NVC

I greatly appreciate all the attentions and inputs from the VJers all above, particularly Kathryn41

Kathryn41, I agree with you, it maybe be due to the subjects myself and my wife are working on, biology. The fact is both her and myself are doing medical research, health science related.

As to timeline, NikiR, I sent EB1a I-140 to USCIS in October last year. Premium Process was requested with extra payment of a grand (?). USCIS sent me the approval in November. The case was transferred to NVC. Civil documents were sent to NVC and the case was completed early Feb, 2013. NVC scheduled the interview at Montreal.

I am the principle applicant and I am the beneficiary on I-140. E1 category. For the immigrant visas, my wife is applying together with me.

After extensive search on the visajourney I realized Administrative Processing is deep blackhole and the wait may be months up to years, in some cases, 10 years or more. I feel helpless and desperate now and has no energy to do anything. This journey is full of ups and downs and it ended with the feeling of desperation. I did learn so much from all the posts here and especially the selfless headsup and kind emotional support from the people I have ever met. Big thanks to all of you.

But if the husband was put in AP why would they need the wife's resume? It sounds like the husband is the beneficiary. Maybe this is a support or domicile reason? Or because of where the OP is originally from if they're not Canadian by birth? The OP hasn't provided much info, including a timeline, for anyone to help.

Op - I'm so sorry you don't know when you're going to be able to move. Hopefully it happens soon after they get the required documents.

Thank you for your attention. We are both naturalized Canadian citizens born in China.

I am the principle applicant, EB1 category. We both have a PhD degree. I self-petitioned and also have the intention of employment letter from a US university shown to the officer. The officer asked for my wife's CV but I didn't have it.

With that being said, I really don't know what to do.

1364930164[/url]' post='6113298']No 1 knows all the details other than you. But sometimes Mtl can be fast---as in a couple of weeks) Could be longer too----esp if you or spouse was born in another country not on good terms with the USA. Best of luck

Hi All,

Just a quick update on my case. I was put on AP (administrative processing) this morning after the interview and on the 221g notes, my wife needs to send the consulate her current CV, which we did the same day after the interview. Now it may be an endless wait. It is extremely painful for me and my wife. I did so much research and found out that it may take at least months up to years. I was wondering whether there was anything I can do.

It is very cold in Montreal today and whole interview process took about 2 hours and the CO who interviewed us was very nice. The whole process was smooth.

I am extremley worried now.

That sounds great, the turn-around time hopefully is short. You are expecting the interview real soon.

Yes, that arrived at the very beginning of March (finally!), so when the actual letter for the RFE came we were able to turn around and send it out the next day. Hopefully the review process will go quickly.

Did you get your marriage certificate yet?

So, we knew going in that we'd be rolling the dice a bit with this, but we included our Record of Solemnization in our I-130 application package so that we could send that out right away and get in line while Service Ontario messed around with it's 8-12 weeks of processing in order to get the marriage recorded. I had read in the past that people got an NOA2 by just including their Record of Solemnization (never got an RFE), so we figured we'd go for it. Just wanted to share our experience that the marriage certificate was requested, though I don't think that we would have done things any differently.

Medical exam can be done in one day (vaccination, X-ray etc.).

Dr. Cheema's office is busy so you may be expected to pick up the results the next day.

Call them before you go and the hours of Dr. Cheema's are longer than many other clinics. Dr. Cheema works on Easter holiday as I remembered.

Hey any fellow Canadian's who've had their interview & medical done in Vancouver. I'm just wondering how to go abouts making my interview date. I'm expecting (as in tomorrow kind of deal!) our package 4. I'm hoping to get an interview for next Thursday, but would that leave enough time for a medical to be done? (I have all vaccines and stuff up to date)

I will be traveling to vancouver (a 14ish hour drive) so would like to make it happen as close together as possible, but just don't know if I book an interview for say Thursday, medical tuesday, if thats enough time.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

OH one other question. How many passport photos are actually required. I've read 3, 5 and 6!

Thanks!

I heard about "certified translation". what is the "certified copy"?

Did you send your original marriage certificate to NVC? If you have extra original (in some cases, notarized certificate would be considered as "original"), bring one just in case. Don't forget to make a copy of the original marriage certificate too. Better be over-prepared than sorry.

marriage certificate.. it's the only one I have...it's original correct? Not a certified copy (unlike my birth certificate which can't be because I got it last year.)

probably case by case.

Did you get "case completed" notice from NVC?

It wold typical to have 2-3 months gap between "case completed" and "interview date".

They send you email sometimes a few weeks before the interview date to tell you that you need to do medical exam and you will receive a checklist for the documents you need to bring to the interview too.

I've been looking at everyone's time frames and progress like a hawk. I'm trying to figure out when to visit my fiance in the USA without overstaying my visit. I've looked at Igor's list and the forum's on here but I'm still a bit confused with the time frame from the Vermont to NVC to Montreal. I'm expecting to wait 6 months from NOA 1 to NOA 2. Then I'm expecting a 3 month wait for my interview in Montreal. Should I be calculating another month from when Vermont sends my files to NVC? Is calculating a total of 9-10 months reasonable from NOA1 to Visa in hand? (And if someone moves this to a special forum, send me the link, I can never find them on here lol)I also know these are current estimates and hopefully Vermont keeps up or goes DOWN on their time frame. Hopefully some fellow filers in Texas whose fiance is in Montreal can help me (who've already been approved OR have their interview date..please respond)

congrats!

What questions did you get?

Visa approved!!

EB-1 Category immigrant visa interview is coming up soon. getting super nervous now.

Anyone knows what questions will be asked? Any inputs are extremely appreciated....

It doesn't seem to make a big difference.

Good luck!

We are at the stage of sending in our Packet 3 to Montreal Consulate.

Question, as far as the checklist goes.

We are still waiting for finger prints to come back, police reports, and my taxes will be done in four days.

With that said, is it safe to send in Packet 3 now and mark everything as checked, knowing we will have it all done within 8 days?

X-ray was done. I am waiting for the results now.

Thanks to Vanessa&Tony, Thanks to all of you!

What ended up happening?

Hi All,

I filed I-140 (Extraordinary Ability Worker) last year in the fall and my petition was approved at USCIS. My case was transferred to NVC and the case was completed in early February. After a long wait for interview scheduling, I received an email telling me that the interview was scheduled for April. The priority date of my visa is September 2012. The category is E1.

I have received many pieces of helpful and valuable advice here. Thanks to all of you.

I am getting very nervous now for my immigrant visa interview. As I searched for EB1a category plus consular processing, I cannot find any posts on this topic. I am self petitioning for the green card and my wife and myself will be at the interview.

What questions would I expect? What documents should I bring? I have sent all the original police, birth, marriage to NVC and I think they will be transferred to Montreal US Consulate.

I did my medical exam and registered for DHL services. I have a recent letter from my potential U.S. employer. What else should I prepare?

Any input would be extremely appreciated. Thanks to all of you for your attention.

Best of luck to all of you!

Dr. Cheema and receptionists/nurses are very helpful! Great medical experiences!

I sent a message to you. When is your interview? Best of luck!

Hi there,

This is my first posting and I hope it's in the right section! The permanent resident section seems to be more about AOS processing. I'm doing Consular Processing and my question is actually about the interview at the US Embassy in Montreal.

I've read some incredibly helpful reviews on others' experiences. However they all seemed to be for green cards through marriage. Mine is via EB-1 and my lawyer has informed me that all the original documents will be at the embassy (yay) save for the medical (which I'm taking on the 25th of this month). She then stated that I should bring the past 6 months bank statements. Not a huge deal but when I received my email notification for the meeting via the NVC, it states that everything is already received and I do not need to bring anything else save for the medical and the passport photos.

Now obviously I'm going to do what my lawyer says and bring documents just in case they ask. However, I'm wondering if anyone has any experience to share - even if not for EB-1 specifically. If you were self-petitioned or are basically a non-family/marriage applicant or know anyone who was and can share, that would be tremendously appreciated.

It's been a long-ish process and I'm admittedly terrified of this meeting! I'm so happy I found the VJ community today because it's really helping me wrap my head around what to expect.

Thanks in advance for any insight.

I will double check with the doctor. I believe what the doctor told me was correct. I will check with my medical exam physician again to confirm.

When I went to my medical in Montreal there were 3 pregnant women who were given Xrays for immigration medical. They were all provided a very large lead apron to put on around their tummys. Not sure why he said NO doctors would do it. Clearly the medisys center in Montreal does it and they do it very frequently because its a clinic you go to for visa medicals and traveling medicals.

What doctor did you go to for the immigration medical?

Thanks a lot!

I take this very seriously too. I will confirm with my medical exam physician.

I am not sure when the xray needs to be done

the leter says

Pregnant applicants who do not wish to have the X-ray will be granted a temporary exemption when they provide written certification of pregnancy signed by their personal physician or obstetrician.

So, temporary until after childbirth in the home country or when... it does not say

As a nusr I feel xrays should only be used in emergencies when pregnant.

If you choose not to have the xray then bring a letter from her doctor

Then update us on what the embassy says to you.

Good luck

congrats on the baby

Thanks to you all....

I check this file as well and it states that "Women who are pregnant are required to have a CXR to immigrate. Pregnant women must provide consent for the CXR. Pregnant women receiving chest radiographs will be provided abdominal and pelvic protection with double-layer, wrap-around lead shields". But my medical exam doctor says no one will do that.

So need more advice on this one. Thanks in advance.

http://travel.state....L-0011-1207.pdf

I think I've seen other threads on it from Canada. I'll see if I can track it down.

You mean call her OB-GYN to get an X-ray deferral note?

But my medical exam doctor will seal the envelop tomorrow and there won't be any chance to add this to the package.

Crying for help!!!

I am afraid that they will issue visas as we are interviewed because the medical is incomplete (lacking X-ray)

Need needs to call her female doctor for the pregnancy and ask him/her to write a note that declines the xray at this time for safety concerns of the fetus.

Hi All,

We live in BC. My wife and I went to the medical exam today. She is about 25 weeks pregnant and the doctor said even if you want to do X-Ray, the medical centre won't do it and he will sign a deferral letter. As I asked the doctor whether this will jeopardize the green card and the doctor said "I don't know". The doctor is very thoughtful and caring and we had great experiences today and the receptionists are friendly and helpful. It was a great experience.

No I am in a big dilemma.

Risk the baby for X-ray (the X-Ray centre, as the doctor said, won't even take our X-ray request, most like) Or risk the green card (the VOs most likely will issue us the green car after the baby is born, because that time my wife will be able to get an X-ray exam)? Our interview will be coming up in about two weeks. We have run out of options.

Any advice on this one? Any input would be extremely appreciated.

congratulations, look forward to your review on this interview.........

Just got back to the hotel and am thawing out from the 100" of snow we are getting and I was approved

Good luck to the new friends I made waiting in line.

I will do a review and look forward to hearing how everyone else did.

Hi all,

Loved this topic!

My wife is about 25 weeks of pregnancy and we are going to have the medical exam and interview in about two weeks. Is there anything we should be concerned and is there anything we should do? Would the visa office ask us anything about the pregnancy?

Thanks for your inputs in advance

Hi VeeNDee,

It was very informative, many appreciations indeed.

How about HBV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, HIV etc??/?? U.S. Medical Exam has these tests required.

If you have tested for MMR and Varicella, bring your test results with you to Dr. Cheema's. They will photocopy the paperwork. If you received influenza in Dec. 2012 you are also good to go since that is the current flu season - where did you get your shot? You need to bring some kind of proof saying you got it. Maybe have your doctor write you a quick note or ask the secretary if you can photocopy the medical record for that day when you got the shot and bring it with you. As far as TDap, you will probably have to go out and get it since it needs to be current. I went to a public health clinic and since there was a supposed whooping cough outbreak they gave it to me for free (it also helped that I worked with children and had a low immune system -although I didn't bring that up it would qualify me for a free shot of Tdap if I am correct). Then bring proof of that shot with you too.

Here is a review of Dr. Cheema:

http://www.visajourn...medical-review/

If you have any questions feel free to ask. I know it can be a confusing process!

I am reactive to Varicella from my blood test, meaning I most likely had it but I couldn't remember anything, must be very very little when I had it.

if you have not had the Varicella vaccine, but you have had chicken pox as a child, you just have to say so. No tests required.

sorry for not including the details in the first post.

E1 is my category. However, I found out that i was the only one on the board who has this category and so I had been silent for a long time since I had no idea what you guys were talking about.

Thanks for sharing your points greatly.

You have no timeline and I we don't know what type of visa you applied for (K1? CR1?). It is hard to give you anything specific to your situation.

I had mine done in Montreal for a K1. You won't need a current flu shot unless it's flu season (Fall-Winter). You will need your Tetanos or booster (tdap) shot if you have not received it in the last 10 years. If you know you have not gotten it, I would recommend to make an appointment and have it done prior to your medical. And bring proof with you (like the health card the nurse will fill for you). It is much more expensive to have it done during your medical (approx. 100$) and more bothersome to have to deal with it after.

When you say you tested for MMR and Varicella, do you mean you tested positive in a titer test for antibodies? If so, bring proof of that and you shouldn't need the shots. The provinces don't keep records of shots that are given it is up to you to prove which ones you have received. You can bring your health records with all the vaccines you received since a child or, if you don't have it, get an antibody titer test done. Or perhaps your doctor's office keeps track of those records. It is worth a shot to call them. For my varicella shot, I didn't have the record and the doctor asked me if I have had chicken pox. That was enough for him.

The doctor will do the usual yearly exam routine. He/she will check your ears and throat, listen to your heart and your lungs and get a chest x-ray. You will also be questioned on your health: do you do drugs/smoke, have mental/health issues/have you had surgeries, etc. It's no big deal really.

i read your timeline again and realized you are REALLY fast!

Congrats!

What time are planning to "land" in the states?

I found solid answers to what we (myself and 2 kids) needed specifically by calling the nurse at the office. I told her what we had or didn't have and she filled in all the blanks for me.

What does POE mean?

Congrats to your green card and wedding!!!

Dr. Cheema's office only does communication by e-mail and it can be spotty. The TDap can probably be given to you at a walk in clinic or at a pharmacy. (I got mine done at Save On Foods pharmacy).

Just make sure to bring all your records of your vaccinations to your appointment at Dr. Cheema's. If you don't have them, you can get titers (blood tests) to show immunity or you can get the vaccines done over again.

Many many very sincere thanks to all of you who have responded underneath my post.

My apologies for lacking the details of case.

I am selfpertitioning under E1-Priority Workers.

I sent my I-140 petition (EB1a) to USCIS early November 2012 and the case was approved in one week. Then my case was transferred to NVC about 10 days after it was approved at USCIS.

Then there was an email asking me for all the civil documents, including police certificate, birth certificate, etc. Then the case was completed early February. There was a long wait and I almost called NVC once a day until I got tired of it and forgot about it.

I received the email a few days back (Packet 4) and told me the interview is schedule for early April.

So this is how I got to do the medical exam.

In summary:

E1-Priority Worker Category

I-140, November 2012, USCIS

Approved November 2012, USCIS

Transferred to NVC in mid-November, 2012

Requested civil documents sent to NVC mid-January 2013

Case completed at NVC, early February 2013

Received email mid-March, telling me the Interview scheduled for early April 2013 in Montreal, QC.

I sent email to Dr. Cheema's office and the receptionist was quite nice and called me back the next day and told me there was appointment available for March 20s. I had to get all my antibody titer test results (vericella, MMR) and Tdap shot record.

Thank you all for sharing your valuable points and what should I prepare before the interview, I registered loomi courier service a while back and had to track down whether it was properly done, what else should I do before the interview?

Any comments would be extremely welcome and appreciated.