ritaburglar

Update: Received passport this morning and cleared customs at Pearson in only 30 minutes.  My interview was on November 14th and was approved pending medical which was received the morning of the 15th.  Took a full 4 weeks to resolve.
 
Good luck to all of you still waiting! It's a painful process especially for those of us separated from our loved ones.   
 

Update: Received passport this morning and cleared customs at Pearson in only 30 minutes.  My interview was on November 14th and was approved pending medical which was received the morning of the 15th.  Took a full 4 weeks to resolve.
 
Good luck to all of you still waiting! It's a painful process especially for those of us separated from our loved ones.   
 

Update: Received passport this morning and cleared customs at Pearson in only 30 minutes.  My interview was on November 14th and was approved pending medical which was received the morning of the 15th.  Took a full 4 weeks to resolve.
 
Good luck to all of you still waiting! It's a painful process especially for those of us separated from our loved ones.   
 

Wow! That's crazy!  My lawyer warned me that it's completely up to the particular customs officer.  The one time I was given a hassle was crossing the land border by car.  They are so busy at Pearson that I have never had more than the typical "Where are you going?" "When are you back?" I'm back and forth monthly.  Only ever had that one issue.

If it helps...I was back and forth at least 5 times during my process.  The only time I was pulled into secondary was when I told them I was visiting my husband for Christmas.  Every other time, I was going for meetings and they didn't ask anything further.  If you just say you're going for vacation and give a definite return date...you won't have any issues.  I never mention that I'm in the process unless they ask - they only asked that one time.  I was brought into secondary and I explained that we were so far into the process at that point that there would be no way I'd overstay my visa.  He believed me and I went on my way.   ALWAYS have a return date.  Hope this helps....

No, if you send a request to the state (where your spouse lives) congressperson they can put in a request for you to see what the status is on your file.  This is highly effective as it gets your file at least looked at. It worked for me!  If you go to the state website you will find this info.  It is something they do often and it can expedite the process for you.  

Hi!  So sorry to hear it!  It was an unbelievable delay for me at the Montreal consulate!  I just received my tracking # for my passport yesterday and should receive it tomorrow.  My interview was November 14th and my medical was received on the 15th.  My suggestion is to get in contact with your petitioners congressperson if it goes over 1 week.  I waited until week 3 to do that.  One business day after I submitted my request to the congressperson, my status changed to "issued".  It then took another week to get my tracking information.  I sincerely hope you don't have a similar delay.  This has been BRUTAL!  Best of luck!!

If it helps...I was back and forth at least 5 times during my process.  The only time I was pulled into secondary was when I told them I was visiting my husband for Christmas.  Every other time, I was going for meetings and they didn't ask anything further.  If you just say you're going for vacation and give a definite return date...you won't have any issues.  I never mention that I'm in the process unless they ask - they only asked that one time.  I was brought into secondary and I explained that we were so far into the process at that point that there would be no way I'd overstay my visa.  He believed me and I went on my way.   ALWAYS have a return date.  Hope this helps....

If it helps...I was back and forth at least 5 times during my process.  The only time I was pulled into secondary was when I told them I was visiting my husband for Christmas.  Every other time, I was going for meetings and they didn't ask anything further.  If you just say you're going for vacation and give a definite return date...you won't have any issues.  I never mention that I'm in the process unless they ask - they only asked that one time.  I was brought into secondary and I explained that we were so far into the process at that point that there would be no way I'd overstay my visa.  He believed me and I went on my way.   ALWAYS have a return date.  Hope this helps....

Oooooh! Congratulations!!! Hope you're right!
 

My status changed to "ISSUED" this morning!!  3 weeks + 1 day from my interview and 1 business day after we put in a request with our congressperson.  I will update you all when I receive my tracking # and passport as I couldn't find many threads about medicals delaying this process.  My medical was received by the consulate the morning after my interview.  I was completely dumbfounded by how long this took.  

My interview was on November 14th at 8:00am - I was approved pending medical.  I had my medical appointment over a week in advance but there was an issue with getting the X-Ray back so my medical wasn't received by the consulate until November 15th am.  The consulate officer told me that if my medical was received in short order that it wouldn't put me behind at all and that my passport should be mailed on that Friday.  I now know from reading these forums that it was a blatant lie.  There was an update to my file on November 15th and November 22nd.
 
It is now December 2nd and I'm still 'refused' in the CEAC portal which means at best my passport will go out next Friday (4 weeks post interview).  I am posting this because this forum has been so helpful for me trying to get answers since the consulate seems to have a problem giving people any information while their lives hang in the balance.  When I went for my interview there were 15 windows and only 3 seemed operational.  Obviously there is a staffing problem! This is beyond infuriating knowing that if the doctor's office hadn't messed up, I would probably be with my hubby in the US by now!  
 
This is my story and I will update regularly in hopes of helping some other poor soul in this situation find peace.  My in laws are pretty heavily involved in politics in VA.  I have my father in law reaching out to his congress person today and he will escalate this to the Governor if need be.  This is not acceptable to hold onto people's passports (from another country - in my case Canada) for this length of time with no communication.  I have clients in the US and my hubby and I are seeing a fertility specialist in NYC so this is beyond maddening as I'm sure it is for all of us here in this situation. 
 
I have been in this process since late 2019 and to have this delay at the end is maddening.  I will update here as Montreal updates me at their glacial pace!

My status changed to "ISSUED" this morning!!  3 weeks + 1 day from my interview and 1 business day after we put in a request with our congressperson.  I will update you all when I receive my tracking # and passport as I couldn't find many threads about medicals delaying this process.  My medical was received by the consulate the morning after my interview.  I was completely dumbfounded by how long this took.  

My interview was on November 14th at 8:00am - I was approved pending medical.  I had my medical appointment over a week in advance but there was an issue with getting the X-Ray back so my medical wasn't received by the consulate until November 15th am.  The consulate officer told me that if my medical was received in short order that it wouldn't put me behind at all and that my passport should be mailed on that Friday.  I now know from reading these forums that it was a blatant lie.  There was an update to my file on November 15th and November 22nd.
 
It is now December 2nd and I'm still 'refused' in the CEAC portal which means at best my passport will go out next Friday (4 weeks post interview).  I am posting this because this forum has been so helpful for me trying to get answers since the consulate seems to have a problem giving people any information while their lives hang in the balance.  When I went for my interview there were 15 windows and only 3 seemed operational.  Obviously there is a staffing problem! This is beyond infuriating knowing that if the doctor's office hadn't messed up, I would probably be with my hubby in the US by now!  
 
This is my story and I will update regularly in hopes of helping some other poor soul in this situation find peace.  My in laws are pretty heavily involved in politics in VA.  I have my father in law reaching out to his congress person today and he will escalate this to the Governor if need be.  This is not acceptable to hold onto people's passports (from another country - in my case Canada) for this length of time with no communication.  I have clients in the US and my hubby and I are seeing a fertility specialist in NYC so this is beyond maddening as I'm sure it is for all of us here in this situation. 
 
I have been in this process since late 2019 and to have this delay at the end is maddening.  I will update here as Montreal updates me at their glacial pace!

Something needs to be done because the wait times is beyond ridiculous.
 
I hope for both of us that our cases resolves soon and please do update when you are approved.

I'm so sorry you are going through this! I wouldn't wish any of this on my worst enemy!  Hope you get a resolution soon.   Here is the reply from my lawyer who used to work for the state dept. in case it helps anyone get any clarity.  Apparently Montreal is ridiculous right now:
 
"
Congressional inquires are actually super helpful most of the times. (From my own experience with the State Department.) I’m having problems myself contacting Montreal for other files that are taking longer than expected. (though the circumstances of those files are very different from yours). Your file should have been a simple one for them to mail out quickly.    I’m sorry you are experiencing this delay but hopefully it can continue to move along. Please let me know if the Consulate reaches out to you. I continue to monitor your file everyday on CEAC."

I'm happy that you got your connections to put heat on them to process your case quicker. From the stories I've read about the Montreal consulate I think they're grossly incompetent. I'd think it should take no more than 2 weeks for them to process an application that's only missing a document especially if it's a straight forward case.
 
I haven't had my visa issued yet. I just recently sent my police certificate so I'm hoping it gets to them by early next week. I'm praying that I don't have to wait too much longer.
 
 

I understand your frustration, I had my interview 2 weeks before you and my file showed refused and at the time they said no additional documents needed.
 
Well I emailed them 2 weeks later and didn't hear back from them a week later for them to tell me that they're waiting for my police certificate since I did it wrong (jeez would've been nice if they told me this the day of my interview).
 
Like yourself I'm frustrated with the lack of communication and just how slow they are. I could've done my police certificate 3 weeks earlier if they communicated. I haven't been able to work for over a month and this is very stressful for me.
 
I'm hoping they approve you soon but I think it's egregious that it's taking nearly a month to just approve your medical.

Hopefully you will have a resolution soon.  Btw, a state Governor really has no sway with USCIS, or the Department of State, but I understand the thinking.  Probably best to pursue the Senator before the Governor if no help from the House member.
 
Good Luck!

My interview was on November 14th at 8:00am - I was approved pending medical.  I had my medical appointment over a week in advance but there was an issue with getting the X-Ray back so my medical wasn't received by the consulate until November 15th am.  The consulate officer told me that if my medical was received in short order that it wouldn't put me behind at all and that my passport should be mailed on that Friday.  I now know from reading these forums that it was a blatant lie.  There was an update to my file on November 15th and November 22nd.
 
It is now December 2nd and I'm still 'refused' in the CEAC portal which means at best my passport will go out next Friday (4 weeks post interview).  I am posting this because this forum has been so helpful for me trying to get answers since the consulate seems to have a problem giving people any information while their lives hang in the balance.  When I went for my interview there were 15 windows and only 3 seemed operational.  Obviously there is a staffing problem! This is beyond infuriating knowing that if the doctor's office hadn't messed up, I would probably be with my hubby in the US by now!  
 
This is my story and I will update regularly in hopes of helping some other poor soul in this situation find peace.  My in laws are pretty heavily involved in politics in VA.  I have my father in law reaching out to his congress person today and he will escalate this to the Governor if need be.  This is not acceptable to hold onto people's passports (from another country - in my case Canada) for this length of time with no communication.  I have clients in the US and my hubby and I are seeing a fertility specialist in NYC so this is beyond maddening as I'm sure it is for all of us here in this situation. 
 
I have been in this process since late 2019 and to have this delay at the end is maddening.  I will update here as Montreal updates me at their glacial pace!

POE Review - YYZ (Pearson Airport):
I received my passport in the mail on Mon Oct 25th and crossed POE at Pearson Airport on Tuesday Oct 26th. 
 
I was travelling with Air Transat - which operates out of Terminal 3. I got to the airport at around 3:30am. I checked in and processed my checked bags first with Air Transat, then proceeded to the security/customs line. At approximately 4am, the line was already with 15-20 people. Security opened at 430am, however despite my flight being at 7am and despite repeatedly stating I have to activate an immigrant visa, the security personnel proceeded to allow the 6am flights to go through security first. So there were now about 200 people ahead of me to go through security and customs; this caused me to get very nervous in case I was going to get held up in customs and consequently miss my flight.
 
By approx 5:10 am I was finally going through security. I then made it to customs around 520am. There were two lines filled with people waiting, but it moved pretty quickly. The first officer I got was very friendly. I told him I was activating a visa - he said they dont say "activating a visa" haha I got confused but just went with it. We proceeded to talk about living in the US and he was giving me advice on nursing in the US (which is what my job will be). He then verified my US address and walked me over to secondary. I was the first person in secondary, the officer there was very kind as well. All he asked me was to verify my US address and then he spent about 10-15 min just reviewing my electronic packet and then said I was good to go. By the time I was leaving secondary, there were about 4 people waiting in there. By 5:43am I was out of secondary and officially a lawful PR! I had just an hour to spare before my flight, despite all my nervousness. 
All in all it was a very smooth and swift process. Now I anxiously await my SSN!
 
Tips:
- Terminal 1 - Security opens at 6am, customs at 630am; Airlines - Air Canada and United
- Terminal 3 - Security opens at 430 am, customs at 5am; Airlines - Air Transat, Delta, american airlines
- no matter how early you get to the airport, even if you end up being first in the customs line -- they will still prioritize those on flights earlier than yours.