Sonata Arctica

I hope this video is correct. Thanks.

The registration number on the Visa is not a 9 digit number, but just an 8 digit number. Should I just add the letter A before it and then a 0 to make it 9?

Also, what will be my DOS Case ID? Is it the NVC Case number or the USCIS case number starting with LIN....?

I have my visa in hand and am preparing to cross over to the US. I wanted to know how I can pay the Immigrant fee. Apparently, you can pay it online through the USCIS if you have your A Number and a USCIS Case ID. I don't have either, or at least I dont know where to find it. During the interview, the lady simply gave me a piece of paper that said among other things that I need to pay this fee online and that all my information is being submitted electronically, so all I will have is my Canadian passport and visa in it (which I have on me). However, once I try to log into the USCIS website to pay the fee, it asks me for the A Number and the Case ID.

Is there another option to pay it?  I called the Portal border in North Dakota and they said that they do not collect that fee.

Is it possible that I cross over and then pay this fee once I arrive at my residence in the US?

Thanks.

I am taking EXACTLY what they are asking for, plus more. It is the PLUS MORE that I was wondering about, as to whether the list is exhaustive enough or if there is something else that I should also take with me. BTW, who else is going to be there on Jan 18?

Probably a noob question, or maybe not....should I strictly follow the document list provided on the US State dept website?

This is what it says:

Pre-Interview Checklist

Please use the list below to determine the items that every applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview.  Any documents that are not in English must be accompanied by a certified English translation:

If you do not bring all of the original documents that are required for each visa applicant, we cannot issue a visa.

• A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants).
   
• Unexpired passport valid for six (6) months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located).
   
• Two (2) recently taken photos of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm). Please see our online photo requirements.
   
• Medical examination results in a sealed envelope from an approved physician (see Step 2).

• Your original birth certificate and that of your petitioner if applicable, English translation, and a photocopy.

• Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying).
   

If you are married:   Your original marriage certificate, English translation, and a photocopy for each applicant. 

If you were previously married or your petitioner was:  All original final divorce or spouse's death certificate(s), English translation, and a photocopy.

If your name has changed:  The original court name change document and a photocopy.

If you are adopted:  Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you are older than 16 years of age:  The original police certificate from your country of current residence, any countries where you lived for more than 12 months, and any country where you have been arrested.  If you previously submitted a police certifciate to NVC, it is more than one (1) year old, and you still live in that country, you must obtain and bring a more recent police certificate to your visa interview as the one you previously submitted will have expired.  You can find information on when police certificates are required and how to get them on our website.

If you have ever been convicted of a crime:  The original court and criminal records, English translation, and a photocopy.

If you have served in any country's military:  Military records, English translation, and a photocopy. 

If you previously submitted to NVC an I-864 affidavit of support (AOS):  Bring proof of your petitioner’s legal status in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or legal permanent resident card) and their federal U.S. tax return (Form 1040) from the previous year.

If you previously submitted to NVC an I-864EZ affidavit of support (AOS):  Bring proof of your petitioner’s legal status in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or legal permanent resident card) and a copy of the petitioner’s Form(s) W-2 from the previous tax year.

If you previously submitted to NVC an I-864 affidavit of support (AOS) completed by a joint sponsor (not the petitioner):  Bring proof of the joint sponsor’s legal status in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or legal permanent resident card) and their federal U.S. tax return (Form 1040) from the previous year. If the joint sponsor’s tax return includes a spouse, then the spouse must complete Form I-864A.

For employment-based visa applications:  A letter from your U.S.-based employer dated less than one month ago.If you are the petitioner’s stepchild:  The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent, and a photocopy along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent.

I want to be sure I gather and bring everything that could be needed for the interview. Is there anything else that I should take with me?

In addition to the above, I am also, to be safe, bringing the I-864s, and the following to show my wife has established domicile in the US:

1. RBC Bank USA statements with US address

2. Lease agreement signed by us and her mom, as we are renting their property

3. US credit card statements with US address

4. Her resignation letter from the Canadian employer, duly signed by her manager

5. The letters submitted to CBS (Customs & Border Services) in summer of 2018, when her dad took all her personal belongings back to the US - she has practically moved all her stuff back already

6. A statement of intent signed by her

7. A copy of her US driver's license, which she will be getting in the next few weeks (she is moving back a few weeks before the interview)

8. Documentation showing that she has opened a bank account with a local credit union (they do not open the account unless you are a resident and do it in person)

9. Email showing that she has the utility (hydro) bill in her name for where we will be staying

Hope the above is enough.

If anyone else has suggestions or ideas about what else to bring, please let me know.

Thanks.

I have two kids from a previous marriage. My daughter is almost 21 and my son is 17 and they both live with my ex-wife. They are not part of my IR1 application process and wont be immigrating. Throughout the process there was never a requirement to submit ANY documents about them, except providing their names and address during the I-130 process.

Now that I have my interview in a month's time, I have gone through the checklist on the Montreal website, and it has me stumped completely. One of the things listed on there is to provide original or certified birth certificates of all the children of the applicant. Is this applicable in my case or is it in case of children who are also on the file for immigration, even though they are not accompanying me at the interview? I am suddenly very worried, because my ex and I are not on very friendly terms and she will not provide me with that information.

My understanding is that since I am the only person that my USC wife has sponsored, I do not need to provide my kids' birth certificates. Is that correct?

CC: Oct 17, 2018

Interview date: Jan 18, 2019

All the best to everyone on here.

Finally, it went through. Somehow, the error was related to Montreal not having processed the receipt of my appointment. I successfully registered my appointment and also opted for home delivery by CPC. Thank you all for your inputs.

That's exactly what I did. I signed up, got a confirmation email that required me to activate my account. I logged back in and selected the exact same option that you have highlighted. And then I filled up all my particulars, and it gave me the error.

And then written under the error message, it said that if I kept getting that error, to contact an email address and let them know that I was getting this error and it would take 3-4 business days for someone to look at my email. Also asked me to provide my name, birth date, and send a copy of the NVC email/letter that I received. I sent it right away, but dont know if this would be sufficient or if I need to change something.

BTW, what is a DS 260 number? I dont have one, or dont know where to find it. All I had through this process was my NVC case number and the IVSCA number.

And how do I register for the passport return?

Also, do I need to pay any fee in Montreal? Or can I pay it at the border? I have already paid the application fee and the Affidavit of Support fee during the NVC process.

Then what do I need to do? And where? And also, how do I register for the passport return?

Yes, this website is where the Montreal Consulate PDF document's "REGISTER" link eventually took me to, after I had signed up. And then I selected the option to register my appointment, and it kept giving me the message that the case number is not ready for scheduling. No option to register or to arrange passport courier service ever came up.

I tried to register as per the link in the first reply to my thread. And that is where the error happened. If I selected the wrong option\, is there a way to correct it?

Also, on my CEAC login page, it says that the case is currently at Montreal.

My CC date is Oct 17, 2018 and today I got the interview date - Jan 18, 2019. The email I received from the NVC asked me to go to the Montreal Consulate website and register myself. However, it keeps giving me the error that my appointment is not ready to be scheduled. Does anyone know of this error?

I emailed them about the error, but no clue what to do. How do I register for courier service to return my documents?

Also, does anyone have a list of documents that I need to take with me? Or point me to a website where this info is available. Not sure what to do. I have already booked my flights.

Thanks all.

5 minutes ago, darth vader said:

Does your police certificate say anything about RCMP National Repository entire holdings?

No, it does not. But it does say that it is the "Privacy Act Type". And that's about it. As others have pointed out, it clearly says that the finger prints and the picture were destroyed, and it has no embossed seal...just the signature of the very same person who signed off on the certified criminal check with embossed logo and the finger prints/picture.

3 minutes ago, redvines said:

The bottom one isn't darker, just looks like the two lines stacked on top of one another.

 

Did you get asked to resubmit documents? 

No, not yet.

1 minute ago, kris&me said:

this is the order things will be done

after they review the I 864 and the ds 260 they ask for supporting documents like 3 years tax   retunrs,  the beneficiary police report thus the red line to indicate you will be sending supporting documents for the online forms I 864 and ds 260 you filled out

Maybe I didnt make myself clearer...all the same, thank you for replying so quickly.

I know the process  and the steps involved. All the documents were already submitted some time ago. BTW, you CANNOT submit documents in piecemeal. I was told to submit everything in one shot and that's what I did, right after submitting the DS260. My question is about the red broken lines - why have they appeared now? And what is the difference between the lighter and the darker ones?

I am attaching a file with this thread, of the NVC Process flowchart. Does anyone know what the red broken lines mean?

These lines weren't there a couple of days ago. As you can see, the lines running from the 'NVC reviews Case' to Affidavit of Support and the one to the 'Submit IV Application' are lighter red, and the one running to the 'Submit Civil Documents' is darker red. Ideas?

Thanks.

13 minutes ago, Groundbeaver said:

So the one you submitted was under Visa/Border Crossing? And you requested another one under Visa/Border Crossing?

Actually, before all of this fiasco, I had simply gone to the Calgary Police and requested a criminal check, with US immigration as they reason for the request. And then this who thing happened. Then I went through numerous calls and visits to the RCMP and Commissionaires, and was told that no privacy act certified criminal check with finger prints can be done. Commissionaries agreed to do a finger print-based criminal check if I paid them their fee of $86 or so, but only under Visa/Border Crossing as the reason. So I did that. And then I randomly called RCMP again, and they said they would do the finger print based criminal check under privacy act. I did that too.

Yesterday I got the RCMP one back but it doesnt have finger-prints on it. However, it does say that it was requested under Privacy Act. The one I had submitted was the first one, from Calgary Police. Seems I might be getting a checklist too, even though the lady from the NVC said that I should submit whatever one I had.

I submitted our documents to the NVC a week ago. I called them up before the submission and the lady said that I should submit whatever certificate I have, and put a comment in there, clearly stating that I will be bringing in the correct one to the interview. I just received the one from RCMP with Privacy Act as the reason and it states that in addition to having no criminal record, the finger prints and the picture have been destroyed.

To be safe, I also got one done with the Commissionaires, with finger prints and a face shot, with Visa/Border crossing as the reason. Commissionaires refused to do a privacy act one. So I will be taking all three with me whenever the interview happens.

I recently submitted the documents to NVC through CEAC, and am wondering if there is a potential for getting a checklist in case of the following:

1. In the I-864 forms we filled out (sponsor, joint sponsor and household member of the joint sponsor), we left blank any fields that did not apply to us. Is that ok or should we have marked every not applicable field as N/A?

2. In case of the joint sponsors (my in-laws who live in the US), we submitted their IRS transcripts along with the AOS forms. They are married and file their taxes jointly. I also submitted both their current pay stubs. For the household member's income (my mother-in-law), I got her 3 yrs income from the 3 yrs of transcripts, as she is the only one who had a salary (father-in-law has business income on the transcripts), but didnt submit her W2, as the transcript shows her income already. Will that be ok?

3. My birth certificate is from Pakistan, and it was a struggle getting it. I just noticed that they have misspelled my father's title name (MALIK) as MAILK, basically switching the 'I' and the 'L'. Is this a potential reason for a checklist? Will the interviewer (Montreal) have issues with it? It already took a long time getting it in the first place.

I am a little concerned about item 3, because getting a new one will take long time, and cost quite a bit. The first two items can be fixed if needed, locally.

If there is any advice for me, a few words of assurance would really help, if possible :).

Thanks.

Well, RCMP Strathmore and Airdrie (closest to me in Calgary) both turned me away. Calgary Police refused to do finger print checks and directed me to go to Commissionaires, again. And Commissionaires refused to do the finger print certified criminal act under the privacy act and insisted on getting one done for the purposes of obtaining US immigration visa. Should I get that then? I think things have changed here in Calgary from the time that some other members lives here. For whatever reason, "just showing up" does not work anymore.

And what about the one we still need to get under the privacy act? Where do you go for that? Couldn't I just get the privacy act one from the Calgary Police without finger prints?

4 minutes ago, NikLR said:

You are fine.  

Calgary police have jurisdiction. 

1 minute ago, NikLR said:

Imho for places where it is being refused then you need to get a managers letter stating why they are refusing to give it to you.  If you are within driving distance of a different city in the same area you may still be required.  For instance if you need one and live in Calgary, you may have to drive to Red Deer where there is no local police and RCMP have jurisdiction. 

Airdrie is only 20 minutes away from me, but when I contacted them, they said they will not help me as I live in Calgary.

The reason for refusal according to them is simple - RCMP Privacy Act criminal check is only for people who have criminal records and have been pardoned. People who do not have a criminal record, cannot get a privacy act criminal check done, and in order to get the finger print criminal check done, you have to declare US Visa as the reason for it. That is what is causing issues here.

If there is anyone here in Calgary who knows what to do, please let me know. I am at the NVC document submission  stage and do not want to be rejected simply because I didnt have the right certificate to submit.

Yes, NikLR, they do. However, they neither are doing finger prints, nor are they able to give the Privacy Act criminal check. They sent me to Commissionaires, who refused to do the certified criminal check with finger prints under the privacy act, because they said the RCMP told them NOT to do it, as it violates the Canadian privacy act. So I am confused to read all these people getting their checks done, but I dont know which ones and form where.

Ok, so for someone who does not live in the RCMP jurisdiction, like myself (in Calgary), where do I go and what do I ask for? I contacted Commissionaires and they refused to do a certified criminal check under the privacy act. Where do I go for that? And where do I go for the finger-print based criminal check? It's time for me to submit the documents to the NVC and I want to be sure I have and am submitting the right documents.

Please help, as there is too much divergent information being presented by so many people who might live in an area where they have agencies that can do it (or they live in RCMP jurisdictions).

Thanks.

I want to update people on here about this whole debacle with the "Certified Criminal Check" that NVC is asking for.

I contacted RCMP and they told me that since I do NOT live in an RCMP jurisdiction (RCMP does not have jurisdiction in major cities), I have to go to my local police department for the criminal check. So I contacted the Calgary Police, and they said, "We do not do finger print criminal check and you have to go to a partner agency of RCMP to do those....we recommend Commissionaires". So I called the Commissionaires, and they said, "RCMP has told us NOT to do any of those certified criminal checks under the "Privacy Act", as those are supposed to be done ONLY for those individuals who have a criminal record and have been pardoned. For anyone who does not have a criminal record, a criminal check with finger prints CANNOT be obtained with the reason of "Privacy Act". Furthermore, the Commissionaires person said that RCMP has informed them to not just not do these checks, but also that they have lodged a complaint with the US Dept of State that they are asking for a document from Canadians that actually contravenes the rights of people here in Canada in some way (I don't know how)...basically meaning that the document they are asking for, from the people who are intending to immigrate, cannot be obtained because it does NOT apply to INNOCENT People who do not have a criminal record. So in order to prove that I have no criminal record, I have to get a document for myself that only is available for those who have a criminal record!!

Long story short, RCMP, Calgary Police, AND Commissionaires have all refused to do the Certified Criminal Check with finger prints under the Privacy Act. Commissionaires guy said however, that if I wanted to get it done with US immigration Visa as the purpose/reason, they could do it. Otherwise, no.

Someone please tell me how this makes sense, or what is the way out of it. We just got our NVC case number and paid our fees, so we havent submitted any documents yet. However, I understand that we do need to submit this certificate to the NVC in the coming days. So I want to be ready with it.

If any of you have any idea as to what we could do, please do share.

Thanks.