skyzee

It'd be nice if they actually included this information in their official guide, but evidently that's too much to ask of the NVC *rolls eyes*
 
Only reason I know is from hearing others who have gotten checklists. Hope you get your cc soon.

Hello, and congrats again. I can't speak to YVR POE specifically, but I ended up crossing Blaine POE to activate my visa first with the intent of moving later. My experience wasn't particularly great as I had an officer who was unfamiliar with the new way of how IR1 visas are handled, and kept asking for my packet even after conferring with his colleagues several times until he found one that told him how to handle my case. It was making me very nervous.
 
Perhaps your husband may get a more experienced officer, but best to bring the entire envelope with him especially the Welcome to America letter, which clearly states the IR1 visa is done electronically at POE and which I pointed out to the officer several times. I did bring all my civil docs including medical x-ray cd, but the only thing I was asked was to confirm was my intended address in the US, which is where they send the green card and SSN (if you opted to automate the creation of the SSN during one of the forms). My process took about an hour in total, but about 40% of that was spent lining up, 40% of him trying to figure out how to activate my visa, and 20% actually activating it. At the end of it, they stamp the visa in the passport with a regular CBP Homeland Security stamp but with an IR1 class visa, remind you that you have to pay your taxes now, and off you go.

Powerless is a word that describes it perfectly and is all this process makes you feel unfortunately. Some seem to take it better in stride than others, and I happened to be in the camp of not taking it well. I hear what you're saying and feeling loud and clear and don't blame you remotely for wanting to know all the details especially when they give you little to no visibility. I hope you get your tracker this morning which would make for an amazing Christmas present! 

Here's a screenie. But, you'll likely see the e-mail before you see the status updated since it happens almost simultaneously, and I ought to know with it having been a very sleepless week waiting and refreshing AIS non stop. It also seems to happen in the morning when they activate Canada Post tracker numbers and send you the e-mail (I got my e-mail around 8 AM PST and others reportedly say the same). The tracker also doesn't start working until around 3 PM EST when Canada Post comes to pick it up. If you felt sane before, nothing like going through immigration to make you feel the opposite in a short hurry.
 

Nope, CEAC continues to say appointment. It's just that under status, you'll notice the tracking number which is also a hyperlink to Canada post tracking website. If they happen to ship it tomorrow, I suspect you'll get it within 2-3 business days which is the norm given they ship via xpresspost. I'm sorry, it is an awful, awful wait for the unknown and frankly I'm just glad the bleeding has stopped. Yours will too, keep your chin up even if it's rough. 

Shucks. Medisys was pretty flexible in allowing vaccinations to be done outside of Canada (had my flu shot done in the US and showed receipt from supermarket pharmacist which looked like a drug prescription fill out), but I realize the timing of administering MMR/Varicella may be worrisome. You're right, best to talk with Medisys. One of the more helpful folks to speak with during the process. 

So happy for you!! You’re detailed experiences are so helpful and awful at the same time! Congrats!!!

Hi BChance 😋, 
 
Obviously I don’t know specifically about your records from Alberta Health but I was born in Edmonton Alberta (currently live in BC) and called Alberta Health 7 months ago In May 2018 and they send me my immunization records. I was born in the early 60’s and my records show different results from 1963 to about 1975. At first when I called the lady said she couldn’t find anything. She asked me several questions about me, my mom, different names that I might have used, where I might have lived and couldn’t find anything. Then she asked my birthdate and she said that’s why I can’t find anything, she had to request a search for my records from micro-film or micro-fiche (don’t remember which she said). I guess since they are older records they wouldn’t have a result doing a normal computer search and the information wasn’t transferred to a computer system back at that time. I have a letter dated May 8/2018 with my records and I think it took under 2 weeks to get the information.
 
So, I don’t know if this information helps you but it might be worth a try to call again and ask. (Phone number in letter to call is: 780-4137985). Good luck with what ever you decide to do.
 
 

Nail biting action to the very end... after getting on phone with a rep and supervisor at Canada Post who, albeit were both very nice and sympathetic, explained that she couldn't do anything for me given the sensitivity of the document and the strict rules that were given to them by the US Embassy, and explained she would get into trouble if she tried to intercept the package.  She mentioned that it would most likely get to the PO by today or tomorrow, but that she couldn't make any promises without a supervisor intervention. She then gave me the phone number for the people staffing AIS website to ask them to open a case with Canada Post to expedite the package, which ended up in me just getting frustrated and agitated all over again trying to talk to the rep (ie. business as usual).
 
But, after I got off the phone with the useless rep at 11:05am, lo and behold, I got the Canada Post notification email saying that my package was ready for pickup at the Burnaby PO, 2 minutes after the tracker updated. I picked it up and activated it an hour later at the Blaine Peace Arch land crossing. Had some anxiety inducing moments with CBP not knowing how to activate an IR1 visa there, which I wrote about more in detail in my timeline description, but otherwise, was painless once the officer figured out what to do.
 
Finally, the root canal is over. Best of luck to the rest still waiting. And yes, I can confirm that the police certificate was included in the return package, but not the medical.

We, like others, also got a delay notice at midnight yesterday with the new ETA being Tuesday, but it looks like it just arrived in Richmond this morning. Really crossing my fingers and toes hard it gets to Burnaby PO today. Will be driving straight to POE to activate my IR1 visa if I can somehow get my hands on my passport today.
 

We, like others, also got a delay notice at midnight yesterday with the new ETA being Tuesday, but it looks like it just arrived in Richmond this morning. Really crossing my fingers and toes hard it gets to Burnaby PO today. Will be driving straight to POE to activate my IR1 visa if I can somehow get my hands on my passport today.
 

After 3 very sleepless nights, I finally got my tracker from Canada Post just now along with the automated email from DOS indicating that they've shipped it. Like others, tracker doesn't yet work since Canada Post hasn't picked it up yet but YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! 
 
Interview: November 28, 2018

After 3 very sleepless nights, I finally got my tracker from Canada Post just now along with the automated email from DOS indicating that they've shipped it. Like others, tracker doesn't yet work since Canada Post hasn't picked it up yet but YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! 
 
Interview: November 28, 2018

After 3 very sleepless nights, I finally got my tracker from Canada Post just now along with the automated email from DOS indicating that they've shipped it. Like others, tracker doesn't yet work since Canada Post hasn't picked it up yet but YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! 
 
Interview: November 28, 2018

My Husband got his passport and also like ayazk said there was no sealed envelope. I was very specific with my husband to NOT open any package that said DO NOT OPEN. But there was nothing! All that was inside was the passport with the visa stamp and the same Welcome to the United States letter he got at the visa interview. I am sooooooooooo glad this is over and done with and I get to actually spend the holidays with my husband and family.

After 3 very sleepless nights, I finally got my tracker from Canada Post just now along with the automated email from DOS indicating that they've shipped it. Like others, tracker doesn't yet work since Canada Post hasn't picked it up yet but YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! 
 
Interview: November 28, 2018

Update!
 
Yesterday, my wife was able to pick up her passport from the office! Woo
We paid the immigrant fee online - it was a little confusing finding the right numbers to input
"A- number" - listed directly on the as the Registration Number
"DOS Number" - had to call USCIS for this one. It's your NVC case number (MTL...), but without the last two digits...super weird. 
 
One other thing is I was expecting a sealed packet along with my wife's visa. I guess this is no longer true with the introduction of CEAC, online processing. So, she just got her passport back with the visa inside. 
 
Wife's flight is tomorrow afternoon (yeah, I paid a premium for booking 2 days in advance, but I want her here haha), so I'll let you guys know how it goes at POE (YYZ Toronto Airport).

Thank you! Glad your passport got here today

Actually the post office in my town is at a grocery store, so I am able to pick it up tonight from 6pm to 8pm! Yaaaaay

Well never mind my previous comment, my passport has arrived! I wasn't home to accept it so it's at my local post office and I'll pick it up tomorrow morning! Hooray!!!

I noticed that too actually since I almost ended up rescheduling a second time. Don't worry, when there is an appointment available, the message won't say that and you'll be able to see the calendar. At one point, I saw that message, at another point, I saw end of January appointment available (this was checked around first or second week of November).
 
Unfortunately, Montreal is definitely backlogged right now again - some with cc's from end of September are just getting their interviews for mid January. I suspect the next appointment that'll be available will be in February or March. Keep checking it religiously everyday. The appointment slots that do end up opening do get taken fairly quickly, or at least from what I noticed. 
 
None of the timing in this process is remotely consistent and yes it is frustrating. Oh and keep an eye out for updated requirements for police certificate if your cc was before September 10. That nearly gave me a heart attack for my interview. Good luck

Hey everyone!
 
update on my canadapost experience.
 
i got the tracking number yesterday morning by email. I called the Canadapost customer service line and told them that it was my passport. They flagged it as an important document (apparently they have a procedure for it). I received it today in the Vancouver area around 12:30 PM Pacific Time.
 
The phone Number I called was 1-866-607-6301. I don’t remember the menu options but it was pretty self explanatory.
 
Hope that helps someone and you all get your passports soon!

Just an update for everyone
Yesterday the estimated delivery date said today, 12/04/18
Today that updated to 12/05/18 - I got a little too excited so guess I'm not booking that ticket for my wife home
 
Best of luck to everyone!

So frustrating... couldn't sleep all night in anticipation of getting tracking number. Looks like we might have missed the cut-off date for today since it sounds like people got their tracking number and email from the consulate first thing in the morning. And because of this stupid mourning day tomorrow, no activity is going to happen until Thursday which means I won't be seeing my passport this week. Just a never ending roller coaster ride.

Thank you for the update  I'm guessing that you'll have it by this week, or at least hoping you will anyways!