HumanUnit

I think I'm pretty much done on my part - now just to hope and pray that everything's OK and that we get an interview in Montreal some time this century!

Couple of concerns though - does anyone know if mail deliveries to the NVC have been slowed down due to the flooding in New Hampshire? I sent my Affidavit of Support on May 5th and it hasn't been delivered yet. I'm going to call and chew Canada Post out today but I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed this type of delay?

Also, regarding the medical examination - it says that instructions will follow when the interview date is given but that only gives us a month of lead time. I'm wondering if we can just go ahead and make the appointment with one of the doctors listed on the Montreal Embassy information webpage on this site? I'm sure they'll know what to do - is there anything specific we need to know with regard to these forthcoming instructions?

Finally, about the SSN number and visa - I checked the box which asked if I wanted them to assign my husband a SSN. Does anyone have any idea how long that takes to arrive? Finally, regarding the visa - most of the embassy reviews here say that you can go back for your visa the next day. Has anyone heard of a situation where that hasn't happened with Montreal? I just want to make sure that it's OK for us to plan for him to leave shortly after the interview.

Thanks in advance, as always .

UPDATE

I finally got the NVC on the phone again and they said as of April 10th they now only need the ONE tax year. I'm really hoping and praying that this is their final answer and the person who emailed me just made a mistake! I guess we'll see!

As I mentioned in my original post, I've already sent it! Hence the dilemma. I don't think there's any way I can send them now (interestingly I only received the transcripts today).

Thanks Yodrak...you're right about the link! However I was still told the opposite by the guy on the phone, and the cover letter of instructions for the form said "last year's tax return". Hopefully I can get someone on the phone in the morning and figure out what's going on!!

Everyone, just an update...I got an email today from the NVC saying that they do need THREE years, which is in total contradiction to what I was told over the phone. I'll have to call tomorrow to clear it up since of course there's no getting through on the phone now!

I also ironically received my tax transcripts today that I had ordered on March 31 and sent in via fax. I live in Canada, which could explain the delay.

Thanks for your post! I see from your signature that you sent yours in before the change of policy!

I really hope this doesn't slow down my process! I'm not impressed at all that I've gotten two contradictory answers from the NVC at this point and there's no one to answer the phone there right now!

Hi HumanUnit.

They did change it that you only need to file one. However, you may want to check the Embassy where your interivew will take place. My husband is going to Turkey, and they still request three.

Here is the link to the DOS that shows what is currently requested:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegram...grams_2863.html

Thank you, I did see that link. However, what happens now if Montreal does indeed require three? Do I just take that to the interview, or have I totally screwed up my form by not sending all three in?? This is just too frustrating considering that I'm so pressed for time.

I'm having a little panic attack...there was some confusion before I filed my Affidavit of Support form regarding whether they needed ONE or THREE years of tax information. The cover letter and instruction booklet said something different.

I came here for help and was told ONE year would suffice. I called the NVC number and it was confirmed that ONE year would suffice, and so I posted about that here too just to let everyone know. But I had also emailed NVC before I even asked anyone here, and they finally got back to me today saying:

Please be advised the sponsor is required to provide copies of his or her Schedules, Federal income tax returns and W-2 Forms for the THREE most recently filed tax years when submitting the Affidavit of Support Form I-864. Literal printouts from the IRS (RTFTP) or a letter 1722 issued by IRS are also acceptable.

WHAT??? I've already sent my form in! Why am I hearing contradictory stuff from them?? Who is mistaken here??

That's awesome! Congrats.

After doing a few searches and reading, I have a few more specific questions about trying to visit the US:

When we try to cross the border - do we tell them that we have this application open and are pre-interview? Or will they find out themselves by running my husband's name? I'm just wondering how much information we should be offering up!

From what I understand, these are good documents to take:

• employment letter, saying he's on vacation
  
• receipts for return plane tickets
  
• receipts for hotel room
  
• bank statements
  

Any other ideas? Of course, from what I understand, even with all this information they could deny entry!!

Awesome, congrats!

Majority of Canadian use the RCMP. At 1 time they were pretty much the only ones that had the Canadian wide search capability. Now Many City police forces have it as well. Forget the actual name of the system,but it has to be CANADA WIDE. in the GTA you use the Commisionaires!! Not sure how long it takes, but if you do a search, I'm sure you will find that info. many people forget all about the search button!! best of luck

Thanks for your help! I tried a couple of searches but I'm obviously not the sharpest tool in the box because I either get nothing or tons of irrelevant stuff .

Thank you!! Honestly you guys all rock - this is seriously one of the most confusing things I've ever been through. It's kind of embarassing because I just graduated from law school and should be fairly comfortable with complicated, bureaucratic nightmares .

Edited to add: I see that this Commissionaires site is a private entity. Another poster provided a link which said I could go to the "Criminal Investigation Department" on Jarvis - is there an advantage to one over the other? Maybe cost wise? Thanks again.

HumanUnit, it took us about 4 or 5 months to get my husband's long form birth certificate (and yeah, it's actually just a certified copy). You'll have to go to your MPP to get it expedited if you want it quicker. They'll do it as long as you bring in proof that you need it quickly (the letter from the NVC stating that you need it should do). It costs an extra $15 (I think) to expedite, but it's worth it.

THANK YOU for this information! I would have just sent in his little wallet sized birth certificate!

Have a read here about police certificates http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5635&hl=RCMP I am assuming it will be the same for CR-1

As for travel whilst it is being processed there is no 100% guarantee but that also applies at any time... having a petition in process can give them grounds to deny as they can deem that you have immigrant intent. Take with you all info regarding your case so you can show that you are not far off an interview so therefore will return. Any other ties that you still have in home country eg work etc. Thats all you can do really.

Oh no....they could really turn him back?? That's so frustrating! We have to go look at apartments for three days . Do you happen to know if it's common that people are turned back?? I'll definitely take evidence of our flight and hotel bookings - maybe a letter from our broker stating that we're going to see her to look for apartments?? This is super stressful!

Thank you for the link!

Thanks mich for the links!

(Taken from aussiewench's timesavers)

Check this out for how to prepare for your DS-230 (eg which documents to include):

http://travel.state.gov/pdf/applying_in.pdf

That's the pdf that you'd download from this page: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/ty...types_1309.html for immigrants from Canada. Then you'll want to look here:

http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/C...er/C/Canada.htm

for help on how to get the documents required. There is a link to this from the pdf I linked above, but the link in the pdf is wrong. Note it missing visa directory - it needs to be there. Hope this helps! ttyl,

mich

Wow, that was all incredibly helpful, thank you! I'm going to get started on all of this right away. I can't believe they want original birth certificates...well I guess I can believe it...but it's kind of scary to hand that over!

Hi again all...I've checked the Guides and I'm not quite sure of how to go about these things.

First: does anyone know how I should go about getting the police check done? I haven't received the instructions yet but I want to be proactive! Is there someone in Toronto where we can just go? Also - really dumb - should I get a police check on both of us or just my spouse (I'm the US citizen)?

Second: has anyone encountered problems visiting the US during the processing time? My husband and I plan to go to the US to look for apartments at least once! I really hope this isn't problematic!

Thanks in advance, of course!

Thanks! I'm not quite sure what a long form birth certificate is - mine from the US is one page and my husband's is a little card thing.

Also I have no idea how to update my timeline! When I click on it there's no place to edit it!

Hey, thanks so much for that! This site's been awesome - I've seriously used nothing else to get to this point!! I've really only had like four questions up until this point because so much information's already in the Guides.

I think I know where the RCMP is here in Toronto, I just needed to make sure that was the place to go. I think we'll do that ASAP and then just cross our fingers that they'll hustle and set the silly interview date. It's kind of annoying that your case has been completed for over a month and you have no interview date yet but from what I've read here so far the interview itself isn't too heinous. I have to start work in the US in mid-September so ultimately if he gets an interview towards late September/early October that's not too terrible for us, although it can get logistically challenging and expensive maintaining the two residences. Best of luck with your interview, and thanks very much again!

You have to send the criminal check in with the DS230 (it's easy, my husband's was done in literally 10 minutes and it was free). The medical is done once you get your interview date set (or you can do it before I believe, if you'd rather do it that way). Hubby and I are in the same boat as you - we're both in Canada and filed the CR1. We're waiting for our interview now.

Here comes the bad news for you - your interview won't be before September. As of now the interviews are basically four months from your case completion date (which comes once you've sent in all the documents requested from the NVC), because Montreal is backed up.

Thank you for that...even though that is bad news it's still good for me to know! Do you have an interview date set?? Good luck with that .

From your post then can I just assume that we bring the medical report to the interview, rather than send it in before? That's what I understood by your statement that the medical can be done after the interview date is set. If you have a moment could you also please let me know how to go about getting the police check done? Shall I just call the RCMP for an appointment or is it done through local police? I can't seem to find any information about what happens once you send in the Affidavit of Support! Thanks very much, in advance.

I have no idea how long it takes to schedule an interview in Montreal, but unless it takes more than 90 days, I would go ahead and request the police report as soon as your case is complete at the NVC. At that point, you can also do the medical. In most places, it takes a while to get an appointment with one of the embassy-approved physicans, but you should have enough time to get the results before your interview.

It is, however, possible in many locations to the medical on the same day as the interview on a walk-in basis. To find out if that is possible in Montreal, take a look at the embassy section on this site. It is also possible to go to the interview without the police report, but your husband will not receive his visa until all the documents are at the embassy. So, based on your time frame, wait for case completion , and then go ahead and schedule the medical and request the police report.

Thank you so much . I have no idea how to go about getting his police check or medical. Are there any forms or anything or can I just call and schedule, and they'll know what to do? I hope that's not a stupid question! I think what they need is an RCMP check so maybe I'll just call them and figure out what they need. I think there are doctors listed on the Embassy Information link and hopefully they're cool with making an appointment before the documents are in!

Thanks again!

I've read through all the FAQs, Guides and shortcut instructions but I'm stumped at this point. Things have gone fairly smoothly until now - I filed the I-130 petition at the end of November and now according to the NVC Flowchart thing the only thing remaining is the DS-230. My husband and I are both in Canada, hoping to move to NYC as of Sept 1. I'm the American.

I don't really know what's up with this DS-230 thing and what happens next. The form itself seems fairly straightforward - but I know that at some point we have to do things like a medical and criminal background check. When does that all happen? Is that after the file is sent to the embassy (in Montreal?)? Does that mean there's another delay when they send us our packages and we get all this paperwork done?? Do they at least schedule the interview in the meantime or do they need all the documents first?

It's just a little worrisome because everything's been so easy so far but I'm really worried we won't get our interview before September!

Thanks in advance for any assistance - if I've stupidly looked over any answers anywhere please just direct me to them!

Thank you so much! I finally got someone on the phone at the NVC and he said it was no problem, there's no notarization required and only one year of tax information. I suppose all this stuff is fairly new, which is why the forms don't reflect these changes.

You all are super helpful!

Hi aussiwench,

Thanks for the link! It says that the signature on the form no longer needs to be notarized, which is a really substantial issue for me! Has anyone heard this from another source??

Thanks again,

HU

Thanks very much Yodrak. I'll hunt around for a phone number and maybe call to see what's going on with those transcripts!

Can I assume that all we need to include is the Federal part (the 1040?) and I can omit the state bit? I'm also confused about the supporting stuff it wants - I have a W2 but I also have all kinds of Canadian tax information that I'm not sure if I should be including. Maybe I will, just in case!

Thanks again for your help!