Alyssamac90

My experience with CanadaPost has been very poor. I am writing this to let others know what they might expect. I know it isn't everyone's experience but it has been mine, and I don't even live far from Montreal, so the passport didn't have far to go!

I had my interview last Friday, January 11th, in Montreal. I asked at the interview if they would allow me to pick up my passport at the consulate, as I live 2 hours away in Ottawa, but they said they only allow people to do that in emergencies. I had a trip overseas planned, that I had booked flights for last summer (thinking the whole Visa process would be over by then... I guess that was my mistake). My flight was due to leave this past Thursday. On Wednesday I got my tracking number but it hadn't shipped yet. It was picked up Wednesday afternoon at the consulate. I called CanadaPost to see if I could pick it up at a centre in Montreal, but they told me because it's a passport the consulate told them they are not allowed to intercept or do anything. My expected date of arrival for the passport was Thursday the 17th, the next day (to my house in Ottawa). I wrongly assumed that meant it would be delivered by then, so my husband and I were able to change our flights to 24 hours later, thanks to very nice customer service agents at Delta. Unfortunately, the package didn't move at all on Thursday... it stayed in Montreal. On the tracker it said it was in Transit, but the last info we had was it was still in Montreal. Sadly, we had to cancel the flights we changed, since they were supposed to leave Friday a.m. 
Finally on Friday, on our tracker it said it had research a sorting facility in Ottawa. At 11:30 it changed to "Out for Delivery." We waited all day at home, and not a single Canada Post truck came to my suburban neighbourhood. We called Canada Post repeatedly, talking to managers, and everything. Xpresspost is supposed to be next day delivery within the region, and Ottawa and Montreal are in the same region!  CanadaPost told us we had to wait till 8pm and if it wasn't at our house by then, we could call Saturday morning after 10 am and speak to a member of the escalation team and they would launch an investigation. I guess they've been investigating now for 3 hours and we've heard nothing from them. I don't really expect to, at this point. We are hoping it'll be delivered Monday. It has been a frustrating and confusing process, and I write all this as a warning. It's a broken system. I know many have had better experiences, but in my opinion, do not book any flights until you have your passport in hand. We wouldn't have booked any, except ours were already booked since the summer.  Also, we were told by some people on VisaJourney that if we had the passport delivered to our home, CanadaPost would be able to intercept it if it was late, but that wasn't the case if we requested pick up at a post office. In our experience, they told us repeatedly that since it was a passport and "sensitive documents", they couldn't intercept it at all. We are definitely at their mercy.  They have apologized every time, but it doesn't really feel sincere since they haven't actually done anything to solve the situation. I just hope they haven't lost my passport with my visa in it. I will update when I receive it.

On ceac, my Status is issued and “final processing”.  anyone know how long it will be until I hear anything from Ais or Canada post? Hoping to receive a tracking number today but haven’t got an email yet. What time of day did everyone receive tracking numbers?

On 1/10/2019 at 3:51 PM, PSMB said:

I had the interview too yesterday and ceac shows on admin processing. I just got an email from the Canada Post that they’ve already picked up my passport and estimated date of delivery to the post office will be tomorrow. The ceac website still has not updated despite the fact that canada post has already the parcel.

Hi! So this information just came directly from Canada post to your email? So glad to hear you got your passport back so quickly!

Hi everyone! My interview went well this morning at 730 and i was approved! I got there at 7:25 and I wasn’t number 8. I’m glad I didn’t get there before because it wasn’t freezing and doors didn’t open till 730. I asked about picking up my passport in person because of a trip I have planned and they said they don’t generally allow that unless there’s an emergency. I will update when I get my tracking number and passport! So encouraged to hear that @BananaButton5got their passport back in two business days to Ottawa! Yay! Things seem to be moving along better. If anyone has any questions, feel free to message me! We didn’t get out of there until around 1030.. it was slowwwww.

Amazing!! I live in ottawa too. Did you pick it up or get shipped to your home?

4 hours ago, Kat & Jim said:

@miel27 Hope you interview went well today and you get positive results. Also @Alyssamac90 good luck in your interview tomorrow.

Thank you so much!!  I’ll give a report afterwards!

19 hours ago, Loois said:

Update: we received our passport pretty last night (9:30pm) at our home yesterday! Now currently in the US!!! 🙌

 

What happened with us is that our passport did not arrive on the Friday like the tracker said it would. Instead, the tracker showed that it was sitting in some facility in our city and did not move/change status for over 24hrs. So the next day Saturday, we called like crazy. Once in the morning, once early afternoon and again late afternoon. After much persistence we finally got patched through to a higher up manager who took our case seriously - we emphasized that it was a passport and we were on a deadline etc. They opened a “case” for us or something, put our file on priority. It was then delivered that night outside of Xpresspost’s normal delivery hours.

 

If your passport does not arrive on its scheduled date, it’s worth calling aggressively and letting them know that your passport is late and you need it urgently. Ask to speak to a manager if they try to brush you off. 

That’s helpful to know! Who did  you call? And what number?

On 12/12/2018 at 10:35 PM, SKB2017 said:

My interview is on December 21 and I will be asking that question for myself, so I will let you know what they say.

How was your interview? Did you ask them about pick up?

On 12/15/2018 at 11:23 AM, Loois said:

apologies - I just asked my husband again and he said he did choose home delivery in the end. My bad.

Just wondering if you have received  tracking number yet and if you know where your passport is currently.

5 minutes ago, Loois said:

We live in Ontario and paid extra for the courier. We didn’t choose home delivery, just selected a Canada Post nearby. Will definitely keep you updated. 

I thought the extra payment was only if you wanted it to be delivered to your home? Hmm can anyone else comment on this?

15 hours ago, BChance said:

Congrats!! What kind of extra documents did they ask for? Like more than you already submitted or just copies of stuff you already submitted? Did you have up to date bank statements, up to date pay stubs etc.? Thanks

16 hours ago, Loois said:

We got it WOOHOO!!! Over the moon right now.

 

Our appointment for the CR-1 was at 8am in Montreal. We arrived at approximately 7:30 and were 4th in line. The wait outside the building was not too long  (5-10 minutes). At the very front, there was a lady at the desk who asked to see our appointment letter and both our passports. They gave us a laminated card with instructions on what documents they want in which order. The restrictions on what you are allowed to bring into the consulate are very tight, so we ended up bringing basically nothing except for our coats, all of our documents and hotel room key.

 

We went through security and up a flight of stairs into a general waiting area. From there, we waited about 5-10 minutes. A security guard then ushered all of us into an elevator and up to an upper floor where there was a waiting area with many different numbered windows. People got called up one by one based on the number they give you on your laminated card.

 

The hardest part about the whole thing was the waiting time and anticipation. Once we actually got called up, it was extremely fast and efficient both times. First, you get called to one particular window and the intake officer requests all the documents on the laminated card in the exact same order. Then you sit down and do more waiting.

 

The second time we were called, they only wanted to see my husband (the Canadian). From what I heard from him, his conversation with the officer was also brief, pleasant and very efficient. She only asked for a couple extra documents (to prove my income and assets) and the actual interview questions were very brief and straightforward. She asked how we met, how long we've been together and what do I (the USC) do for work. Then she typed some things into the computer, reviewed the extra documents and gave us the "Welcome to the US" sheet. My husband said that the indication he got was that picking up his passport from the consulate was not an option, but in the heat of the stress he forgot to ask them directly (I'm so sorry!).

 

We were officially finished at around 9:30am. Overall, we were so surprised at how straightforward it was. It seemed almost like just a formality (maybe we got lucky with a good officer).

 

In case I missed some details you guys might be interested in, please feel free to ask us any other questions you have and I'll do my best to answer!

 

 

 

Congrats!! And thanks so much for sharing all this info. Can I ask whereabouts your husband lives and what’s method of passport delivery he chose? Keep us updated as to when it arrives, please!  thanks again!

On 12/12/2018 at 11:08 PM, Loois said:

We have ours December 14th and will ask as well.

Just realized yours was today! How’s was it?

6 minutes ago, IndigoFlowers said:

Yes! Got the tracking number Tuesday, it shipped out of Montreal Tuesday late night, and arrived in Winnipeg this morning. I got email notifications along the way for when they made the shipping label, when it got shipped, delivered, ready for pickup, etc. 

 

Very smooth process. 

Thanks for the helpful info!!

30 minutes ago, IndigoFlowers said:

Winnipeg! 

Awesome! Just curious if you were able to track it along the way and when did it actually leave Montreal, if you know? 

1 hour ago, IndigoFlowers said:

Just FYI, I had my interview last Thursday (Dec 6th) and have my visa and “do not open” envelope in hand today, exactly a week after my interview! Pick-up was at the post office. I’m so excited to finally have it in my hands. 

 

Best wishes to everyone! 

Just curious, where do you live? Congrats!

22 hours ago, BananaButton5 said:

Hey everyone! My fiance had his medical today at Medsys in Montreal. He took the bus there and arrived 2.5 hours early, but they started his process anyway which was nice. He said the entire process was very efficient, first they reviewed his vaccicanations and determined he was current, then he had blood drawn and urine test, then xrays, then met with the doctor. He said everyone in the office was nice and it was quick and painless. It took about an hour and a half. He was able to catch an earlier bus back home. They are keeping the records until we pick it up before his interview in January. 

Hi! Just checking if your fiance had had chicken pox in the past, and if so, did he get a blood test to check his immunity? Or did he get the varicella vaccine? Thanks!

1 minute ago, tnn2018 said:

I had chicken pox as a child and they didn’t care. I either had to get vaccinated or get a blood test proving immunity. Not sure if all doctors are the same, but it’s probable.

 

your family doctor can order the test too. I think it was called a titer test. I didn’t have time for the results so I just got vaccinated again.

Was it one vaccination and you just got it done at the medical? Did you do yours in Montreal?

Can someone who has already had their medical in Montreal confirm that since they had chicken pox as a kid they did not need the varicella vaccine? And do you need proof that you had chickenpox or can you just orally tell the doctor?

Question, what size do the passport pics have to be for Montreal medical? I see that they have to be 2x2 for the visa interview but what about the medical? I’m at Costco and there are different Sizes for Canada and U.S so I don’t know.

Got my interview date!!!! January 11th at 7:30 a.m. , cc date sept 21st.

Could anyone who has an interview in December do me a huge favor and ask if they ever make a special exception to let someone pick up a passport instead of waiting in the mail? I have a trip overseas booked, and the last possible date I could get my passport is the 16th... which seems impossible if I had to wait for it in the mail, although I’m in Ottawa just two hours from Montreal so it wouldn’t need to go very far. 

1 minute ago, Poppyseed said:

 

Thank you so much for replying. I just always think I'm doing something wrong because our laywer never keeps us informed about anything and often misses paperwork. I have a CR1 visa. The last I heard was that it could take several months from now to get a date so finding out it might be so soon is very comforting. 

That’s the visa I’m applying for too (the people on this forum are split between that one and the K1 mostly).

Yes I would hate to give you false hope, but the fact that @BChance has an interview date of January 14th and her CC date was just a day different than yours is a good sign! 

4 hours ago, Poppyseed said:

Hello. I just found this forum now. Not sure why I didn't think to look for something like this sooner. 

I'm feeling very lost. My case closed date is September 25. I think? Is that the date I received an email saying I was ready for interview? I have not received an interview date yet. This was the last correspondence I recieved. Am I waiting for something else before I get a date? 

 

I noticed someone mentioned their priority date changing to current. Mine has not changed. Is that something that needs to happen before I get an interview? 

Hello! Just tagged you in the post before this one.

i don’t know what it means to have your priority date changed. That hasn’t happened for me and I haven’t heard about it much. Maybe for a different type of visa? What type of visa are you applying for?

On 12/3/2018 at 12:08 PM, KN2018 said:

Ok October people, this could be our week! According to the last few months trends, we could find out our interview dates in January. 

 

@Alyssamac90 CC 9/21- Hoping you'll get yours soon!

@BChance CC 9/26 - Interview January 14th - Congrats!

 

October Filers - Case Close Dates

@LaurenJSchafer CC 10/01

@LLabout CC 10/10

@KN2018 CC 10/17

@MissMyHusband CC 10/17

@Nonmart CC 10/17

@Sonata Arctica CC 10/17

@Invisigoth CC 10/17

 

Sorry if I have missed people. I haven't been keeping track for a few weeks. Feel free to reply and add to the list so we can keep an accurate tally.

@Poppyseed, this is the list of all the people who are waiting to receive an interview next. Your date is very close to mine! I haven’t received an interview date yet but someone who has a Case complete date of sept 26th already has a date. Your interview will likely be within the first few weeks of January, and based on other months and how things have been scheduled, you should hear this week or next what that date is. Feel free to send me a message if anything else is confusing!

5 hours ago, KN2018 said:

Ok October people, this could be our week! According to the last few months trends, we could find out our interview dates in January. 

 

@Alyssamac90 CC 9/21- Hoping you'll get yours soon!

@BChance CC 9/26 - Interview January 14th - Congrats!

 

October Filers - Case Close Dates

@LaurenJSchafer CC 10/01

@LLabout CC 10/10

@KN2018 CC 10/17

@MissMyHusband CC 10/17

@Nonmart CC 10/17

@Sonata Arctica CC 10/17

@Invisigoth CC 10/17

 

Sorry if I have missed people. I haven't been keeping track for a few weeks. Feel free to reply and add to the list so we can keep an accurate tally.

Thanks! Yeah it’s weird, I still haven’t heard anything and I called NVC today and they said no interview is booked yet for me. Hopefully later this week! I’ll definitely post when I hear.

1 hour ago, AronP said:

Can someone please let me know what time frame i am looking at between NVC giving me my case number until my interview date in Montreal? 

Have you just received your case number? I received my case number in July and my interview is not scheduled yet but hope it will be in January. I was about a month delayed sending stuff so I would have had a December interview if I had been super on top of things.