MC1

It may not be a good idea if you are needing Canada post to accommodate any changes to delivery method (ex.  If they didn’t meet the guaranteed delivery date and now you need them to expedite the passport to you in whatever wya possible).  
 
From what I learned from speaking to several Canada post supervisors (four of them) is that if you select that the passport be delivered to a specific post office (from a drop down menu on the aid site), then if there is a problem with your delivery, all Canada post will do is track that item and try to get it to that post office as soon as it can.  It won’t deliver to any other location that might be more convenient.   Ex.  If you have a flight the next day, and the passport has not been delivered to the selected post office, and the post office will be closed, Canada post won’t send someone to deliver to your house.  Apparently they have strict orders from the consulate that if a post office is selected as a final destination, the mail must go there.  And not to accommodate any other adjustments to delivery method.  not to do that.  I read on VJ that someone did actually get home delivery after selecting post office deliebry after he said he had a flight to catch, and so told supervisor about it, but when I cited that instance to the supervisor to suggest she can do same for me, supervisor said that the other person who authorized the change in delivery method/destination was willing to ignore the rules.  I spoke with several other supervisors over the next few days, and they were consistent – if the passport destination is a post office, they won’t do anything other than track the package and see if they can maybe speed the delivery up.  Nothing more.  

It is so. cold. in montreal.  I'm saying this as someone from vancouver, but seriously, I went with husband, and we couldn't walk further than three blocks for food, and sometimes turned back after one block.  We finally discovered the underground, and it did get warmer after a couple of days (stayed there 4 nights), so I think there are ways around the stay-in-hotel hunkered down.  
 
Also, would definitely advise getting a taxi to consulate, cuz you'll be waiting outside till your appointment, and it'll be cold and maybe make you cranky.  Walking in the cold if you're not used to is just additional stress that's not worth it on that important of a morning. 
 
 
 
 

It is so. cold. in montreal.  I'm saying this as someone from vancouver, but seriously, I went with husband, and we couldn't walk further than three blocks for food, and sometimes turned back after one block.  We finally discovered the underground, and it did get warmer after a couple of days (stayed there 4 nights), so I think there are ways around the stay-in-hotel hunkered down.  
 
Also, would definitely advise getting a taxi to consulate, cuz you'll be waiting outside till your appointment, and it'll be cold and maybe make you cranky.  Walking in the cold if you're not used to is just additional stress that's not worth it on that important of a morning. 
 
 
 
 

Just a heads up, if you want to be able to request that Canada Post make delivery accommodations because its behind schedule, do not select Post Office Delivery, but instead select delivery to your house.  I selected Post Office Delivery (so I don't get a "missed you" slip, then need to wait a day for the package to be delivered to whatever local post office site), and now the package is behind schedule, and the supervisors I've been speaking to have been consistent in saying if the US consulate has specified a post office, they can't change the destination to any other post office or to your home.  Apparently the US consulate specifically and strictly instructed them on that.  And the US consulate told them if the visa holder has any issue with that arrangement, for the applicant to call the US consulate.  
 
I'm still working on it.  Hopefully will get passport soon.  But definitely didn't think choosing post office delivery v. home delivery would have such an important but hidden caveat!
 

The person entering on a K1 gets asked if their husband/wife is traveling with them. If the answer is yes you can bet they will be denied as they should not be married yet. 
 
Or the K1 fiance that shows up at eh border all cocky saying he may get married. You bet ya, he's on the next plane out. 
 
Now their has been a member on here who got to the border and then found out that Montreal screwed up and should have asked for a waiver. He was turned away. 
 
So pretty much if all is in order immigration wise you will be fine. Good luck

It’s a sincere question.  Ex. Can they deny you if you didn’t bring your certificate of conformity for the car you’re importing?  Or can they deny you if you’re bringing your belongings but you filled out the wrong import form?  Trying to get a feel of how many land mines there are when doing first POE.

They won't deny you over a mistake... unless they figure out you are trying to lie about immigration or what you're importing I guess. 
 
Just file forms carefully... 

We had some trouble getting the passport; xpresspost -- tracked it and it got held up in Toronto, sent thursday, supposed to be delivered by Friday.
 
Saturday ended up calling canada post 3 times, finally got a hold of a supervisor, who was absolutely wonderful -- told them it was a passport, needed for work etc...and they actually found the package on a saturday, sent a truck to deliver it out.
 
booked tickets the same evening. 

Oh I see, so yours is not through Xpress post? When we called Xpress post yesterday, they told us if we didn’t get our passport yesterday then the earliest we’ll get it is Wednesday because they are closed for the weekend and New Years! this is SO frustrating😭🤯
 

OMG the hoops you/we have been though. First the police cert, then CEAC being down, then the postal strike, now the holidays UGH!!!!!!!

😫 I knoww, I was convinced it would all be over once we got the acceptance slip!!

We just got it too!!  Congrats!!!  🎉🎉🎉 I thought this last part of getting the passport would be easier since we were lucky enough to miss the Canada Post strike.  But holidays with government shutdown sprinkled on top?  Of course.  #Endingswithafourish  Not complaining here though.  Just glad to get a tracking number!
 
 
 

We just got it too!!  Congrats!!!  🎉🎉🎉 I thought this last part of getting the passport would be easier since we were lucky enough to miss the Canada Post strike.  But holidays with government shutdown sprinkled on top?  Of course.  #Endingswithafourish  Not complaining here though.  Just glad to get a tracking number!
 
 
 

Yeah you have a year to import it BUT you cant register or insure it in the USA without importing it. 

Montreal Consulate website updated yesterday to say they will stay open for all scheduled visa services during government shutdown:
 
https://ca.usembassy.gov/u-s-mission-to-canada-providing-scheduled-consular-services-during-lapse-in-appropriations/
 
@Loois, I hope that also means they will be sending passports out.

Just FYI, the consulates (as all govt entities) have specific staff that run their social media accounts, those employees will definitely be furloughed, hence the no updates on Twitter. Posts on gov't social media accounts as such are standard shutdown procedure.

Montreal Consulate website updated yesterday to say they will stay open for all scheduled visa services during government shutdown:
 
https://ca.usembassy.gov/u-s-mission-to-canada-providing-scheduled-consular-services-during-lapse-in-appropriations/
 
@Loois, I hope that also means they will be sending passports out.

Thanks for the encouragement.  I definitely have had my share of freak out moments (read: identify with sleepless nights gathering info on one site or another trying to feel less powerless).  Declaring intent to move and shifting to that mindset (ie.  Put eggs in one basket), then having that move be so dependent on someone else’s approval where there’s so little one can do besides wait, can’t be good for one’s psyche.  Nice to know through the forum that someone else understands.  

I’m hoping our passports done get stuck at the consulate because of the government shutdown that’s due in 12 hours if no agreement is made.  Fingers crossed! 

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. 

Thank you and good advice about resetting. I’m freaking out and I have 3 more weeks to wait...

Just wanted to share my experience on what happens, and when, after getting "welcome to US" slip. 
 
Dec 13th –consular interview in Montreal – Approved. 
Dec 13th – Status on CEAC changed that day to "Issued," but remarks below "Issued" mention that case was undergoing "necessary administrative processing... " and "and if the case is approved... " etc.  So the messaging is confusing.  
Dec 18th – Status on CEAC still states "issued" but the comments below state visa in "final processing" and tells me if I don't receive it within 5 days, to go to a site for my tracking waybill.  The link to the site does not work though.
 
I am guessing I'll get my passport and visa by Thursday, Dec 20th.  I'll update my progress. 
 
Sending good vibes to all still going through this – it is so hard.  I actually went off VisaJourney for the week before my interview because I was reading a lot and freaking out about what might go wrong.  I recommend that strategy as a way to get head out of the weeds and reset emotionally before the actual interview. 
 

Just wanted to share my experience on what happens, and when, after getting "welcome to US" slip. 
 
Dec 13th –consular interview in Montreal – Approved. 
Dec 13th – Status on CEAC changed that day to "Issued," but remarks below "Issued" mention that case was undergoing "necessary administrative processing... " and "and if the case is approved... " etc.  So the messaging is confusing.  
Dec 18th – Status on CEAC still states "issued" but the comments below state visa in "final processing" and tells me if I don't receive it within 5 days, to go to a site for my tracking waybill.  The link to the site does not work though.
 
I am guessing I'll get my passport and visa by Thursday, Dec 20th.  I'll update my progress. 
 
Sending good vibes to all still going through this – it is so hard.  I actually went off VisaJourney for the week before my interview because I was reading a lot and freaking out about what might go wrong.  I recommend that strategy as a way to get head out of the weeds and reset emotionally before the actual interview.