Cowgirl2

Hi guys,

As some of you know it has been a pretty long journey for us to get my husband's IR-1 visa (approx 1.5yrs) due to proof of domicile and Montreal's extreme laziness. Today marked the end of that journey!! This is a review of his POE after I harassed him to tell me everything in detail so i can post it here!

My husband arrived at Peace bridge at around 1pm and to his surprise it was really busy and crowded. He told the officer that he needed to activate his visa so they told him to park on the side. He went in and took a number. It took approximately 1 hr to be called up. He went up and handed the envelope to the officer (a lady). She opened it up and asked him to go wash his hands so she could take his fingerprints (LOL). She browsed through all the paperwork and commented on how organized everything was (I had labelled every document starting from 1 and on and put it in a file with a table of content in the front). She had him sign a few forms and she stamped his passport/visa. She didnt even ask him what he was bringing with him even though he had his inventory list ready. The only questions asked were where he was headed and where his wife (me) was. He told him his destination and he actually did tell he that I'm in Canada at this moment, but she did not further question him why I was in Canada which I was pretty surprised about. We did go through the DCF route too. I moved to the US 6 months ago, but I came back mid-June for my Canadian citizenship test and I'm not leaving till this Tuesday to take care of all the little things that my husband was too much of a man to do. The entire process took about 10 minutes, but the waiting is what took the longest. She browsed through all the paperwork while he was washing his hands and when he got back it was sign, stamp and out sort of thing. The lady officer seemed to know what she was doing and was pretty quick. I told my husband maybe he was lucky that the border was busy as that may have saved him from many other questions he could have been asked. All in all, he said he would recommend the Peace bridge for POE as the people there know what they are doing.

Btw, he asked her if he should expect his SSN in a few weeks and she told him that he has to go to the office and apply for it. I am pretty sure we ticked the SSN box in our original application. Either way I told my husband to just go to the office and take care of it. Do you think he should wait a week or two and then go, or should he just go Monday?

I was wondering, does anyone know how long it takes before we receive the Visa from the US Consulate in Montreal once the case has been approved? One week? Two weeks? I live in Vancouver, BC (if that makes a difference in delivery time)

Hi Moshoo, my husband's visa was approved on Monday, mailed on Wednesday and he actually received it on Thursday and he lives in southern Ontario. This was all through Canadapost

I POE'd at the Peace Bride, took 45 minutes. Yesterday I used my AP at the Lewistown Bridge and it took half an hour. Both places knew exactly what they were doing.

Thank you everyone for replying. At first I was really angry with my husband for being cheap and not going through Pearson Airport, but after reading all these posts I think he should be fine alone either through Peace or Queenston/Lewiston...im leaning more towards Peace though.

YAY Canada post has tracking information on my Visa!!! I should get it by Thursday!!! Montreal must have made a mail drop this morning... I'm thinking other people that were approved late last week or yesterday are probably in the same boat!

Congrats usmcfiance, Suzique, and Catbones!!! I think Montreal The Sleeping Beauty (more like monster) has finally woken up...I really would just like to know what was happening there when everything was on hold...would love some sort of justification for the suffering and torture that we all had to go through!

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Huggles- We did go through the DCF route, but I already moved to Texas over 6 months ago as MTL wanted proof of domicile. In the paperwork we sent in, they have my paystubs from my job in Texas as well as lease agreement, Texas Driver's License, etc..so evidence of my domicile in Texas is all there

I'm just wondering if its a good idea or not for me to drop him off to the aiport in Buffalo and be present for his POE, even though I wouldn't be flying with him that day, but will be flying out from Toronto about 3 days later (I can take my itinerary with me).

I was just thinking to have his brother drop him off so I can take that time to get other things taken care of!

What would you recommend?

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Huggles- We did go through the DCF route, but I already moved to Texas over 6 months ago as MTL wanted proof of domicile. In the paperwork we sent in, they have my paystubs from my job in Texas as well as lease agreement, Texas Driver's License, etc..so evidence of my domicile in Texas is all there

I'm just wondering if its a good idea or not for me to drop him off to the aiport in Buffalo and be present for his POE, even though I wouldn't be flying with him that day, but will be flying out from Toronto about 3 days later (I can take my itinerary with me).

I was just thinking to have his brother drop him off so I can take that time to get other things taken care of!

What would you recommend?

Basically, what I'm asking is do they even ask to see the flight info for the person activating the Visa...and would they ask for mine?

Hello everyone,

Originally my husband was going to POE (activate his IR-1 visa) at Toronto Pearson but it was cheaper to get a flight through Buffalo. I was wondering if Peace bridge or Queenston/Lewiston bridge is better to activate his visa? Also, I'm the USC, would you recommend that I be there with him as well? He is going to POE this friday and I'm flying in Wednesday to help with his packing, but I'm leaving Canada from Pearson after (just a few days) he POEs as I have a baby shower to attend over the weekend and he didn't want to wait for me to POE as he has a business trip planned early Monday.

Also, would the officer care that I'm not leaving with my husband and leaving a few days after? Thanks!

Did anyone who was approved this week get anything in the mail yet? I keep tracking the number but canada post keeps saying nothing found. I'm hoping it's just not been updated and is still on it's way. Today we booked everything for our wedding except for the flights. Two weeks tomorrow!!! I hope everyone who hasn't gotten news yet gets approved soon. Only people who have been in our position can know how stressfull it is.

Hello Usmcfiance, my husband got his visa today in the mail...it was sent yday from Montreal and he already got it today....

Same here. I had a very easy POE at Pearson but as was said, make sure he gives himself TONS of extra time. My flight to the US was at 12.30pm and I got to the airport at 8a.m. I pretty much needed most of that time with security, Secondary and such. Worst case if he makes it through early he gets to sit and have a coffee and read for awhile and revel in the fact that he's on his way to you.

Thanks guys for all your responses. I was wondering if anyone has had a bad experience with Toronto? If so, if they could share please.

I had to update you guys, I called DOS (thanks for giving me the # everybody!) and they said that my wife's VISA was issued on the 14th!!!!!! I am practically doing cartwheels at my desk. Now hopefully it is on the way to her and she can come join me this weekend!

I will keep you posted, but as has been said, it looks like the Montreal COnsulate is finally unclogging their huge backlog.

Congrats!!!!!!... June 14th was the day that Montreal woke up because thats the day my husband's visa was issued too and i believe Helijan as well!!!

Smurfette, he got it meaning that we found out that he was approved (June 14th) and it was mailed today (June 16)..meaning he should have it in his hands in a few days

Helijan, for sure I will have him post the review or I will interrogate him and post it myself...

Hi everyone,

My husband finally received his IR-1 visa and he will be POE'ing from Toronto Pearson next week. Does anyone know if they are usually pretty easy-going there or if they give a hard time? Also, what else should my husband know before he goes??? My husband is a pretty shy, quiet guy and gets nervous pretty easily...i'm the crazy one in the relationship so I'm just a bit worried for him. What sort of questions do they usually ask, etc...thanks!

I had to send in a police certificate from Japan. which took over a month to get from the interview date. So lesson is don't listen to your local police station when they say you can put down your address from japan on the canada police check. I should have gotten a second opinion but I had no idea how to actually get a police certificate from japan and the lady that gave me the Canadian police certificate was very convincing. At the time too I wasn't so involved in Visajourney or i would have asked all of you!

I agree...i wish I knew about VJ before my husband went to his interview! Wow, they made you wait that long just for one police certificate...I know with domicile cases like mine, they tend to take way longer, but now even for one piece of paper they are taking so much time...lets just hope this is a beginning of something GOOD for everyone...especially because they just "opened" your mail and approved right away...thats how it should be done in the first place!

Well i called the DOS today and she said that my envelope had finally been opened. Then about an hour later my fiance got an email from his congressperson saying that montreal had APPROVED!!!! the visa and I should get it by the end of the week. I'm waiting for confirmation from Canada Post but Holy bonkers am i ever excited.!!! it is 8 weeks to the day that canada post confirmed that the documents had been sent to montreal.

What a day though!!!!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! ITS FINALLY HAPPENINGGGGGG!! Congrats...what was the reason you had to send in documents?

How did you find out when they 'opened' it? Did you call somewhere? Go somewhere? Was it magic?

Let me know!

Hi Mtl, call DOS 202-663-1225...they date they start "reviewing" it is basically when they opened your mail...

Unfortunately, I didn't book my exam in the US.. so I have to travel.. so it took them approx 8 weeks from your second mailing to approve? I'm at 5 weeks, so I should wait 3 weeks?

Well I mailed the documents in March 30th so all in all about 11 wks, but after opening (April 20th) about 8 weeks. Maybe the finally have the ball rolling again and you might get it within the next few weeks. Do you have a senator or congressman involved? I ended up getting both of them involved!

I mailed my stuff on March 15th, and they 'opened' it on May 17th. It'll be 1 month this thursday, and I really need my passport ASAP, I have my medical licensing exams in mid july that I need to travel desperately for.. should I fax them asking for the passport back?

Hi Mast,

They had "opened" our mail April 20th. You have already waited so long, can you still hold on for a few weeks? My husband needed to travel to the US soon for business so yesterday he went and applied for an enhanced driver's license as we didnt know when he would get his passport back. They told him 9-12 days he would have it...can you do the same? I'm assuming your USMLEs are in the states..if thats the case then just get the enhanced DL for now as back up...

thanks for that... i needed to hear some positive news from someone... i was really feeling depressed today.

how long ago had you mailed it to them?

EDIT: right after I posted this, I noticed that kevbev had posted the same question

Hi Kevbev and MTL....i mailed them March 30th...i posted an new topic which states my entire timeline!...thanks...

Hello everyone,

I got an email from Canadapost that they shipped something out from Montreal in the envelope we provided them. Called DOS to find out exactly what it is, they were closed. Called my Senator's office and they informed me that my husband's IR-1 visa was approved yesterday and it is in the mail today!!!!

Our Journery:

January 2009- filed forms necessary

June 2009- medical and more forms

Dec. 2009- interview, needed proof of domicile, proof of financial sources, and US Tax returns

January 2010- I moved to Texas

January 30th, 2010- sent in proof of domicile, proof of financial sources, and US Tax returns

Feb. 17, 2010- letter from Montreal requesting more proof of domicile

March 30, 2010- more proof of domicile sent

June 4, 2010- Congressman involved as nothing was happening through the Senator's office (they had contacted Visanet and DOS and finally on May 10th, they contacted Montreal but Montreal did not contact them and they said they can't put in another inquiry until after 30 business days so I took the chance and got my Congressman involved)

June 15, 2010- VISA APPROVED

June 16, 2010- MAILED

Total about 1.5 YEARS!!!... extra .5 due to sending in documents and just waitingg and waitinggg

Now we all know who are waiting that Montreal is finally getting things done so hope all of you hear some good news soon!!!

Just called my senator's office and they said they got a letter saying that my husband's visa is APPROVED!!!! and its in the mail and he should receive it in 7 days!!!!!!!!!!!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYY....montreal is finally doing something!!!!

Just called my senator's office and they said they got a letter saying that my husband's visa is APPROVED!!!! and its in the mail and he should receive it in 7 days!!!!!!!!!!!

YAYYYYYYYYYYYY....montreal is finally doing something!!!!

Hi everyone,

UPDATE: Got a message from Canadapost that something is being shipped to my husband from Montreal but dont know if its his visa or just his passport. I called DOS but they are not open????!! I had sent an email to montreal asking what the procedure was for passport return but i didnt mention case number or anything of that sort in the email...now im just biting my fingernails...there is no way for me to find out until DOS opens!!!

Also, if they just return your passport without a visa, for ex. because of a refusal, do they send it in the envelope you provide them?

UPDATE: Message from Canadapost that SOMETHING is being shipped to my husband! I called DOS right away but its closed?!?!..I can't even verify if its his visa that has been approved or them sending back his passport!!!

Hello everyone,

Last week I talked to a lady at DOS and she informed me that montreal is backlogged because they had a staff shortage BUT she also said that they resolved that issue a few weeks ago...don't know if thats true or not because I didnt find anywhere on VJ that someone heard back...anyone?

Hi,

The number to DOS is 1-202-663-1225 and press 1 and 0 right after and someone will ask you for your case number and update you on your status. We sent in documents for my husband's IR-1 visa on March 30th, they started reviewing it April 20th, and still nothing yet. We were told that once they start REVIEWING the case, it will take them 2-4 weeks after to issue the visa...as you can tell its almost 2 months and still nothing.

I'm starting to wonder if anyone is even WORKING at the Montreal Consulate...I have yet to hear anyone receiving anything other than Lenie which was a few weeks ago...