ndave

I agree with Kate, BUT, we found the email responses to be very slow to non-existant. Had we not called DOS we would have missed our appointment!

Call DOS about 10 days after you send the packet to be sure they got it and it's in-process. Then wait about a week and call once per week to check on the status. You'll feel like you're doing something at least!

DOS = Department of State. The petitioner can get the info by calling with the case # from Montreal. I don't have the number handy but if you search within VJ it's here (that's where I found it).

Calling Montreal will get you an operator who won't be able to help you so that's a waste. We got an operator who was sympathetic and she asked the visa folks for us and gave us a message back that the appointment was indeed set and she is the one who actually requested the second letter regarding the appointment be sent. I don't think you get someone that helpful very often from what I've been told.

We had very little response from the emails we sent to the consulate - I'm sure they are just buried with inquiries.

Folks, I know it seems like an eternity - we went through every miserable second of it too! Just keep in mind that it WILL happen. Also, be sure to check in with DOS on the status of your packet at the counsulate and your appointment date. They told us our date weeks beforehand but we got the letter 2 days before the appointment and then only after calling the counsulate and begging them to re-send the letter (the original was obviously lost) so we sould not be hassled at the door.

I'm in the US on a K-1 and we are now officially married. Unfortunately, my K-1 has expired and I still have nothing back from the INS even though all of the paperwork has been filed (now that we are married) to proceed in the process. I want to travel within the US but because of where we live (in Texas near the Mexican border) I know we will go through an INS checkpoint (it's right up the highway) and they might ask for my papers and all I have is an expired K-1. Has anyone been stopped within the US with an expired K-! and if so, what did they say or do about it?

All went smoothly for Deb's interview - she is approved! she should be in the States in 3 weeks.

The only strange thing was they asked for a police report done in her married name (she's been divorced for some time now). It never crossed our minds to do this, especially since Deb never changed her name after she got married. The interviewer had to go and check with a superior as to whether it still had to be done and the final decision was it did not need to be done provided she had not changed her name when married AND that she would swear to such (which she did).

Don't know if this has come up before

I wish I had found this site much earlier - it would have made things a lot easier. Thanks for all the well wishes. I'll post an update when I hear from Deb.

Thanks for all the words of support. I'm surprised no one posted that they were going tomorrow. Maybe enough people haven't found this wonderful site? We gotta advertise more!

I have sent Deb a fax and the original is in the hands of UPS. Fedex could not guarantee delivery before Thursday and so I sent the original letter via UPS to the hotel in Montreal. UPS said they could delivery on July 2nd by not later than 5PM so I'm hoping they can get it there considering there is a holiday on the 1at.

Deb is taking copies of all of the emails we sent to the Embassy asking for a status report after we were told (by the Department Of State) that the original packet was lost. Remarkably they managed to aprove her on the same day she sent the second packet! Then, of course, the letter never came until last Friday (all we had was the verbal assurance of the Department of State that we had an appointment at 0830 on the 3rd.), givining us no time to do anything with regard to gathering documents requested in the letter.

This has been a 13 month ordeal - I sure hope the inteview goes well.

Deb's obsessing, again. Her appointment letter (delivered June 27 for a July 3 interview) says to bring a DS-156-K. Deb sent hers in with packet 3 as she thought she was instructed. Now she thinks she needs another to take with her and she can find her copy. Anyone know where she can download a current copy? All she can find on-line are out-dated copies. All help is greatly appreciated - this has been a 13 month nightmare and we don't want to miss something simple.

Deb has he appointment on July 3 at 0830. Just wondering if anyone else from VJ was going that morning. If you go, Deb will be the blonde with the "deer in the headlights" look and the terrible case of the shakes. Sorry that I can't be there with her but I have to work. Maybe someone else from VJ can try to calm her down!

The appointment letter from Montreal came today, dated June 13 and postmarked June 26!!! This for a July 3 appointment! My guess is this is the second copy sent in response to our emails wondering where the letter might be.

Now the only problem is they want a letter from me indicating that I am still "available" and willing to marry the beneficiary in the application. Since the appointment is Thursday and she is working during the day every day between now and then, I doubt I can get a parcel containing such a letter delivered before she leaves for Montreal on Tuesday, but I have faxed a copy of such a letter. Tomorrow I plan on checking with UPS and Fedex to see if they can manage to guarantee delivery before noon on a given day when we know she will be home.

Why, oh why, do they make this so difficult?

Way to go! I know it seems like it's been an eternity but it's finally come true for you. Congratulations and may your lives together in the States be very happy.

I meant to thank EVERYONE! You guys have been great and I really appreciate everyone's comments. So far we have mixed results - one of the folks at the Embassy said "no problem, just tell them you have an appointment and they'll let you in", while the other told our attorney "No letter, no admission. You need to re-schedule if the letter doesn't come in time". Deb is going and hoping to get in so we'll see what happens.

Again the folks here have been life-savers and a true help while we've been floundering around. I've gotten more information here than from my attorney.

Hopefully we will all laugh about this soon but right now I'm. I apologize if I offended anyone by omission (or co-mission).

Ir5formumsie,

I apologize! It was YOUR format and info that I used. I guess I just had Laura and Nick on the brain. Thank you so much for taking the time to outline the info for me - I really appreciate it because I was thinking that perhaps I was using the wrong address (the only response I gotten have been the automated ones) or providing the wrong info.

Another email went out last night.

Thanks, Laura and Nick. That's exactly the email address and format we used. We are going to email every day and hope someone responds. We are going to try calling tomorrow. We'll let you know how far we get.

So far our multiple emails have gone unanswered so all we have is the verbal confirmation from DoS. The folks at DoS, by the way, have been pleasant but firm in saying that they can't do anything.

The Embassy was closed today for the holiday so we couldn't even try to call - that's on the list for tomorrow.

I'm not sure what will happen if she shows up with just the Package 3 cover letter but that might be all we have so we might find out.

Say a prayer for us and maybe the letter will come this week yet.

The DoS has said that our appointment is July 3 and that the letter was mailed on June 13. As of today the appoinment letter has NOT arrived and our emails to the Embassy have gone unanswered. Anyone have any suggestions on what we should do? Showing up for the appoinment without a letter does not seem to be an option from what I have read.

Called DoS today to check on status since our SECOND copy of the packet was received by the Embassy 6/13/08. Imagine my surprise to be told that the interview date had been set for July3rd!! Obviously, my emails must have caused them to look for our packet and put it in the system. At any rate, we have an interview set so maybe this process is drawing to an end finally.

I have emailed the embassy twice (no response) and we have resubmitted everything to them (sent certified this time). Now we wait again, except on Monday I'm checking to be sure they got the package and it's officially filed! Maybe since they lost the first one they'll give us a break on the wait time for the interview but I'm not holding my breath.

We've started gathering all the paperwork and in my email I requested an extension. The only thing we're not sure about is whether they will take it without the "check-off" sheet being included (that we don't have a copy of). We'll see what they say - no response yet to my email.

Unfortunately we sent it back regular post. Our hope is that they will manage to get the package out to us again in time so we can get it filed within the next 2 weeks - the rate limiting step is how quickly they can get the package to us.

Bad news from DoS - Montreal never got the packet! I absolutely can't believe we have been waiting all this time only to find out they don't have it for whatever reason. Additionally, I was reminded that the 4 months runs out at the end of this month and so we have to get a new packet and refile before then or else (according to the nice lady at DoS). She did NOT mention anything about an extension, by the way so I'm not sure what will happen now if for some reason we can't refile within the next 2 weeks. I emailed the folks at the embassy (they don't take phone calls) and now I guess we just wait and see what happens.

This is truly depressing.

Thanks to all who replied. I will call on Monday and see if I can find out anything. This has been a very slow, frustrating experience and you're right, hope is the only thing that keeps you sane in these suituations.

Sure wish we would have found this site sooner!

Does anyone have any idea about how long the wait for an interview in Montreal tends to be currently? All of the final paperwork that the Embassy sent was submitted about 2 months ago, the physical is done and and now it's just a matter of the interview.

If it's any help to others, we've been waiting for almost a year total now (CIS and NVC took just over 8 months to finish and clear us and now it's been 2 months since we sent in the Embassy's paperwork).

Thanks!