Loois

I can only speak to the CR-1 visa, but the passport came back in a sealed package from Canada Post. We were definitely able to open everything beforehand. If I recall correctly, the package included the passport, original security check document, a general info sheet and maybe a few other original documents. We used the visa number in the actual passport to pay the fee online. I do vaguely recall reading that this might be different for the K1 visa (there might be a sealed package you have to wait to open), but that was not the case for us.

Sorry, I missed your earlier post that your spouse had been approved - congratulations. .
And, really, that affidavit should be enough but not what Montreal has accepted.

I forgot to post good news that my husband was approved. Our cc date was Sept 11 and our interview date was Dec 20. He was only asked 5 questions. Similar to previous post he had to wait for about 3 hours for the entire process but the interview only lasted 5 minutes. I have a question for anyone else interviewed around Dec 20: Did you receive notification of when to pick up your passport from the mail. My husband is still waiting to get his tracking number. We had to cancel our trip overseas twice now because he has not received his passport in the mail. I am hoping to hear good news that folks are starting to get their passports back.

I got my passport today.  To read about my Canada Post Experience, check out my most recent post.
 

Camped out at the post office early this morning and finally got my passport yay. My husband and I have a 5pm flight to California. Good Luck everyone who’s interview is in January and to those still waiting for their passport. 

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. 

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. 

Yes that is correct except for step 6-7. Normally I think it first goes to a Canada post sorting facility near your selected delivery location. Then it should get automatically delivered either to your selected location (specific address or The nearest Canada post you select). In our case, we had to call many times and be very persistent because it sounded like there was an issue with identifying our package (not sure why). If your passport does not come on the listed estimated delivery day, we definitely recommend calling like crazy and emphasizing that it is a passport and you have flight tickets for a job or something with a definite deadline. They seemed to really move once we told them it was a visa in a passport and we needed it ASAP ie in 24hrs. 

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. 

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. 

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😭🤯
 

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

Nope - for us we had to wait until we got the tracking number 

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

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😭🤯
 

Just got our tracking number today as well. Not able to track it yet but it’s moving along. 

We JUST received our tracking number!!! YAYY!! Hope to physically get it tomorrow (may be a bit optimistic with delivery time- maybe more likely Saturday or Monday if they’re operating then).
 
@MC1 any word for you?

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!
 
 
 

Thank you, that is the same visa as I will be getting. Merry Christmas!

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.

Sorry guys,  I did not get a chance to ask if pick up at the Consulate was possible or not.  My interview was literally less than 4 minutes and I had to ask her a few other questions and totally forgot to ask about that.  I was approved btw, yay.  I had packed up and left my apartment before we came to Montreal and are planning to leave for California right from here whenever I get my passport back, so we are here in an airbnb in  Montreal for the Christmas Holidays. 

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! 

We have not yet received our tracking number, so I'm guessing that means our passport has not yet been sent out? 😕 We're still hoping for it by the end of the week, but not too sure - will let you know!
 
We freaked out so much before too! Definitely normal. One thing that really hit home to us after the whole ordeal is just that it sounds like everyone's experience can be super different, so try not to worry/stress about other people's problems on VJ potentially being your own. All we could do was hope for the best, plan for the worst. Being over prepared also helps ease nerves! Best of luck - sending good vibes