VA21202

IR/CR got letters for early August interviews. Let’s hope August is the month for some EB interviews to get slotted once again! 🤞🏻 

IR/CR got letters for early August interviews. Let’s hope August is the month for some EB interviews to get slotted once again! 🤞🏻 

We are filing the notice of intent on Monday, which gives them 30 days to respond from what I understand.
 
 

Just had a Zoom chat with her, really like her enthusiasm and professionalism, personally I am going to wait a few more months, and get the process started in November when my case is nearing the one year mark, if MTL is still dragging their feet. But interested in hearing the progress of your case to the extend that you're able to share publicly! 

Thanks for the update! Spoke to Goldstein over the weekend and they’re willing to file individual too (cannot do group despite it looking like similar cases, they said). Sharing this if anyone, especially NIW self petitioned folks, are interested. I’m unable to proceed since I’ll have to get the green light from my employer and employer’s law firm

Amazing thanks so much for doing this key first step and research! I really am hoping I can join in, depends on what my employer says. Will keep you posted, thanks a lot! All the best with this!

Does this affect if we have our own lawyer?
 I am interested but I have my own lawyer so want to know how does that affect?

Okay, the Mandamus is going to be for the group.  Anyone interested in the Mandamus route, please DM me the following ASAP:
 
1. Name
2.  Which state you are moving to
3.  Type of Immigrant Visa
4.  DQ Date
5.  Field of employment
6.  Confirm Montreal is Consulate
7.  E-mail address
 
The lawyer is Sarah S. Rama.  She is based out of Florida.  Sounds like this is going to be pro bono.  She is working on her pleadings and will work on additional facts as we go.  She will be filing in each districts court that each of us are moving to.
 

This will probably be petitioned by individuals, but doesn't mean we can't all use the same law firm to do this at the same time. Once you know more, please share!
Thanks!

Correct, still at NVC 😣

Apparently they updated it yesterday but the timestamp at the top still says May 4 so I didn’t read further. Just read the details below and the info is still inaccurate  We know FB interviews were in the Aug-Oct range after yesterday’s batch. So yup, now on top of no information, there’s potentially inaccurate information coming in as well.
 
“As of June 6, 2022, most Immediate Relative and fiancé(e) visa cases being scheduled for interview in Montreal were documentarily complete at the National Visa Center in April 2022;  most Family Preference cases scheduled for interview were documentarily qualified June 2020; and most Employment cases scheduled for interview were documentarily complete in March 2020.”

Yes, I hope you get it soon! Let’s hope for a nice surprise from MTL and I wish you get the letter as soon as possible. They owe you this after two rounds of March letters!

DQ Aug-Oct 2020. Interviews to be held between July 22-29.
 
This is the forum: https://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/719462-f2a-category-montreal-interview-pending/page/38/#comments
 

Thanks @VA21202.  I am still holding on to a glimmer of hope that by some miracle they fill a few open spots with EB in July...but yeah, looking like August for our next EB batch.  SO brutal.

Again, nothing with EB? 

If it's any consolation, it seems like they've been continuously accelerating EB processing for the past year, reaching approx. pre-pandemic rates in April. May data should be out soon as well.
The graph below also shows Warsaw which I'm considering transferring to.
 

Exactly @ALC! Maybe their plan is to flush out all the FBs now and that might take another 6 rounds of letters to get to a backlog free state (assuming they do 3 months in each round). But you’re right, if they could just communicate what the plan is, that would be super helpful and be a lot less frustrating. At this point unfortunately we just don’t know their plan.

Actually really good to see that MTL is actively clearing the backlog of cases, for me personally, the frustration is less about the wait, but the unpredictable timeline of MTL and the feeling of being stuck. 

Thank you very much!
 
I’ll keep everyone posted how everything goes. 

FB got letters today (saw one up to Oct 21 2020). Congrats @204! I remember you were active here, back when EB and FB moved together very slowly at MTL. Good luck to you
 
 

Me too, I have been a long time lurker here for the past 6 months or so, and finally said to myself that maybe we should do something. 
I am hoping we don't actually go to court with DOS/MTL, and fingers crossed a Intent to Sue letter from a lawyer and a couple dozen signatures might force them to change their tactics. 
We shall see I guess lol

I'm pretty excited about this!  I work with two lawyers (different firms) as the one just does the 1-140's as well, but they recommended the second after 8 months of getting nowhere fast as she deals more with the posts directly.  The second lawyer was pretty pumped Friday when I asked about a potential group lawsuit, she didn't even wait for my go ahead to contact the only lawyer she thinks that would file the lawsuit, she jumped right on it!  I'm really hoping that we can get some traction as this waiting game is not very enjoyable.  I can't even imagine how those waiting 2 years feel, one year has been challenging enough.

Hi All - I spoke to my lawyer and she is reaching out to the only lawyer she feels would file a lawsuit against Montreal.  She will get back to me sometime Monday/Tuesday as to whether or not he feels we have a case.  I have also asked if those who had a company file on their behalf can join as well.  I will let you know what I find out.

Gotcha, that great! I think it will be difficult to convince my employer to participate in this lawsuit, especially since they have been waiting patiently for 2+ years and we are close to the end - April 2020 DQ date.
 
However, I'm willing to put in my share of monetary support for the lawsuit for this group. This process has been excruciating for me and wouldn't want anyone behind me in the EB line to go through the same experience. We need to get the Montreal consulate to get their act together by being fair for all IV categories and transparent with the process. 

Since EB cases are employer-sponsored, I believe the class action lawsuit might need employer blessings/support too? MTL Consulate/NVC can easily argue that the applicant is not in the jurisdiction to file a lawsuit and the petitioner is the main beneficiary of the EB visa.
A lawyer would need to clarify if this is true which is make it tricky since employers don't want to get involved in a lawsuit with the government. I’m not trying to be a downer (I fully personally support this idea), but just trying to understand if we need employer's approval for a collective lawsuit.