R.Q.

I’m a Dec 2018 K1 AoS filer and just received my interview schedule for Jan 2021 today. I’m also following people with the same timeline and field office on here and, by visual check, it’s 50/50 in terms of movement/no movement for Dec 2018 filers. Hope that helps.

Hello there

I’ve been patiently waiting as well and had to renew my EAD/AP once.

Here’s my AoS timeline:
1.Filed AoS in Dec 2018.

2.Case ready to be scheduled in Jan 2019.

3.Interview cancelled in June 2020.

4.Multiple email/online notifications between Case ready to be scheduled and Interview Cancelled in Oct 2020.

(Last update: Case ready to be sched)

It’s weird that I never received any interview schedule by mail but they were cancelling it somehow. Is there anybody here with the same experience?

Also, if you or if you know anybody here who has received their AoS interview schedule during the pandemic, can you share please how much time you had to prepare your docs/evidences from receipt of notice of interview to interview date.

Thank you!

Hello fellow VJ'ers

Sharing my first experience using my combo card at the Blaine, WA border.

I only showed my Canadian Passport traveling from US to Canada.

From Canada to US, I showed my Canadian passport and combo card at the primary screening, and the officer confirmed that I will need to acquire a new I-94 from the secondary screening.

At the secondary (which took about 20 minutes), the officer took out the old I-94 from the passport and clipped a new one with a 1-year validity of the parole.

I was informed by the officer that in the future, at the discretion of the officer-on-duty, I may or may not be asked to go through secondary screening. He also said that I technically need to be paroled every time, until I receive my permanent resident card.

Hope this helps others who are wondering what happens at a land crossing.

Hello. I have a K1 visa and we will be driving from Toronto to Seattle in about 2 weeks. I’d like to ask about your experience if you’ve ever driven cross-Canada or cross-US. We planned an 8 to 10-hour drive daily.

Also, what are your experiences with Detroit, Idaho, and/or Seattle border land crossings (like which ones are faster and such)?

My K1 visa was approved on Sep 26. At the first window they asked for a “police certificate.” I handed them the visa/border with fingerprints and photo. I did not volunteer the info that I have 2 other police checks (name check and privacy act). This may not apply to everybody so it’s better to have them all ready just in case they ask.

4 hours ago, AAA_can said:

visa was approved? Or put on AP?

Visa was approved

I had my interview last Sep 26 and I was not asked for any other docs. I had my CV, letter from current employer, and school transcripts in duplicates ready but was not asked for it. I’m a Biology and Medicine graduate from the Philippines. I think it’s still best to have these docs ready just in case they ask for it.

58 minutes ago, TGP said:

I had my interview this morning.

 

All went smoothly.

 

I was not asked to provide the new fingerprint standard. The old one was fine. Since they didn't require the new guidlines, I wasn't about to open up a can of worms by asking questions.

 

Sorry, it's been 15 months to get to this point. 

Congratulations and thank you for sharing this info. The old one you submitted was the visa/border with fingerprints and photo or the simple namecheck?

6 minutes ago, Vicki Corpse said:

I received my fingerprints done under privacy act yesterday. All it is, is a sheet that says there was nothing found in the RCMP database. It does have a seal but there are no fingerprints on it. 

Thank you for the confirmation. Cheers.

15 minutes ago, pamdarex said:

I just called, The girl says it comes back, will have you two thumb prints and two index fingers so it wont have ALL finger prints but it will have finger prints. This is when you request it under the privacy act. 

 

When i went on Tuesday the guy told me this is what they have been doing since Sept 1st and haven't had any issues. It will have some fingier prints on the document itself. 

They did not have a sample of the privacy act police check when I went there this morning. However, they had a visa/border sample, which had the selected thumb and infex finger prints. I should be receiving the privacy act certificate soon and I’ll post an update. I attached a sample of a visa/border police check found online.

19 hours ago, SMK 89 said:

what i've done is request both the one per their instructions "Privacy Act", no seal, no picture, no finger prints; AND today i also requested one under the "visa/waiver" request which will give you prints, picture ...etc. I'm bringing them all. The actual document they ask for with the specifications they list on the site DOES NOT EXIST. It only exists via a combination of two. Any who, who knows what the right answer is here but I'm going to cover all my bases and hope I get mine before Oct.

Thank you for this. I just did this today. So now I will have a combo of 3 police checks to submit at my interview. The namecheck, the Privacy Act, and the Visa/Border. The very accommodating Canadian Fingerprints agency in downtown Toronto confirmed that a certified police check under Privacy Act does not contain the fingerprints.

39 minutes ago, confusedinny said:

My fiance was approved at her interview (K visa) in Montreal today. She only had a regular (no fingerprint check) police certificate from the local police. They didn't say anything about needing anything else. She also only had her Ontario short form birth certificate (wallet size) and they didn't say anything about that either. (She'd ordered a long form months ago, but it was delayed and didn't arrive in time for the interview). I'm not recommending not having all the required documentation, but at least those of you that have interviews coming up before there's time to get the proper certificate probably don't have anything to worry about.

Congrats on the approval and thank you for posting your fiance’s interview experience! I’m feeling better now.

Our lawyer just informed us that he is filing the I-134 online. From my understanding, this form is presented at the interview and not submitted electronically. How true is this? Anybody who interviewed at the Montreal consulate that can shed some light?

1 hour ago, R.Q. said:

Let us know please what NVC says about it. I’m gonna call tonight as well.

I just called NVC and surprise, surprise...they were just reading from their website. No additional helpful info.

2 hours ago, BChance said:

US Consulate in Montreal replied to me to contact the NVC about this document - in other words, they have no idea what to do.....

Let us know please what NVC says about it. I’m gonna call tonight as well.

5 hours ago, darth vader said:

Commissionaires in downtown Toronto responded to my email:

we have been advised that we can process these requests as indicated on the U.S. instruction list, with the following caveats:

 

RCMP will process the requests, but they have asked that we advise clients of the following:

·         Results will not be certified by RCMP and therefore won’t be embossed, nor display any fingerprints beside the photo as the certified results do

·         Results have to be sent directly to the individual, 3^rd party addresses will not be accepted

·         Results are likely to take much longer than the regular 3 business day processing time

Oh wow. The travel.state.gov lists this:

Special Seal(s) / Color / Format:  The Certified Criminal Record Check must display the applicant’s fingerprints and be requested under the Privacy Act.

16 hours ago, NikLR said:

There is an explanation in the reciprocity tables on the NVC website on what do about pardons.  I believe you need a police record and court records regarding the incident if possible. 

I agree with this. Since the police check will now include all RCMP Holdings, pardoned offenses will be listed. Bring whatever documents you were given pertaining to the pardon.

5 minutes ago, LaurenJSchafer said:

Were you given any kind of timeline on how long it would take to receive your certificate? 

The agency said about 7 to 10 days and they recommended calling the RCMP by the end of next week. It’s interesting to note that the RCMP website claims that processing takes 3 business days or less if there are no matches.

13 minutes ago, Vicki Corpse said:

I actually just got finished with mine in Scarborough and the gentleman was super nice about it. Not an issue at all. He actually said he received the email this morning. Lol 

The Commissionaires in downtown Toronto was very adamant that they will not do it so I had them print a copy of the email they received, which was dated this morning. I went to a different agency: Canadian Fingerprints on College St.

On 9/5/2018 at 1:10 PM, TGP said:

1) Make the request under the "Privacy Act"

2) You want a "non-certified criminal information check"

3) You want the check to include the entire RCMP repository.

Thank you for this. This is what they did as the instructions on travel.state.gov are misleading. I went to Canadian Fingerprints in Toronto.

41 minutes ago, IndigoFlowers said:

I called the commissioners in Winnipeg a couple hours ago and the agent I talked to said that he received an email

about this a couple days ago and that their office here would refuse to do the Privacy Act request, and would continue to issue fingerprints under the “immigration intent” reason. But he was firm in saying they will NOT do finger print checks under the “Privacy Act” reason. 

 

I’m headed to the RCMP to see if they can help me! 

I went to Commissionaires today and my request was refused. They received a circular to NOT issue this request. It appears that the RCMP was not aware of this change until recently.

I went to another fingerprinting service in Toronto and had it done without any hiccups.

1 minute ago, darth vader said:

It'll work out.... Good luck!

I agree. Let’s hope for the best. Again, I’m so glad I found this post.

6 minutes ago, darth vader said:

It sucks so much.... I had obtained both name check and fingerprint check thinking I am covering all ground!

So your fingerprint check doesn’t comply with travel.state.gov?

2 minutes ago, ITMFA said:

Mine is Sept. 19th too! Also for K-1...I got the name-based one done a month ago and just emailed the consulate asking about it. I'm out of town but will head to the commissionaires on Monday morning and hope for the best! 

I didn’t wanna risk an AP. There were still Sep 26 slots so I took it.

6 minutes ago, darth vader said:

Finally someone from Toronto.... woo hoo....

I'm gonna be their tomorrow as well!

Hi. I’ve had that certificate since March 2018 but now have to re-apply 😞