aurmorr

GOT MY PASSPORT BACK!!
 
interview: 09/13
tracking #: 09/17
Return: 09/20
 
I paid for priority service and I live in Ottawa so it’s the next closest major sorting facility so I think I got it back faster than average but WOO!

This was a big issue for me too but it should read: “Your original birth certificate and a photocopy of that of your petitioner with English translation if necessary.”
 
I brought photo copies of my own stuff and photocopies of my wife’s stuff and was never asked for either, but it’s not a reasonable request for a foreign consulate to request an original document of a US Citizen without them present, and they are not permitted in the consulate for spousal interviews.
 
At my interview (Sept 13), they did ask if you’ve travelled outside Canada within the last 14 days, I hadn’t so I said no but to clarify the official questioning rn “Have you travelled outside Canada AND been advised to quarantine.” I looked into this for my wife bc she’s coming on a 72 hour turn around and some PCR testing facilities had to legally change their forms to accommodate this verbiage.
 
People who are double vaccinated and provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test will not be advised to quarantine so this should not apply. If they shorten the questioning to “Have you travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days”, since some people cut it off there, you can answer “Yes, but I was not advised to quarantine and have a copy my vaccination certificate with me.” You can also likely double up by providing a negative PCR test to the security at the consulate, but it’s best to send the consulate an email to confirm that it’s necessary. Since it’s not for travel, you’ll be able to get your PCR test covered/free so maybe do it anyways. Personally, I have waited so long I’m not taking any chances for anything at any corner and I’d rather be immensely over prepared than under prepared and get turned away or put into AP. 

Montreal DOES require proof of vaccination for most public functions rn so you should always have it in your wallet, but keep a copy with your immigration stuff as well!

Also just a reminder since I was afk for a while and there’s lots of new users to the forum since I ghosted:
 
I have a small chat on Facebook messenger for any LGBT+ couples going through Montreal. Send me a DM and I’ll be happy to add you  

GOT MY PASSPORT BACK!!
 
interview: 09/13
tracking #: 09/17
Return: 09/20
 
I paid for priority service and I live in Ottawa so it’s the next closest major sorting facility so I think I got it back faster than average but WOO!

Also just a reminder since I was afk for a while and there’s lots of new users to the forum since I ghosted:
 
I have a small chat on Facebook messenger for any LGBT+ couples going through Montreal. Send me a DM and I’ll be happy to add you  

Hi! Register for the USCIS online portal. Once your visa is issued as an I-551, you’ll be able to submit a change of address form to them. The online portal for USCIS is actually fairly user friendly (genuinely shocking lol) and I’m fairly sure you have to do this before you activate your visa at the border. Once it’s active, they’ll send it to the address they have on file. There is also a manual form you can fill, but since the system is actually pretty decent I recommend the portal: https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAInitForm.do;jsessionid=67B7E5426211713131C9240DA7ACB7A5?fromFirstCoaPage=true

 
If you haven’t had any exceptions made to your case, such as rescheduling or expedition, your email should come from the National_Visa_Center@state.gov email. Add it to your contacts and favourite it so it for sure doesn’t go to spam! I also favourite the donotreply one just to make sure.
 
Yes! Expedited cases and rescheduled appointments are handled differently. They are forwards from NVC directly to the consulate to manage the scheduling, so you do not get an email from NVC, just the scheduling center with the @usvisa-info.com domain.

GOT MY PASSPORT BACK!!
 
interview: 09/13
tracking #: 09/17
Return: 09/20
 
I paid for priority service and I live in Ottawa so it’s the next closest major sorting facility so I think I got it back faster than average but WOO!

Also just a reminder since I was afk for a while and there’s lots of new users to the forum since I ghosted:
 
I have a small chat on Facebook messenger for any LGBT+ couples going through Montreal. Send me a DM and I’ll be happy to add you  

Also just a reminder since I was afk for a while and there’s lots of new users to the forum since I ghosted:
 
I have a small chat on Facebook messenger for any LGBT+ couples going through Montreal. Send me a DM and I’ll be happy to add you  

Hi! Register for the USCIS online portal. Once your visa is issued as an I-551, you’ll be able to submit a change of address form to them. The online portal for USCIS is actually fairly user friendly (genuinely shocking lol) and I’m fairly sure you have to do this before you activate your visa at the border. Once it’s active, they’ll send it to the address they have on file. There is also a manual form you can fill, but since the system is actually pretty decent I recommend the portal: https://egov.uscis.gov/coa/displayCOAInitForm.do;jsessionid=67B7E5426211713131C9240DA7ACB7A5?fromFirstCoaPage=true

 
If you haven’t had any exceptions made to your case, such as rescheduling or expedition, your email should come from the National_Visa_Center@state.gov email. Add it to your contacts and favourite it so it for sure doesn’t go to spam! I also favourite the donotreply one just to make sure.
 
Yes! Expedited cases and rescheduled appointments are handled differently. They are forwards from NVC directly to the consulate to manage the scheduling, so you do not get an email from NVC, just the scheduling center with the @usvisa-info.com domain.

This was a big issue for me too but it should read: “Your original birth certificate and a photocopy of that of your petitioner with English translation if necessary.”
 
I brought photo copies of my own stuff and photocopies of my wife’s stuff and was never asked for either, but it’s not a reasonable request for a foreign consulate to request an original document of a US Citizen without them present, and they are not permitted in the consulate for spousal interviews.
 
At my interview (Sept 13), they did ask if you’ve travelled outside Canada within the last 14 days, I hadn’t so I said no but to clarify the official questioning rn “Have you travelled outside Canada AND been advised to quarantine.” I looked into this for my wife bc she’s coming on a 72 hour turn around and some PCR testing facilities had to legally change their forms to accommodate this verbiage.
 
People who are double vaccinated and provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test will not be advised to quarantine so this should not apply. If they shorten the questioning to “Have you travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days”, since some people cut it off there, you can answer “Yes, but I was not advised to quarantine and have a copy my vaccination certificate with me.” You can also likely double up by providing a negative PCR test to the security at the consulate, but it’s best to send the consulate an email to confirm that it’s necessary. Since it’s not for travel, you’ll be able to get your PCR test covered/free so maybe do it anyways. Personally, I have waited so long I’m not taking any chances for anything at any corner and I’d rather be immensely over prepared than under prepared and get turned away or put into AP. 

Montreal DOES require proof of vaccination for most public functions rn so you should always have it in your wallet, but keep a copy with your immigration stuff as well!

Awesome! Thanks for confirming that!😊

This was a big issue for me too but it should read: “Your original birth certificate and a photocopy of that of your petitioner with English translation if necessary.”
 
I brought photo copies of my own stuff and photocopies of my wife’s stuff and was never asked for either, but it’s not a reasonable request for a foreign consulate to request an original document of a US Citizen without them present, and they are not permitted in the consulate for spousal interviews.
 
At my interview (Sept 13), they did ask if you’ve travelled outside Canada within the last 14 days, I hadn’t so I said no but to clarify the official questioning rn “Have you travelled outside Canada AND been advised to quarantine.” I looked into this for my wife bc she’s coming on a 72 hour turn around and some PCR testing facilities had to legally change their forms to accommodate this verbiage.
 
People who are double vaccinated and provide a negative PCR COVID-19 test will not be advised to quarantine so this should not apply. If they shorten the questioning to “Have you travelled outside Canada in the past 14 days”, since some people cut it off there, you can answer “Yes, but I was not advised to quarantine and have a copy my vaccination certificate with me.” You can also likely double up by providing a negative PCR test to the security at the consulate, but it’s best to send the consulate an email to confirm that it’s necessary. Since it’s not for travel, you’ll be able to get your PCR test covered/free so maybe do it anyways. Personally, I have waited so long I’m not taking any chances for anything at any corner and I’d rather be immensely over prepared than under prepared and get turned away or put into AP. 

Montreal DOES require proof of vaccination for most public functions rn so you should always have it in your wallet, but keep a copy with your immigration stuff as well!

Received an IL for October 28! I was one of the people that had to reschedule and have been waiting for a new date since May. I am so shocked as I was sure they had October all filled. Best things do come unexpectedly 😉

GOT MY PASSPORT BACK!!
 
interview: 09/13
tracking #: 09/17
Return: 09/20
 
I paid for priority service and I live in Ottawa so it’s the next closest major sorting facility so I think I got it back faster than average but WOO!

GOT MY PASSPORT BACK!!
 
interview: 09/13
tracking #: 09/17
Return: 09/20
 
I paid for priority service and I live in Ottawa so it’s the next closest major sorting facility so I think I got it back faster than average but WOO!

GOT MY PASSPORT BACK!!
 
interview: 09/13
tracking #: 09/17
Return: 09/20
 
I paid for priority service and I live in Ottawa so it’s the next closest major sorting facility so I think I got it back faster than average but WOO!

COVID-19 USCIS VACCINATION REQUIREMENT UPDATE
https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210914-COVIDVaccinationRequirement.pdf 

Nope  but I’m freaking out!!!! Omg this means I’m next mounts!!!! I’m crying!!! 

Yay!!! Oct 6!!!

Expedited cases are handled differently and you would not receive an IL with the mass batch that everyone else gets. The expedition is an accommodation that they manually schedule you in for, so you'll hear from them separately. If it's been a while follow up with ais/email the consulate.
DID YOU GET IT?! 

Thank you both so much 😭 this process really genuinely broke me back in May when they didn’t send any IL out at all and it’s just been downhill from then until I got my IL and I finally have a way home. I know you all are still waiting and I’m here rooting you on as much as I can. I’ve learned a lot of stuff and I’m going to make my own FAQ and share it with you when I’m done, and I really hope it helps. I found even with crowdsourcing on VJ there were still so many things that went unanswered; anything to make this process smoother for you all and please don’t hesitate to message me if you have any questions 🥺
 
 
My wife and I had our interview and were still like oh god is it letter day and STILL check the forums. It is engrained in our subconscious now and we are immigration borg.
 
I’m going to post my review tomorrow and I’ll make it as detailed as possible!

8:45 am. And Oct 4th is my birthday!

Thank you both so much 😭 this process really genuinely broke me back in May when they didn’t send any IL out at all and it’s just been downhill from then until I got my IL and I finally have a way home. I know you all are still waiting and I’m here rooting you on as much as I can. I’ve learned a lot of stuff and I’m going to make my own FAQ and share it with you when I’m done, and I really hope it helps. I found even with crowdsourcing on VJ there were still so many things that went unanswered; anything to make this process smoother for you all and please don’t hesitate to message me if you have any questions 🥺
 
 
My wife and I had our interview and were still like oh god is it letter day and STILL check the forums. It is engrained in our subconscious now and we are immigration borg.
 
I’m going to post my review tomorrow and I’ll make it as detailed as possible!

Just got out of the consulate! They kept my passport with the intent to approve my passport. Me and the new friend made in the consulate both got instructions on how to track our passport/visa status. 
 
Everyone said they got a welcome letter are y’all punking me what is a welcome letter and why don’t I have one this just made me more anxious please help _:(´ཀ`」