K&Kir

PODS requires that the beneficiary visa is ATLEAST 1 year.  Our CR1 Visa says expiry JAN31 2018. Does this mean that I can't use PODS? Anyone that has used PODS, help!

@Finayyy  We did have copies, however they called our number so fast that my spouse was a little frazzled and forgot to hand over copies of everything.  This is probably why.

Everybody else, I posted my MONTREAL REVIEW today. Check it out: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?trim=no&cty=&cnty=&page=1&dfilter=5&topic= 

Finayy, I also followed your advice, as well as the paper they sent with passport, and set up an account and paid the fee.  We wont be crossing until next month, so I wont be updating on that for some time.

Update: Interview was this past Monday, it is now THURSDAY and I just picked up the passport with the visa inside.  They also sent back the original marriage certificate and original birth certificate back.  They also included some papers with information on it that I will find useful.

The email for the embassy prompts you with "we may not answer for 8 weeks."

This seems a pain. People preparing, take note. Watch those originals.

@Finayyy did they keep your original documents? I'm shooting myself in the foot that I didn't get certified copies or order extra originals because they kept long form birth certificate, police clearances, and marriage certificate. In the future we will probably need those? Like for employment, or the bank... I'm hoping they give them back at POE?

Did this happen to you?

@Finayyy yeah they wanted to know the day we cross and our POE. 

Other than that, they were impressed that we had already chosen both.

Did you see the Facebook group? Lots of good info over there, for people who have crossed and finishing up.

APPROVED! 

Interview in Montreal was a success!  I will be posting a review soon that will include more details, but overall, what a roller coaster ride!

We went into the interview with a few things unanswered, so i wanted to take a quick moment to clear up some questions here for the rest of you. Each case is different, however...

-Changing my spouses passport to married name IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROCESS was absolutely okay with the embassy.

-We have been home for 2 days and the embassy has already contacted us with tracking information on passport, stating that it will arrive within 4 days of interview

-As the petitioner, I got to go up to the waiting room with my spouse, however I was not able to approach the documentation window with her or interview

-Lady at the door as we entered on ground floor never requested to see our appointment letter. Just asked for spouses passport and mine and the time of appointment.  She also never asked about a courier service. 

-No one said anything about courier service. We just got a piece of paper at the end that showed how you set it up if you have not already set it up.

-Joint sponsor: officer cross referenced tax return(s) with i864 to see that the listed income on i864 matched the income on return.

-They will send you an email maybe a week before your interview date and it will have exactly the same list of documentation that is on the "laminated sheet" they give you at the door. No surprises. 

-Domicile; we showed car title and US bank information of the petitioner. Nothing else was requested, and mind you, the petitioner currently doesn't live in the US or have a job there. I'm not sure if this was because we will be living with the joint sponsor who is well over 125% of poverty line or what? They never asked to see the letter from joint sponsor stating we would live there for a moment, but you better believe we had it ready.

Hmmm...if I think of more I will post, but these little open ends had me extremely anxious about the whole interview. Good luck to you all, and if anyone has any questions on Montreal embassy specifically, please do not feel hesitant to send me a message.

Random, 

As a US citizen working minimum wage in Canada, alongside a joint sponsor, do I have to show my Canadian taxes aswell as my US Taxes? Or just Us taxes? Because I have not done my Canadian taxes....

Toronto, it was almost like giving away a million dollars. We had worked so hard to get that date and the thought of just "missing it" then figuring out how to reschedule instilled anxiety and fear so I let it go.

But if it fits your situation, I say go for it and good luck!

Congratulations to all of you who just received interview date!!!!!

My advice, book your medical AS FAST AS POSSIBLE! This should be your next step. I ran into issues because they can't get you your results until about 4-5 days after the medical! But! Some do not even have appointment options in this crucial window because they are all booked up! Get the medical engraved in stone as fast as you can! My partner had to fly to Toronto because of ease in scheduling, then fly back home!  Then fly out to Montreal next week!

Jle, I think that th doctors websites might show pricing. If not, just give them a call and chart it out. I think you may find that whoever has an open appointment will be the one you take, price is almost secondary at this point.  Go to this websit and download the PDF of MTL and it will lead you to the list with email and websites. I have noticed that MTL and Toronto offices are so fast with email, even on weekends. https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/immigrate/immigrant-process/interview/prepare/medical-examination.html

Advice on interview: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Canada

I think it takes about a week for passport to be mailed back to you, then you can exit. You tell them during your interview where you intend your point of entry and when, they tell the POE people to expect you then.

Please read cat dad's most recent post on COURIER. No need to repeat in this post. It's just a page or so behind. This needs to be done before you go.

Also, I looked into rescheduling and interview and it was like hitting a wall. You can't simply reschedule like a hair appointment. You have to actually miss the day then work with a company that helps you reschedule your interview which could be anywhere from 1-3 months after, not your choice! Please be advised that this is not an easy option. Not that I saw at least.

I STAND CORRECTED,

You do follow steps as listed on "Packet 4" website above.  I got confused with CEAC saying "select your appointment date" and step 1 "register your appointment date."

I went to the website that MIN&MARK posted, same as step 1, and registered our appointment which prompted courier service selection. 

Thanks all for your help, 

T-minus 12 days, 

K

Thanks for all the help everyone!

The packet four instructions are for the old process, so it's slightly different for us. The first difference being that we do not select interview on a website as stated in step 1. I think this is where they get information about setting up courier service.

So for future cases, follow the steps Min&Mark stated before your interview, because if you do not get this done, they will not have a place to send your passport when it's ready! 

Relating to the topic above, I am starting to see that it is different for CEAC.  The traditional process has them schedule an appointment on a website that also leads them to purchase the courier service.  None of this is mentioned on my appointment letter.  As a matter of fact, nothing past NVC says anything about a courier service? Made my heart sink for a minute because this process is so different and reading the traditional process steps can sometimes make you have a panic attack. Lol. 

CEAC upload completions, help a sister out on this.  Thank you.

Montreal people, 

Just trying to finalize all my documentation for the interview in 13 days (WOOT WOOT!)

My question is this, what is the step about the courier service? If we are leaving Montreal the same day as interview, does this mean we should set up a courier service to deliver the passport? And if so, how does one do this? Go to Canada post? Fedex? DHL? 

I asked another person and they said they opted out "just in case we were not home when they delivered it." What does that mean?

Thanks for any and all help, 

K

Firstly, @Min & Mark and @pdc29

Thank you both for your input. It truly means a lot to ask someone else in this process! So thank you! 

We have decided to fly the beneficiary into Toronto, where her sister lives, for 1 day to do medical, End of JULY. Literally flying into Toronto in AM, leaving in PM. Bathurst doc there will allow her sister to pick up medical so it will be in family hands and overnighted to us back to Winnipeg.

Then, together we are flying into MTL (for her support, I will join) to spend the weekend and have interview Monday morning in August. 

This way, as @Min & Mark pointed out, we will have medical in hands in plenty of time so we will not have to worry about that while in MTL. I highly suggest those of you that come after us devise a plan as soon as you can! As getting the medical scheduled has been the most difficult time constraint! (Traditional process has known months before you, therefore they have had time to plan their medical accordingly)

@mohsaab @vbjohn @Koalaem ,  start from the beginning and read the previous members experience with new system before you start! It will help you understand the process and any little side hiccups you may approach! All your questions above will be in the previous pages! That way you do not have to wait for anyone to reply to your question! Go back and read to answer some questions.

Hello all,

I have reached a difficult time in planning and was hoping that some of you would be able to offer some advice.

I called Montreal medical place this morning and he said, "With an interview date falling on Monday, August 14, you will need to have your medical done before the 8th. And the only availability I have is August 4th." This means we would have to spend a whole 10 days in Montreal justtttttt to get the medical done before the 14th. I'm not sure about you, but I don't have money to hang out in Montreal for 10 days! +flight from Winnipeg +medical fee 

I have dug away a little about how hard it is to reschedule...the embassy has a generated response on the telephone when you are prompted for "immigrant visa question" which then tells you that they do not answer questions over phone and makes you go to their website about info. Which I've already been there, and seems as if this is the hardest way.

Should I ..

1) Book August 4th, pray they have a cancellation, and do not book a flight yet.

2) Suck it up and spend 10 days in MTL, book flight

3) Book medical in Toronto, fly into Toronto, wait 5 days, fly/rail to Montreal for August 14th. 

Did someone say there is a train from Toronto to Montreal? @Finayyy

Or... any of your lovely ideas?

Thank you so much for any and all advice.

@cadtousa hello! As I mentioned before, I'm electronic processing so I know there is a slight difference in a few things...one of them being p4. We do not need this slip when at doctor, one of our forum cases has already gone through and approached this issue at the doctors office because everyone is adjusting to new electronic process. Anyway, I received email of appointment last night.

Onto the real issue... my interview was scheduled a whopping 32days from now and I am in Winnipeg. I just got off the phone with the 1 doctor in MTL and he says that since it falls on a Monday, medical would need to be done before the 8th in order to be done on time. And the only thing they have is the 4th. Sorry but I don't have the funds to float around MTL for 2weeks  

I think I may have to reschedule interview because of this. We could always fly into Toronto, but we would have to spend a 5 days there in order to grab results and fly to MTL. HMmm.

Hello everyone an congratulations to you all along the process thus far!

I am from the Electronic Processing CEAC forum, which is a slightly different process, and only a few of us, however still the same questions as most of you! I have a few questions that I hope a few of you in here can help me answer, as I have just received our interview date AUGUST 14!

Some Questions:

1) If we are scheduled for an interview Monday morning, should we fly into Montreal a week earlier for time for medical/days it takes to receive medical before the weekend? (Not sure if they operate on the weekend)

2) If approved,  , Embassy takes passport..... So how does a Canadian fly back-and-forth without the passport? I was uncertain if Canadians can fly WITHIN Canada without passport? Someone who has experienced this please let me know.

Thank you all! And best of luck!

@Min & Mark Who did you do your medical with? Was it a nice experience? How fast was it until they got your results to you? 

We we will be flying in and our interview is a Monday morning...makes me think we will have to fly-in the business week before in order to get medical and documents before Monday morning?

help?

5 hours ago, Bernard & Colette said:

Congrats K&Kir on August 14th Interview! 💕

 

We call all everyday and nothing so far. The only thing they ever tell me is we are now currently scheduling interviews for August and it depends on Montreal Embassy.

Really? I wonder if I got put at the top because I just submitted last doc on Monday? Perhaps it's unorganized? Anyway I was shocked!

2 hours ago, Toronto88 said:

Congrats K&Kir! I am still waiting for the new birth certificate to submit. Expecting to receive in the next few days. 

Thank you! Now you know what date they are on, lol.

Thank you @Cat_Dad!

Now, to book a medical somehow before a Monday morning interview....

and a plane ticket!!!

Anyone know the turnaround time to get passport back? How does my spouse fly without a passport (that the embassy will have)?

Friends! 

JUST RECIEVED OUR INTERVIEW DATE! Late email, about 11pmCT.

August 14, Montreal! 

Everybody still waiting for interviews? @Toronto88 @Bernard & Colette @jle2234

@Finayyy forgot to ask, how does one fly home after if the embassy keeps your passport?

15 minutes ago, Finayyy said:

If you don't get a response by 4pm, it will be there tomorrow by 11-12pm. That's just from my personal experience. Best of luck!

 

I got my passport finally (well it's with my mom since she works with the postal service). Now i need to make that payment and pack my bags for this Friday's trip

Golly! Congratulations! A long journey, ending in success! Now it's your time for a new journey! Fantastic!

Update: finally got police clearance, submitted it all for a hopeful case closed soon then on with the interview que like the rest of you! 

Fingers crossed for us all!