AB2CO

I finally got through to the NVC (after about another 15 attempts) and the operator didn't know anything about this other number. He talked to his supervisor and said the interview still has to come through/from the NVC. So it appears the interview date I got is a non-starter; I'll call the 514... number tomorrow and try and talk to a supervisor.

They did say that October appointments are still being booked, so it sounds like some more folks will get October appointments. Would be nice if they got caught up all the through the June case completes , but I'm not optimistic that they will get that far.

Talked to the 514... number folks . . . today the person I talked to was quite clear that they can't schedule green card interviews . . . so no appt for me yet. Back to waiting on the NVC.

okay so I clicked the link www.ImmigrantVisas.state.gov, under the "Interview Preparation" link from my interview letter and somewhere in there it talks about having to sign up with dhl to have your visa delierved. so i am tired and cannot really focus but I am confused as to whether we still need to buy a envelope or not. ??

I obviously don't know for sure, but when I was scheduling my phantom appointment on the 514... number I got the impression that the envelope was being replaced with your visa being shipped to a local DHL location and you now go pick it up, and the sign-up would generate a waybill that could be used to track your visa's return.

Interesting. When I called that new number the woman said that I must have a letter/email indicating that it is time for me to schedule our interview. She said that she could go ahead and schedule an interview for us but it wouldn't do us any good unless we have been instructed by NVC that this is the next step we should take.

It definitely seems there is some confusion with this new system. I am very curious to see what NVC says when you call them. I am waiting now to get an NVC operator and ask what is going on with this new system.

Jeremy

I finally got through to the NVC (after about another 15 attempts) and the operator didn't know anything about this other number. He talked to his supervisor and said the interview still has to come through/from the NVC. So it appears the interview date I got is a non-starter; I'll call the 514... number tomorrow and try and talk to a supervisor.

They did say that October appointments are still being booked, so it sounds like some more folks will get October appointments. Would be nice if they got caught up all the through the June case completes , but I'm not optimistic that they will get that far.

To me, y'all will get better results by calling those new numbers that Mtlgato linked earlier in this thread. Just for fun (even tho I've already had my interview) - I called the Montreal number - 514.400.2591. The person that answered there was sooo friendly and helpful and didn't mind answering any questions I had.

Tauruslady, you should call this number, explain why your appt time is past and how you've been waiting FORever and maybe they'll be able to help you to reschedule. In my opinion, it's definitely worth the time to call.

Good luck everyone!

OK . . . I think I just scheduled an interview??!!!

I had been trying to call NVC all day; tried about a dozen times and got a busy signal every time . . . so I thought I'd try Sweetcheeksss' suggestion and call the 514... number. The lady who answered didn't seem to be totally clear on what I was looking for . . . definitely seemed to be following some sort of flowchart . . . but eventually she asked do I want to "Permanently Immigrate to the US (Ready to Schedule)" and I said YES.

And she said the first slot I have is Oct 20 @ 9:00 AM . . . and I said "YES - I"LL TAKE IT!!!". Another thing that seems to be new is that it now seems your passport and visa is returned to your local branch; no ExpressPost envelope.

So I now have an "Appointment Confirmation Email". I think another email wilkl follow, as this email doesn't seem to have a lot of details about the medical or other stuff I would have expected . . . hence why I started by saying I THINK I just scheduled an interview.

I am going to try and get through to the NVC later and see if they now tell me I have an interview scheduled.

Ok, I have heard some of you were able to cross the border and visit your US citizen spouse while you were waiting for your interviews. My Canadian wife is now planning to do this as well. We are very nervous about how she might be questioned at the border, or worst case, she'll be denied entry and we'll have wasted the money on the plane ticket.

Those of you who did this successfully, I have some questions. When you approached the customs officer and presented your passport, what did you tell them? Were you up front about the fact that you had a pending immigration case, or did you just say "I'm going to visit my husband/wife in the US". What questions were you asked? Did they want proof that you were not going to stay there?

Anything at all you can share that could help us prepare for the day of her flight would be very much appreciated.

Jeremy

We filed our I-130 back in mid-November 2009. I had heard about the possibility of being denied entry after filing, so I was rather nervous about traveling down to visit my wife too. I first fly down just a few days after filing (for US Thanksgiving) . . . I just said I was going down for a vacation (which of course was totally true) and I breezed through. So I put that down to my visa application not being "in the system" yet.

Next visit was for Christmas, and I was more nervous . . . I assumed that the CBP must have a notation would alert them to my pending application when they scanned my passport (I now don't think they do) . . . again I breezed through. I have now made 8 or 9 visits (all flying out of the Calgary airport) and have had absolutely no trouble. Sometimes it has been as brief as "Where are you going?" and "Have a nice trip". There have been a couple of occassions when the conversation was a bit longer and I said I was visiting my US wife . . . never seems to be a problem. Only once have I been asked about my immigration status and I said I had a green card application in process and that seemed to be fine. So, in spite of my initial apprehensions, I have not had any problems at all travelling to the US with the CR-1 in process. In fact, I would say I probably get as many or more questions returning to Canada (not about immigration of course) than I do heading down to the US!

So based on my experience, I would say you have nothing to worry about . . . but I guess it may depend on the CBP officer you encounter . . . YMMV.

Good luck . . . I hope all goes well for you.

Hi AB2CO: How long have you waited/will you have to wait for your interview? I note the average is 4 months or so...

We filed the I-130 in mid-November 2009, got to "case complete" at the NVC on June 28 2010 . . . and the waiting began . . .

It appears folks that reached case complete earlier this year (up to about mid-April?) were getting interview dates about 8 - 10 weeks after their case complete date. After that, things seem to have ground to a halt . . . there are several folks with case complete dates earlier than mine that are still waiting to have an interview date assigned (and according to the NVC, September interviews have already been set). So if I get an October interview, it will be nearly 4 months between case complete and the interview, about 11 months from filing to interview.

Hopefully Montreal will start to make some progress on what I hear is chronic slowness that has turned into a virtual standstill, and your wait will be shorter.

I am also in Calgary, waiting for my CR-1 interview in Montreal.

As far as the medical goes, I had originally thought I would get my medical done in Montreal . . . just go out to Montreal a day or two before the interview.

But . . . it seems both the doctors in Montreal have a multi-day turn-around on getting the results back to you, while the BC doctor gets the results in your hand the same day. Since I can't afford to sit around in Montreal for about a week, I am going to do a daytrip to Vancouver when it's time to get my medical . . . fly into Vancouver on a Tuesday evening, get the medical done (they only schedule immigration medicals on Wednesday according to their website) and fly back home on Wednesday evening (with the results in hand). Still a pain to have to travel for the medical, but I'll miss a lot less work that way.

As soon2batexan mentions, you might want to get started on making sure your covered for all the required vaccinations . . . you'll need to take proof of the shots or blood tests to prove immunity.

Has anyone heard of a September interview date for a IR1/CR1 in Montreal?

Talked to NVC late last night . . . FWIW, according to the operator I spoke with the Montreal September interviews are all set (I didn't make the "cut" - I'm a June 28 "case complete").

I'm afraid I have to disagree. . . even though your fiance would be working for his Canadian employer, he is not allowed to perform any work while in the US unless he has a work visa or green card or some sort of authorization to work. Canada is fine with US citizens telecommuting back to their US job while in Canada - no special permits needed . . . but it is not allowed the other way around.

I am in a similar situation, and have not found any way to legally work for my Canadian employer while in the US . . . have to wait for my CR-1 to be approved.

I know people telecommute back to their Canadian jobs all the time, but they are actually breaking the law if they don't have some form of work authorization.

I am the Canadian spouse, married my US wife in Oct 2009, filed I-130 on Nov 2009, and have travelled down to visit over half a dozen times since then (quick weekend trips to 2 week visits, all by air flying out of Calgary), and have not had any problems. Frankly, it seems I get less questions entering US than I do returning to Canada! Go figure?! So, I would hope you wouldn't have any issues.

As for the "a few more months" . . . hate to be a pessimist, but I am 9 months in since filing the I-130 and seem to be stuck waiting for my Montreal interview (case completed at NVC on June 28). Hope your process moves faster!