coffeetime

Hi Everyone,
 
Long read ahead; scroll to bottom for summary (bold).  I’ve been a longtime lurker of this forum since shortly after my interview (in Nov 2022, yes 2022 not 2023).  I did not want to post in this group throughout my visa journey as I did not want to get further obsessed by the whole process, which I cannot change; so for my mental health I decided I would check this forum from time to time but only post when I was near the end of the process so others could get insight from my timeline.
 
Nov 2, 2022:  IR1 interview at MTL consulate.  The interview was very short; barely 2 minutes and I felt like the CO already knew he wasn’t going to approve me (I’ll never know if it’s because of a flag on my name or something else; but I just knew the minute the interview started and comparing it to others’ interviews I could over-hear going on before me).  It’s interesting to note that along with me, a few other visible minorities were refused that day citing admin processing, while Caucasian applicants were approved with a rather jolly interview.  Just my experience.  The CO said he couldn’t approve me today and more supplemental questions would be sent.  He said I could have my passport back and I wouldn’t need to come back MTL for another interview but they’ll let me know next steps  
Nov 2, 2022:  a couple of hours after my interview, I was emailed the DS-5355 and asked to return it (it was all a list of questions within the body of the email).  
Nov 6, 2022:  returned the completed DS-5355  
From Nov 6, 2022 to August 2023 there was maybe 1 to 2 case updates but we did not email the consulate during that time at all.  We had spoke to a few lawyers who had told us to wait at least 4-6 months before thinking of filing a WOM.  And to be honest, life got busy with work and travels that we planned to spend time together in different countries.  We just kindof carried on with life as best we could, without letting this visa issue hold us back in multiple ways.  Long distance is a challenge but I think you have to know that if you’re getting married to a person in another country; it’s kindof what you signed up for in the short-medium term, I guess.  I’m not saying we didn’t stress about this visa and worried about it and delaying our full life together; but my husband was very good at keeping perspective and focusing on the positives – that we only had a 1 hour plane ride separating us; that we both had remote jobs so we could see eachother whenever we wanted; and we were at least both healthy as that would be an added stressor if one of us was not healthy and couldn’t be together.  I think its important to focus on the things you do have yourself and together, during this whole stressful process.  
August 30, 2023:  As it had been quite a while and past 6 months from my interview,  I decided to email the consulate asking for an update on my case.  I emailed the MTL email address.  We also talked to Christopher from PIC about filing a WOM and he explained everything to us and we said we would think about it and get back to him in a week or so.  
September 6, 2023: Right as we were getting ready to tell Chris from PIC law firm about going forward with WOM, we got a reply from the consulate asking to do a second medical and to send my passport.  I knew this meant good news, but I didn’t get my hopes up.  
Nov 15, 2023:  as I had travel commitments I had already made earlier in the year, I could only complete my passport and send the second medical on Nov 15, 2023  
Nov 23, 2023:  passport received (signature upon delivery) and Medical exam results uploaded to consulate.  
Nov 29  to Jan 6, 2024:  no case updates (the last case update was Nov 29th assuming for the passport and medical).   
Jan 6, and every 2 weeks after:  we emailed the consulate asking if there is any update since receiving the passport and medical and we would get generic responses mentioned many times above.  The responses would come every 2 weeks or so; sometimes never.  The case update would change every time we received a response  
I can’t remember the exact date but there was a day in January when the CEAC status check website was down.  I randomly decided to check the NVC website on the same day and logged in to see that my DS-260 had been unlocked.  I googled this and read that only the consulate can unlock the DS-260.  We weren’t sure if we should update anything so we contacted the lawyer who was helping us in terms of answering questions –  this is PIC, Christopher.  He is AMAZING and would answer our questions promptly even though we did not officially hire him for a WOM.  Christopher told us that we should not touch anything as consulate has opened it and they will let us know for what.  I mentioned my passport was new as the previous one expired so Christopher thought that was why they opened it; to update passport number.  
Feb 2, 2024:  case update (not sure why)  
Feb 5, 2024:  email from MTL asking to update my DS-260 and send the confirmation page back to them.  I updated my DS-260 with my latest travel history and my job change.  I noticed they had already updated my passport number.  
Feb 8, 2024:   I got an email with MTL reply from MTL consulate saying “thank you”.  Which was VERY surprising as I’m sure they do not send friendly emails of that nature – don’t care to.  So I thought that was odd.  A couple of hours later, I checked my status on CEAC and “ISSUED”.  I’m happy for it finally go from “REFUSED” since Nov 2, 2022 to finally being issued but I won’t be 100% happy until my passport with visa is in hand.  
All in all, it took me about 10 months from interview to be asked for my passport + second medical, and then an additional 3.5 months from sending passport for status to change to “ISSUED”.  That is a total of 13.5 months from the interview.  It was a longgggggggg haul.
It will work out for each and every one of you on this forum (barring any crazy criminal or immigration violations in your history, im assuming).  It really does challenge your mental toughness, your perseverance, your faith in basically everything, your relationship and your health in many ways.  But you have to believe it will work out for you.  It’s easier said than done but that’s all you can do in this situation.  Start sending emails to the MTL consulate once you’ve passed the 4 to 6 month mark.  Don’t be too pushy as I was afraid of them being put off and just not doing anything; just ask for a case update in the nicest way possible.  Focus on other things during this time and make the wait worthwhile; don’t live your life in constant worry and at a standstill.
 
Now I hope I actually get my passport/visa without too much of a delay or any other issues propping up.
 
Thanks for reading.  I'm sure many typos as I did not proof-read.

Hi all,
 
I had my interview for CR1/IR1 visa last week and unfortunately got 221g and DS5535. The officer returned my passport, marriage certificate, and birth certificate, but they kept the originals of my police certificates. Wondering if that's normally the case? 

It's normal. Police certificate in Canada has valid time ,you can check with Google 

FINALLY got my green card (IR-1/CR-1)! Interviewed in mtl Jan 11 2023, got DS 5535, sent in my answers the day after. No WOM filed. Did have senators reach out to the consulate. Received an email for a new updated medical and passport to be sent back to consulate end of september. visa status changed to Issued today. 

Hi All,
 
I had my interview today and got approved.
As everyone suggested:
Uploading documents to CEAC portal prior to your interview - highly recommended.
Going more than 15 minutes to your appointment - NOT recommended (there was crazy wind and snow today and they still didn’t let anyone in)
No personal items - Only small locker for phones and wallet
 
My appointment was at 7:45 AM and i went there at 7:30 and they let me in.
After 20-30 minutes wait, i was called in and asked only for following documents:
- birth certificate 
- marriage certificate 
- police clearance 
- passport 
- passport size photo ( 2 X 2 )
 
And took my fingerprints.
 
After that i was told to wait for the main interview.
 
The officer i had was really friendly and asked following questions:
Who’s sponsoring you?
Where does my wife lives?
What does she do for living?
What is my relationship with my joint sponsor?
 
At the end she told me that she is approving my file and I will receive my passport in two weeks.
 
Overall much easier experience than what i was prepared for.
 
Always good to be prepared but my impression is that it is more of a verification and 2nd level check for your documentation than an actual interview.
 
Thanks everyone who helped me get prepared.

Nice! I also received my IL for interview in mid December! 

Nice! I also received my IL for interview in mid December! 

Nice! I also received my IL for interview in mid December! 

Nice! I also received my IL for interview in mid December! 

Positive thoughts that this week a round of ILs go out.
I don’t expect I will get one this month, but I just want to know that they haven’t skipped a whole month at least!   

Its nice to have the community to hear where others are at. Our daughter was born in June of last year and she and my wife are in Canada while I'm in Michigan 10 hours away. My daughter has only spent a couple weeks in her home (here in MI) and that was when she was only a couple months old so she really has no idea what her home is like. I have her room all ready for her but for months it has just been an empty room. I was so hopeful that we would spend Christmas together this year, but it is looking unlikely. Maybe we will all get good news next week. Good luck everyone.

Just got back from the consulate in Montreal and I am happy to say that I have been approved!! Well, we think LOL She said that she "intends to approve the visa" but the system is being slow/is down so she couldn't do it immediately. But I didn't get my passport handed back to me or the 221g handed over. The only paper she gave me was how to track the visa! 
 
My interview was scheduled for 8:30 but I got there at just before 8:10 because my Uber was far faster than I thought it would be. There were about 9 people ahead of me which was weird because they were all waiting for interviews at 9:15! There were two people behind me for 8:30 as well. At 8:15 the security guard asked me what my interview time was and he let me up right away. I walked in, handed the lady my passport, put my things in the X-Ray machine and then put my phone and smartwatch in the locker and headed upstairs. 
 
It took about 10 mins for my number to be called to go to the first window (Window 5) and she confirmed phone numbers and addresses and then asked me for the following documents:
1 Passport photo Police Certificate Birth Certificate Marriage Certificate My husband's divorce decree My husbands 2022 tax return and 2022 W2 She took my finger prints and then she sent me back on my way to the waiting room to wait for my interview. I waited for my interview for about an hour, almos 9:30 AM on the nose was my interview time. Who interview lasted just over 5 minutes. They asked the following:
Name of the petitioner What is our relationship Where does he live Where did we meet When did we start dating What made us decide to get married "Tell me about your wedding" Did you read the pamphlet and if I had questions about it Then she said she intends to approve it. And off I went! All in all pretty painless. My stomach was still in knots throughout the whole thing!

Hey all! 
 
I had my medical appointment with Dr. Lyndon Mascarenhas on July 4th and I couldn't have been happier with how easy it was. My appointment was at 10:15AM and because I knew I'd have to fill out a questionnaire, I arrived 30 minutes early. As soon as I came in, I said my name and she asked for my ID. I left my passport in the car (idiot! lol) and then said I would be right back. She told me that I was fine because they already had my passport scan via email and just needed another photo ID to verify I was me. IMPORTANT: Make sure you bring your DS-260! Luckily I didn't forget THAT in the car lol
 
She gave me the questionnaire right away to fill out which only took maybe 5 minutes to fill it out. I handed it back and she immediately told me to go to room 1 to await the doctor. Dr. Mascarenhas came in about 10-15 minutes later and went through my vaccine checklist, asked me about any medical conditions and medications I was on then checked off things, handed me my requisition for blood work and sent me downstairs for X-Rays. Before I left the office, I paid the $350 for the appointment and then off I went. I was done with Dr Mascarenhas and X-rays before my appointment was even scheduled to begin at 10:15. 
 
Here's where it got long - blood work. They sent me over to Life Labs across the street (next to the Pizza Pizza) to go get that part done. When I walked in, they were already at a 111 minute wait. After about 100 minutes, I was finally seen and they did what they had to do. All in all, everything took me under 2 hours. 
 
SUPER easy! And I already got the email confirmation (just today actually) that they had sent me results and what not to the consulate. I think I should be good for my August 8 interview. 

I went to MTL for my medical and stayed at a hotel close by called Hotel Birks because it was a 3 minute walk to the Drs, but also because I was traveling to a city I'd never been before and wanted to make sure I was somewhere safe.  If you decide to stay in this hotel or any other hotels in the area, check travelocity first!  I got a really, really good deal on airfare from Winnipeg to MTL plus 2 nights in this hotel for next to nothing.  When I go to the Embassy I will be staying at St-Martin Hotel Particulier, same sort of situation with checking Travelocity, nice hotel and got a good price.  

Side note also, if you're flying in.. I had a friend tell me that Ubers can cost onwards of $60, Cabs are $40 but there's a bus from the airport that goes straight downtown 24/7. I bought a 3 day Unlimited pass and it was I think $22. The bus goes from downtown to the airport and takes about the same amount of time that a cab/Uber would anyways!