satchmo

We did the thing everyone will advise you against- planned a wedding while the visa was processing. I think there is no harm in this as long as you give yourself plenty of time to have the visa issued, and also make sure anything you book can be refunded, or make sure they will let you move the date if needed.

Same! But that's because our lawyer insisted the visa would arrive in January (she was way, way off - no idea where she got January from (probably the cereal box she got her law degree from *grumble grumble*). Got my passport on Monday and the wedding is in 10 days! Cutting it close, for sure!

There were a few of us who interviewed on the 25th last week. There are some who have already received their passports and visa's (took 2 days and congrats to you who have) while some of us are still waiting to get that magic email from Loomis or posting on the CSC site with the waybill number.

Just curious how the consulate processes and sends out some visa's within a couple of days and how some take awhile before they go out even if the interviews were all on the same day.

I'm getting mine delivered to Markham. I think that people who got their's right away were getting the visa's sent to Brampton...could this be because Brampton is closer to YYZ?

That's super news! Congrats!

Make sure to check your spam folder, and the CSC website to see when it updates. Other than that, fingers crossed! I know you need it for Thursday.

Dang! I can't believe 3 hours was "cutting it close"! I'm POEing there tomorrow - flight is at 3:15 and I was thinking of showing up at 1pm...might have to rethink that plan, haha.

I received the email from Loomis with a tracking #, and the next day (or maybe a day and a half?) the CSC website updated with that same Waybill info.

Dear XXXXX XXXXX,

Your passport has been picked up from the Consular Section and within the next few days you will be able to pick it up at:

LOOMIS Brampton HOLD FOR PICKUP

200 WESTCREEK BLVD

BRAMPTON, ON

L6T5T7

Your Waybill Number is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX.

Please click the link below to track your passport until it is ready for pickup:

HTTP://WWW.LOOMIS-EXPRESS.COM/CA/WFTRACKINGSTATUS.ASPX?PIECENUMBER=XXXXXXXXXXXX

You can take advantage of having your documents delivered to an address in Canada for an additional cost. If you are interested, go here to learn how:

http://usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_courier_information

Regards,

U.S. Visa Information Services

http://canada.usvisa-info.com

Interviewed in Montreal on Wednesday, April 25th. Passport was available for pickup today, the 30th! Now to find a flight that isn't 10 million dollars.

Good luck to everyone else!

Putting the final touches to my massive folder together! and I noticed my Packet 4 instructions list:

• 2 copies of Form DS-156 completed online and printed with barcode
  
• Form DS-156K (do not sign)
  

but those were sent in with Packet 3 (and it seems I foolishly didn't make copies)

Is this the end of the world? Or is my checklist just "above and beyond"?

I also checked out your ring...very nice!

You're too kind, thank you! I'll be sure to let the boy know you approve, haha.

You have to live in Ontario for 7 consecutive months of 12 in order to be eligible. Which is something I didn't know when I went to university out of province for 5 years and then went and taught overseas...turns out I haven't been eligible for OHIP since about 2005 Here's hoping they never audit my record, because I would hate to have to pay that back.

I really hope this is the case for me (I also went with Brampton) because the wedding is the 12th. And with the interview on the 25th, I'm dangerously close to not attending my own wedding, eeeek! Fingers crossed!

About 7:45am and I totally was

I'm sure we saw each other in the waiting room

My experience was exactly the same (other than the times - I showed up late because I foolishly trusted the TTC to function), except I didn't have to keep my bra on. Also, my roommate had hidden chocolate around the house for Easter and apparently thought my dresser was a good spot, because I had melted chocolate all over my shirt and neck!! Embarrassing, but not an issue, haha.

I'm worried about my chest xrays, but overall, this was the least painful part of the process thus far.

This is good to know. Thanks for this leg work MoeMac!

I called this morning and left a voicemail. If I don't hear back today, I'll email tonight.

What time is your interview on the 25th? I'm at 8 am and just booked my hotel room at the Le Square Phillips Hotel and Suites for $177.32 on expedia

Same time! (that is, if the interview actually went through...still waiting on confirmation emails :/ CSC site says it's scheduled though)

Can we book our medical checks now? Or do we need to have a more official appointment letter?

I'm sensing a "slumber party" at the end of April, haha. Bring popcorn and paperwork!

I had the same problem and had to email them. Tried to pay over the phone but that didn't work either.

How incredibly frustrating!! Par for the course, I guess..

Tried my cc, then the boys, then mine again, finally got through with PayPal and then it wouldn't accept the Invoice #!! But now things seem fine? Scheduled for April 25th - hoping I actually paid! and very excited to not check that darn website anymore!

Gooooood luck to everyone else! Just keep trying and hopefully the site is just being very slow. Fingers crossed!!

Website wont accept my credit card info?! BARGH!

Thanks for taking the initiative and emailing them, Matty's girl. Considering it's already the first week of March, and we need ~2 weeks for the medical check, I'd guess things are going to open up next week. Woooo! Good luck everyone!

I have not paid (I assumed this step came after you selected the interview), and my NOA2 expires March 28th :/

My lawyer said that deadlines are automatically extended, and not to worry about it. Someone with more experience can probably inform you better though, as I've completely lost confidence in my lawyer.

Hi satchmo,

This is very helpful, thank you. Do you know if it matters if under “trip purpose” I should use Permanently Immigrate to the United States (Fiance – K1/K2) or Ready to schedule. Just want to make sure I get one quick!

For everyone who would like to exchange email or text, please pm for deets.

My routine is to check the Fiance(e) one first, then the Ready to Schedule, and both have been unavailable since I started looking on Feb 17th.

moemac59, where it is now saying "There are no available appointments at this time" is said "Next Available appointment is 38 Day(s)"

EDIT: I've attached my proof, haha. I wish I had just booked at that time (this screen cap was taken on Jan. 27) but I hadn't received Packet 4 yet and was worried it would mess things up, somehow. I also didn't know there was such a scarcity of appointments. The thing that slays me, is they could at least say 100 days, or 3 years, something ANYTHING instead of just nothing. It's very discouraging to just come up against the brick wall of "None".

Montreal is hopeless. I have been trying for two weeks straight and nothing. Has anyone been able to find a date recently, just to give me hope? I’m starting to believe that “There are no available appointments at this time.” will never change from my screen. Thanks guys.

Not that it means anything, but I had logged on on January 27th and appointments were available 38 days from that date. So I'd like to think another batch will open up in the next two weeks (but that's just my hopeful math, haha).

I completely understand your frustration And on top of it, it's just a poorly designed system! Bureaucracy, go figure

Nothing is assured in the immigration process. It'd be nice if it was. One Canadian VJ member just got out of advanced processing which was nearly 3 months long... That is, she went to the interview, got approved and had to wait 3 months for her visa to be printed and mailed back to her.

It's best to either plan your wedding far, far in advance or not plan it at all until your visa is in your hand. Until then your wedding date is a moving target. I know this sounds harsh but it's true, there is potential for delays at every step throughout the process, including after the interview. I wouldn't trust a lawyer who gave you a hard and fast date because no such thing exists.

We were working off the assumption the lawyer was an expert in her field of work...how silly of us, haha. Haven't been impressed with her assistance (or lack thereof!) at all, which seems to be a common theme for immigration lawyers around here. Hindsight is 20/20 of course, but I suspect I could have used Google as a better resource :/

While I am disappointed with the wait, I'm not too worried, because worst case scenario we have a lovely expensive party with our friends where I happen to wear a white dress and get a lot of attention, and then get legally married whenever the darn visa DOES come in.

Some people have waited as long as 2 months before they got an interview.

This is the most disheartening/maddening thing I've ever heard

We filed in July and received Packet 4 two weeks ago. Planned the wedding for May because the lawyer ASSURED us everything would be completed by January...guess not.

I'm glad I found this community, because I've been feeling very low about the whole thing. Thanks for taking the time to write out your experiences everyone And happy waiting!