GnC2010

Thank you

Anyone know if there is anything special I would need to apply for while I was in the US to leave the US for longer than 6 months, or would I just need the green card? I remember someone telling me once about some sort of special permission to leave the US for longer than 6 months... It would be better if I could go to the US in July rather than January (because of my work schedule)...

That's what I was going to point out - asking Montreal to delay issuance of your visa and having to send in your passport will probably be veeeeery frustrating to you. As I'm sure you've already read on VJ, Montreal is soooooo slow and when you send things to them, more often than not, it takes 6 or 8 weeks for them to even GET to your mail.

But I understand where you are coming from, my hubby just deployed too but thankfully I was able to get here a couple of months before he left. Good luck with everything! And God bless your hubby.

Thanks sweetcheeksss for your good points

I think, you're forgetting about one more way to get extra 6 months.

You can go through the process, enter the US, get a GC stamp (I551) in your passport and RETURN BACK TO CANADA.

Up to 6 months out of country wouldn't jeopardize your status.

So, the timeline might look like:

July '11 - interview

January '12 - entering the US with IV

January '12 - returning to Canada

July '12 - coming back to the US

When you husband is returning from the mission?

Thank you M& Pooh. I don't know when he will return, but probably the earliest would be Feb 2012.

There is nothing official on the topic. You have to ask at the interview. But, yes, Montreal has become very problematic due to understaffing. At the time I went through the process they were much faster. Since you would have a pretty good idea of the timelines you're hoping for, you could build the expected delay into your plan. But M&Pooh has a good point also. It seems you have lots of options so it's all good.

Thanks again Krikit, much appreciated.

It is a very difficult and long and frustrating process. I feel your pain. We were unable to get expedition, and then my husband deployed right around the time my interview finally got scheduled, so now I am actually requesting that they delay issuing my visa so that I can stay in my home country until he comes back in a year or so, as he was hte only reason I was moving to the US in the first place. I don't want to go there and live alone!

Anyways, if you want my advice it would be to try and live in the moment and focus on what you DO have (love and health at least I hope). Focus on the end/eyes on the prize. You will be together forever... after this little speed bump.

Wishing you patience, peace, and luck!

C

Thank you Krikit. I noticed on the other thread you referred me to that this can be problematic in Montreal nowadays. When did you do yours and how long did it take? Do you know of any official documentation/website that discusses the delay of issuance? Thanks again.

Oh cool, thank you for the tip ceciliaottawa

Oh cool, thank you for the tip ceciliaottawa

Hi all, thank you for reading my question.

I have an interview for my CR1 Visa at the Montreal Embassy in April, however my husband is not in the US now as he has just been deployed to Iraq for approximately a year or more. I do not wish to move to the US until such time as he returns (or, at least a lot closer to that time) because my family and friends are in Canada and I have a job I really like too. The scheduling website will allow me to re-schedule as late as July. Should I:

- re-schedule for July, and then re-schedule again (I suspect it will give me more dates to choose from at that point).

- do the interview in July but ask for them to give me an extension (longer than the usual 6 months is it?) for which I can enter the US

I guess what I am really wondering is whether anyone has heard of them giving you more than 6 months to enter the US, or if there is ever a penalty for postponing the interview more than once? The website doesn't seem to take issue with it, but after everything we went through to get to this point (won't go into the details here) I want to be extra careful and get all the facts!

FYI I have tried getting this information from the Military Help Line (via email as the phone number doesn't work outside of the US), but all they did was refer me to the USCIS and DoS websites.

Thank you for any information you can provide.

~C

msd and tbaygrrl- wow we must all keep in touch! Thank you both for the lovely words of support and encouragement. Yes, this is the first deployment, but we have already been living apart for 16 months during the immigration process etc, so we have lots of coping skills for that at least. But now it will be different living away from my hometown and starting anew looking for work etc. Oh well, I am trying to see it as a new adventure... I just realllllly wish I had a deployment date and some idea when my visa might come through so we could make some decisions and plans!

tbaygirl- I may have spoken too soon. I just spoke with an operator with NVC and he informs me they are already expediting our case (must be some legwork a congressman did on our behalf!) Anyways the operator also told me to contact USCIS for info regarding traveling outside the US once I get my visa. So, military hotline here I come! Thanks again,

~c

Hi everyone,

We are awaiting case complete at NVC and interview at Montreal, and we just found out that hubby (US citizen) is deploying to Iraq very soon. Therefore, I don't have alot of reasons to be in the US until he gets back and am wondering what the rules are once I get a Visa. I know I have to use it within 6 months, but other than that would I be allowed to leave and come back to Canada for a period of time to be with family? Please advise if you know or can direct me to the info. Thanks a bunch!

~C

Just saw this and am truly happy for you. Thank you for all of your help on here to so many people including myself.

Scott and Mhay- yes we expect him to be deployed for over 6 months, closer to 12. So, getting the visa and not using would it bad since it would expire in 6 months.

tbaygirl- Thank you for the info, however we are past USCIS and therefore I doubt their hotline is of much use to us anymore.

My next question is, once I get the visa I know I have to use it within 6 months, but what are the rules around leaving the US to visit Canada while hubby is deployed?

After being apart for 16 months already, we found out today that hubby is deploying to Iraq in the next 90 days. I believe we are close to being case complete at NVC. If we are lucky I might be able to get an interview at Montreal expedited with his deployment orders, but that would just get me to the States in time to say goodbye, if we're lucky. Then what? If I can't be with him I might as well stay here where at least I have a job and family and friends. But then we would have wasted all of this time and money to get the visa in the first place. Argh. The whole Life Isn't Fair lesson continues to rear its ugly head. Sorry, had to vent somewhere and Facebook isn't an option yet. Thanks for listening.

I see, thank you for your input

There are so many US Consulates in the great big land we call Canada. Why oh why can't they share the load for poor ol' Montreal, not to mention cut down on the travel costs and most importantly shave the timeframe down for us good folks! Does anyone know WHY it is the way it is, and if there is anyone we can ask for help around this??

Short Answer no. You do not need to mail it in. As long as you OPT IN to Electronic Processing you will not need to mail any originals in. But ALL Original documents must be with the beneficiary at the time of the interview.

OK, thank you for reassuring. My brain tells me one thing, and my worry wart tells me another!

@serikmaster- thank you for your input. However I believe what you are quoting is referring to the online application form DS 260 which I wasn't instructed to use. I am, however, eligible for the Email opt-in using the DS 230, because I will be interviewing in Montreal.

Hi,

I know someone who was able to visit the US while waiting for her I-130 because of a special family circumstance (sorry I don't know more details). I believe it involved help from her lawyer and a whole lot of paperwork (prrof of employment in Canada, etc etc) and there was no guarantee that she would be let through by the border guard... However, she made it through. BUT when she came back to Canada she was hassled quite a bit, and now has had some sort of limitations placed on her file and does not expect to be allowed through again until she gets her green card.

So, the short answer is yes, it is possible, but it is alot of work and there is no promise that whoever you get at the border will allow it. My advice would be for you to visit her instead if at all possible- SO much easier!

Hi everyone,

Hope your process is going smoothly.

Last Monday we saw that our IV bill was "Paid" so I emailed off my IV packet (DS-230 and supporting docs along with the barcoded cover sheet), assuming that was sufficient. Now I am worried that I should have mailed the originals as well. Anybody know anything about this? Thanks!

~C

Hi everyone.

On Monday I emailed my DS230 packet to the nvcINQUIRY address, I then received the auto reply and another reply saying they were working on it. Then today we got an email saying the payments have all gone through (we knew that from the website) and to email the packet to nvcELECTRONIC. Hubby and I talked about it, and I ended up forwarding my original email to the electronic address, with a brief message explaining the situation, and I apologized for any confusion I may have caused. It auto-replied, and it said something about sending multiple emails can adversely affect the processing of our case. I am thinking I just sort of jumped the gun on Monday and that it goes to the same place eventually anyway and it won't be a big deal. Did I screw up, or is this just a small glitch? Tell me your thoughts. Thanks! ~C

Congratulations to everyone. It is so encouraging when these things start moving along with NVC isn't it?

@Loto and @Milena Thanks guys... I just kinda freaked out for a moment because of the thought that we might have to wait 1-2 more months for a #.

Hi Toni_Sh: The same things happened to me! One day one operator says you may as well wait 6-8 weeks before you call back, and THE NEXT DAY when I Called back we got our case #, they asked for our email addresses and we were on our way. Definitely call each day and be proactive! Good luck!

@kim,Gnc,Milena - Thank you friends!

@Gnc, Emailed DS-230? I didn't understand this part. Are you doing Electronic Processing?

@Agynyame, NVC will email you IIN a week after your NVC Case# receipt.

@hammer, Congratulations and happy re-union!

Loto

Loto- Yes, we are one of the lucky ones who are doing electronic processing.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes never again PLEASE!! Glad it all worked out and its over for you. We should start getting VJ T-shirts so we can recognize those who have taken this path... hahaha Enjoy your new life...

I like the t-shirt idea!

Hi everyone! Apparently I forgot to click on "watch topic" because I am VERY behind on these posts! Anyways just wanted to share that today our IV showed as "Paid" and I emailed off my DS-230 etc packet. It occurs to me- do I need to mail it too or does the email suffice? I feel very lucky to be able to use the email that's for sure! Oh also, can anyone give me a rough estimate of how long this step takes before we hear back from them?

Thanks!

~C

oops I just remembered to look at the EZ Guide that our wonderful Loto provided... 2 weeks roughly for this review, then I wait for interview. Or, perhaps I can schedule that myself now according to the Canadian forum I read...? And, I wonder if it's bad that I sent my IV packet/DS230 stuff before receiving instructions? Hope not! (I did attach the cover page).

Cheers! ~C