B&Grr

2 hours ago, Patelsn7 said:

VISA APPROVED on July 23rd! Many thanks to everyone who helped me on this forum, I will be moving to California on Aug 10th (fingers crossed I get my passport back before then). Been very busy wrapping up so didn't get a chance to post here before, apologies!

 

My appointment was at 10:15am but being too keen I got there at 9:50am and was asked to come back at 10:15am. The security officer asked for my name and checked it off on the list he had. Thereafter, the security asked me to put my electronic devices in the small locker. I was then asked to take the elevator to the first floor and hand in my passport at Window 6. The office was mostly empty with one lady ahead of me in the line. After handing my passport at Window 6, I was asked to sit down and waited for my number to be called. After about 10 mins of waiting, I was called at another Window where they asked for the following documents:

1) Birth certificate (they didn't ask for petitioner's birth certificate, only mine)

2) Marriage certificate

3) Previous marriage divorce certificate

4) Police certificate

 

After giving the above documents, I was given the Domestic Violence pamphlet. Then I was waiting for another ~10 mins and was called at a different Window. A very nice officer asked me the following questions:

1) How did my spouse and I meet?

2) Which countries have I visited in the last 5 years?

3) What does my husband do for living?

4) What do I do for living?

5) Where would we be living in the States?

 

After answering those questions, he said “we are faster than the system and that it is slowing down but I do plan to approve your visa” and handed me the “Welcome to USA” letter. I was in tears and told him it has been a very long wait and he said he can understand. Overall, it was a breeze and I was done the entire process in about 30 mins! Good luck to everyone and thank you again for this forum, it took away a lot of anxiety for me and am forever grateful.

 

 

Congrats! looks like we are moving to california the same week

4 minutes ago, Flowergirl 737 said:

Hey guys, where do we pay the immigrant fee? The link they gave me here in this letter does not work . 

I wasn't even aware of this fee, I thought we paid everything through CEAC. So looks like there is an 

immigrant fee that needs to be paid to USCIS of $220 before crossing the border. Help please!!! Thank you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

use this link - I just paid mine an hour ago. if pasting the link into address bar doesn't work - try again. it worked the second time for me

https://my.uscis.gov/uscis-immigrant-fee/

5 minutes ago, Coricat said:

Thanks for the helpful data point, B&Grr! I'll take your advice and use Canada Post then. If you don't mind sharing, was your situation a case of simply forgetting to bring an original (like me), or did they have doubts and asked you to provide additional docs? I had booked tickets to visit my in-laws in the US in two weeks, so wondering if I too should expect a 3-week delay for them to review/update status. Thanks so much!

My case was my birth certificate was the correct long form format as per requirements on website, except during the interview the officer told me I need to have my parents' names on it. So I had to go and apply for another birth cert and send it to the consulate office. From my email correspondences to the consulate - they state "It can take 2-3 weeks for us to review new documents, thank you for your patience. We will contact you if we need any additional information." .. For me they took 2.8 weeks to review and approve my documentation. Also keep in mind that just for sending documents in and for them to send documents back that already easily take up a week. Good luck!

2 minutes ago, Melody1920 said:

I was reading security instructions for Montreal embassy .. seems like they don’t allow any backpack or purse . How are people planning to carry their documents ?

 

2. It also seems no recording devices are allowed including cellphones . Does that mean that cellphones need to be kept at hotel or if we turn it off it is fine ?

I had a simple cloth bag with folder inside that held my documents with wallet and keys. They have lockers there for you to store your phone if you have it with you. I also had two kids with me so I had 3 kids books, tiny bottle of water and some crackers and they were ok with that.

2 hours ago, Coricat said:

Hi! First time poster here. I'm wondering if anyone has had experience with sending in additional documents to the consulate after the interview? I forgot to bring one of the original documents to the interview (my mistake!), so was given instructions to mail it to them. If you've been in this situation, did you use the consulate-paid courier with Canada Post (how many days did it take to get to the consulate), or did you use a UPS/Fedex to further expedite it? And how long did your additional processing take? Thanks so much!

I had to send in my documents after my interview. Long story short, I used the consulate-paid courier from Canada Post because in their email correspondence with me it stated "We strongly encourage applicants to send ALL the required documents together to the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal using our courier service at no cost for the applicant. This helps process mail more efficiently and helps avoid unnecessary delays.".

Using their paid courier system from Canada Post, it took a just under a week to get from BC to Montreal. After that, it took them 3 weeks to review/update my status. Followed by 2 days to send out my approved visa/passport/documents. My documents were sent out last Friday and it should arrive this Wed.. waiting to pick it up. 

On 3/19/2021 at 5:01 PM, Meghan.brooke said:

Great, thank you so much! I had no idea that Montreal actually could answer the phone lol

Hihi.. the number should just be the general line.. not the actual consulate officer number. The person who I spoke to had good knowledge and was able to direct me what to do in my case

3 minutes ago, Meghan.brooke said:

I need some help. So my daughter could possibly we born before my husbands interview date. If she was born like the day before or something, would he seriously need her birth certificate?? I was looking through the checklist and it says he needs any children's birth certificates even if they arent immigrating. My husband obviously wont be there for her birth and I couldn't get him her birth certificate for a long time because I need her original one. Do you think they would be understand because of this?? 😭

I would suggest calling the call center. When you go to this website  https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/MTL-Montreal.html#pre_interview_checklist, on the right it says "call center". click on the link and it will take you new website with a bunch of phone numbers - I dialed the montreal one. They can help direct you there. For my case, the lady who picked up my call went into my case file and sent me the email that had instructions for sending in my missing documents and she also told me to email the consulate for my birth cert case. She was quite nice and helpful.

14 minutes ago, Meghan.brooke said:

Does it really take up to 60 days for them to process a new document? 

Based upon my chat with the officer that day, it could be that long. It is case by case situation depending on what documentation you are providing and if needs to be followed up with background checks that was not done due to the missing documentation or if something triggered for additional background checks.

20 hours ago, MichaelZas said:

I am sorry to hear that, hopefully you will be able provide a new birth certificate and it will be all fine! I am wondering though what address do you send missing documents when you need to?

They actually send you an email with postage prepaid, just need to follow the instructions you get from email and bring it to Canada Post. It's like similar to returning stuff to Amazon. 

4 minutes ago, Hawk Riders said:

If your original birth certificate features all the required information, why wouldn't you send that one? Did your dad change his name after you were born?

Hello Hawk Riders,

The original birth certificate doesn't match the requirements shown on the US VISA document requirements website... so I'm not sure if I can risk it?

my dad changed name after I was born, I'm not too worried about that part because we have the legal paper work to show that

Thanks 

On 3/15/2021 at 8:21 PM, darth vader said:

Due to COVID social distancing rules - are spouses allowed at the interview in Montreal or not?

spouses are not allowed at interview in Montreal

Hello everyone,

Sorry, I was originally going to post results and details  a few days ago but I'm very depressed and frustrated right now. My two kids were approved and I was given 221(g) because my long format birth cert doesn't have my parents names on it. It shows up as "refused" on my status.

We stayed at Best Western - Hotel Europa - relatively clean, quiet, Coras was steps next to reception.  Anyone who is travelling to Montreal and staying in downtown area please be aware the 8 pm curfew still applies right now. We flew in Friday night (taxi around $45 from airport to hotel) for Monday 8:30 am interview. We spent the weekend walking around and ordering takeout and eating it at the hotel. No dine ins allowed. Shopping wise - line ups everywhere because of the limited occupancy at each store.  Krispy Creme had a long line up because only 4 customers were allowed inside at any given time. 

Our appointment was at 8:30 AM (with the spring time change and the zone time change it was literally still feeling like 4:30 am).  

We arrived 5 minutes early, security checked off our names. Went through mini version of airport security check - my son's digital watch had to be stored at the locker. I had a very small bottle of water, some crackers and books for the kids to read which they allowed. I carried it in my small cloth bag to hold kids stuff including my documents.

Then usual process as others: Security screening and directed to go upstairs.
As soon as I reached upstairs, I was directed to window 6 to give the passport and received tix number 1505. At 8:30, I was number 1505 and I am assuming there was approx 5 people ahead of me with physically 3 other people in the room.. not sure if they other two's interview was done or not with 1502 number now on the ticket tv screen but 1501 was still there.

Sat down for 10-15 min and called back to window 6.

Asked for current Canadian address and spouse's address and phone in USA. Took my birth, marriage, police cert and passport (which I got back after scanning), kids document that provides details we have consent from their biological father to move to US. Provided my finger-prints and given with a pamphlet and sat down

15 min later... called to the window 1 - I asked the officer if the kids needs to be here right now. He asked where's the kids and I replied they are in the waiting area reading. He responded - let them continue reading and will call them here later

The questions:

- When and how I and my spouse met 
- What my spouse does 
- What do I do
- Where I will be living in USA and my plans there ( I said I'll be looking for a job)
- What was the longest I stayed in US ( I said about 3 months - explained to officer that we have been flying back and forth and trying to make sure neither myself or spouse overstay at either country)
- When did you came to Canada 
- Countries visited in last 5 years

- How old are the kids (the kids were in the waiting area reading away until they were called)

Then we got into a friendly chat about our kids and also where the officer was from.

Officer was on the computer here and there, got to my birth certificate and told me I have the wrong version. I said.. this is the long version. He replied they need the version with my parent's names on it. He gave me 221(g) and so my application is now refused until I send in another birth cert (Birth Cert story to be continued end of this writeup.). He wanted to keep my passport but I asked him if I can have it back because my son has orthodontist appointment end of April and I would to fly him down there, come back and submit my documents then.  Long story short, received my passport back but will need to send it in when I send in my birth cert. I had also explained to officer, when I ordered my birth cert back in the summer it look a LONG time to get my birth cert, it was not a quick turn around. He showed understanding of long process in covid era.

Then we called the kids - kids had their questions:

- How old are you

- What grade are you

- Which subject do you like

-Then somehow they end up talking about online school

The kids are approved, we checked on CEAC and it says approved. Interview was Monday, Thursday now and haven't received any other update.

Whole process was about 90 min.

I got back to hotel and went into panic mode to realized I don't have instructions how to mail in my birth cert in - officer only provided instructions how to obtain birth cert from Manitoba. I had emailed the Montreal Consulate and received auto reply so I knew at least the email got to them. By Wed, no reply so I called the call center from this page: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/MTL-Montreal.html#pre_interview_checklist. The lady looked up my file and send me and email with subject line "US Visa Personal Courier-In Instructions". After I got off the call with her I got another email with same subject line with same instructions so I'm not sure if it was lady on the phone that sent it twice to me or the second one was a response to my email.

Now the fun part of my story. My newly ordered birth cert with my parents names on it HAS AN ERROR. omg. Here is an example of the error with names I made up.  Our surname is repeated as middle name in both my parents names. On top of that I never new my dad's name was "Henry".

Jackson, Vi Henry Jackson

Chow, Jen Li Jackson

Contacted vital status agency and they said I had to fill out inquiry form, send my parents immigration paper work (I said they don't have it anymore, it's been over 40 years, they have their citizen card and passport, lady told me to send those in for now) and they will review this situation and mentioned something that it will take a long process etc etc.

My mom went to security box to look for some documents and voila! She found my dad's name change documentation and voila! she found my old birth cert with their names on it and it was spelled correctly. So I emailed the lady at vital status and basically told her in a nice way that the new birth cert they sent me doesn't even match my original one and sent in absolutely all documentation including my dad's name change. I'm still waiting to hear back from vital stats now.

So I'm in a dilemma..  anyone with any thoughts what I can do right now? Do I went for vital stats to fix my birth cert? Do I submit my original birth cert, new birth cert with letter to consulate explaining what is happening in hopes they will review my case with the documents I have? 

Thanks so much!

On 3/15/2021 at 9:42 AM, Mel and Deb said:

So I emailed Dr Cheemas's office first thing Friday morning to schedule an appointment as I imagine everyone else did as well. Can people post here when they get their appointment date from him?

I had emailed Dr Cheema's office for appointment back on Feb 8th late morning and they had responded within an hour. At that time they were providing me with Feb 23 and on appointments with my interview being on March 15th. I chose March 3rd because in March flu shots wouldn't be required and my medical got to Montreal Consulate office in time.  Also please note medical examinations are usually booked in the early morning starting 6: 30 am till 10 am.  My appoint was me and 2 kids, the first hour was filling out forms and getting photos taken. Another 15-20 min wait for doctor. The actual medical exam was about 30 for all of us including vaccine shots. 

On 1/29/2021 at 4:43 PM, Jmillerca said:

Yeah Im here in Canada and yes they’te making people stay at hotels it costs around 2000

they have started making people stay at hotels already??? I thought it was just an announcement that they will be implementing it soon

wow! this is such great news.. we are DQ'ed end of June 2020.. hopefully we are the next batch for ILs

it is so nerve wracking to sit here waiting for news on the next batch of ILs

thanks so much for everyone here sharing information and bringing some light to the tunnel 

I was DQ back in end of June 2020. Can I please be added to the spreadsheet @Hawk Riders ?

22 hours ago, annierob said:

Same boat as you. Husband in California as well...I share your pain! Let's hope for some good news for everyone in this thread.

same here  hugs

Hello! I just joined in! Could I be added to the private thread and/or spreadsheet too?

thanks so much!