221(g) followed by AP

[user97 0]

My USC spouse and I had CR-1/IR-1 interview in Montreal a while ago now. The consular staff was very friendly and helpful. At the time of interview, the consular officer told us that my USC spouse had to provide additional proof of US domicile due to prolonged period of residence in Canada. The officer also advised us that once we gather the necessary information, we are to mail the documentation along with my passport to the consulate (they returned the passport at the time of the interview). The officer further mentioned that it will take 3-4 weeks from the time they receive the paper work to issue the visa. To our relief, we were also told that we would not need to come back for a second interview as the documentation in question is the only thing they would need to complete our file. In completion, they issued a while sheet that said that they are unable to issue visa at the moment due to a 221(g) due to the insufficient evidence of domicile.

The documentation and the passport has been mailed to the consulate. When we called DoS to follow up we were advised that they have indeed received the needed paper work and that the case was now in "administrative processing".

1) Does anybody know how long it takes Montreal on average to complete the administrative processing?

2) Does it look like the original estimate of 3-4 weeks from the time the missing paperwork is provided until visa accounted for AP time?

2) Also, any guesses as to what triggered the administrative processing -- was it the lack of paperwork in the original application, or is it the fact that I was born in a country (and still am a citizen of) nationals of which require additional clearances? -- this is pretty much a curiousity question, as it does not really make a difference for us now.

3) Is there still hope that the visa will be issued in a matter of week or should we be prepared to wait months and months?

Any experiences in regards to AP in Montreal would be appreciated.

Many thanks,

Waiting

Edited December 17, 2008 by user97

[wowswift 3]

I got the 221g for domicile too on the 26th of november and faxed it in on dec. 2nd, so im not sure how long its going to take. she told us to either fax, email, or mail it in and it would take 2 weeks. but i didn't trust her time frame, and husband took his passport, though he was allowed to leave it. that has already been sent back in recently. im 10 days into waiting as of now. but i figured 3-4 weeks was more accurate.

[Enlighten one :) 5]

Admin Proc is just the term they use to document and review your submitted paperwork. To get an average of wait time you would have to get people have been under AP with insufficient evidence of domicile. Maybe you should start a new Thread with the term Domicile in the subject line. To attract similar cases.

Call the DOS weekly to see if there has been any updates on your case.

Best of luck!

My USC spouse and I had CR-1/IR-1 interview in Montreal a while ago now. The consular staff was very friendly and helpful. At the time of interview, the consular officer told us that my USC spouse had to provide additional proof of US domicile due to prolonged period of residence in Canada. The officer also advised us that once we gather the necessary information, we are to mail the documentation along with my passport to the consulate (they returned the passport at the time of the interview). The officer further mentioned that it will take 3-4 weeks from the time they receive the paper work to issue the visa. To our relief, we were also told that we would not need to come back for a second interview as the documentation in question is the only thing they would need to complete our file. In completion, they issued a while sheet that said that they are unable to issue visa at the moment due to a 221(g) due to the insufficient evidence of domicile.

The documentation and the passport has been mailed to the consulate. When we called DoS to follow up we were advised that they have indeed received the needed paper work and that the case was now in "administrative processing".

1) Does anybody know how long it takes Montreal on average to complete the administrative processing?

2) Does it look like the original estimate of 3-4 weeks from the time the missing paperwork is provided until visa accounted for AP time?

2) Also, any guesses as to what triggered the administrative processing -- was it the lack of paperwork in the original application, or is it the fact that I was born in a country (and still am a citizen of) nationals of which require additional clearances? -- this is pretty much a curiousity question, as it does not really make a difference for us now.

3) Is there still hope that the visa will be issued in a matter of week or should we be prepared to wait months and months?

Any experiences in regards to AP in Montreal would be appreciated.

Many thanks,

Waiting

[Carlawarla 1]

There are so few people if any that have been in AP in Canada, that I don't know if there is an average timeline. A few people who have had to get extra things to hand in before visa issuance haven't waited too long. I think on average whatever time frame they've given, it's actually been before that.

I can't say with any certainy what your AP was for, but given the country of birth, and multiculturism of Canada, I would doubt your having a nationality other than Canadian would'nt impact anything.

You haven't filled out your timeline, so I don't know how long you've been waiting already. You state you had your interview in Montreal "a while ago", but that could be one month ago, or six months ago!

I would call, and/or send email and attempt to get an update soon if it's been a month or more.

Best of luck in hearing something soon!

[Enlighten one :) 5]

The reason he is in AP is more common in Cannada, because of the ease of access fromt he US and closeness.

It is just the processing of his documents to prove domicile.

AP is not a bad thing. It is what it is..amdministrative processing. The bad thing is that you have to wait.

There are so few people if any that have been in AP in Canada, that I don't know if there is an average timeline. A few people who have had to get extra things to hand in before visa issuance haven't waited too long. I think on average whatever time frame they've given, it's actually been before that.

I can't say with any certainy what your AP was for, but given the country of birth, and multiculturism of Canada, I would doubt your having a nationality other than Canadian would'nt impact anything.

You haven't filled out your timeline, so I don't know how long you've been waiting already. You state you had your interview in Montreal "a while ago", but that could be one month ago, or six months ago!

I would call, and/or send email and attempt to get an update soon if it's been a month or more.

Best of luck in hearing something soon!

[Carlawarla 1]

The reason he is in AP is more common in Cannada, because of the ease of access fromt he US and closeness.

It is just the processing of his documents to prove domicile.

AP is not a bad thing. It is what it is..amdministrative processing. The bad thing is that you have to wait.

There are so few people if any that have been in AP in Canada, that I don't know if there is an average timeline. A few people who have had to get extra things to hand in before visa issuance haven't waited too long. I think on average whatever time frame they've given, it's actually been before that.

I can't say with any certainy what your AP was for, but given the country of birth, and multiculturism of Canada, I would doubt your having a nationality other than Canadian would'nt impact anything.

You haven't filled out your timeline, so I don't know how long you've been waiting already. You state you had your interview in Montreal "a while ago", but that could be one month ago, or six months ago!

I would call, and/or send email and attempt to get an update soon if it's been a month or more.

Best of luck in hearing something soon!

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that AP was a bad thing at all. I've just not heard of it from many in Canada, at least not here on VJ, and I've been here for over 2 years.

OP there is a recent thread here in the Canada forum on proving domicile in the US that trailmix started. Perhaps it might help to read that.

Hoping you hear something soon!

[trailmix 77]

nm

Edited December 17, 2008 by trailmix

[Ontarkie 14,234]

I was given the 221g, I mailed off the passpots and required paper they needed the next day. It took them about 5 weeks to send us our visa's. I emailed Montreal alot most times I would just get back a generic answer saying it will be reviewed. They would not tell me any time frame what so ever I think your lucky they told you 3-4 weeks wish they would of told me that. Anyways I think everything to do with Montreal is slow.

[Enlighten one :) 5]

Sorry Carla, I didn't mean to insinuate that you did. I guess I was adding that from my perspective, because that was my view of AP. Many people are uninformed and just hearing that when you think your through you have more waiting ads to that.

Thanks for the advice.

There are so few people if any that have been in AP in Canada, that I don't know if there is an average timeline. A few people who have had to get extra things to hand in before visa issuance haven't waited too long. I think on average whatever time frame they've given, it's actually been before that.

I can't say with any certainy what your AP was for, but given the country of birth, and multiculturism of Canada, I would doubt your having a nationality other than Canadian would'nt impact anything.

You haven't filled out your timeline, so I don't know how long you've been waiting already. You state you had your interview in Montreal "a while ago", but that could be one month ago, or six months ago!

I would call, and/or send email and attempt to get an update soon if it's been a month or more.

Best of luck in hearing something soon!

[user97 0]

Thank you so much for all the information. I hasn't been over a month yet since the paperwork was sent in. From your responses, I gather that the AP in this case may either mean additional background checks or it may just due to theml just waiting to review the domicile paperwork.

I will post when I have any updates on the case.

Many thanks....

[trailmix 77]

Thank you so much for all the information. I hasn't been over a month yet since the paperwork was sent in. From your responses, I gather that the AP in this case may either mean additional background checks or it may just due to theml just waiting to review the domicile paperwork.

I will post when I have any updates on the case.

Many thanks....

User, would you be able to post what you sent in for proof of domicile originally - and also what you then sent as extra evidence? Might help someone else trying to prove domicile.

[user97 0]

In regards to the proof of domicile -- the same thing as in your case. As per instruction sheet, provided evidence of a place to live, financial ties (bank account, investment account, etc), a number of quotes for various things that we would need to move down there and live there, etc.

Basically, mailed evidence of the things we pretty much were already doing in preparation for the move. We just had to get letters from people to document our actions.

When the visa arrives, I will give an update -- at this point it is still pending, so I do not know if the evidence provided was sufficient.

Take care...

[wowswift 3]

update for you user97, ours took 15 business days to approve. Sent everything on the 2nd, this monday asked for a case update via email, and today (the 19th) they said its approved. now have to wait for the passport.

[LadyJane 1]

Thank you so much for all the information. I hasn't been over a month yet since the paperwork was sent in. From your responses, I gather that the AP in this case may either mean additional background checks or it may just due to theml just waiting to review the domicile paperwork.

I will post when I have any updates on the case.

Many thanks....

Hi user97,

Our case did go into an extended AP at the DOS after the interview because they requested additional information. The embassy, we found, underestimated the timeline by 4-6 weeks. We were told it would take "a few weeks", but after we provided the requested paperwork, the AP took ~2.5 months. To me, your case appears to be straightforward and should be done very quickly relatively speaking. They may do additional background checks, but they will mostly process your paperwork. (There are some couples who had a very long AP (6-14 months) but their situation was different from yours.)

Just be patient, it will be processed. And if they need additional paperwork, they will contact you.

Edited December 26, 2008 by LadyJane

[user97 0]

Thank you All,

Just posting an update -- 15 business days after submission of the requested paperwork I received notification that the visa has been approved. So now we are just waiting for the passport.

Many thanks once again...

P.S. Just out of curiousity -- how long does it take on average to receive the visa after approval?