nabdelwa

Just remember to show them the endorsed visa.

I went through customs in Calgary and was like "oh wait, you want to see my green card right?" Guy was like "OF COURSE" and was thinking "moron" I could see it. LOL

Thanks NLR!! I will make sure to do that.

The 'visas that is stamped in your passport is the I-551 Permanent Resident stamp (it actually isn't the visa - you've already used that when you crossed the border to activate your IR-1 status). It is the same as the green card. You are perfectly fine using that to enter the US as it is basically the same document. It comes in 2 different formats - a stamp and a 'hard copy'.

Good luck on your move .

Thanks Kathryn!! I appreciate your reply.

I just don't want any surprises at the airport. Thanks again!!

Hi All,

I hope everyone is doing well.

I activated my IR1 visa in December 2013, came back to Canada for work commitment. My passport was stamped for one year until I receive my green card. My wife in the US received my green card last month.

I am moving permanently to the US by Mid-April, do I have to have my green card to enter or I can simply use my visa?

Thanks all for your help.

General question.

Can the beneficiary travel to meet the spouse during AP? Canadian going to USA.

Thanks

Yes, I travelled several times while in AP. Make sure you have sufficient evidence that you are just visiting and not planning to stay (paystubs, return ticket). Be honest to the officer and you should be fine!!

Best of luck..

NLR, thanks!!

Where can I update my address in ELIS please?

Thanks!!

Laymaxx, where can I print a receipt?

Hi All,

I planning my POE on December 31 through Pearson, Toronto. I paid the $165.00 immigration visa fee (effective February 2013, this amount must be paid before entering the USA). I paid it yesterday using a visa card.

My question is this, what documents do I need to provide the immigration officer as a confirmation of payment? Or they don’t ask for a payment confirmation.

My second question, how long does USCIS take to process this payment?

I just don’t want any surprises during my POE.

Thanks all for your help!!

nabdelwa - have you heard anything yet?

our stuff reached there october 3rd and we had a status update on october 4th (but i noticed a lot of ppl did).

i'm just wondering if its still sitting in a mailroom or if they've even looked at it yet.

its been 2 weeks and i guess my fear is that they will send back his passport with no visa and a letter saying we are still in AP.

my husband said when he did the medical the lady said some ppl have to do it 3-4 times. ahhh!

Hey Zubi2lute,

I emailed the consulate to confirm that they received the documents. Here is the answer (We are pleased to acknowledge receipt of the documents. Please note that all mail addressed to the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal undergoes thorough security clearance procedures at an offsite facility. This creates additional delays for the mail to actually reach our office. The date you claim the mail was delivered is not the actual date our office has received your mail. You may expect your case to be reviewed within 4 weeks from the date that the mail was sent.)

I am sure it will be over soon and your husband will get the visa. Don’t worry

I spoke to my attorney about CR1 to IR1 after 2 years of being married; he said it is up to the consulate. Generally it should be a permanent, 10 year greencard at this stage.

nabdelwa,

that's great news.

i really hope this means something good, but who knows.

i spoke to DOS on friday to clarify and confirm they had that showing on their screen.

my husband got a medical appt for monday - just fyi - the panel physician in toronto - Seidan - is not doing any more exams after monday.

so he's hoping to be able to send everything in via Loomis by Thursday or Friday this week.

does anyone know - does the Medical physician have to send the paperwork - or can we send it in together with passport and police certificate?

does the police certificate sent in have to be original or is a copy ok? (the first time we sent copies and showed original at interview)

Thanks zubi2lute for the information!!

I booked an appointment on Monday with a different panel physician, the same one I had it done the first time. We should be able to receive the results on Wednesday. The police certificate can be done the same day so I am not worried about it.

My attorney said that I should comply with their request and send everything. I am sending the medical exam results, police certificate and passport all in one. We receive the medical results in a sealed envelope unless something is wrong with it. If so, the physician will contact the consulate directly.

I am sending all originals. Better safe than sorry!! But to be honest, I am not sure if we can send copies.

just wanted to share the (potential) good news.

my hubby got an email today from monreal consulate asking him for the following:

passport, new medical exam, and new police certificate.

his medical isn't expired until october - but they want him to re-do it.

DOS said this is because the Visa is only valid as long as the medical is valid.

so i hope this is some good news. he's gonna have to run around a bit .

pls keep us in your prayers.

i hope something good happens soon for us and everyone else!!!

Hey Zubi2lute,

Congratulations!!!

Sorry for the late post, I received the same email from Montreal Consulate last Wednesday. They requested the same documents from me.

The medical exam is valid for 6 months; police certificate is valid for a year.

I am optimistic but as you said, we have to wait until visa is in hand.

Any idea how long it takes to open the mail, process the document and make a final decision?

I hope everyone gets awesome news soon!!

Mehr, any updates on your end..

thanks nabdelwa!

any updates or status date changes for you lately?

yes, in fact it was updated today..

i called the other day and spoke to a guy that sounded very bored for abt 15 minutes.

of course there is absolutely nothing he can tell us about the case, because he doesn't see those details.

although he said if any further information is needed (re-do police certificate, medical, financial, etc) that they would see those alerts and we would be notified/contacted as well.

i asked since it has been 2 yrs now of our marriage - is it automatically an IR1 now, or do I still have to file that paperwork? he said i will still have to file that paperwork with USCIS but it cannot be done until his visa is issued. (how efficient! lol)

i'm not really sure what the next steps will be - how they will ask for the passport back - will we send it through loomis, to what address, etc

i guess we'll bumble along and get it done when we get the chance.

if anyone that's gotten out of AP, could share their next steps, that would be super helpful!

if God willing I get the chance to soon, i will post it.

I read before that they request the passport and all other information through email. When they do so, we will submit it using loomis service. They will deliver it to Montreal Consulate.

I think the police certificate and medical examination expire in 6 months.

I thought the visa category changes automatically to IR1 if married over 2 years. I will ask my attorney and let you know.

so this is weird - but we had a status update date change today (on a saturday!). still in AP, but we've never seen an update on a Saturday.

anyone else?

I saw it in a different topic. I cannot remember where...

Try to send them an email to inquire about the status of your case..

wanted to update everyone on something. called DOS today at their number and it looks like the just changed their office today.

the new number is 202-485-7600.

they will not be taking calls until Monday, September 9th.

also, other random tidbits of information i found out today.

this AP we are in is also known as Visa Donkey (in our case), security advisory opinion (SAO), or Washington special clearance.

a great article to read: http://www.quora.com/Visas-entry-exit-permits/What-happens-behind-the-scenes-when-you-apply-for-a-U-S-visa-such-as-B1-B2-J1-or-H1B-stamp-in-a-U-S-consulate

hope everyone is well.

Hi Zubi2lute, thanks for the information..

My case was updated for the very first time without any inquiries on Sep 05.. Still AP.

I hope we get some good news soon..

After 7.5 months of being in AP and getting many status date update recently, today I got my passport back from the embassy without the visa !!!!! They atteched a paper saying that my case is still under AP and they will request the passport back when AP is done. To me it seems that they've just started looking at my case !!! It' so frustrating. Anybody have any idea what is going on?

Hey Mehr, sorry to hear that.

In my case, they handed my passport back after the interview. I was told that they will request it when AP is over.

I was talking to a friend of mine “political analyst”; he mentioned that it takes at least a year to finish a security clearance. He said the process is very intensive to complete.

No updates on my end. Still waiting!!

I know how hard it is to wait but there is nothing we can do (it is what it is).. Just be optimistic.

Thanks zubi2lute!! This is my summary:

- Beneficiary is male.

- Born in Kuwait, Egyptian citizen (Canadian citizen for 6 yrs.)

- Interview 01/29/2013 (CR1 - Spouse of American Citizen). We started the process on December 2011.

- I am not sure what type of AP for me. But I think its internal AP.

- We contacted the Senator twice, same answer from the embassy

- My case status date only updated when we inquired about it. The last updated was last month when the Senator’s office placed an inquiry.

anybody nearing the 12 month mark for their AP?

Hey Zubi2lute,

What’s new with you?

Nothing as of yet for me. My wife contacted the Senator in her state. He received the same answer

“Still undergoing administrative processing”. We were thinking to email the Whitehouse. Did you get an answer when you emailed them?

Mehr, any updates on your ends?

ok.

that is just so frustrating because hubby is an area nowhere near where they do the physicals and the extra expense of course.

that's so inconsiderate of them to make us re-do them.

no reply form the white house

how about you? any news?

Unfortunately we have to re-do them. To be honest, I just want this to be over.

No news for me. No updates..

so does that mean all of us in AP over 6 months need to re-do these every 6 months?

We will have to re-do the medical examination and police certificate once they request our passports. There is nothing to submit now.

Did you get a reply from the Whitehouse?

does anyone know if you have to re-do the medical exam and police certificate or other paperwork if it's been over a year.

it's not our fault that they are taking so long and it would really be insult to injury if they force us to pay another obscene amount of time and money to re-do the physical/medical.

it will be a year since hubby's medical in October. and i believe his police certificate was done in May, so a year is already over.

Yes, medical examination and police report are valid for 6 months. I believe form 230 is valid for a year.

no I dont really call DOS that often. they never tell me anything new or helpful anyways and dont particularly sound delighted to answer my questions.

i check the CEAC website every day instead.

the other reason i dont call is because their operating hours are usually my work hours, so it's hard to find time to call.

no response from the white house yet, but i guess i wasn't really expecting one. I just felt that i needed to utilize my first amendment rights lol.

I remember seeing a post on VJ when the petitioner contacted the White House after 11 Months in AP. They answered her a month after her initial email. Give it sometime and see what they say.

Any news from anyone else?? Nothing is new for me.

Mehr and zubi2lute, did you try to call the DOC and find out what the status of your cases? I usually call once a week.

zubi2lute, did the White House reply back to your email?

well i check CEAC website everyday.

and today they there was a date change on the status update to today's date.

but still AP.

i'm still comforted by the fact that someone is looking or pushing buttons, lol.

I would be optimistic if I see my status changes every so often.. Maybe it is in the last approval process.

I think you will hear something good very soon fingers crossed!!

Mine still don’t change until they answer an inquiry but I am optimistic

It's been 5 months for me in AP. they kept my passport at the interview and it's still with them

My status on CEAC changes when they reply to my emails. last time was 3 days ago.

Mehr, you could request your passport back if you need it.

Almost 5 months for me in AP. You had your interview 10 days ahead of me.

My status never changed unless we contacted the consulate..

any updates yet from anyone else?

i check ceac status daily.

i recently emailed the montreal consulate via facebook and they forwarded it to their immigrant visa unit.

they replied back to me that way, which was kind of nice and more personal i feel.

that resulted in an updated CEAC status date.

i've also recently (2 days ago) sent a letter to my 2 senators, and the white house. I've tried congressman already with no results.

interestingly, i've had updates on june 7 (from FB email), june 12 and now today june 13th.

hope everyone else is doing well!!!!

Hey All, I hope all is well..

No updates as of yet for me. My wife contacted the senator in her state. His office contacted Montreal consulate. They just said that my case is still undergoing administrative processing..

That’s the last time my case was updated on CEAC (May 23)..

Interesting way of contacting the consulate through FB.. I will try it next time. LOL. How long did it take to reply back?