Canada5

Hi!

Crossed POE: Dec 20, 2021
Received SSN: Jan 12, 2022 (It was issued a few days after I crossed, but I think the holidays delayed the process/delivery)
Received Green Card: Feb. 15, 2022 
 
Hope this helps!!

Hi!

Crossed POE: Dec 20, 2021
Received SSN: Jan 12, 2022 (It was issued a few days after I crossed, but I think the holidays delayed the process/delivery)
Received Green Card: Feb. 15, 2022 
 
Hope this helps!!

Hi!

Crossed POE: Dec 20, 2021
Received SSN: Jan 12, 2022 (It was issued a few days after I crossed, but I think the holidays delayed the process/delivery)
Received Green Card: Feb. 15, 2022 
 
Hope this helps!!

Hi!

Crossed POE: Dec 20, 2021
Received SSN: Jan 12, 2022 (It was issued a few days after I crossed, but I think the holidays delayed the process/delivery)
Received Green Card: Feb. 15, 2022 
 
Hope this helps!!

I picked up my passport today with the visa 😁

I would like to share my experience importing my vehicle, which has no TPMS  - I am sure this topic has driven many people a little nutzo, as it did me because I really did not want to leave my car behind in Canada. My vehicle is a 2010 Subaru Impreza, purchased in Canada and paid off before time of import.My vehicle had no TPMS installed by the manufacturer and there was no way to "turn the TPMS" on as an option some vehicles may have. 
 
The first thing I did was contact Subaru (customercare@subaru.ca) for the compliance letter; I had to provide them with a picture of my vehicles registration, and they took about 2 weeks to respond by email with a compliance letter, no charge. 
 
My compliance letter stated "Our data indicates this vehicle at the time of manufacture conformed to all applicable US FMVSS, EXCEPT FOR:
- FMVSS 101 Controls and display differences (1) MPH vs KPH (2) Brake telltale (3) ABS telltale
- FMVSS 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring System
 
i didn't think it was a big deal, the TPMS, and I contacted an import company (5 of them actually) just to get a quote to see what it would cost for someone else to do the work and everyone had the same response "In order for your vehicle to become compliant with U.S. safety standards, you must have OEM TPMS installed by an authorized dealer or repair facility.  No one has been successful in completing this because OEM parts usually don't exist for vehicles that weren't originally manufactured with TPMS as an option on the vehicle." & "NHTSA approves modifications in regards to FMVSS No. 138, only performed by a certified Subaru dealer. If you can find a Subaru dealer to install the TPMS in your car, we can import it for you."
 
After receiving these kinds of responses from all 5 importers, I called four different Subaru dealers in Ontario near where I lived and called the two larger Subaru dealers in the Buffalo area and heard the same thing from all of them; basically the vehicle wasn't designed to have OEM TPMS so quite simply; it cannot be done. I even called Subaru Canada and Subaru America to speak to customer service reps..they all suggested that I do an aftermarket one, but the NHTSA says OEM only ---This is where I was super bummed out. I was going in circles. Can't install it OEM, but OEM is the only way I can import it ?? This made no sense to me. so I called the border.
 
I live in Buffalo, so I have Peace, Rainbow and the Queenston Lewiston bridges all a short driving distance from me. I mostly got automated machines and it took forever to get through, but I did manage to get through to a border agent at the QL Bridge, and I basically told him exactly what was going on regarding my TPMS troubles,  and he said that It does not have to be OEM, but it must be installed, and he referenced people in the past doing it at Canadian Tire, so I said, cool! I'll go there. 
 
Long story short for Canadian Tire - they couldn't do it for me. My vehicle doesn't have the option to turn TPMS "on" as I mentioned before. They could put the sensors on the tires but they would have no where to send the signals to...so now even more bummed and stressed out.
 
I decided to call the border back again and luckily got the same border agent who remembered me. I told him exactly what Canadian Tire told me and the issues I was having and he basically told me, the TPMS does not need to be part of the vehicle. They have imported vehicles that have external monitors (so basically aftermarket) and that as long as they can see the system installed, and I have a receipt from anywhere (either side of the border) then it will be fine. 
 
I found ONE mechanic in the Buffalo area willing to install an aftermarket TPMS system for me. I found a Schrader TPMS retrofit kit with internal sensors on Amazon for $180 and he installed it for me. I went to the QL bridge, they looked at the compliance letter, looked at the TPMS receipt, took my green card as ID, made me fill out 3 forms. After I filled them out, they stamped them, copied my registration and said go to the DMV with the paperwork, you're done here.
 
I was literally in and out in 15 minutes. I was seriously stressed out since March till now, freaking out about importing because of the TPMS. But I am so happy it all worked out! 
 
Next steps : US Insurance, DMV and Inspection.
 
 
 

Well my husband and my journey is now at an end we crossed the peace bridge and all went smooth took about 30 mins only bc I had reprisals and a hamster. 

Hi VisaJourney friends. 
I did my POE yesterday and have made it to the US. Thanks to everyone for their support and help throughout my time here.
 
I wanted to update you guys on what happened with my journey as when I was researching, I didn't come across anything like it, so I thought it would be good to have here.
 
As you all know, I interviewed at the end of October, was approved for my visa, and then my status stayed at Ready for 6 weeks. Within that time, the last updated date changed only 3 times from the time of interview. Within that time, I also reached out to the consulate multiple times via email only to get one response back to my inquiry saying that it's being worked on.
 
Well, after the 3 week mark passed, my husband contacted the senator in his state to look into our case, as there was nothing wrong with it, no AP, 221g or DS5535. After 2 weeks of contacting them, we got word that they would reach out and let us know if there's anything that needs to be done.
 
Well, before the senator's office got back to us, weirdly enough the same week we finally had contact with the senator's office, I actually got a call from the Consulate! I was so nervous that they would be telling me they're sending back my passport for further AP, etc. but that was not the case. They called me to let me know that apparently my fingerprints that they took at the interview didn't save in their system and they needed me to come back to Montreal to redo the fingerprints!!!!!!! I was shocked but also relieved that it was just the fingerprints and nothing else. Coincidentally, my husband got a phone call from the senator's office the same day I got a call from the consulate saying they got word from the consulate saying they had a technical error -___- . In my opinion, the coincidence is too high that the same week the senator's office reached out to them, was the week I got movement in my case. If it was a technical error, why didn't they catch it when I emailed them? To me this was highly negligible on the Montreal Consulate.
 
I had to book last minute flights, accommodations and transportation to get to Montreal for the following Monday as I just wanted to do it the earliest as possible and I was in the greater Toronto area. Unfortunately, last minute everything in December is very costly, but at this point, I needed the consulate more than they needed me, so I didn't make a fuss about the cost or anything with them via phone, email or while I was there. 
 
When I went to the consulate, it was basically the same interview process, where you go to the windows 3x (give your reasoning why you're there, confirm address/phone numbers, and finally the last window call up where they typically interview you). In my case, at the third window call up, they just asked to take my fingerprints. I took the opportunity to ask some questions, but they were pretty strict in how the responded and weren't really open to conversation. I could tell that the person I was talking to seemed annoyed, and if he was, I believe it was mostly at the errors in my case, because there was more than one that I caught and let them know about. 
 
After 6 weeks from my initial interview, and 2 trips to the consulate, my status finally changed from Ready to Issued, and then later that week I finally got the Issued Final Processing and the tracking number. Received my passport the Monday right after and just made the POE yesterday. I'm happy this part of the journey is finally concluded for me. 

My concluding thoughts: if your case is stuck at the consulate, I highly highly recommend to get your spouse to reach out to their senator because I really believe that is one of the reasons that helped nudge my case forward. Also, anything can happen. I would have never expected that I would ever have to go back, so expect anything. 

I did mine with Cheema! 

He won't need the photos (as, just like you've said, he does the passport photos when you get there), but the Montreal Consulate will need two photos at your interview itself! 

I did mine with Cheema! 

He won't need the photos (as, just like you've said, he does the passport photos when you get there), but the Montreal Consulate will need two photos at your interview itself! 

I did mine with Cheema! 

He won't need the photos (as, just like you've said, he does the passport photos when you get there), but the Montreal Consulate will need two photos at your interview itself! 

Hi - yes I got the tracking number finally today after almost 7 weeks. I will do a full update for everyone here once I receive passport next week. Hang in there!

Here's my detailed description of my interview experience:
 
Interview experience:
 
My appointment was at 9:30am. I arrived at the consulate at 9:15 and saw a REALLY long queue of people already gathered there. When I joined the queue they were still calling people with 8:30 appointments, so I knew we had a long wait ahead. There is no shelter for the queue outside, so come prepared for the  weather. It happened to be snowing that day and -10 degrees, but I guess that's still better than rain. They let people in one by one, as people from inside left, in the order of their interview slot AND their spot in the queue. I ended up being called in at 11:15.
 
Once inside, they ask for your ID (I showed my passport), and ask if you are in compliance of all the COVID protocols of the province of Quebec. Then you go through an airport like security. I was carrying a tote bag/ reusable shopping bag with my documents in binders, my inhaler, phone wallet, a cardigan and a sanitary pad. I was wearing a parka, an analog watch and my wedding ring. All of this, except my phone, I was allowed to take with me upstairs. I was asked to put my phone in a locker. Note - No backpacks, laptop bags, even if there is no laptop inside. The lockers are not big enough to hold them and you can't take them upstairs. No electronics of any kind is allowed upstairs, even headphones need to go into the locker.
 
I took an elevator to the 2nd floor where I was directed to go to window 6. Here you hand in your passport(s) and 2 photos. I gave my old passport explaining that was the passport in the name on my interview letter, and then gave the new passport, explaining it had my name updated to my married name. It was accepted, no hesitation, and I was given a slip with a number on it. I was told to wait for the number to be called on the screen and go to the corresponding window shown.
 
The waiting room was crowded, almost all seats were taken. People were packed together with no physical distancing. There are water fountains and 2 washrooms (one was out of order that day).
 
My number was called around 12:15 pm to head to window 8. The person at the window asked me my full name. Then asked who was petitioning me, and asked my husband's full name. Then they asked if this was my first marriage and also my husband's first marriage. They then took my fingerprints (digital). Next, they collected my original birth certificate, our original marriage certificate, and all the original police certificates from the various countries I have lived in since age 16. They didn't ask for any copies acknowledging that they see everything was uploaded on Ceac. My 2 photos were returned (not sure why they need 2 if they just take a copy), given the domestic violence pamphlet to read, and was told to wait for my number to called once again.
 
Around 1:00pm, I was called to window 3, where my actual interview took place. It lasted about 5-7 minutes. They started by asking my name and then taking the oath. Questions:
1. Who is petitioning me?
2. When did I first meet my husband?
3. Where did I meet him? (On a dating website, when I was living in Singapore)
4. Which dating website? (OKCupid; then some encouragement for me to elaborate, to which I described in brief, our entire courtship)
5. When did you get married?
6. How did you arrange your wedding during the pandemic? (With great difficulty...but then elaborated)
7. Who attended your wedding?
8. What do you do for work? Is that what you intend to do after moving to US?
9. What does your husband do for work?
10. Why were you in Bahrain as a child? (My parents were there from before I was born)
11. Why were your parents in Bahrain?
12. At what age did you leave Bahrain? How long did you live in India?
13. Where did you study in India? (Here we had a short conversation about they had lived in Bangalore for a few years and loved it; how one of their kids was born there.)
14. How long did you live in Singapore?
15. What did you do in Singapore?
16. When did you move to Canada?
17. How did you move to Canada? (Express Entry)
18. In all the countries you have lived in, have you ever been charged with a crime or refused entry?
19. In all the countries you have visited, have you ever been charged with a crime or refused entry?
 
The interviewer was checking their screen periodically, and at the end of the questioning, I heard them express "oh" after some clicks. My heart stopped, but I guess it was a positive "oh," because immediately after they said, "Your visa has been approved". I couldn't hear anything they said after that in all the excitement in my head, except the words "2 to 4 weeks," as they handed me a piece of paper with instructions about receiving my passport back. No "Welcome to America" paper. They saw me hesitate, so they asked, "any questions?" I said I brought with me a copy of my DS-260 with updates marked up and they told me not to worry about it. So I thanked them and left.
 
Everyone at the consulate were efficient, courteous and helpful. The queue outside could be better managed by security. There were no clear instructions given, and we had to figure out the plan by observation, and organise ourselves. Luckily all the applicants waiting cooperated with each other.
 
I was out of the consulate around 1:20, so the entire thing took about 4 hours.
 
Travel:
I took VIA Rail from Toronto Union Station to Montreal Centrale and return.  Departed on the 8:32 train on the day before the interview and returned on the 16:56 train on the day of the interview. The return train (train 69) is somehow nicer than the onward train (train 62). I got lucky, as the trains were on schedule. Train station is a 7 minute walk from the consulate.
 
Hotel:
I stayed at the Best Western Ville Marie. It was a 6 minute walk from the consulate, 13 minutes from train station. The price was affordable, and it sufficed for a 1-night stay, but if I had to do it again, I would spend $10/$20 more and stay at another place such as the Novotel. Best Western was clean, and staff was quite helpful. The rooms are renovated in the last 5 -7 years, but the HVAC is old. The corridors are old too. I am a light sleeper the noise from traffic on Peel Street kept me up almost the entire night.
 
Places to Eat:
I had breakfast at Boulangerie Au Pain Dore and lunch at Reuben's Deli and Steakhouse. Both good. Wish I had more time to try more food as the city seemed to have a lot of great places.
 
 
 
 

Wow I just got my tracking. Pleasantly surprised, as I thought it would take a couple of weeks.
 
Dec 8 - Interview
Dec 8 - Issued - AP
Dec 9 - Issued - Final processing
Dec 10 - Received tracking

Happy to say we FINALLY recieved our IR this morning as well after being skipped twice as everyone knows - thank you to all who tried to help along the process!!
 
DQ'd Feb 19, 2021 
Interview Jan 7th at 9:00am

Me too! But it's out of our control, so I think we should just go in with an optimistic outlook.

Because we submitted online via a lawyer, the only final copy I really had was a scanned copy (not with wet ink). 
 
In my case though, they didn’t even ask for the I-864 (though, I’ve definitely heard from others that they have asked for it). But, had they done so, mine was going to be what was uploaded (which technically wouldn’t have been “wet ink”).
 
Don’t forget to bring the new offer letter + pay stubs for the new job!!! 

FYI for those who interviewed before thanksgiving:
 
Interview - 11/18
CEAC status issued - 11/19
Tracking info received - 11/26 (with info stating that delivery is delayed due to natural disaster)
Passport received - 11/29

Got my passport back today, going home on Saturday!! Thanks to everyone in this group, you kept me sane through this journey!  

Hey!

I understand if you prefer waiting for Montreal to give you an answer. However, I can confirm that I renewed my passport in between being DQ'ed & my interview letter (because it was likely going to be expired 6 months from what I'd estimated my interview date to be, not bc of a name change), and was advised by my lawyer to put my OLD passport information, and I had no issues! (Also, just a note, I kept my old one just in case of anything + brought it to the interview)

I believe @katelynns is also someone who had updated her passport in between as well -- perhaps hers was due to a name change & maybe she can give you a more certain answer for your scenario!

I believe you do have to register for the interview prior to your actual interview as that's where you choose your courier/pick-up information, etc. (but, I could be wrong about this, and perhaps you could do it after).

I had my medicals today at Dr. Mascarenhas's office in Toronto. Here's my experience:
 
1. Registering - I registered online over their website (first thing I did after getting the interview letter). I sent them all the documents required by email:
a. Interview Letter from NVC
b. Copy of passport (had to send both my old and new one as I have one updated with my married name since I submitted the DS-260)
c. Proof of all your immunisation and vaccines (this could be proof of actual vaccination or titre test showing immunity)
d. Marriage certificate (incase your passport is updated to your married name since you submitted DS 260)
The office confirmed my appointment for 2:30pm on Nov 23, and told me I need not bring anything except my passports and payment.
 
2. The appointment and consultation- I arrived exactly at 2:30pm; they asked me to hand them my passport, and fill up a few forms. I saw the doctor around 3:20 pm; so it was a bit of a wait. The consultation only took about 10 minutes. Dr. Mascarenhas has a very pleasant disposition. He is young and easy to talk to. We chatted a bit about how I met my husband, where I am moving to and where I lived before moving to Canada. He took my blood pressure, checked my vaccines and asked about medical history. Then confirmed everything was in order and gave me directions to get the X-Ray and blood work done. He assured me that the results would be sent to the consulate before my interview; wished me congratulations and luck. The staff (also very pleasant and helpful) told me they would send me an email when the results are sent to the consulate. I was out by 3:40pm.
 
3. X-ray and Blood work - You go to the basement of the same building as Dr Mascarenhas's office to do your X-Ray. Pretty straight forward and fast. Took about 10 minutes. Blood work is to be done at any Lifelabs. There is one across the street from the doctor's office. This  was also quick - about 15 minutes.
 
4. Payment - You pay at Dr Mascarenhas's office only. It is $350 (if nothing additional is required), and includes the X-ray and blood work. Credit card is 3% extra. Debit is 1$ extra.
 
All in all a pleasant, smooth experience. I would highly recommend this doctor.
 
Note - If you are in my position with married name updated on new passport after submission of DS-260, all the registering and forms are to be filled in your maiden name and with the passport number you entered on the DS-260. Basically the information has to match the DS-260, even though the passport is no longer valid.

They intend to approve!!! Status hasn’t changed yet, but hopefully by sometime tmr. 
 
Officer was super friendly — felt like a good conversation as opposed to an interview! 
 
Said to expect the passport back within 2-3 weeks, but that it’d likely be sooner! 

They intend to approve!!! Status hasn’t changed yet, but hopefully by sometime tmr. 
 
Officer was super friendly — felt like a good conversation as opposed to an interview! 
 
Said to expect the passport back within 2-3 weeks, but that it’d likely be sooner! 

They intend to approve!!! Status hasn’t changed yet, but hopefully by sometime tmr. 
 
Officer was super friendly — felt like a good conversation as opposed to an interview! 
 
Said to expect the passport back within 2-3 weeks, but that it’d likely be sooner! 

Status changed to “Issued” around noon today!