From_CAN_2_US

All makes sense to me, except this. The attorneys already get paid for their work when the client pays them. Why do they get to keep the recovered fees too?

Oh didn’t realise this was just to attend a concert. Urgent processing would be definitely approved for the concert. You only need proof of travel (air tickets for example). Issuance of duplicate passport, not sure, but the service exists for the purpose when your passport is stuck at a consulate for issuance of a visa and you need to travel.

She is not getting a new passport but a duplicate one. The other one with the consulate would still be valid. You can request for urgent processing for the passport showing proof of upcoming travel in the next few days and get one issued within 3 days. You would have to wait several hours in a queue at the passport office, camping out from 6am in the morning…

Working remotely in the US when you do not have work authorisation is illegal. Since you have not received your green card and are visiting US on a B1/B2 visa, you do not have work authorisation.

DV is diversity visa (lottery). These applications have a special rule - if it is not adjudicated by a certain period (I think 18 months since the lottery results) it just expires….since 2020, with consulates not working at full capacity, and DV being Low priority for them, a lot of them are getting expired…

This is so alarming!!!

Brutal and heartless every step of the way… I have heard about the crazy delays at Telus Montreal from the main Canada thread. Appointments at Dr Mascaranhas in Toronto is more readily available if you are able to make it there… Why did they need another RCMP check? It isn’t older than 2 years is it?

Totally understandable and justified to be terrified of the DS-5535. I felt exactly the same before my interview. The issuance of DS-5535s have ramped up since October 2022, and what used to be roughly 5% of the applicants, we are seeing, from the limited stats we have, has become probably higher. At the end of the day, you can’t do anything to avoid it though, as it is related to your name/ background and anything within that that is flagged by the system. So as hard as it is, best to try to not worry about it going into the interview. Deal with it if it happens… With regard to the interview, MTL is not a “tough/ suspicious” consulate, but it is still advised to portray confidence and composure during the interview, answering the questions succinctly and accurately (compared to what you submitted). The DS-5355 is still issued to a small minority, so don’t let the worry of it affect your composure during the interview. Stats are on your side, and most probably, you will be approved just fine…

Hope you are able to cross with those documents. An extreme alternative is to try to apply for a duplicate passport because of your passport being “inaccessible” https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/security/lost-stolen-inaccessible-damaged-found.html Contact here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/contact-passport-program.html

The theory that Montreal is issuing DS-5535s in an effort to reduce wait time for interviews doesn’t make sense. They have already interviewed these applicants, so what time are they saving? On the contrary issuing DS-5535 means more work for the consulate. Also I don’t believe that background checks/ security clearances are not being done on these applicants. It probably just doesn’t take months and months. For most countries it probably only takes a few weeks. The reason MTL is able to issue the Issue so soon after the WOM is because the cases are just sitting in MTL AFTER obtaining security clearance for months and months, just waiting for their final action. The WOM forces them to pick up the file and do that maybe 1 hour’s worth of work on it to issue the visa…it puts it in priority…. But yes, agreed, if there is a way to file WOM without a lawyer, and one can’t afford one, then it’s worth looking into.

I read on the EB thread - a person reported the CO was training a new recruit during their interview. I hope this means they are expanding their workforce and that they will use that extra bandwidth to process these long pending DS-5535 cases.

If I remember correctly @shocksandaunyx had the original of the divorce document missing during their interview and had to send it in after. If you have everything MTL needs with you at the interview, they are able to process you immediately. This is probably because they alot a time for your visa processing on the day of your interview. Once you miss this window, they put your file on the back burner and move on the applicants that are interviewing next. When you submit your missing document you are still on the back burner, until MTL can find a time slot to spend reviewing these old cases… Historically this wait has been around 45 days to 60 days. But some get lucky and get processed sooner.

Congratulations! It usually takes 2-3 weeks to get your SSN. I got mine within 10 days.

Historically, rescheduling the interview is not recommended, as it is unpredictable when they would reschedule it. It ends up being several months after. I think someone waited 6 months even. But this was back when there was a 12 month backlog at MTL. Not sure anything has changed since the backlog has been eliminated. Since this only happened in Feb 2022, I don’t think this information is available, as it is unlikely anyone here that has tried rescheduling interview since then. Unfortunately MTL not having medical results at the time of interview also causes delays of 2 weeks to 2 months (in rare cases longer). Are you able to book a medical at one of the other doctors, in Toronto for example?

Curious, can't you fly to the US, using your home country passport (in your case, UK) and your green card? Or does becoming a Canadian citizen take away that privilege and you have to have a Canadian passport to fly in? https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1053&top=16

I am in the same boat as you and informed IRCC of US LPR using webform.

Yes, the validity is tied to the medicals which is usually 6 months from the date of the medicals. I have never heard of one year, but I have heard of 2 months (in those cases where special tests were ordered).

Do both.

I follow Jim Hacking (immigration attorney), and he famously says that the Processing times as posted on USCIS website are meaningless… I have found self reported data like @CanadianMD has posted to be more indicative of true timelines.

Just FYI, I heard on Hacking’s show on Tuesday, that he is increasing his fees soon.

The airline was fined 24k? By whom?

That’s awesome. Glad your parents were able to reunite.

You can fins stats of the number of visas issued every month here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/visa-law0/visa-statistics/immigrant-visa-statistics/monthly-immigrant-visa-issuances.html Accra Consulate 73 IRI/CR1 visa in the month of May 2022, 74 in April 2022, and 161 in March 2022. They appear to be conducting interviews, but probably has an incredible back log, same as most consulates...

I noticed this too, and it appears to be a glitch. Click on this link: https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/iv/information/iv_services

Yes, you can download your I-94 to get information on your travel history. Many people do that.