heljan

I found this information online:

"Permanent residents who applied for a renewal Green Card but have not yet received their card must obtain an I-551 stamp. This stamp serves as temporary evidence that foreign nationals are in the process of renewing or replacing their Green Cards and that they are authorized to live and work in the United States. The stamp is issued by USCIS and is placed in a permanent resident’s valid passport..... If a foreign national intends to apply for a job or a driver’s license before they receive an initial or renewal Green Card, an I-551 temporary evidence stamp will also be needed."

Source:  https://www.novacredit.com/resources/i-551-stamp/

USCIS website states the green card can be renewed within 6 months of it expiring. My card expires in October so I sent in my I-90 for renewal 5 months prior. Still waiting for an appointment for biometrics. When I logged on to the USCIS website to  check if there was any activity in my case it stated it will take 7 months to process. Luckily my driver's license doesn't expire at the same time.

Hello fellow Londoner! Most hotels will store your luggage in their luggage room. Ask at the front desk. When I went for my interview in June, I stayed at Hotel le Dauphin which is an easy walk, about 5 minutes or less, to the Consulate. Great place and can highly recommend it. I walked out of the consulate at 9.30am. Just make sure you are standing in line at the consulate by no later than 6.45am. Good luck!

My POE was at Pearson three months ago. I haven't received the Welcome Letter yet nor the green card. The POE immigration officer did say to me that it could take up to 8 months. I thought he was pulling my leg because after reading this forum, people were receiving their card in about 4-6 weeks. Should I be worried?

BTW, I applied for my SSN during my fourth week in the US and it arrived in less than a week.

I had to submit:

1 - Sealed medical report (without the x-ray)

2 - Xpress Post Envelope (remember to note down the tracking no.) - 12"x15" (largest) - fill in your name and tel. no. in the "To" section.

3 - Original DS-230

4 - Original and photocopy of marriage certificate

5 - Original and photocopy of divorce decree (if you and/or your spouse were previously married)

5 - Original police certificate

6 - Original and photocopy of birth certificate

7 - Passport and photocopy of biographic page

8 - Recent financial documents (I-864 + tax return + employment letter + paystubs)

9 - Two 2"x2" passport size photos - print your name on the back

Congratulations Beantown 79!

mooshoo and mtlgato, if you went through the electronic processing route then original documents have to be presented at your interview. Since you mailed in the original documents then you don't need to worry about it. The visa officer should be giving back your original birth certificate, marriage certificate and divorce decree at the end of the interview.

If you are applying for a CR-1 or IR-1 visa, a fee doesn't need to be paid at the Consulate. You already paid the fees when you submitted the application.

I was approved last Friday, mailed by the Consulate on Wednesday and received my passport today (Thursday). I live in Toronto.

Same thing happened with us. Best to contact your Senator's office. There should be one person at the office who assists constituents with immigration issues. They will send you a form that you have to sign which will allow them to represent you. They will call USCIS or NVC on your behalf to enquire about the status of your application.

I took telephone bills, wedding photos and my husband's boarding passes from his visits to see me in Toronto. The visa officer didn't ask to see any of it. To be on the safe side, if you have it, take it with you.

I just came back from staying at Hotel le Dauphne and can highly recommend the place. I paid $132/night. The Consulate is a 5-minute walk, Metro station Victoria Square 5 minutes and Old Montreal 10 minutes. The room was very spacious and clean, there was a computer in the room with free Internet access, flat screen TV with DVD player, free bottled water and included breakfast. It was a simple spread which included Montreal bagels (Fairmont), toast, three types of breakfast cereal, yogurt, boiled eggs, baked beans, apples, bananas, juice, coffee and tea. The bathroom is modern with a great shower. What more can you ask for! As a solo female traveller, I felt very safe there. To access your floor, you have to insert your key card in the elevator. I wouldn't hesitate to stay there again.

APPROVED! Wow, it took 14 months from NOA1 to finally get approved. Reading this forum helped me tremendously in my preparation for the interview. Thanks VJers!

I arrived at the Consulate at 6.25am and was second in line. Remember to form a line on the left side (the side where the yellow steel poles are) of the consulate doors. The guard opened the door at 7.00am. Have your passport and letter ready for the guard to look at. Once I was in the first set of doors, I had to wait for another guard to call me in. I stood in front of him and he asked why I was there, he then clipped letter B to my letter and gave me a laminated sheet (outlining what will be happening) for reading later in the waiting room. I sent my files in a bag through x-ray and then walked through the scanner. I then headed downstairs to the waiting area. At 7.50am a guard came down in the elevator and called people with letters clipped to their letter to go in the elevator with him. We proceeded to the 18th floor and were told to sit in the front row of the far section of the waiting room. There were five of us.

At 8.15am, letter C was the first to be called to a window to submit his documents. I, letter B, was the third to be called. A very nice black lady collected my documents. She said I was very organised as it helped save her a lot of time and I would go also go through the process faster. She asked for (cannot remember the order):

1 - Sealed medical report (without the x-ray)

2 - Xpress Post Envelope (remember to note down the tracking no. which I had already done) - 12"x15" (largest) - fill in your name and tel. no. in the "To" section.

3 - Original DS-230

4 - Original and photocopy of marriage certificate

5 - Divorce decree (if you and/or your spouse were previously married)

5 - Original police certificate

6 - Original and photocopy of birth certificate

7 - Passport and photocopy of biographic page

8 - Recent financial documents (I-864 + tax return + employment letter + paystubs)

9 - Two 2"x2" passport size photos - print your name on the back

She told me to take a seat in the same room while she put my papers in order. That took about 5-10 minutes. She then motioned for me to go back to get fingerprinted. When that was completed, I went back to the main waiting room and waited to be called for my interview.

A nice male officer interviewed me. I first had to take the oath and sign the DS-230. He then proceeded to ask me

1 - When and how did you meet your husband?

2 - What does your husband do?

3 - Where does your husband live?

4 - What was your previous job?

5 - Where did you get married?

6 - Where did I grow up?

He then told me that I was approved. He said my green card and social security number would be mailed to me two weeks after activating my visa. He handed back my original birth certificate, marriage certificate and divorce decree. The interview took 5 minutes or less. I walked out of the consulate at 9.15am.

I recommend going to see where the US Consulate is located the day prior to your interview. Rue Saint Alexandre is not a major street and the consulate`s signage is above the door so it is easy to walk by the place.

Hi Cowgirl2... I'm also planning to POE at Pearson next month. It would be great if you or your husband post the experience, especially how long the wait was in the secondary screening room. Good luck and all the best!

Thanks! All packed and heading to Montreal tomorrow. I'll let you know what happens!!

Thanks Bern!

If all goes well, I'll be activating my IR-1 visa next month. In August, my husband and I will be going on a short vacation overseas. Is it correct that I'll be able to re-enter the US without any problems on the IR-1?

Thanks VJers for your replies. This forum has been so helpful! I may have more questions coming your way as my interview date nears.

It was a relief to pick up my medical results today. One more thing to check off my list. I know the chest x-ray doesn't need to be taken to the interview in Montreal so does that mean it's given at the POE when I activate my visa? Silly question but it'll be one less thing to worry or wonder about. Thanks!

Sorry for your loss. The information on the British Embassy Washington's website might be helpful to you. http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-usa/register-death/

All the best.

Hi K&I... thanks for the info. Great to know there isn't a fee! One less thing to worry about.

I'm a bit confused about whether I will need to pay a fee for a IR1 visa when I attend my interview in Montreal? I've read the information at the Dept of State's website about preparing for the interview but there's no mention of a fee.

Congrats! Look forward to reading your POE review as I'm considering Lester B Pearson as my POE. Just worried how long the whole process will take to activate the visa. How early did you arrive the airport before your flight? I'll watch out for your review.

I know what you are going through. My husband and I (the Canadian) got very frustrated at one point as our application went missing after it was processed by the California processing office. For 90 days we were not able to find out where our file went as it never arrived the NVC. We contacted the Senator's office for help but I don't think they can do much except to follow up on your behalf. Thankfully it has worked itself out but we are about 3 months behind our estimated timeline. Basically you just have to be patient because there's not much you can do if you're within the 90-day period. Hang in there.....

Yeah... I'm scheduled for an interview on June 18! Wow, I was expecting a much longer wait. Please add me to your timeline. Many thanks!

I received an email on Saturday with my interview date at the Consulate in Montreal. Wow, they work on a Saturday! I've been waiting so long for this and can't believe the time has arrived!!

I previously read on VisaJourney that a letter from the family doctor needed to be presently during the medical. I don't see that requirement on the doctor's website. Anyone go recently for their medical who can tell me if this letter is needed. Thanks.