DadofUSCitizen

21 hours ago, Cholte cholte said:

Has anybody tried the Immigrant Visa Navigator? Also, is this information correct?

 

If your case is undergoing Administrative Processing, please do not send any documentation until you receive an email from the Immigrant Visa Section at the U.S. Consulate General Montreal, unless otherwise specified.  If your administrative processing has been pending more than six months, please contact us.

How to access the Immigrant Visa Navigator?

On 5/15/2024 at 6:06 PM, Phil_K_IR1 said:

IR1 shows "clearance received April 23, 2024"

@Phil_K_IR1 Congratulations! Where did you find the IR1 status showing "clearnace received April 23, 2024"? Thanks!

22 minutes ago, VadymD said:

What does the TAL stand for?

12 minutes ago, Fayisa said:

Hello, hope you are doing well. I have got my visa on December 28th and moved December 31st to USA. I am finally with my husband and my son. Sorry for not updating here I was busy so much with life, I didn't log in for months. 

Congratulations!

32 minutes ago, Daft_Cat said:

Hi everyone! Quick update from me: was notified by the consulate this morning that my passport is being returned. My status on the CEAC tracker has changed to "Issued" as of an hour ago. Surprisingly quick for me. They're sending it back just 1.5 weeks after I sent it through - since others that interviewed around the same time as me are still waiting, I do wonder if my WoM had an impact... albeit much more slowly than it would've a year ago. 

 

Thanks again for all the support throughout the process and I hope to see more movement for everyone still waiting soon. 

Great news for you and hope for all of us here. Congratulations! 

25 minutes ago, ajxl888 said:

Hi All,

 

We randomly decided to log into CEAC and noticed that under IV Application it says Re-opened and the highlight box says "once you have made your changes, to resubmit DS-260".  Does this mean anything?  I don't really want to click on anything out of fear it will mess something up in the back end... It's been a while since I last checked but this is the first time I'm seeing it say "Re-Opened". 

I would send an email to MTL office telling them that your DS-260 was re-opened on the CEAC page and ask for instructions on what you need do next.

9 hours ago, yvesemma said:

hello @Irish89  yes exactly after my interview march 2022, was put in AP, but the consulate had kept my passport. Early July 2022, they requested for me to submit DS-5535 and I was in AP again.   So AP all together for 24 months.    March 2024, they sent me the email requesting a new medical, Canadian police clearance and passport, and pictures. it came unexpectedly (as I was actually traveling when I received it). As I mentioned earlier after receiving the DS-5535 I was not checking my case as often on CEAC as I knew it would be a long while.. I just kept on living.  Came back from trip, got an appointment early April to do medical, and received my fingerprint clearance last week and went to send everything.  

 

does anyone know how long the wait is now? after they asked for the additional documents? CEAC had an update today.. im i getting closed to the long awaited "issued" ?? 

@yvesemma I believe you were cleared when they ask updated medical and police certificate. Congratulations! You will hear the sweat word "Issued" very soon.

12 hours ago, Leo The Great said:

I am able to get all travel history including this year travels for my dad Canadian passport just now using this link

https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/history-search

But it is not returning my travel history (US passport).

@Leo The Great The Travel History is only for foreign aliens, not for US citizens. Same for I-94 records.

43 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

Hi...I am able to get the travel history...but not the latest I-94

@Cholte cholte It seems that your I-94 record was messed up (system or human error) and this happens. I have a friend who had the same issue some time ago. He finally had his I-94 record fixed after many phone calls and a visit to the local CBP office. I suggest you do the same if a correct I-94 record is a must for you.

14 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

How do I check on the I-94.  It does not give the category of the visa? When you check on I-94 website, the "View Compliance" tab  does not give the most recent entry (it has June 2023, whereas it should be April 2024). Also the "View Travel History" does not give the type of visa.

 

 

@Cholte cholte  After correctly entering your Traveler Info on https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/recent-search, you should see a page like this:

5 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

No...he did not mention it...we were not given a reason why we were called for a secondary inspection

 

Thanks! So is it possible that the CBO officer does not know your wife has a pending GC application?

38 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

Expereince-Driving into the US after getting a DS 5535 

 

Hi..drove in yesterday into the US. I have a GC while my wife's DS 5535 is processing at the Montreal consulate (since march 19, 2024). We both have NEXUS cards and we thought it would be easy. The officer at the border asked my wife if she had a job in Canada. She replied that she had just been laid off. He then asked how long she planned to stay....and she replied 1 mont. We were then asked to park our car and go to secondary inspection. The officers were courteous and let us enter after clarifiying how long she would be staying. Do you always get pulled up for secondary questioning at land borders if you have a DS 5535 pending?

 

It would be great if others could share similar experienes.

@Cholte cholte Did the officer asked or mentioned anything about your wife's green card application/DS5535? Thanks!

3 minutes ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

So my spouse got an email from the usvisainfo email saying the consulate needs so and so. 
 

And then we got a reply to an email I sent on March 28 with the same message in that other email. 
 

So it wasn't a new email necessarily, just weird. But can confirm if they contact you to ask for it the case last updated changes. 

@Phil_K_IR1 Thanks. The email I received on 4/19 was a reply to my email sent to them on 4/4 and my case also updated on 4/19. My petitioner did not receive anything though.

1 hour ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

We had an update yesterday and sure enough another today with an email from the consulate to redo medical and send the passport (and 2 passport photos) 😭😭😭

 

There is hope! The pattern of more regular updates leading to an email from the consulate seems to be legit. 

@Phil_K_IR1 May I ask is the email you received from the cosulate today a fresh new email by the CO or a reply to one of your previous emails? Thanks!

22 minutes ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

We had an update yesterday and sure enough another today with an email from the consulate to redo medical and send the passport (and 2 passport photos) 😭😭😭

 

There is hope! The pattern of more regular updates leading to an email from the consulate seems to be legit. 

Congratulations!!! My feeling was correct (I said your case will be cleared very soon).

2 hours ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

Another update today, last two were Monday 4/8 and 4/15. 
 

Expected one yesterday so it follows the weekly on Monday, but didn't happen, though it updated today. 
 

Still nothing from the consulate (and my email is still unanswered that was sent on March 28). 🤷🏽‍♂️

This is good sign. I have the strong feeling that you will be cleared very soon.

2 minutes ago, CarmenD said:

Yes, seems that since your case does not fall under the Security Advisor Opinion scrutiny it should be adjudicated sooner than the varying complex INA 221(g) refusals slapped with the DS-5535.  Best of luck with a minimal wait

@CarmenD Thanks a lot for your words. I hope this process will move faster than now for all of us. 

34 minutes ago, Superluminal said:

Based on the fact the DS-5535 wasn't asked for (according to our tracking sheet), this could be a much faster processing then us DS-5535 folks are experiencing.

@Superluminal I like what you said, hope it is true but will not count on it. I will update here with the progress of my case.

5 minutes ago, northface said:

 

It seems that your case just pending in MTL consulate level, quite predictable I guess,not involved external DS-5535 long wait processing..............

I did not realize this and thank you for letting me know. Let's hope the best.

Just now, DadofUSCitizen said:

 

After complete silence in March, I saw 5 updates on my case since April (4/4, 4/9, 4/6, 4/18 and today 4/19). Also I received the 1st personized email message today. Does this mean they are really working on my case?

 

 

Sorry the 3rd update date should be 4/16 instead of 4/6.

20 hours ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

Wife and I are likely SAO (only CV requested). Approaching 6 month point since interview. 
 

If there's one thing I learned in this process it's that there's really no logic or pattern to any of this. Things move when they move, and it's anyone's guess. 
 

However there's been a very evident increase in requests for medical/approvals. Maybe things are finally improving? 

After complete silence in March, I saw 5 updates on my case since April (4/4, 4/9, 4/6, 4/18 and today 4/19). Also I received the 1st personized email message today. Does this mean they are really working on my case?

4 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

Hi,

 

How does the tax system work for canada. Since Canada has higher taxes (compared to the US), do we just pay the difference in Canada?

 

 

Yes. The tax you paid to USA will be used as credit when you file your tax with Canada.

14 minutes ago, Superluminal said:

This may only be a little off topic but I was wondering if anyone here has had to go through obtaining an ITIN for filing taxes with their US spouse. I imagine many of us have spent more time in the US than expected visiting, possibly triggering the need to file US taxes. I was given advice last year by my lawyer to not worry about that for now, but with how long the AP is taking, I am getting worried about being offside with the IRS.

 

Any thoughts on this?

I file my tax return with IRS every year b/c I work in USA now, but I have a SSN obtained many years ago when I was a student under F1. If you do not have income from US sources, I do not see the need to file tax return with IRS, but please consult your laywer to be sure.

22 minutes ago, Cholte cholte said:

Hi, Just a few clarifications.

My spouse attended her Visa Interview on March 15, 2024, in Montreal and was asked to complete her DS5535. Her medical examination was on March 08, 2024 and her RCMP police clearance was done on June 15, 2023.  How long is the validity of these two documents? If her visa is approved, will she be required to get another medical examination and RCMP clearance?

I think the mecical exam is good for 6 months and the police report is good for 2 years. After you receive your IV visa, if you activate it within the specified time frame, you should not need to to them again.

16 minutes ago, Phil_K_IR1 said:

Congratulations! The nightmare is over! 
 

I can't believe it took a 2022 DQ/interview this long... Can you share specifics of all your timeline? DQ, interview, 221g/5535, etc

These all can be found from the excel file.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jV7rzX2eCRVoEDRhOtN9a6hDoHRLNEf1P3ZGZbQ0_Dc/edit#gid=0