get upset with customs officers. Worst case scenario he could be denied entry and he will get to withdraw his application for entry. This will not hurt the visa application.

Best of luck and enjoy your trip

This isn't correct. I completed my Packet 3 before I received the hard copy using the same link as the OP. Other users on this site have as well.

OP, I seem to be able to type in it just fine. If you're having problems, I suggest printing it out and filling out the information by hand.

Yeah I`ll do just that, try again later and if it'm still having issues I will print it.

Thanks much to you both

Hey guys!

I haven't received my Pkt 3 from Montreal yet but I am completing the forms ahead by using this link on the Consulate's website : http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_pkt3

I tried filing form DS-156k twice this morning but it keeps showing these weird characters I didn't type. It even shows pre filed when I open it. I tried with 2 Internet browsers : Chrome and Firefox.

Anyone else having this issue? Can I get the same form from anywhere else?

Thanks in advance!

Congrats

Thanks for sharing, you never know who's to be caught in that glitch next...

Called my congresswoman's office today to follow up on the privacy release form I sent them, and the lady I talked to basically said they couldn't do anything except find out what's taking so long... So basically another service request. >_< Everyone is so unhelpful!

I wouldn't say it's another service request.

They have access to a direct phone line and they don't talk to our front line operator. That's already something. In our case, congressman's team got access to much more detailed explanations than we did and them calling put us on expedite. They were very helpful.

Sorry you haven't gotten your NOA2 yet. It would drive me nuts too

I think the automation sends out notices at the end of shift

Not sure how it works but we got our automated email with NOA2 on a Saturday 5 PM EST.

I was mailed the Packet 3. All it told me was to go online and fill out the forms though. I did, sent it in, they took about 3 weeks to mail me the Packet 4, which then instructed me to book my interview online. I just checked the waiting period between booking the interview and getting it, and it was about 3 months, so apparently I had a really lucky time in that I managed to get in in 3 weeks.

Hope that helped!

Can you book your interview before receiving your Pkt4? What info do you need to have in hand when you apply for an appointment online?

I checked last week when I was trying to find my waybill number. The next available interview date was April 27th : /

O-M-G. That's in 3 months!

Why does everyone say it gets a lot faster once you get your NOA2?

What was the delay between booking the interview and the interview date? Could you get an appointment say in the next 2 weeks or is it a longer wait?

Guess I'll start filling all the Pkt 3 forms and mail it as soon as I receive theirs by mail. We haven't had our case number yet so I can't even call them. heh. I will also have a titer test done so I have my immunization sorted out for my medical. And if I do need any shots, will get them done asap at my local clinic for a lot cheaper than in Montréal.

Whatever I can do to speed it up... I will

Thank you for sharing, good to know we're on that boat with other fellows!

I tried to find this topic somewhere and I didn't find anything...

My USC fiancé and myself received an electronic notice saying our NOA2 was approved and mailed on Jan 24 (yippee!!!). But now I am a little confused about the next steps.

Once Montréal's consulate receives our case, how long does it take for them to contact the Canadian beneficiary?

Also, do they mail me Pkt3 or do I have to download the forms and send them on my own?

And at which point in the process am I assigned an interview date?

Thanks in advance!