Chipper15

Yes, I’m already in this group but I thought I’d ask here as well in case there’s anyone on VJ that’s not on the Facebook group who’s heard anything. I hope we hear soon about what they’re planning for January. I’m hoping they go back to how they did it pre-Covid doing both spousal and fiancé 

I don’t think it’s computer stuff. Everyone I know whose cases got to the consulate with mine in December got date changes yesterday too. 
 
Someone’s alive!! 🙂
 
now I just hope they actually do something with it and send our P3’s too. Maybe once enough people send P3’s back, they’ll start scheduling K1’s again 

Sigh...this has gone on too long now. 

Where or how do you know that?
just on the CEAC website?

My case has been touched. Last updated Jan 26 2021, though no status update.  It's... something?

Same here! The others whose cases also moved to the embassy on Dec 8th also got date changes yesterday to Jan 26th. 
 
according to the Canadian Spousal and K1 Visa FB group, that’s supposed to indicate the sending of P3. I’m hoping this means we’re getting P3 soon and they’re finally looking at K1 cases again

Hi, I'm K1. Our case finally moved from NVC to Montreal on Dec. 8. First Ready was Dec. 16. I'm diligently checking the CEAC site for a second Ready for my P3. Our NOA2 was Mar. 24, 2020. 

This does make me wonder if they're still going to schedule the next batch though...

Hi Visa Journey adventurers.

First time posting here, and I thought I would share my experience as a way to say thank you and give back to the community, as I found it very helpful.
Apologies in Advance for the long winded post.

I met my wife on a plane, I sat next to her from Tokyo to Brissie, and the rest they say is history. It was 1st of April 2018.
We got engaged in Vietnam in March of 2019. While travelling the USA for 2.5 months with her in summer of 2019 (us summer), we were discussing 
where to live and the arrangements regarding that, and we decided I would move to the USA. Due to the Gov websites not being very friendly in regards to getting clear and simple advice.
We decided to go see a lawyer in Denver to discuss the visa options. It was a free 30 min consultation.

First question I was asked by the lawyer was why am I leaving the USA? My response was because I was there on a ESTA and had to leave before 90 days was up.
He advised to not return to Australia, but to overstay, get married in the USA and apply for adjustment of status. because the other options of Fiancée visa being restrictive and not giving you much time to organize things, and apply for spouse visa can take up to 2 years outside of the USA. 

We thought this sounded like bad advice, so we decided to go see another lawyer this time. He basically said the same thing.
We were astounded at this advice.

What we decided to do, was get married before I left the USA (July 2019) and go back to Australia and Apply for the CR-1/IR-1 Visa and do it the slow but right way for us.
As I didn't like the idea of breaking of the law and asking for forgiveness after during the adjustment of status. As painful as we knew it would be to wait upwards of 2 years, vs 6 months if we broke the law.

 So we got married in July 2019 and I flew home to Australia and engaged a lawyer in Denver, Colorado to help with Filing.
Life got in the way a little, my wife went travelling overseas for 6 weeks with one of her best friends and didn't get to finish submitting her side of the first forms until late september with our attorney, we got a priority date of the 8th of Oct 2019.

I am not 100% sure of the exact requirements, and the lawyer didn't help at all with it, but with the criminal record checks, (as I have lived in a few countries before), I ended up over the last 18months applying for them 3 bloody times, as they expire ( which makes no sense, as I have not lived in some of those countries for 8 years and have not returned to them at any stage since I left). Make sure that you get an Australian Federal Police check and not a state based one. Also, I cant remember the exact option, but my first police check was denied as not valid because I chose the police check required for moving overseas, and the US Consulate wants the police check to be a "Complete Disclosure" for people moving to canberra and not a standard disclosure.
The option was either 35 or 33 from memory. If you are unsure which is the right one to apply for, call the afp number on the criminal records page and ask (thats what I ended up doing) and they will tell you the right option to apply for the USA visa for the complete disclosure option. I have both criminal record checks and the only difference between them is the words Complete and Standard, everything else is identical.

Also something else to note, that is lost in translation between British/Aussie English and American English is "certified copy".
To me a certified copy is getting a photocopy of a document and having it signed as a certified true copy by the Justice of the Peace JP), this is what the UK, Canada and Australia have always accepted as a certified copy. But in America, a certified copy is the original document, or a reprinted original from the direct source of the document, think of it like as asking for a replacement of a birth certificate or degree etc. that is what they mean. At my interview an Irish guy had JP certified docs and they got denied. so note, whenever you see certified copy, get the original.

Basically after applying we had heard nothing from the DOS CEAC or whatever they are called until early Nov, 2020, we they said my case would soon be moving to my local consulate for processing, it was a long painful wait of over a year with not hearing from them at all, the lawyer was pretty much "be patient". within 3 days of the message, I got note that they would soon be in contact to  schedule an interview, then a couple days after that I got a date saying my interview would be in Sydney on the 5th Jan and gave me a list of options whether to cancel completely, delay de to covid, or accept. I accepted it. Then arranged for a medical in Brisbane on the 16th Dec.

The medical is nothing to worry about, its expensive about $600 or so, took me 2 hours to do. In Brisbane upon arrival, they give you a cup to wizz in and tell you to go upstairs into the hotel above and use their toilets, and then come back down and give it to them. The doctor then test your urine for a certain STD right there on the spot, and also sends it off to a pathologist to get tested(you bring it with you to the pathologist) for another STD), the medical itself was mostly a family and personal medical history quiz, do you have a history of xxxxx disease or problem etc... then takes height and weight, blood pressure and reflexes. If you can walk into the medical without dying I think you will pass with flying colours. There was no alien butt or pee hole probing or getting naked, only took off my shirt and shorts, had underwear on still. after this, I had to walk to the other side of the CBD and go to the pathology place. They took my wizz cup, and took my blood to go get tested for Syphilis and other STD that are communicable etc. It doesn't hurt, its just a tiny bit of blood, and really fast. Then I had to walk into the queen street mall and get a TB Xray for my chest to show that I don't have it. They are just checking to make sure you don't have something that other people can catch like aids/hiv, syphilis, TB etc...  I didnt need any vacinations, as I already had them all from serving in the Royal Marines in the UK. I just brought my medical docs with me to medical and also to the consulate to show proof.

The Pathologist and Radiologist gather the results, send them to the doctor, and the doctor emails them to the consulate directly, but gives you a sheet saying you have completed your medical. I spent more time waiting for the medical stuff than actually doing it.

My wife took a massive redundancy from work in late 2017 and was enjoying travelling around the world and not working, our lawyer advised us, it would be better for our application if she returned to work to meet the financial sponsor requirements, so she packed up from Denver and moved to Provo Utah for a job she kept getting headhunted for there.
At the interview(Visa),  the officer said she had not been in the job long enough for it to count (4 months) and because she was enjoying her time off from work, she recorded no income for 2018 and 2019 on her tax returns, and that's what they base the financial sponsorship off, I was told I would have to get a joint sponsor at the interview, and it would delay the visa.
I asked if there was any other way without having to ask her family to sponsor us etc...They said she has to have easily liquid assets or savings, that are 3 times the minimum wage.
So basically, if she worked in 2019, she would have needed to earn approx. 23k USD, but the assets needed would have to be 3 times that amount or approx. 70k USD, my wife is an accountant and quite squared away financially, and easily had that in Investments and savings. So the consular officer accepted that instead of her job and salary of $70USD.
This was good and bad news. Good because I didn't need to go find another financial sponsor and it didn't delay my application, bad because my wife didn't want to return to work and she only took the job to help with visa, now she is stuck there for the next 2-3 years. Its a great job, and lovely people etc., but she wasn't ready to return to work. So if you are in a similar situation, they can financially assess you based of your sponsors savings and investments vs only having a job. Check with your layer about this, honestly our lawyer was a tax accountant and immigration attorney, and he dropped the ball on this one, and luckily we were prepared with a copy of all her personal finances at my interview.

The interview itself.

I went to Officeworks and bought a clear file case to put all my documents in. My lawyer gave me a document check list that was virtually the same as the US gov one they give, but just elaborated on the types of evidence in each section a little bit more. I arranged the documents in order of the checklist,  used paper clips to bundle and keep sections clear, and added a yellow post on the first page of each bundle for easy sorting.

Due to Sydney being in a covid hotspot, and I was coming from Brissie, I had 3 choices, cancel/postpone the interview, go to the interview and then return to Brisbane but get forced into mandatory hotel quarantine for $3k, or fly one way to Sydney, do the interview and wait in NSW for VISA and fly to America. I chose to fly to Sydney the day before interview, I stayed in the Travel Lodge on 165 Phillip Road martin Place  ( I booked through go snap travel for a discount through my WhatsApp I found it through travago travel website (https://www.snaptravel.com/) and it was $138 for the night). Its literally 200m from the Martin Place Train Station, and 300m from the US consulate, I left the hotel at 830, waited at 2 sets of lights to cross and was in the lifts at 835am). Honestly, I was so stressed out, arriving to Sydney the day before the interview, and being so close to the station and the consulate was such a relief. Then after the interview I am staying with some friends in Newcastle for the 3 weeks and I intend on flying out to USA at the end of January.

There are no obvious signs for the consulate, the building is undergoing construction. I entered basically a food court (it has super IGA and a bunch of takeaway shops).
Found the elevator and went to the top floor(8), you then exit the elevators walk around to the right a little bit, through  of a maze and into another set of elevators (about 30m walking around 2 corners from memory)
 the next elevator has a digital pad, has a bunch of floor numbers then a box that says US Consulate, press that to get to level 10.

When you leave the elevators, you basically walk a long curving hall way, and you will see the diplomatic Security teams there. They are very blunt and direct, don't be offended its their job. They asked did I have an appointment, was a citizen or visa applicant, then directed me to walkdown the stairs to a bathroom and wash my hands and return.

They made me pull out my phone, and they watched me closely to see it be switched off, then they made me put it in a security case and directed through the door into a line.

There was a Lebanese/Australia dual national in front of me. After a short wait of 5 mins, I was next, the lady asked me my name, appointment time and for more documents.
She sorted through them in about 30 seconds due to the way I organized everything, unlike the other guy who was a bit disorganized, and put some of my documents back into my case, and some into a new case she gave me to hold on to. Then comically told me to follow the markings on the floor around some velvet ropes for the lines, and directed me back literally 2ft away from where I was standing with her, to go through security (I could have taken 1 step to my right, but I had to go through the line.... hahahaha). Note, I was told by my lawyer, not to bring any electronic devices except for my phone, use a clear case, and not bring any bags etc.... I placed my shoes, folders, and wallet and phone in separate tubs, then went through a metal detector. at the other end I collected my shoes and the folders, but they kept my phone and gave me a receipt for it. So don't rely on having your phone with you, you cant have it. have all your info and docs printed in your folder.

After this, disinfected my hands again, was directed to another elevator where they control it and took me to the 26th floor. I exited and had to Disinfect my hands again, go through a door and then take a ticket number like you do at the motor registry and sit and wait to be called. In the section I was sitting in and could see, there was a visa section and US Citizen section. the Visa Section had about 8 booths (standing), the officers behind are all behind class, like in a prison movie or an old fashion bank talking to you through the glass with a microphone. Some of the booths are louder than others. So far this took about 20 mins, my appointment was for 9am, I arrived at 835, and my ticket says 857am when I sat down.

There was an older Chinese lady in her late 50's with her American husband, I could hear him, but not her or the officer, so I dont know what happened but they were there for 50 mins at least. There was a dual Irish/Australia citizen, the officers microphone was super loud, I could hear everything that was asked of him, he got denied his visa and has to follow up with the originals as he used a JP certified copy, and not the original copies (like I explained above), he was also asked questions for a solid 30 mins and copped a grilling. his medical was also expiring, so he would have to pay another $600 on top of waiting for original docs to arrive from Ireland. After he left, the dual Lebanese/Aussie guy (his English was not great) got grilled for 30 mins, he got denied, because he couldn't show enough evidence of the relationship. The officer wanted, plane tickets to see each other(itinerarys etc), social media proof, letters of support from friends and family who has seen you together. Everything, plus, he also had some JP certified stuff and not originals, and some stuff in Lebanese/Arabic that wasn't translated etc. his took about 30 mins as well and left with a Denied visa awaiting the suggested corrections. All of their problems were fixable, but might take another month of delay for them. At this stage I was not feeling confident, thinking maybe the officers were just hitting everyone with the Ban Hammer hahaha....

I was called up next, handed over the folder the clarke had arranged downstairs, he went through it quickly, said my wife's Job was not good enough and I need to show her income for 2019 (she was living off her redundancy money travelling around the world as she never took a gap year after uni, so decided her early 30's she would have some adventures). He then said I need her parents etc. to be a joint sponsor. I said is there any other way, and he said yes if you have 3x the amount required in liquid assets, so I handed over my wife's investment portfolio, tax stuff, and her banking info. They wouldn't even look at her Job (Accountant), Salary ($70k USD) or her pay slips etc. they didn't care and said she had enough liquid assets that the job was irrelevant, so that was our good and bad news. Good I didn't need to find another sponsor, bad because my wife took on a job she didn't want to help ensure I get over there. I feel tremendously guilty, but she is such a wonderful person, Ill do my best to make it up to her somehow. The officer noted, I had everything in order and what he wanted and he would process my visa this week and mail it back to me. He did not ask me any questions, and I was lucky if I was standing there for 5 mins with him, and said I was done, I didn't pay any more money, Didn't sign anything, wasn't handed anything to take home with me, that was it, and I left. I was surprised I wasn't grilled, but I suppose I was very organized and had everything ready for him, so I was not a pain in the #######, so no need to give me a hard time.

You need to make sure you bring a return envelope with you. This can be confusing as there are three different recommendations between the DOS  CEAC  website, the US Consul Website in Australia and the email they send you. They are all wrong adn have not been updated in a while. You have to use a return envelope that has signature required upon delivery. don't use a standard envelope, and the email advise is to get a Platinum Express Post  Envelope Medium.  All these are incorrect and they don't make platinum post anymore. Just go to Australia post, buy a 3kg Express Post Satchel bag (its yellow and white and made from plastic) its massive in size, but they are sending you more than your passport in return.. they have one pinned on the wall as you meet the first clarke downstairs who sorts your docs out. It cost me $23 for it. I put my name on it and used my friends address in Newcastle as the return address, I made sure to tell the officer upstairs that I couldn't return to Brissie without doing hotel Quarantine, and would be staying in Newcastle until I flew out. He said that was fine and he didn't care, as long as it was the right address. He said my passport and an immigration pack would be mailed to me inside. and I was not to open the immigration pack, only the express post envelope to get my passport.

that's it, I waited 15 months for the interview, 1hr 25 mins in the building going through security and sitting down staring at the others being interview, you are not even eavesdropping, the speakers are so loud everyone will hear everything you say and what the officer says, did a 5 min document exchange with the officer who was really cool, and had just arrived to Australia after a few years in Mexico as a consul officer there. All that waiting for 5 mins... It was over what a relief. 

I was so stressed out the few weeks before all of this, that I started breaking out in hives from stress, for the first time ever in my life, I had to go to the doctors and I was given steroids to calm them down. After all this, it was done in 5 mins, no questions, no grilling..... Just handed over docs, and they scanned my finger prints digitally at the counter. that was it.

Because we have been married less than two years, I will get a CR-1 visa which is a conditional relative, after apprx 18 months in the USA I apply for change of status to IR-1 and pay another fee ( I am not sure how much it is) then I don't have to fill out anymore silly forms etc.

We had digitally uploaded (or the lawyer did anyway) everything, from my MBA degree, to bank accounts, to digital passport photos from the post office, to references, to all of my wife's banking, taxes, house leases, investments etc... The officer within 20 seconds handed back every document of mine and said it wasn't needed, the only thing In the fat stack of paperwork he kept was our marriage certificate, everyone else was my wife's personal documents. I would recommend over preparing like we did and bringing everything. My document case from office works was a4 size and about 5cm thick, it was completely full of all my old passports, and all our documents and evidence. We made sure it was all uploaded digitally ontot he ceac application page ( or our lawyer did) and as well as me bring the actual docs in to the interview. Better safe than sorry.

I feel like we over prepared and because we had everything digital and in person, it made his life easier.

But we printed every plane itinerary for every flight we have ever taken together, then we also created a word doc that I printed, which was basically a plane ticket to Vietnam for both of us, then photos of every major city in Vietnam we went to together and took a couples selfie so saigon, Dalat, Hoi An, Hue, Danang, hanoi, Ha long ba, and added the dates of each of these places we took them in. then we did that process for Singapore, Malaysia all the places we went, vancouver, USA from Denver, to seattle right down to San Diego, to Australia from Brisbane to Newcastle, and then we took screen shots of shared/tagged facebook and instagrams posts they showed our relationship together or experieces we shared together like concerts, baseball games etc.
And then a few personal private WhatsApp's (this is our preferred way to call and message while we have been in separate countries.) and then receipts for things like hotels, engagements rings and Airbnb's during our travels together. In total I had 42 pages (double sided so 84 pages) printed off at office works, as our evidence of our relationship.

In the end the over preparation I think made it all easier for officer to assess, that is why I assume he asked no questions, because we were really squared away.

The moment I hit the 6th floor food court where I got off, I couldn't wait to call my wife in Provo, Utah and tell her the good news, but Sydney has laws about wearing masks indoors etc, so it was a painfully long 50m walk until i was outside and mask free to call her. We were really happy, she was quite overwhelmed and was at work when I called and started crying in relief, I think she was a little embarrassed and didn't want to make a scene, but its been a hard year for her, moving interstate by herself, he 15yr old dog/best mate passing away and starting a new job, but we got through it in the end. I called her at 1005 am, as it took about 5 mins to live the Consulate and get outside catching 2 elevators and walking.

Note again, no laptops, no bags are to be brought in at all, you cant leave them either. your phone or tablet will be confiscated too and given back when you leave.
You must wear a facemask the entire time. no exceptions. Wait as long as possible to get your police checks from all the countries you have lived more than 12 months in.
And make sure you get a complete disclosure from the Federal police and not a standard one. I have never had so much as a speeding ticket before and it was knocked back about 3 months ago, and I had to reapply for it. All that is different is one word its stupid, but rules are rules for bureaucrats...  The UK police check took about 3.5 weeks to arrive, and you can pay extra to get it done faster too.

It was hard to get an appointment so close to Christmas in Brisbane for my medical, and I got lucky with the last available slot. I recommended as soon as you get your interview date, schedule your Doctors medical asap. The receptionist was the hardest person to deal with in this whole process, it took 25 mins on the phone to book an appointment... ridiculous, he was just really obtuse, she kept telling me I needed to do my medical after my visa interview etc. She is wrong! get it done before if you want to be approved on the day of your interview. if you don't, you go into administrative processing until the medical is done, wasting a few more weeks. She also wanted my CEAC number, I said I don't know what that is but I have a case file number from the consulate. state dep that I use to login into their system. She said that wasn't it and she wouldn't schedule my appointment until I had it. I had to email my lawyer and ask for it, he said the CEAC number is the Case file number... So it delayed me a day there getting the medical done.

Make sure you go to Australia Post before your interview, get a 3kg express post satchel and ask the postal worker to make it a sign upon delivery parcel. It needs a Signature, I heard another officer tell a client that it needs to be signed for as the documents are sensitive that they are mailing back.
Take a photo of the sender tracking code for yourself, fill it out before you arrive at the embassy with your details, don't worry about the sender details the officer will sort that out and bring it with you, if you forget it, it would be a massive pain in the butt to go through all the security and floor changes run to the post office and back again...
 
The aussie fed poilce check, I think I checked the box for visa for moving overseas, but they want you to check the box for foreigners moving to Canberra basically, so that you end up with a Complete and not a standard disclosure. Call the AFP record number on the AFP criminal records page to check. it took me 5 mins to get through and the guy says he gets about 20 calls a month about being denied and needing the right one. Fed Police number to find out exactly which option is the complete disclosure you need. Ph: (02) 6140 6502 and it cost me $42 I think. https://www.afp.gov.au/what-we-do/services/criminal-records/national-police-checks

Also, for the medical in Brisbane at least, they wanted 2 Australian size passport photos, but the US Consulate on interview day requires to US Size passport photos. They are different. I think I had to wait to sign the passport photos in front of the medical receptionist, but I signed the US Size photos with my name CEAC number/cfn before the interview. I only need two for the interview. But I brought 4 just in case.
Basically ours are portrait rectangles and smaller than the yanks, and the yanks use square photos. If you use the wrong photos, it will just delay you and you'll have to wait a little longer.
 
UK police checks this is what I used and was accepted, but I made a mistake and did this 15 months ago, it expired twice on me. So I ended up paying for the UK check 3 times in total, and 2 times for the aussie one due to the mix up between Complete and Standard. The checks are only valid for 6 months and my last ran out end of Oct, and I had the new UK one end of Nov. It was a waste of money applying so early for them. https://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

Before they set my interview date, I got about 4 messages on their DOS CEAC page saying my appointments had all been cancelled, when I never received any notice of an interview being made. My lawyer told me, that basically their system is so old and bad, to set an appointment that have to check a box clearls any appointments that automatically sends an email saying its been cancelled, even if you never had one. I got a few of these for 2-3 days in a row, before I received the email saying interview on the 5th of Jan and do I wish to accept it.

I have now applied for a permit to leave Australia due to covid travel restrictions, I am uncertain if need one or not, as I wont be returning anytime soon to Australia, and I now have PR in the USA, Ill see if that gets approved or not, no one at border force on the phone was very helpful at all regarding if I needed it or not... I intend to fly out on the 26th of Jan.

I hope this helps anyone reading it regarding the how long it took us from Submission being accepted in Oct 2019, me applying for all of this from Australia, getting approved Jan 2021. and what happens when you arrive at the building etc.

Any questions Ill do my best to help with.

Lastly, we chose to pay for a lawyer, it was super expensive, we thought it would give us piece of mind. But honestly he just treated us like another number, took forever to respond to our emails etc, and didn't inspire a lot of confidence through it all. Finding this website about 4 months ago, was the best thing to happen during this entire process, lots of little nuggets of gold were dug in in searches, and reading about other peoples stories etc... 

Thank you to all who contributed and helped to make me feel more relaxed about what to expect.
Many apologies about a super long post!

Thanks for reading and good luck in your visa journey!!





 

Sorry about that.
I had my timeline filled in but didnt realize there was another place to add info.
Should all be there now.
The embassy we are waiting on is Montreal.
thanks!

My fiancee had her interview Thursday and has visa in hand as of yesterday! That has to be some kind of record.

Bam! Here you go. There is an exceptionally large discussion on this topic. You would be better served if you were to visit the link below to determine how it will affect your immigration journey.
 
https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/737815-official-executive-order-for-suspending-entry-of-immigrants/#comments
 
I'm sorry you have such thin skin. There are many who are facing much more difficult challenges then you. I have seen many who have been in this process for 1, 2, and three years and they don't complain as much as you. 
 
We are in a pandemic and the governmental offices and the embassies are running with a skeleton and in some cases are completely closed. Nothing is going to happen until this virus dissipates. There will be action announced closer to the opening of the embassies on how they will address those who had interviews scheduled and those who want to schedule an interview. Also, if you have a NOA2 about to expire there is no reason to panic or be concerned. That too will be addressed by the embassies once they are closer to opening. We are in a wait and see mode till the embassies start opening again.
 
There is a conversation here on this topic: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/737060-coronavirus-embassy-reopening/page/3/?tab=comments#comment-10146929
 
Also, there is an article that has the DOS phase opening schedule for DOS affiliates to include embassies:
https://www.axios.com/pompeo-coronavirus-state-department-reopening-ec5dc86d-6393-4614-b05f-68d3b5f6ec10.html
 
BTW, this is my opinion and that is the embassies will begin to open with those that are in a less affected areas then move on to those in highly affected areas. I believe that the embassies will reschedule those that were cancelled and then open the schedule for those who are ready to receive an interview date. Best place to be tuned in to what will happen at the embassy level is to be on their webpage because that is where the announcement and further instructions will be posted.  
 
When we were lifting conditions on my wife's GC there are two offices that adjudicate the request. The country is pretty much split in half. Those on the west side of the Mississippi used the California Service Center and those East, which we were, used Vermont. CSC was taking 6 months to complete the process where it took us 14 months with Vermont. Sure, that's not fair but what can you do? Nothing. I wasn't on VJ complaining and crying about how unfair it was. I didn't request to have something change here on VJ because a lot of us were in the same boat. Get over it. It is what it is. Deal with it is the best recommendation I can make. You can take my recommendation, or you can ignore it. Instead of moaning about the process why not contribute where you can. Learn what you next steps are. Get out of your little world here on VJ and look around. There are many different conversations that you can join and vent your anger but a thread like this is to help navigate the process from NOA2 to your embassy. I have been here for more than 6 years helping people like you to get through this in a much smoother way. If you don't want my help, then ignore me. Block me if that will make you happy. But I am going to stick around and help people who are in need. Good luck and stay engaged. 

CR1/IR1 Montreal FAQ (last updated May 17th 2021) 
 
This is a write up of the information shared in the “CR1/IR1 waiting for Montreal Interview” group chat and thread. The most recent thread can be found here:
 
It does not include any medical or interview reviews because for the most part they are also posted to the forums or the consulate review page.

--------------------------------------------------------------
 
COVID-19
Is Montreal currently rescheduling interviews?
Yes. Montreal announced on August 18th 2020 that starting the same day they would gradually be rescheduling interviews for spouses and children who had interviews scheduled in March and April 2020. They confirmed on August 27th that they would proceed with cases at the NVC once they finished rescheduling cancelled interviews. Rescheduling of cancelled interviews (that we know of) concluded on September 10th.
“I spoke with my lawyer about why they didn’t fill the month of may yet. And she said that it looks like it’s becoming common practice with most consulates/embassies now that they are scheduling for the next 2-4 weeks only. They would rather wait and see what the situation looks like covid wise than schedule everyone only to have to cancel later.”
 
Has Montreal started working with the NVC to schedule new interviews?
Yes! They sent out the first batch of ILs on October 13th 2020.
 
Do I still pick up my medical results?
All panel physicians are sending results electronically as a result of the pandemic. Results received after the interview will take ~1 week to be processed.
 
My police certificate expires close to my interview, does it need to be valid until I enter the US?
Although one user was told that it did, no one else has encountered this issue. It would appear that it only needs to be valid for the interview.
 
I’m not able to get my spouse’s tax transcript for 20__, is their tax return ok?
“You don't need a US tax transcript if you have a photocopy (or PDF printout) of the complete 1040 and accompanying schedules available instead (i.e. the whole tax return).  I couldn't get transcripts online because my last filing address was Canadian. So my wife took a copy of my 2019 tax return (I also sent the 2018 because I had uploaded that to CEAC a year ago--they took it, but I don't know if that was needed) and a copy of relevant W2, 1099 forms, etc.”
If your filing address is Canadian you will be unable to use the online transcript service and will need to use the “Request by Mail” option which is free and should take around 10-15 days to get to you.
 
The information on my DS-260 has changed since I submitted it. How do I let them know?
For mailing address changes you can email the consulate to let them know. If you have a rescheduled appointment, you can also update the address at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv (main page click "Continue" in the top right, then Update Delivery Location button). For additional travel to the US, consider bringing the beneficiaries record of travel from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home (click on the “view travel history” tab) to the interview. For all other changes, be prepared to answer questions about them at your interview. 
 
What is the interview process like during COVID?
The process is the same as before but with additional health precautions. You will be required to wear a mask and answer a few COVID screening questions before entering the consulate (have you been out of the country in the last 14 days, do you have any symptoms, etc). The waiting room is very spaced out and there is hand sanitizer available. The masks can make it hard to hear each other but the windows where you will hand in your documents and have your interview have speakers so you will be able to hear the officer.
 
Will they shut down again?
This is always an unknown but up to date alert levels in Quebec can be found here. Here is a list of current restrictions in Montreal: https://www.mtl.org/en/covid-19
 
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Police Certificate
 
How long is my police certificate valid for?
1 year
 
Which police certificate is the correct one?
This is currently in the process of changing. If you have the older one but it is still valid you are all good.
See: https://www.visajourney.com/static/images/uploads/monthly_2020_11/9242748B-A2F2-44DF-B6B4-C3CDD253466C.thumb.jpeg.1435384a5aae044ec8a9f74b7a0888f3.jpeg
 
My police report doesn’t have fingerprints on it, is this the wrong one?
It is fingerprint based, but will not have fingerprints on it. If there are fingerprints on yours, you have the wrong one. 
 
What do I ask for?
The requirements can be found here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country/Canada.html
 
How do I get a certified police certificate?
This is the cause of a lot of confusion. The police certificate itself won’t be certified (it won’t have a stamp or seal) but we figure it is certified in the sense that it is vouched for by the RCMP.
 
Do you have a recommendation for where I should go?
Many members have had luck going to their local Commissionnaires. If you are in Brampton/Mississauga/Kitchener, Frontier 1 has also been recommended as they have online appointment booking and know which certificate is correct.
COVID NOTE: Commissionaires is currently by appointment only. You must arrive within 5 minutes of your appointment, no earlier or later. Masks and COVID screening is required. 
 
Wait, the NVC accepted my police certificate but you’re saying it’s the wrong one?
The NVC is for the most part still accepting the wrong police certificate (a few members have reported it being rejected, but it’s not the norm yet). Regardless, you will need the correct police certificate for the interview. 
 
The NVC accepted the wrong police certificate but I got the correct one before my interview, what now?
Bring both to your interview as they’ll want to see both.
 
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Public Charge
 
Do I need to bring the DS-5540 to my interview?
No. This was overturned by the supreme court.
 
Do I need to bring proof of health insurance?
This is not something that is currently requested by the Montreal consulate.
 
I still want to bring proof that I can be on my spouse’s insurance. What should I bring?
A letter from your spouse’s HR dept (if employer based) or insurance provider (if not employer based) stating that they have coverage and that you can be added within 30 days and under what qualifying life event you will be added (i.e. immigration) should suffice. 

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Interview Scheduling
 
When are interviews assigned?
Usually in the third week of the month, on a Monday or Tuesday. There are exceptions to this though. A month by month breakdown is on the spreadsheet. 
 
Will they schedule two days in a row?
They have in the past, but probably not. If they have scheduled until the end of the month, they are done. 
 
I got my IL but my child doesn’t have one, or vice versa. What do I do?
Montreal usually sends out IL for children/parents the day after the child/parent receives their IL. They will be for the same date and time. If they do not or if they are not at the same time, call them and they will fix it (they do not want to separate parents and children at interviews).
 
Can I see how many interviews were scheduled previously?
Yes, this information is publicly available here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html

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Interview Registration
 
My interview letter says not to book travel but I want/need to travel before my interview, what now?
This is in reference to not booking any travel for moving to the US before you have your visa in hand since you may go through a long AP or get denied. You are free to travel before your interview. 
 
Where do I go to register my appointment?
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv/information/iv_services
 
I got my interview letter but the website says “not ready for an appointment”, help!
It can take 24-72 hours for the appointment registration to work properly.
 
What option do I select when registering for the return courier?
“I have received a Consular interview appointment date from the National Visa Center (NVC) or the Kentucky Consular Center (KCC) and I have been instructed to register my appointment on this site.”
 
Where can I find my DS-260 confirmation number?
It is at the bottom of the barcode on the confirmation page. 
 
I live in/close to Montreal, can I pick up my passport at the embassy?
No.
 
Is premium service faster?
Nope. Premium service just means it gets delivered to your home rather than the nearest pick up point.
 
Where can I find a list of pick up points?
https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/information/courier_dropboxes
 
What courier does the consulate use?
Purolator for premium service, Canada Post otherwise. 
 
Will I get a physical interview letter in the mail?
Nope, just the email.
 
I want to reschedule my interview, how do I do that?
Please read this thread: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/635217-guidance-on-how-to-reschedule-interview-date-for-cr1/
It is strongly advised that you do not reschedule, unless it is an emergency or you are willing to delay your interview for a few months.
Here is a user’s experience from early 2021:
“Hi, All.  I was able to reschedule - but because of Covid, it's a lot more complicated than the link that is provided in the FAQ's.  When I realized I wasn't able to make my March 1st appointment (after much anxiety and sleepless nights), I emailed Montreal (the email they recommend to use) and gave them my information - my passport #, my Case # and forwarded my interview email from the NVC.  I told them my reasons (too short notice, working in states, young children traumatized by last 8 mo separation from father, etc).  They cancelled my interview.   I went to sign in at the interview scheduling website - and they said I needed to schedule an appointment - and that there were none available at the time.  Weird, I was expecting to see a calendar, but whatever.  I kept checking.  At the end of February I received another date  - April 9.  Well, that's nice and all, but I'm here in the states under an r-class work visa (I'm a pastor) and April 9 is right after Easter...and I can't leave here during the most holy celebration/feast to quarantine and have all my appointments.  So, I emailed the consulate again and this time I was first given the following email: "The U.S. Consulate General in Montreal does not handle re-scheduling interviews. Any questions about scheduling/re-scheduling the appointment or any issues with the website of our appointment services contractor should be reported directly to the Official U.S. Department of State Visa Appointment Service using the contact details here https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/iv/information/contact_us" On the scheduling website it says their call centre can reschedule appointments.  So, I called them, however, the person I talked to at the call-centre said that, no, the Montreal consulate will reschedule the appointment only after I miss the April 9 appointment.  Ok, that's not what happened last time - but ok.
Yesterday I received another email from Montreal saying: Good morning, Thank you for the notification. Our Visa unit will contact you with appointment availability in late April and May 2021. “

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Medical
FYI: A user has noted that the address listed for Medisys (500 Sherbrooke W) is incorrect and you should use the address on Google instead. 
 
What vaccines do I need?
1. Tetanus-Diphtheria (Td/Tdap) (Must have had done in last 10 years)
2. MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
3. Varicella (Chicken Pox) (If had Chicken Pox before not needed)
4. Hep A and Hep B ( Must have at least the first shot)
5. Covid (Must have 2 shots)
6. Flu Shot (Nov-March only, though Dr. Cheema in Surrey notes that it is needed from October-February)*
*If your medical is in March but your interview is in April, you will still be required to get a flu shot.
 
I can only get the first dose in a series vaccine before my medical. What should I do?
This is fine (as confirmed by Dr. Zatzman’s office). You will still need to get the remaining doses but your medical will not be impacted.
 
Do I need to bring passport photos?
If you are going to Dr. Cheema in Surrey they will take a photo of you there so they are not required. Other panel physicians do still require passport photos.
 
My interview is in November but I wasn’t able to get a flu shot before my medical, is that ok?
If the doctor has flu shots available they will give you one at your medical. If they are not available, they can provide a waiver. 
 
Is a flu shot from a pharmacy (such as Shoppers Drug Mart) ok or do I need to go to my doctor?
A flu shot from a pharmacy is fine. 
 
How much does the medical cost?
It depends on which doctor you go to and if you need any additional vaccines. Dr. Cheema is $350 without additional vaccines.
 
I’m pregnant, how will that affect my medical?
One user reported the following experience:
“I did not get any vaccines, as I am currently pregnant. I still had to do the chest x-ray (you can refuse, but then your visa application halts until you get the x-ray). The technician let me know it's about the same amount of radiation as if I were to take a plane to Europe, plus she gave me a lead "vest".”
Additionally, different physicians have different requirements for pregnant applicants that may take extra time to complete (such as getting a note from your doctor). Please check in advance to confirm if the physician you are seeing has any additional requirements. 
 
Any additional tips?
If you are going to Dr. Cheema, the lifelabs location that he uses is quite busy and can have a multiple hour wait. You should look to see if they have any appointments available (through the lifelabs website) about 60-90 minutes after your appointment with Dr. Cheema. If they do not, it is recommended to use the save my spot feature so you can be moving forward in line while at Dr. Cheema’s and the X-Ray place. Dr. Cheema currently has reserved appointments with LifeLabs and will provide you with an appointment for after your medical. 
The Lifelabs in Surrey is currently by appointment only, so an appointment should be made for 1.5-2 hours after your medical.

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Interview Process
 
Can my US spouse attend the interview with me?
No. Only the beneficiary attends the IR1/CR1 interview. Spouses cannot even enter the building. There is a Second Cup around the corner from the consulate where spouses often wait that is now colloquially referred to as Spouse Purgatory.
 
I heard I should show up early, is that still true?
No! When the consulate moved locations they stopped allowing people to show up early. It’s recommended that you show up no earlier than 5 minutes before your scheduled time. 
 
My kids are immigrating with me, do I need anything from their other parent?
Yes. You will have to provide proof that they are allowed to immigrate with you. A notarized letter signed by the other parent and a copy of your custody agreement (if there is one) has worked for members in the past. 
 
I am not a Canadian citizen, do I need to bring anything extra?
Yes. Bring your PR card/work permit/proof of status in Canada, and a copy. It is also recommended that you bring a copy of your resume. 
 
Do I need to bring photos?
Yes, you need 2 recent (within the last 6 months) US sized passport photos. It is not required that they be stamped, but it is recommended.
 
Will they keep any original documents?
Temporarily. When you are called up to the document window they will keep the documents that they request, but at the interview window you will receive them back. Documents that they don’t return to you at the window will be mailed back with your passport (e.g. an updated police certificate).
 
What should I wear?
There is no dress code and you don’t need to dress up, but it is recommended that you wear clean, appropriate (e.g. no vulgar graphic tees) clothes. 
“I wore dark jeans and a plain blouse to my interview and many others were wearing jeans and a sweater, button up, or even a plain t-shirt, it was very casual. Honestly, just wear something plain, clean and without holes and it will be totally fine. No need for fancy hair, make-up, jewelry, or anything special. No dresses or heels, no suits or ties. You will be sitting in a hard plastic chair for 90% of the time you are there and the rest of the time you will be standing in line to get in, or standing at the window for the interview part. Just be comfortable because you could be there for up to three hours. Plus, the employees are behind huge thick windows/chest high walls and basically cannot see what you are wearing at all, certainly nothing from the waist up. The other employees there are security guards in uniforms, and they don't care what you look like.”
 
How long does the interview take?
The actual interview itself is usually less than 5 minutes. However, you should plan to be in the consulate for ~2-3 hours (though some are quicker and some are slower).
 
What documents will I be asked for?
This changes for everyone. This is not an exhaustive list, but a good place to start is with the following:
Passport 2 pictures Medical report Birth certificate Marriage certificate Divorce papers (if applicable) Police clearance/s I864 (it does not matter if the expiration date of the form is expired at the time of your interview as long as it was the most recent version of the form available when you filled it out and submitted it to the NVC).  Income tax return and W2 Petitioner birth certificate (if born in US) or proof of status If you have previously lived in the US on any visa (excluding B1/B2 since that is a visitors visa) bring proof as you may be asked to show it. Remember, it is always better to have a document and not need it, than need a document and not have it.  If any of these documents have changed it may save you time at your interview by uploading them to CEAC ahead of time. If you don’t it won’t cause any problems, they’ll just scan them at your interview which can take more time. 
 
Do I need to bring additional documents for my joint sponsor?
You will need their 1040 and proof of their legal status in the US. If your sponsor files their taxes as "Married Filing Jointly" you will need their W2s so that they can determine if the income listed on the 1040 is from the sponsor, or from their spouse. If the sponsor files as single, then you don't need W-2s.
 
Do they have vending machines? Drinking fountains? Washrooms? 
They do not have vending machines but drinking fountains and washrooms are available.
 
Are there any security measures?
Yes, the security measures are exactly the same as at the airport. Coats off, empty pockets, all things through an x ray, walk through metal detector, etc. 
 
I read that I can’t bring my phone in, where do I leave it?
There are lockers for small devices (phones, car remotes, etc) but it appears that once these are full they direct people to a nearby mall to store their devices there. The mall has lockers which are $1 to rent until 9pm. 
 
Can I bring a bag?
Small bags are ok, but large bags are not allowed and cannot be stored at the consulate.
 
Wait, I can’t bring my phone or large bags? Are there any other rules?
https://ca.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/security-procedures/?_ga=1.245784708.1068573271.1430745955
 
Can I at least bring my coat with me?
Yes. You can bring it upstairs to the interview, but you will need to take it off when you go through security.
 
How will I know when it is my turn to give in documents or be interviewed?
Your name will be called over a loudspeaker.

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AP/Interview Issues
FYI: If you are given a 221g, CEAC will now say “Refused” so that it more accurately reflects the 221g letter. This is a new change (March 3rd 2020) so older posts about CEAC saying “Refused” may not be relevant. 
 
Has Montreal rejected anyone?
Yes, for youth criminal charges. They were able to successfully appeal their denial and are pending a second interview. The majority of rejections are temporary however and are covered in more detail in the next question.
 
What reasons do people get temporarily refused for?
From our group, we have seen the following:
Document was a copy and not the original Lack of domicile (bring as much as you can but it would appear that a formal lease (not just a letter) is what they are looking for) Incorrect police clearance Presidential Proclamation 9645 (aka the travel ban) DS-5535 requested (due to work/education history) A name hit requiring the FBI to do further checks (user googled themselves and found “some pretty bad dudes came up”)  
I was missing a document and have to submit it after my interview. How long will this take to process?
The official line is USUALLY 6 weeks (but up to 8). Your status will be “administrative processing” in the meantime. 
 
I have previously held a US visa, will this affect me?
Maybe. One user whose spouse previously held a J1 visa was told it would take 3-4 weeks to receive the visa because they have to confirm the J1 was cancelled properly (it ended up being issued in a week). That is the only report we have of a previous visa causing a potential delay. 
 
I was given a 221g for missing documents but I can’t figure out what to do next?
Log into the AIS website and click the button that says “send documents” (beside the header). It takes you to a page that says ‘consulate directed me to send more documents’. Click that, follow the directions, and print off the receipt. Take that to the post office you selected, they know what to do from that point to send your documents. 
 
Have any interviews been cancelled?
Yes, there was a user who had their interview cancelled due to temporarily not having status in Canada (which is a requirement for the interview). This is the only non-wide scale cancellation we’ve heard of. There were also a few interviews rescheduled due to the consulate moving, as well as all interviews being cancelled due to COVID. 

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Visa Status (Post Interview)
 
How will I know the status of my visa?
Your case will go through the following statuses in CEAC:
READY ISSUED (with a note saying “Your visa case is currently undergoing necessary administrative processing. This processing can take several weeks. As the officer told you in the interview, if further information is needed, you will be contacted. If your visa application is approved when administrative processing is finished, you will receive notification to collect the passport with the visa from the Loomis branch you selected when you booked your appointment. For more information, please visit TRAVEL.STATE.GOV.”) ISSUED (with a note saying “Your visa is in final processing. If you have not received it in more than five (5) working days, please go to https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_courrier_information to track your courier waybill. For more information, please visit TRAVEL.STATE.GOV”) NOTE: Your status might say “refused” instead of “administrative processing”. This is as a result of the new wording (as mentioned in the AP/Interview Issues section) and is normal as long as you were approved at your interview. Your tracking number will come from “donotreply@usvisa-info.com”.

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Visa In Hand
 
How long do I have to activate my visa?
6 months from your medical date.
 
Do I need to pay any more fees?
Yes, you need to pay a $220 immigrant fee, which can be paid either before or after you enter the US (processing of your physical green card won’t start until both the fee has been paid and you have activated your visa). You may get an error that says “We could not find the A-Number and/or DOS Case ID you entered” in which case wait 5 days after approval before trying again and then contact USCIS if the issue persists. 
 
Where can I pay the immigrant fee?
https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/
You’ll need your case number and your alien number from your visa. You can pay by credit card or US bank.
 
Where can I find my alien number?
It can be found on the visa in your passport and starts with A# or is listed as the “registration number” immediately below your IV Case Number. Further information about how to find your A number and case ID can be found here: https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/uscis-immigrant-fee/immigrant-fee-payment-tips-on-finding-your-a-number-and-dos-case-id
 
My visa has 212(g)(2)(B) as an annotation, will I have problems at POE?
Nope! This is common and won’t cause any issues at POE.
 
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Prepping for Move
 
Do I have to close my Canadian bank accounts?
No, but there are a few things to keep in mind.
You will have to file Fincen Form 114 to report your Foreign bank accounts, which is different from your tax return You get charged on certain investment accounts if you are not a resident of Canada (e.g. TFSA, RRSP, RESP, etc)  
Do I have to have a list of my belongings when crossing the land border?
Yes, but it doesn’t have to be every single item. Something like this to hand to the agent has worked for users:
Box 1: Clothing Box 1 (shirts, pants) value ~ $300 Box 2: 20 Textbooks, value ~ $1000 Electronic items: 50" flat screen tv, value ~ $750; computers, etc.  Furniture items: couch, value ~ $500  
Can I bring my car? (Update As of Jan 2023 Lexus Canada will not give compliance letters to import your car. Do not buy before you move and think about selling if you can.) 
Yes. To import your car, you need to provide the following: Canadian registration for the car, bill of sale, proof of ownership, DOT form HS-7 + EPA form 3520 (safety & emissions compliance). Automobiles are generally subject to duty of 2.5% of their current value when they are imported to the US. However, vehicles manufactured in NAFTA countries (Canada, U.S. and Mexico) are usually exempt from this duty. 
You have a year after you move to import your car into the US (although your Canadian insurance might not cover you in the US and you won’t be able to register it until you have imported it). You cannot import a car that is leased or not fully paid off if the dealer is the one you owe, but you may be able to with permission if it is through a 3rd party auto finance or bank. 
Recommended reading:
https://cars.lovetoknow.com/Can_I_Take_my_Canadian_Car_to_the_US_to_Stay
https://www.cbp.gov/trade/basic-import-export/importing-car
 
What is the best way to exchange my money?
A user suggested a technique called Norbert’s Gambit through a discount brokerage called Questrade. You need to be a Canadian resident in order to use Questrade so it needs to be done before POE. If you are just looking to transfer money easily, Transferwise (now called Wise) has been suggested. 
 
Are there any scams I should look out for when shipping my car?
“A friend of mine [took their shipped] car in today for routine service and discovered the tires were dangerously worn/not road safe at all. Well it came as a huge surprise to them since the tires and car are only 2 years old. Turns out during the transport, someone switched out their good new tires for ones that were assessed to be likely 10 years old. They were mortified they didn't notice 2 months ago when they first got the car delivered, and are filing a complaint with the company, but who knows if it will go anywhere. They did learn that this type of crime isn't that uncommon when transporting cars. So probably worth your time to take a few pictures and notes about any vehicle you plan to ship.”
 
What is the cheapest way to move my belongings?
U-Pack (good reviews for both dropping off at a depot, and using the pods). 
 
Are there any tricks if I don’t have any furniture and am flying in?
Look at prices for first class tickets. They usually include some baggage (often at a higher weight limit) and might end up saving you money in the long run. 
 
Does my credit transfer over to the US?
Nope! There are a few ways to deal with this:
Open an account with a bank that offers cross border banking (TD, RBC) and set up a US bank account and credit card. You still won’t have US credit, but you’ll be able to open a credit card based on your Canadian credit rather than getting a secured card Get added as an authorized user on your spouse’s credit card (only if they have a good credit score). You still won’t have any credit history, but their score will transfer to you American Express Global Transfer Pay for a secured card I visit my spouse in the US often, can I start bringing my belongings down when I visit?
Nope. This is not allowed until you have your visa. Once you have your visa you have one year to move your car and ten years to move your belongings. 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------
 
POE
 
Will I get a 2 year or 10 year green card?
It depends. If you have been married for more than 2 years by the time of your interview, you will be issued an IR1 visa and a 10 year green card. If you were married for less than 2 years by the time of your interview, but more than 2 years by the time you POE, you will be issued a CR1 visa but receive a 10 year green card. If you have been married for less than 2 years by the time you POE, you will receive a CR1 visa and a 2 year conditional green card. 
 
My POE was after we had been married for 2 years, but I got a 2 year green card instead of a 10 year green card. What do I do?
If you receive the wrong type of green card, file form I-90 and indicate that you are filing because your card contains an error due to a Department of Homeland Security error (this will also waive the fee). 
 
Can I visit the US as a tourist (rather than activating my visa) once I have my passport back?
Don’t rely on this. Sometimes the border officer will allow it, but this is not standard procedure. 
 
What should I do when I get to the border?
Tell them that you are activating an immigrant visa. You’ll be pulled into secondary for processing but they will be nice to you. This will likely take a few hours, so make sure you leave yourself plenty of time.
 
Can I cross to activate my visa and then return to Canada and do a full move later?
Yes. But note that the moment you cross the border you are a resident of the US and not of Canada. You will not be covered by your Canadian healthcare and will need travel insurance (Canadian healthcare can be quite expensive if you are not a resident). This is because you have to be moving permanently when you activate your visa. Crossing to activate your visa and then going home isn't technically allowed even though we do see it happen. Moving permanently but then visiting to tie up loose ends is allowed, but is not enough to satisfy the requirements to keep healthcare.
There are also tax implications if you are still working in Canada during this time and it is best to involve an accountant. The date you activated your visa will be your departure date for the CRA and not the date that you do your final move. 
 
I am a Canadian PR, do I have to do anything special?
Canada has specific residency requirements that one must meet to keep PR status: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/new-immigrants/pr-card/understand-pr-status.html Canada cannot revoke your PR status unless you fail to follow these rules, and even then your case must be reviewed by a judge who will determine if you are still a PR. If you know you cannot meet the residency requirements, it is recommended that you voluntarily renounce your PR to avoid the hassle of having your PR reviewed to determine if it is still valid.
As a result you can concurrently hold Canadian PR status as well as LPR status in the US, although it is tricky to balance the requirements of both. You will be required to prove that the US is your permanent home (as moving to a new country and intending to live there permanently counts as abandoning your LPR status) while also spending 730 days out of the last 5 years in Canada. Maintaining your Canadian PR status will not allow you to retain your eligibility for provincial health care so travel insurance will be needed for those 730 days, and claiming you are a resident to use provincial health care could lose you your US LPR status. If you wish to take this route, further information on how to prove ties to the US and avoid accidentally abandoning your status can be found here: https://citizenpath.com/green-card-abandonment-risks-travel-abroad/
 
I didn’t get a packet! What do I give the border at POE?
Packets are now electronic. All you need to give them is your passport with the visa inside. 

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After POE
 
Can I travel/work once I’ve entered the US?
Yes! Your visa will be stamped at POE, and that stamped visa acts as a temporary green card, until the actual card arrives in the mail.
 
My spouse’s insurance doesn’t accept immigration as a qualifying life event, what now?
Some users have had luck using “loss of existing coverage” (their provincial healthcare) as the qualifying life event. 
 
Can I still use my provincial health insurance after I move? It says that I will still be covered for 3 months after a move.
No. That coverage does not apply to moves to the US. Once you activate your CR1/IR1 visa you will be a permanent resident of the US and therefore cannot be a resident of Canada (which is required to get provincial health insurance). If you try to claim residence in both countries, you will create tax issues and you risk losing your permanent resident status in the US.
 
Can I get EI after I move?
https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/8-the-canuck-ei-thread/
 
How long until I get my SSN?
Even if you selected “yes” to receive your SSN on the DS260, you may not get one. If you don’t have your SSN 3 weeks after POE, go to your local social security office (during COVID this requires an appointment) to inquire about it. If you didn’t select “yes”, you’ll have to go in person regardless. It will take about 10 days after that. 
 
Can I convert my _____ licence to a ______ licence?
This depends on your current province and what state you’ll be moving to. You’ll need to contact your local DMV for more details. 
 
What name will be on my green card?
SSN, DL, State ID will be the same as your GC name. GC name will be the same as your visa name. Visa name will be the same as your passport name. 
 
When will I receive my green card?
Within 120 days. A user’s advice for delays: 
You can check your application status by creating My USCIS account. One of the problems for a delay in getting your green card is "lost visa packet". For Canadian applicants, the US Consulate provides electronic visa packets and sends them directly to the Department of Homeland Security. The service centre who initially approved your spouse’s visa petition is responsible for issuing the green card. The service centre expects a physical packet to process the application. Since the packet is electronic, they don't put effort in to get the packet and instead mark the application incomplete with "lost visa packet". Best thing is they don't even inform the applicant even after the limit of 120 days. The Texas Service Centre is notorious in losing visa packets and delay in issuing green cards. If you don't get your green card after 120 days then there is a bit of a long process to get things done. Below are the steps:
1. Send an email to USCIS for reason of delay.
2. Fill the online form to inquire about your application being outside processing times. Select OS155A for the type of request.
3. Once you get a reply and get to know the reason for the delay, call USCIS to get an Infopass appointment at your local USCIS office. You may need to explain the situation to the USCIS agent and it may be a struggle to get an appointment.
4. At your Infopass appointment, carry your all docs and ask them to create a physical packet for you and to send it to the service centre.
5. Then wait for at least 2 weeks to check again.
 
I have NEXUS, how do I update my address?
You need to visit your closest enrollment center. You may need an appointment for this, depending on how busy your closest center is. 
 
Help! ______ is asking for my I-94 but I can’t find it. What happened?
Green card holders cannot hold a valid form I-94 as those are for nonimmigrant admissions only, therefore the I-94 online site will no longer work. Your visa/green card should be used to prove status in lieu of an I-94. If you need your CBP travel history you can submit a FOI request to the CBP to get it at https://foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/home
 
Anything else?
“TURN ON TEXT NOTIFICATIONS FOR YOUR AMERICAN CARDS!!! In the US, many places still bank in the 90’s”
Google Fi is the most recommended US cell provider in the group
 
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General FAQ
 
How many days can I be in the US each year?
You can be in the US for as many days as CBP allows. The standard is 6 months per visit but this may be shortened at the discretion of the CBP officer. As for frequency of visits, travel.gc.ca states “There is no set period that you must wait to re-enter the United States after the end of your authorized stay. However, if a CBP officer suspects you are spending more time in the United States than in Canada, it will be up to you to prove to the officer that you are a temporary visitor, not a U.S. resident”. The usual advice is to be in Canada for at least twice as long as you were in the US, but there have been cases where individuals have not followed this and had no trouble re-entering the US. Additionally, the IRS has their own rule called the substantial presence test that is used to determine if you are considered a resident for tax purposes. It takes the amount of days you have been in the US in the current calendar year (if over 30 days), plus 1/3rd of the days from the previous calendar year, plus 1/6th of the days from the calendar year before that (e.g. if you spent 30 days in the US each year, you’d add 30 days from 2020, 10 days from 2019, and 5 days from 2018). If this adds up to 182 or more, you need to file US taxes for the current tax year. Being a resident for tax purposes does not affect your visa. 
Here’s another good explanation: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/748289-ir-1cr-1-montreal-dqd-private-message-group-goes-public/page/89/?tab=comments#comment-10301360
 
If I can be in the US for more than 6 months in a year, what happens to my provincial health insurance?
This should 100% be something you check with your province, but for example BC allows residents to remain eligible despite being away for up to 24 months in a 5 year period (more here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/health-drug-coverage/msp/bc-residents/managing-your-msp-account/leaving-bc-temporarily)
 
I don’t know what __ means!
DQ = documentarily qualified
CC = case complete (old term for DQ)
IL = interview letter
POE = point of entry
AP = administrative processing
AOS = affidavit of support
PD = priority date
RFE (FE for NVC) = request for evidence
You may see these being used elsewhere in a way that makes no sense. There are a few that overlap with other visa types, but this is what they mean for CR1/IR1. 
 
I need a translator! Do you have any recommendations?
Aaron Marchand to translate French to English. His price is $0.20/word, and he will provide you with both a physical copy embossed with his certification of official translation, and a digital copy. His email is amarchand@fastmail.com.
Betty Howell (Traductions Betty Howell Inc). The cost is $35 for a form. Phone: 514-738-9976. Does rushes. 
 
I don’t live near Montreal. Can I interview somewhere else in Canada? What about Vancouver?
There is only one consulate in Canada that does the interview and that's Montreal. 
 
Where is the Montreal consulate?
1134 Sainte-Catherine Street West
Montreal, QC 
H3B1H4
 
Do I need to upload any additional documents to CEAC?
If you are a Canadian PR, you should upload proof of status. There have been instances where Canadians have been required to provide this to the NVC and it will be required at the interview. 
 
Do my photocopies have to be in colour?
Black and white is fine. 
 
Some of my documents are in French. Do I need to get these translated since French is spoken in Montreal?
Yes. The NVC does not require them to be translated since French is an official language of Canada, but the consulate requires them to be translated. 
 
Is ______ a good reason to expedite?
Montreal is a strict consulate in terms of approving expedites and they are not commonly granted. That being said, the following are reasons that USCIS may accept for an expedite:
USCIS may consider expediting a benefit request if it meets one or more of the following criteria: Severe financial loss to a company or person, provided that the need for urgent action is not the result of the petitioner’s of applicant’s failure: (1) to file the benefit request or the request to expedite in a reasonable time frame; or (2) to respond to any requests for additional evidence in a reasonably timely manner; Urgent humanitarian reasons; Compelling U.S. Government interests (such as urgent cases for the Department of Defense or DHS, or other public safety or national security interests); of Clear USCIS error.  
I don’t have 5 years of proof for CRBA. What can I do?
You can do an online FOIA request that may help you.
 
I requested an expedite, how long will it take to hear back?
It depends. Some users have heard back in as little as 5-10 days, others have had to wait 3 weeks. Montreal is not liberal with allowing expedites though, so unless it is life or death it will likely be denied. 
 
I’m going to have a baby before POE (congrats!) What do I need to know?
The good news about having a baby in Canada born to a US Citizen (if they qualify for CRBA) is that the baby gets US citizenship super easily. Once you receive the baby’s birth certificate, there is a paper application, a filing fee, and a quick interview at a US Embassy. It then takes ~2 weeks for their US passport to arrive. To qualify for CRBA, you must demonstrate that the US citizen parent was physically present in the US for five years, two of which were after the age of fourteen. Note: The US citizen parent must be present at the Embassy interview. 
 

Awesome!!
Assuming it was an email?

Ok Cool!
There must be a handful at the embassy that didnt get interviews...
Once you guys are all interviewed then I assume they will start shipping cases from NVC.
 
Hope you hear something soon!!

I often wonder how some people manage to get through this very long and complicated journey that is immigration. It truly baffles me.

Hi all. I have been waiting for Montreal to open appointments since March 16th 2020. I don't understand how one of you is only waiting for a month or why you think a month is a long time? 
 
To help explain in more detail. On March 16th I was asked by the Embassy via email to create an account here https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv and book an appointment. On the same day they closed down because of Covid. 
 
I know people behind me in the process aka waiting to get that email from the Embassy asking them to book their appointment that haven't heard from the Embassy since early March. I don't understand how you heard from the Embassy when we are in the midst of Covid and only those with cancelled appointments are available to re-schedule. if that's the case, then thing are truly messed up on their end and they should be working with priority on applicants. That's not to say you are not important but if other people are waiting for that email since March, they should have gotten it.
 
Also, trust me, I can't explain how difficult its been to look at the screenshot you posted since March 16th when I knew I would be back with the person I love in only a matter of 2 months if it wasn't for COVID. I just hope that by mid November they will clear all the reschedules. According to my calculations, all rescheduled will be cleared end of November.
 
Also, they are seeing people Mondays and Wednesday - 6 per day. I hope this helps guys! Let me know how you've only been waiting for a month and when you got the email from Montreal that you are ready to schedule. I got it March 16th and like I said been waiting since then. 

August stats are posted for Canada:
 
Any news for others?

Awesome news all around that they are moving forward!!
 
For those of you wondering when it will be your turn... 👇
I did a search going back to NOA2 of October 2019 (roughly when the cases that are being rescheduled now are from) and it looks like there are 61 cases since then.
21 of those have gotten interviews prior to COVID.
That being said; if the embassy keeps on 5-interviews a week you can make a guess on when maybe possibly almost with a bit of luck you could potentially perhaps aproximately have your interview.
Our NOA2 came in April of this year so I ran the search through the end of April.
This is only the people on visa journey and there are obvs those that dont update their timeline so all with a grain of salt...
 
Anyhow... back to reality and another dose of patience...
 

To be clear, my husband doesn't have an appointment even though our request for an expedite was accepted by Sydney on July 8. The border crossing permission does not require a travel date and is good for 2 weeks. You would need to show proof of the appointment and the legal requirement at the airport. Victoria has no restrictions on travel to NSW. None of this matters as the Sydney Consulate won't listen to us and schedule an appointment. We have been married 27 years and now separated for nearly 7 months, by far the longest time in our marriage. I am concerned about my husband's health. We are in our 60s. 

Yes that was me!!! I hope they move fast 
 
 

yeah thats me, I got an appointment today for October 19

Cross posting that via facebook Canadian K1 & Spousal Visa group this morning a K1 with an original interview date of March 18, was reschedule to October 19.  I imagine some VJ members will be able to report the same in the coming days. 

Just waiting for the dots to go green on here... 🙏
https://ca.usembassy.gov/embassy-consulates/consular-operations-updates/
They have been mission critical since day one but dont think its made much difference...
 
Patience is the name of the game i guess...

Yup. We are in the same boat as you.
Our NOA2 was a month or so before yours.