Waiting_ever

@coconuting I finally received my Passport/Visa today after 1 month & 5 days of visa Issuance
For full 1 month - I was trying to "Find Black Cat in the Dark room. Following the revolving door. On a wild Goose Chase. Grabbing the Elephant." - call it whatever!
 
Below are Instructions on if anyone is in similar situation again, result of all my research for US Consulate Montreal Cases.
 
US Consulate Montreal Process
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: If you have or do not have your Tracking number & you don't receive passport in time - Give Canada Post 4-5 weeks time after complaining, from experience executives say, they always trace a missing packet. Don't rush to declare your passport as "LOST". Once you Declare it lost, the procedure ahead is a bit lengthy.
 
& if ever, you declare it LOST - Don't do it without instructions from the  US Consulate. The Consulate very strictly tells NOT do ANYTHING (about reporting it) until they give instruction to do so. If you report it before the Consulate says, then you will have to start your visa application over and there will be no compensation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO ONE will bother to read this full Document unless "You are Special" like I was! Passport became untraceable!
 
I Pray NO ONE has to go through what I went through this 1 month after my Visa was Granted by US Consulate Montreal. This will help you track your Passport & Go + Grab it!
 
DON'T SITBACK & RELAX after the Visa is Approved/Issued, this is the MOST CRUCIAL time, Canada Post looses passports very often. Resolution to this problem is written below. No lawyer will tell you this.
 
NOTE: You might have to get US Congressional Representative involved & fill "The Privacy release form", if the US Consulate is not responding, but most of the times they do respond after a few days. It's hard to be Patient when you loose Passport thou. 
If you are above 16 years & Canada Citizen - then you will need to contact Canada local MP of your Area & fill the "consent form".
USA -> https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Canada -> https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
 
Passport Return issues after the Visa is Approved/Issued by US Consulate Montreal:
 
If Your Visa is Issued/Approved ->
On CEAC tracker website - it will say "ISSUED" -> Your visa is in final processing. It may take up to ten (10) business days to be shipped to you. To check your document return status, please visit https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/information/courier. If after ten (10) business days you still have not received your document tracking number, or your documents, send an e-mail to Contactus_en_ca@usvisa-info.com to request assistance
For more information, please visit TRAVEL.STATE.GOV.
 
Wait for 10 Days - Check your Tracking number on ais website or by calling Appointment Services - If you  get your Passport - Congratulations!
If your passport delivery is late - 
Call/Visit the Mail Depot in your town and make them locate your package. Depot has ability to search Passport using your NAME & Passport Number, if tracking number is not there. If the Depot has the package, excellent! Go and pick it up! - Congratulations!
 
If you have or do not have your Tracking number & you don't receive passport in time - Give Canada Post 4-5 weeks time after complaining, from experience executives say, they always trace a missing packet. Don't rush to declare your passport as "LOST". Once you Declare it lost, the procedure ahead is a bit lengthy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There have been cases where Canada Post has misplaced/lost passports but at least you know who to blame here.
 
You should be worried, if Tracking number is NOT GENERATED - Check ais website & call Appointment Services. This is the situation where Appointment Services will keep throwing the ball towards US Consulate Officer that he has not taken a DECISION yet & that they have no Control on it.
 
Call/Visit the Mail Depot in your town and make them locate your package. Depot has ability to search Passport using your NAME & Passport Number, if tracking number is not there. If the Depot has the package, excellent! Go and pick it up! - Congratulations!
 
If not, First thing to do -> Email US Consulate Montreal, Email address: montreal-iv-dv@state.gov
Explain what CEAC Status says & ask if they shipped your Passport. Tell them Appointment Services are saying they haven't received passport yet & that tracking number was not Generated. In the Email Subject Line write : PASSPORT NOT TRACKABLE, Give the Visa officer 8-10 days appx. to reply. Write your Case number, name & Passport number in the Email 
 
US Consulate will reply -> "Your passport with an immigrant visa has been returned to you by courier service. For questions regarding the courier service (including tracking your passport) we strongly encourage you to contact the Official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service using the contact details available on the following webpage: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv/information/contact_us"
 
At this STEP - Canada Post will OWN the ISSUE & start actively tracking your Passport.
There is a way to track the passport using Passport Number & Name of Applicant - even if the Tracking Number was not Generated.
If they Track it -> Congratulations!
NOTE: Give Canada Post about 4-5 weeks time to trace passport. They find it mostly & it will save you lot of inconvenience.
If they Don't -> Canada Post will say it's "lost" and they are going to write a letter saying so, and you should report it to Passport Canada. 
DON'T REPORT it LOST yet -> Contact the US Consulate before contacting Passport Canada. The Consulate very strictly tells NOT do ANYTHING (about reporting it) until they give instruction to do so. If you report it before the Consulate says, then you will have to start your visa application over and there will be no compensation. Give them 10 days to do their searches. If they don' get back, email them again asking for Updates.
 
If Passport is Lost - US Consulate will email.
Dear applicant,
Unfortunately there are no Updates. We will be declaring your passport Lost by the end of today. 
You will receive an email from with compensation letter and declaration of loss.
 
Get the documentation needed from the Consulate, the letter from Canada Post stating my package was "lost" and they exhausted all avenues in their searches for it, fill out new passport application, declaration form for lost/stolen passports for Passport Canada, filed a police report, wrote out a statutory declaration and get it notarized stating everything that was done to try to locate passport, etc. 
Go to the passport office to apply for new passports. 
Contact The US Consulate back when after receiving new passport and they will tell the next step. Pay for the 24 hour expedited passport return.
 
At this Point, Ask the US Consulate -> But unfortunately everything that went along in the sealed package with missing passport, is also missing (obviously), and you need to send them ALL original documents + photocopies of everything you presented at the interview (Birth Certificates, new passport photos for the visas, another copy of the criminal record check, etc.) and they will contact the medical examiner's office themselves to get another copy of medical exams directly. Do you need to send these along with the New Passport?
 
Once you have your Passport in Hand, sign and return the compensation contract form that US Consulate sent.
Mail in our new passports, with instructions on what to print off and send with it according to instructions from US Consulate. You also need to include a photocopy of Passport biographic page with the passport.
 
Contact the Consulate to confirm they have received new passport after tracking shows they were delivered . It can take up to 10 business days to get from their offsite mailroom to the visa unit.
Once they have received new passport and are going to do everything possible to get visa reissued promptly.
 
Ask Consulate to make an exception on your case and are mail the new visa directly to your address via priority next day shipping. You should expect them to arrive next day. Too many issues with Canada post. 
 
NOTE: Canada Post paid for the total cost of replacing our passports (Photos, notary fees, passport fees, etc.)
 
Confirm to Canada Post & US Consulate that you have received your Visa.
 
Congratulations! The Nightmare is OVER!

 
 
 
 
 

Confirm Please:
 
LATEST UPDATED CORRECT INFORMATION:
 
United States Consulate General Montréal
 
Foreign consulate in Montreal, Quebec
Located in: RBC Royal Bank
Address: 1134 Saint-Catherine St W, Montreal, Quebec H3B 1H4

Hours: Mon-Fri -> 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Phone: (514) 398-9695
Province: Quebec
 
Address Direction:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=us+consulate+montreal&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-ca&client=safari#
 
Thats The Consulate Email address for Immigration Enquiries:
canada_contactus+ca+info+en@visaops.net
 
This email is listed on Montreal US Consulate Website
 https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/montreal/
 
 

@coconuting I finally received my Passport/Visa today after 1 month & 5 days of visa Issuance
For full 1 month - I was trying to "Find Black Cat in the Dark room. Following the revolving door. On a wild Goose Chase. Grabbing the Elephant." - call it whatever!
 
Below are Instructions on if anyone is in similar situation again, result of all my research for US Consulate Montreal Cases.
 
US Consulate Montreal Process
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOTE: If you have or do not have your Tracking number & you don't receive passport in time - Give Canada Post 4-5 weeks time after complaining, from experience executives say, they always trace a missing packet. Don't rush to declare your passport as "LOST". Once you Declare it lost, the procedure ahead is a bit lengthy.
 
& if ever, you declare it LOST - Don't do it without instructions from the  US Consulate. The Consulate very strictly tells NOT do ANYTHING (about reporting it) until they give instruction to do so. If you report it before the Consulate says, then you will have to start your visa application over and there will be no compensation.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO ONE will bother to read this full Document unless "You are Special" like I was! Passport became untraceable!
 
I Pray NO ONE has to go through what I went through this 1 month after my Visa was Granted by US Consulate Montreal. This will help you track your Passport & Go + Grab it!
 
DON'T SITBACK & RELAX after the Visa is Approved/Issued, this is the MOST CRUCIAL time, Canada Post looses passports very often. Resolution to this problem is written below. No lawyer will tell you this.
 
NOTE: You might have to get US Congressional Representative involved & fill "The Privacy release form", if the US Consulate is not responding, but most of the times they do respond after a few days. It's hard to be Patient when you loose Passport thou. 
If you are above 16 years & Canada Citizen - then you will need to contact Canada local MP of your Area & fill the "consent form".
USA -> https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Canada -> https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en
 
Passport Return issues after the Visa is Approved/Issued by US Consulate Montreal:
 
If Your Visa is Issued/Approved ->
On CEAC tracker website - it will say "ISSUED" -> Your visa is in final processing. It may take up to ten (10) business days to be shipped to you. To check your document return status, please visit https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/information/courier. If after ten (10) business days you still have not received your document tracking number, or your documents, send an e-mail to Contactus_en_ca@usvisa-info.com to request assistance
For more information, please visit TRAVEL.STATE.GOV.
 
Wait for 10 Days - Check your Tracking number on ais website or by calling Appointment Services - If you  get your Passport - Congratulations!
If your passport delivery is late - 
Call/Visit the Mail Depot in your town and make them locate your package. Depot has ability to search Passport using your NAME & Passport Number, if tracking number is not there. If the Depot has the package, excellent! Go and pick it up! - Congratulations!
 
If you have or do not have your Tracking number & you don't receive passport in time - Give Canada Post 4-5 weeks time after complaining, from experience executives say, they always trace a missing packet. Don't rush to declare your passport as "LOST". Once you Declare it lost, the procedure ahead is a bit lengthy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There have been cases where Canada Post has misplaced/lost passports but at least you know who to blame here.
 
You should be worried, if Tracking number is NOT GENERATED - Check ais website & call Appointment Services. This is the situation where Appointment Services will keep throwing the ball towards US Consulate Officer that he has not taken a DECISION yet & that they have no Control on it.
 
Call/Visit the Mail Depot in your town and make them locate your package. Depot has ability to search Passport using your NAME & Passport Number, if tracking number is not there. If the Depot has the package, excellent! Go and pick it up! - Congratulations!
 
If not, First thing to do -> Email US Consulate Montreal, Email address: montreal-iv-dv@state.gov
Explain what CEAC Status says & ask if they shipped your Passport. Tell them Appointment Services are saying they haven't received passport yet & that tracking number was not Generated. In the Email Subject Line write : PASSPORT NOT TRACKABLE, Give the Visa officer 8-10 days appx. to reply. Write your Case number, name & Passport number in the Email 
 
US Consulate will reply -> "Your passport with an immigrant visa has been returned to you by courier service. For questions regarding the courier service (including tracking your passport) we strongly encourage you to contact the Official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service using the contact details available on the following webpage: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv/information/contact_us"
 
At this STEP - Canada Post will OWN the ISSUE & start actively tracking your Passport.
There is a way to track the passport using Passport Number & Name of Applicant - even if the Tracking Number was not Generated.
If they Track it -> Congratulations!
NOTE: Give Canada Post about 4-5 weeks time to trace passport. They find it mostly & it will save you lot of inconvenience.
If they Don't -> Canada Post will say it's "lost" and they are going to write a letter saying so, and you should report it to Passport Canada. 
DON'T REPORT it LOST yet -> Contact the US Consulate before contacting Passport Canada. The Consulate very strictly tells NOT do ANYTHING (about reporting it) until they give instruction to do so. If you report it before the Consulate says, then you will have to start your visa application over and there will be no compensation. Give them 10 days to do their searches. If they don' get back, email them again asking for Updates.
 
If Passport is Lost - US Consulate will email.
Dear applicant,
Unfortunately there are no Updates. We will be declaring your passport Lost by the end of today. 
You will receive an email from with compensation letter and declaration of loss.
 
Get the documentation needed from the Consulate, the letter from Canada Post stating my package was "lost" and they exhausted all avenues in their searches for it, fill out new passport application, declaration form for lost/stolen passports for Passport Canada, filed a police report, wrote out a statutory declaration and get it notarized stating everything that was done to try to locate passport, etc. 
Go to the passport office to apply for new passports. 
Contact The US Consulate back when after receiving new passport and they will tell the next step. Pay for the 24 hour expedited passport return.
 
At this Point, Ask the US Consulate -> But unfortunately everything that went along in the sealed package with missing passport, is also missing (obviously), and you need to send them ALL original documents + photocopies of everything you presented at the interview (Birth Certificates, new passport photos for the visas, another copy of the criminal record check, etc.) and they will contact the medical examiner's office themselves to get another copy of medical exams directly. Do you need to send these along with the New Passport?
 
Once you have your Passport in Hand, sign and return the compensation contract form that US Consulate sent.
Mail in our new passports, with instructions on what to print off and send with it according to instructions from US Consulate. You also need to include a photocopy of Passport biographic page with the passport.
 
Contact the Consulate to confirm they have received new passport after tracking shows they were delivered . It can take up to 10 business days to get from their offsite mailroom to the visa unit.
Once they have received new passport and are going to do everything possible to get visa reissued promptly.
 
Ask Consulate to make an exception on your case and are mail the new visa directly to your address via priority next day shipping. You should expect them to arrive next day. Too many issues with Canada post. 
 
NOTE: Canada Post paid for the total cost of replacing our passports (Photos, notary fees, passport fees, etc.)
 
Confirm to Canada Post & US Consulate that you have received your Visa.
 
Congratulations! The Nightmare is OVER!

 
 
 
 
 

Small discovery today after calling both Loomis and the Toronto Consulate about why, after 5 days with ISSUED status, we still have no waybill, or info, on our visas?? We still don't have an explanation as to why there is a delay, but learned that:
1. The waybill number is NOT generated at the consulate. When Loomis in your delivery location (Markham) receives the passport from the consulate, they assign the waybill number.
2. The consulate explained that the status on the ais.usvisa-info.com will be updated with the waybill number. Our status currently says: "Check DS-260 Status".
3. As soon as the waybill is posted you can pick up the visas at your Loomis locaton.

I would question whether its necessary to get an updated police background check if you have a valid Visa at the border? At the interview they go through and verify the validity of all your documents. If there is something out dated at that point you would have to submit it, but once they validate, say, your medical, if your case gets delayed, you shouldn't be subjected to another medical.
We have called the Border Control at the Peace bridge (our POE), several times about cats and cars and mattresses and they are very helpful. I would call them and ask if you have a valid visa do they still require a current police background check. I can't imagine them requiring it you have the Visa. It's not like they are adjudicating the visa.
Keep us posted!!

Not sure what you mean about "Loomis account"?. When we first registered on https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/iv We selected Markham as our Loomis location.
We've been on the Loomis website and only see tracking your package with a waybill number.. which we don't have.. Am I missing something?? We even twice brought documents to Loomis to send to Montreal but never opened a Loomis Account.. I printed off the shipping forms and that was it.
I'm also not sure I agree with the advice you received from your lawyer. I spoke a number of times with Alan Green of Green and Spiegel in Toronto. My company, IBM, referred me to them as our Corporate immigration lawyers so felt they are a reputable law firm.
They told me that we were doing all the right things to contact our congressmen and senator and to send the whatever information relevant to our case. When I asked to retain them to contact the Consulate on our behalf, they said a highfalutin lawyer would be the least helpful to our case since they prefer to deal with the applicants directly. Probably so they can bully us with impunity!
I would estimate that we sent; me, my fiance, my boss, congresswoman, and senator something almost every week. Wedding invitations, car insurance binders, pay stubs, offer letters and status inquiries.
I think what tipped the scales for us was the efforts of congresswoman Lois Frankel and the threat of my tax non compliance.

Our heart goes out to you new user 1000!
We are still stuck as well and are going on day 12 living in a hotel with an 11 year old and a cat. It's getting old and just want answers.
We had better luck with our Congresswoman but certainly contact both. They will send you a privacy release form to sign, scan and return.
Request a congressional investigation opened on your behalf. Give them examples of both humanitarian and financial hardship. I opened up completely how utterly desperate our situation was and getting and growing worse. We've lost the deposit for our wedding, and sent all our guests to Florida for nothing. Now our son's education is in jeopardy.
I posted earlier the standard reply that both my Congresswoman and Senator received from the consulate stating "extensive administrative processing". To which I replied their comment was completely unfounded as my job offer letter was all the consulate required so nothing "extensive" about it. Both went back to the Consulate with my concerns.
It's so emotional, but try to remain factual so they can present your case to the Consulate. Give them a compelling argument to get the Consulate to expedite your case.
Keep us posted and try to have good weekend. Wine helps ;-)

I also have to rant about the ridiculous cycle..
You check you status and it says:
Your visa is in final processing. If you have not received it after more than five (5) working days, please visit www.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_courier_information to track your courier waybill, to check your profile at the appointment website, or send an email to Contactus_en_ca@usvisa-info.com to determine the status of your passport.
So you visit the website, check your status and guess what, same message!
Then you contact the email address like they instruct you to after 5 days for the status of your passport and you get:
Dear Applicant,
The document status information only appears once your personal documents have been returned by the Embassy or Consulate for shipment to your designated location.
We are not consular officers and as the time it takes to adjudicate an applicant's case is at the sole discretion of the consular section we cannot provide you any information regarding when your personal documents will be turned over to courier. The average wait time is 5-7 business days which does not include weekends or U.S. or national holidays. Please note that this is only an average and not a guarantee as all applications are unique.
We would advise you to keep checking your applicant summary page or use the CEAC Status Check webpage at https://ceac.state.gov/ceacstattracke/status.aspx to check the status of your application.
Please note: An Issued notification on the CEAC Status website does not indicate that the visa has been printed nor that the document has been turned over to the courier. It indicates only that the adjudication is complete and that final processing has begun. It may take several business days after the Issued status for the passport to be turned over to the courier.
Thank you,
The Contact Desk Support Team
So you can either follow the revolving door or contact them for no help whatsoever!
Fifteen days in a hotel an counting ARGH!!

When document is ready for pick up, Tracking number will show up here:
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv
 You can take this tracking number & pick up the courier
 
Canada Post will email also, when it’s ready for pickup
take your ID Address proof & pick the passport 🙃

Visa Approved! Officer did thorough check of my Documents & finally granted!

yes we have Premium service option for that , don't give home address but nearest location - it costs $13
 
This is the link to Register for Courier Service:
 
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/iv/information/iv_services
 

yeee hoooo! 
My status changed like after 20 days of IL
Sigh!

:) All documents uploaded

Hi Dear!
 
Where r u located? Medical was all done in 2 hours ( Doctor + Xray + Blood Test )
Make sure you go to doctors website & download Form for Vaccine checklist & show it to your Family Doctor before meeting Immigration Doctor.

@Waiting_ever (1) Keep an eye out for the status check here: https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx (It will change to "In Transit" approximately 24 hrs before the IL)
(2) Also keep an eye out at your CEAC account here  (It should change to the weird numerical limitation message, before the IL)

@RONA123 You can ask your question anyway. Someone will give you an answer. Most of the time, people don't stick around this forum after their interview. 

Great help @Blueeyes1989 & @NGJ  Thanks!

I got my IL for mid August

I got my IL for mid August

yeeeeee hoooooo! 🙃
I got an email in CEAC
 
"We received notification indicating that the principal applicant's request to opt-out of conversion to the F1 unmarried son or daughter over 21 years of age of a U.S. Citizen preference category has been approved by the Department of Homeland Security DHS. This petition will now process under the F2B unmarried son or daughter over 21 years of age of a Lawful Permanent Resident preference category."
My IL should be next  
🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃 🙃

@jpfashizzle got IL, please correct in sheet…I missed cuz I converted to f1 & have requested them to “opt out” & stay in F2B…mine IL should be by next month 

Yeeee Hoooo! 🙃

Congrats! You are about to get interview call  this is a bug! That comes when file goes from NVC to US Consulate

Congrats! You are about to get interview call  this is a bug! That comes when file goes from NVC to US Consulate

This wait is frustrating...for F2B anyone got interview letter 🤣
My DQ: 25 Sept 2020