April&Adam

Where has the time gone? I can't believe it's already time for more paperwork. I can't say I missed it and it's going to be much more challenging as I have to chase after a 9 month old boy that doesn't like to sleep. EVER.

I'm glad to see that DizzyLox created another group for us though. Who needs to pay a lawyer when you have Decemberites to help you through the process!

I would love to hear how this all turns out.

My timeline is similar to yours in that I got a medical at Dr Seiden's in Toronto June 20, 2011, applied for AOS November 2011, and just received an RFE May 21, 2012 stating that they didn't do an IGRA and/or TB test for my medical. How this is true is beyond me. The US certifies these Dr. to test us, and they therefore should know what tests we need for the immigration process. I also have my chest x-ray, so I know that part of the TB testing was completed. My guess is my medical was lost as well, or we have the same case agent who isn't trained properly.

Either way I plan on contacting my Congressman on Tuesday, but I would love to hear how everything turns out for you...and maybe it'll help if we let the Congressman know that it's also happened to someone with a similar timeline to us.

Paying for ANOTHER medical after all these immigration expenses (not to mention the 5 hour round trip drive) seems ridiculous, but most people seem to be willing to swallow the costs, because it's the easiest way.

STILL waiting to hear anything about where my passport/visa currently is. My appointment was the 31st, and I know it was a long weekend, but still! I should know SOMETHING by now, especially since other girls that were there with me (for CR1/IR1 visas) have theirs in hand already I know I have time but I'm very stressed about this!

I had my interview the day before you and I just got notification this evening that my passport was shipped from Montreal, so you should be hearing something soon. Don't freak out just yet.

If you are in Ontario, any agencies you could give us the name of that do these checks quick?

My fiance didn't realize they would take this long and her interview is on MONDAY!!!!!

Any help at all we would appreciate!

I'm in ontario as well, and I just printed the form off my city police's website, filled in all my information and then took it to their Headquarters. They checked off the two boxes that said I didn't have any criminal record in my city or based on the RCMP database, signed it, stamped it with a seal and gave me a photocopy. Took about 20 minutes. I'm wondering if the ones that are taking 6 weeks are the police checks to work with the vulnerable population. I know those are way backed up with those ones and my sister had to pay an extra $40 to have her's rushed for her summer job. Maybe if they don't do the quick on the spot check, you could see if you can pay a rush fee.

So I got a letter from the consulate asking me for four things, all of which I included in my original packet 3 (including the photos, and you guys remember me going on about the size of the photos!). I tried to call Montreal but of course they don't speak with you on the phone, and when I emailed them it said they would get back to me within TWO WEEKS. I'm very frustrated because I don't know what happened that either these things are missing from my package now (and I KNOW we put them in, I checked that thing a dozen times) or that they want doubles.

It's making me very upset because I worked so hard on that packet 3 (and everything else) and now I have to redo things with no explanation whatsoever. I am already stressed out that I have to go to Montreal for my medical on friday, which means bloodwork (I'm very needle-phobic), so this is not helping. What if this stuff doesn't get sorted in time for my interview August 31st and I have to book a new one, which wouldn't be for AGES? I am clearly freaking out here guys

They put up a stink about your photos? I didn't even include mine, because they were listed on the checklist and I read somewhere that they just ask for them again. That's too bad. I'm sure it will all get sorted out and in plenty of time for your interview. It looks like we just miss each other at our interviews by a day.

As for the blood work, don't fret and stress. It's easy peazy and will be done before you know it!

packet 3 was sent to me on the 20th, so i'm preparing all my forms to send on monday. not waiting for packet 3 since who knows how long it will take.

since it's on the montreal.uconsulate.gov website, i'm going to assume that this checklist http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/visas/pdfs/visa_checklist.pdf is pretty much exactly what i'll be receiving in the mail, correct?

i'm wondering whether i have to check off the things that apply to me, or just leave the form blank and fill out the bottom part, which will show them that i've gathered what's required. if i DO have to check things off, would i leave something like the appointment letter and medical unchecked, since i don't have them yet? or do i check them off to show that i know i will need them?

thanks so much in advance!

This is the page you need to look at to find out what packet 3 says. http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=immigrant_visa. Go to the Processing of Approved Fiancé(e) Petitions part at the bottom.

I checked off everything that I required for the interview (even medical and letter which I didn't have at the time) and n/a'd those that I didn't need. Didn't get a RFE, so I assume everything was fine.

Going to get my police check today was very frustrating - no one at either office I went to had ANY clue what form to give me or what I was supposed to do. I'm very frustrated with the whole process right now and am getting way too frazzled and crazy.

Christine, where do you live? My city police's website had a number of forms listed and I selected the Basic Criminal Records Search and the form has two checks that are done. One states "DOES NOT have a criminal record in the RCMP National Repository for Criminal Records in Canada" and the other says the same thing but for the city I live in. If you haven't gotten an answer yet, and you're from a bigger city try that first. If not (and you're in Ontario) used this link for the OPP site http://www.opp.ca/ecms/index.php?id=499 . The last one listed is criminal record checks and it tells you what you need and how to go about getting a background check (and you don't need one for vulnerable population..those take a lot longer and cost more). If you need more info, message me.

Do they always send the packet to both the beneficiary and the petitioner or did you have to set that up somehow?

I didn't have to set anything up to get it sent to both locations it just happened like that, which was nice because I was able to get my medical, so I'm prepared should any last minute interviews become available. And if youre going to send packet 3 before receiving it in the mail , just make sure you get your case number from NVC. As for having packet 4 emailed, are you dealing with Montreal or Vancouver? Cause Montreal is still in the dark age and doesn't believe in emails or fax machines!

oh man, DOES montreal use canada post? for some reason i just assumed they used DHL or whatever to send packet 3. so far i've been worrying about the strike affecting when i receive my police record, which i applied for last week, but now i'm going to be worrying about packet 3 as well! though from what i've read on VJ, you can send in your packet 3 stuff without ever actually receiving it. you just need to know that it was officially sent out to you. apparently, strike or no strike, some people never actually receive packet 3 for whatever reason, so they just send off the required forms anyway (using this http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_pkt3)

another thing...you say that your case was sent from NVC and received by montreal within 2 days. how did you find that out? i called NVC yesterday and they told me my case was sent to montreal on june 14th, and i've been trying to use the DHL site (track by shipper's reference) to see if it's been received, but it looks like it hasn't. maybe i'm doing it wrong? it just seems like if yours got to montreal so fast, mine should already be there too! if you can give me any DHL website tips, i'd really appreciate it!

I have yet to receive packet 3 or 4 in the mail; my fiance, however received both in the US. Packet 3 was received about 2 weeks after they said it was mailed (altho I mailed my packet 3 back before receiving the physical copy), and packet 4 took about 5 days to get to him, all during the rotating strike. I mailed packet 3 to the address Ralyse mentioned via DHL (for free) and it was received the following day, altho it took about 8 business days to be logged.

My fiance takes CAR LOADS of stuff back and forth all the time via the Peace Bridge in Port Erie. Most of the stuff I order for the wedding is sent to the US, so he brings it to me...I fancy it up and then send it back with him. I've also sent a few personal things, like my coffee machine, shower gifts and things that we've received and he's never once had a problem. He always tells them what he has, and they usually just laugh at him and send him on his way. My family also crosses a lot (like once or twice a week) at the Bluewater Bridge, and we don't usually have a problem there either. My mom has brought my wedding and bridesmaids dresses back and forth a few times even. I really just think it depends on the dollar value of stuff and the border agent you get...but I would save the clothes until you, yourself cross.

On a complete random side note, are medicals are the same day in TO...so I will see you there!

Oh, I didn't know I could call too. Does it count as a long distance call? What's the number anyway? Lol. I will start calling when I hit 30 days until I get that approval. Seriously, 60 days for a missed checkbox is really dumb. I know it was dumb of us to miss it in the first place but still 60 days is just ridiculous.

I believe it's long distance, but if you have a gmail account you can call using that for free. Number is 1-202-663-1225 then press 1 and then press 0 (if you use gmail, leave the 1 off). Then just make sure that you have your receipt number for your NOA1, and you're basic security question info.

Hopefully that NOA2 appears soon. We haven't attempted to call yet because I'm the beneficiary and my fiance works a lot of crazy hours with no breaks in between. We figured we'd give them the 60 days they said it would take when they got our RFE. 60 days is a ridiculous amount of time for what is essentially one missed checkbox. But then, an entire month is a ridiculous amount of time for a checkbox too. Maybe I'll try calling after 30 days is through, which is coming up very soon now. But I suspect they will just tell me to wait the full 60 days. It's all so dumb.

Piefre, as the beneficiary you can call too you know? Adam works in insurance and things have been crazy for him with recent tornadoes that have gone thru the area, so I call or it would never get done. They are always really nice to me, in fact when I called on Friday the lady told me that she'd had a ton of calls from Canadians that day. I'd say just keep calling for updates, if anything maybe it will make them look at the RFE to get you to stop calling

Young has nothing to do with it, Lise! Determination and straight up CRAZY has everything to do with it.

We're planning a wedding, going through immigration AND buying a house (building it from the ground up). Trust me, I want to kill myself every day. Life so sucks right now

I'm glad I'm not the only one that feels like a lunatic. After this whole immigration process, my house seems to be the most stressful. We dug the basement almost 3 months ago, and we're ALMOST at the point where all the water has dried up and they can start pouring the foundation (and as I type this it's going to start raining in PA, cause that's the kinda luck we seem to have). Have you guys started building yet? Or are you still in the initial stages?

Gathering up interview paperwork while I'm here in Atlanta so that we don't have to worry about Blake mailing me the stuff when the time comes.. I'm going to print up a couple letters of intent to marry so we can date them different dates and Blake can sign them, just in case something happens and we need to move my interview lol.

Luckily he makes enough money that we don't need a co-sponsor, phew one less set of paperwork to worry about!

Can any Canadians help me out on when I can book my medical exam? Do I have to wait until they get my packet 3? (that's my understanding of it right now)

Only one week left here in Atlanta before its back to Canada until moving day!

She asked me both times I tried to book my medical by email if I had packet 3 or 4 yet. The first time in was in the mail but I didn't have it in hand yet, the second time I was able to book as Adam received packet 3 (my copy is still MIA). Go figure, it's faster to mail something from Canada to the USA than it is to mail within Canada and they wonder why the amount of mail being sent has decreased by 50% since this strike started.

Can you tell me your interviewer's name? I'm goint to email my senator and request an immediate work transfer to the New Delhi office

I think we should have him flown to Canada instead. In fact, I think any consulate with a 2 week or less wait should have to send 2 or 3 officers to Montreal until they have this backlog fixed. September 21 is ridiculous!

Michael also got a copy of Packet 4 in his mailbox today...now we have 2 copies!

That's awesome. At least one of us will get it then, not to mention the US postal system is way faster than ours to begin with! This whole postal strike still baffles me.

Guess what came in the mail today......packet 4 saying I am ready for my interview!!! It was postmarked May 27th; received June 2nd. Never did receive packet 3 in the mail

I am slightly confused at the instruction to bring the appointment letter showing the date and time of your interview, is it the website confirmation? And I packed box 19 for the POE, butterfly city in my stomach...can't wait for August!!!

Hope everyone has a nice day,

Lise

Oh man. My packet 3 apparently left the same consulate on May 27 and I still haven't received it, and you live way up in Thunder Bay, no? I'm convinced packet 3 is cursed or that some consulate employee is hording them as souvenirs. Good thing I just went ahead and sent it in anyways and I just confirmed that it was signed for yesterday. Hoping to hear about packet 4 soon so I can book my interview! How did you end up getting packet 4 Lise? Given that our fabulous postal system is now on strike, I'm seriously hoping it has nothing to do with them.

I have yet to receive a hard copy of packet 3 yet it was supposedly mailed May 5th! I went ahead and mailed my stuff after DoS told me it was sent. I paid my fees and registerd with DHL, sent it through them - it is free.Today I called DoS and a very nice visa specialist told me that packet three is logged, seeing the other timelines for Montreal I expect to hear around June 10th that packet 4 is on its way.

I might just go ahead and send my package in as well. I'm curious to know why this lady in Toronto is given me such a hard time about booking my medical without package 3 in hand, what does it matter to her? I was hoping to get this stage out of the way asap as I work in television and things are getting crazy as we prepare for fall programming and we're coming up on a vacation black out period.

Thanks for your help.

Lise

How did package 3 from Montreal arrive? DHL? Or Canada post? I'm seriously hoping not Canada Post or my package is going to get lost with this looming strike.

Also, did they let you book your medical in Toronto without having received package 3 yet? I'm wondering if I should have just lied to her and told her I had it rather than that it was in the mail.

It very well may be!! I called on Tuesday (one day past the 5 month mark), was told no one was assigned to my case yet....2 days later had our approval! I completely believe my call had something to do with that...

Same thing happened to us. Adam was told everything was fine and to just wait...and 3 days later..Approved!

Well ladies and gents.......WE'VE BEEN APPROVED!!!!!!!

I think Adam is now deaf because of the scream I let out, when I checked our case status.

Now if only we can get the water out of our basement hole. We dug our basement about 6 weeks ago, it filled up with about a foot and a half of water shortly after because of all the precipitation we got this winter. So we've been waiting and waiting for it to go down. Well last week a Tornado (not a big one mind you) went right down our new street and filled the hole up with 4 1/2 feet of water....so now we need it to stop raining, so the Fire Department can come drain it for us (the joys of a small town), so that we'll have somewhere to live when we can finally get married!

HEADS UP fellow Canadians,

I almost missed this post in the Canada Portal:

Getting Police Certificates in Ontario Read this if you'll be needing one soon

Posted 29 March 2011 - 09:30 PM by JlovesA

Just a little insider info...the RCMP in Ontario will no longer be providing police certificates to the public for any reason. It is possible you may find a detachment still doing them, but for those of you who will be needing one soon, I suggest just going straight to the OPP or municipality police.

Hope this helps anyone needing a police certificate soon.

Our RCMP office used to provide police checks within a day; guess I best get my butt down to the local police department...I am pretty sure it is a 3 week wait!

Lise the check you need isn't the same as the one you would get to work with the vulnerable population. The one you need takes about 15 minutes, cost $40...and basically they just search the RCMP database to see if you have a record, check the yes or no box and then stamp it with their seal. From there if something is suspicious, you'll have to do the one with fingerprinting.

Lise is right Christine, don't give up hope yet. Sometimes I check the next available interview date in Montreal and it's in 2 weeks, and other times I check and it's 4 months (I just checked again and currently the next available time is 2 days from today!). It's so all over the board, I wouldn't stress about it just yet....let's get those NOA2s from VSC first!

Aww April I hear you girl, wedding dreams are even stressful just by themselves without this process adding to the pressure. Hope you have a fall back up plan???

What are other people planning as far as dates???

We've tentatively been planning for a January wedding since this may take longer than we anticipated and it's cheaper in January I'm really hoping 13 months after my NOA1 is enough time to get this entire process finished and have a nice wedding.

Anyone else doing the whole tentative planning thing?? What kinds of plans are you making and how are you keeping them flexible??

P.S. Dizzylox can you add me to the list next time you update?? I didn't see us on the last version. Thanks girl!

Ya we definitely have a back up plan. In fact I originally wanted a June wedding, that obviously went out the window when I found out that Montreal has a ridiculous long wait time for interviews, so we booked our venue date for the end of August, but all of our other vendors are on standby until I get my interview booked. One of the nice things about having a Friday wedding tho, is that I have the flexibility to do this.

And I have nothing against a fall wedding, it just isn't what I envisioned and our location is a popular summer destination. That's all. It's definitely pretty in the fall, I'll just freeze (and yes I know I'm suppose to be from Canada )

As for Senators and Congressmen, we've already talked to them, figured it couldn't hurt to give them a heads up about our case, and my fiance has some contact thru his business.

It just makes me angry that we try and do it the legal way and go thru all the appropriate channels and it ends up taking forever and we have to jump thru a million hoops. When I was first looking into things I talked to a lawyer and he advised me to just go into the states with the intention to visit and then change my status after 90 days and say we've decided to get married...that way all this waiting time would take place while I was in the USA. Told me that Immigration frowned upon it, but it would still work. Nice eh? Did anyone else seek legal advice and have a similar story?

Hey Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that Adam and I are here with all you other Decemberites! I definitely don't come around a lot because I find that the current wait times just stress me out and make me want to cry, as I watch my dreams of a summer wedding fade away. Am I alone in feeling like this?

Just wanted to let you all know that we are here tho, and you can add us to the spreadsheet if you want!

Good luck to you all! Here's hoping the next 3 months fly by!

April