Embassy info needs clarification pls

[ratfinkgrad 1]

Hello all! From reading the Montreal embassy information, it looks like that after my file gets to the Montreal consulate, they'll send me a "packet 3", which will include forms to fill out and send back. This is what it says about it...

_{"Packet 3 Contains: Updated 1/22/2009}

Checklist

DS-230

DS-156K

I-134

DS-160 New online form https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/

The new DS-160 Online, Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, will eventually replace current nonimmigrant application forms DS-156, 157, 158, and other related forms, such as the DS-156E, 156K, and 156V. The roll-out of the new DS-160 will be gradual. Therefore, not all U.S. Embassies and Consulates will be required to use the form at the same time. U.S. Embassies and Consulates currently using the new form DS-160 are the following: CANADA: Vancouver and Montreal only The form DS-160 does require you to upload an "approved" picture, it lets you know if its not suitable. You can continue to submit without a picture, it gives you a confirmation page at the end and tells you to bring it with you with picture.

If you filed for CR-1, only DS-230."

We did indeed file for a CR-1/IR-1. Does that mean I can skip all that DS-156K, I-134, and DS-160 jazz? Does that mean that my packet 3 will contain only the one DS-230 form for me to fill out? And didn't I already fill that one out and send it along at the NVC stage a while back?!?

Can someone please tell me why it looks like I'm going to be asked to provide a form I've already provided, and kindly lemme know what a CR-1/IR-1 applicant can expect once my file arrives in Montreal? Will I be assigned an interview date immediately?

Thanks so much everyone.

[ratfinkgrad 1]

Can anyone with experience at the Montreal consulate please help me understand what the consulate step involves?

[AddyG 0]

The DS-160 replaces other forms that are being phased out but at present I believe it is only used for people from Canada, Mexico and couple other places.

If you filed a K-3 (I-129F) along with your CR-1 and the K-3 was approved - it would only have stayed at NVC long enough to get a case number and then they would have sent it to the embassy. So, if you are following along the K-3 path at the same time as the CR-1 you will be sent the packet asking you to do the online form DS-160, Part 1 of the DS-230, the I-134 (which is similar to the I-864 asked for when filing for the CR-1) and fill out and return the checklist of documents for the K-3 interview. Once they recieve this you will have to wait until they will contact you with K-3 interview date.

If you chose to ignore all the K-3 stuff and move along only with the CR-1 then you can ignore the above. The best thing to do then is follow the LingChe ShortCutand you can get through in a few weeks. Once the case is completed it will be sent to the embassy (it could take a week or two?)

The embassy schedules interviews during the first 2 weeks of the month. For eg. those with approved cases already at MTL are currently being notified of interview dates in March. At the end of this week they will be done scheduling and then we will have to wait until the first 2 weeks of April which is the next time they will be giving out interview schedules.

Also, you may want to check out the NVC threads to learn more.

[AddyG 0]

[ratfinkgrad 1]

Thanks for your infos! That's a good link you send me too. We didn't bother filing for K3 since we were already married by the time we filed for a visa for me. This is a straight up IR or CR1 application (we'll be married 2 years in June).

So you're say that once the case is finished at NVC and they send it along to Montreal, I only have to wait a couple weeks for an interview date? No more 6 month waits languishing at the embassy? Once it gets to the embassy, is there anymore back and forth with forms? Or is it just a letter saying when and where to do your medical and when you can come to MTL for your interview?

I'd fill in my timeline but i'm afraid it might muck up your stats. Our I-130 was approved last March, but we sat on the application for a while and did not respond to NVC for a long time. Ours is not a typical fast-as-humanly-possible case by our own choices.

[OBX 51]

So you're say that once the case is finished at NVC and they send it along to Montreal, I only have to wait a couple weeks for an interview date? No more 6 month waits languishing at the embassy? Once it gets to the embassy, is there anymore back and forth with forms? Or is it just a letter saying when and where to do your medical and when you can come to MTL for your interview?

Even though interviews are scheduled the second week of each month for the following months (with no guarantees) Montreal tends to be one of the slower consulates. You are more likely looking at least 2 months to an interview date once NVC is complete. 2 weeks is totally out of the question.

Check out this thread from the Canada forum (post #797 is the latest update) for a spreadsheet that has been tracking the timeline to Montreal.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...4768&st=795

If you are going the CR-1 / IR-1 route, once the interview date is set, NVC will mail out a confirmation letter and then you can book your medical. There are only 4 panel physicians in Canada so you have a choice of Vancouver, Toronto or Montreal.

Here's the link for that: http://travel.state.gov/pdf/medical/MTL-ME...L-0001-0810.pdf

Good luck.

[AddyG 0]

See what OBX said above. To transfer your file between NVC and MTL it sometimes takes 1-2 weeks... once your file is there you must wait again!! The stats for the wait time from case completed at NVC until interview date at MTL were running between 60-70 days but the last few that are listed seem to be getting longer from what I can tell at 100+ days. Good luck though! We're all in this same boat! It'd be nice to see MTL speed up just a bit!

(The K-3 is a shortcut some married couples also filed. The K-1 is the finace visa for unmarried couples.)

[ratfinkgrad 1]

Thanks for your clarification! I'm not stoked on having to travel to MTL or TO just to have a certain doctor confirm that i am female!