Here's how NVC assigns interviews for MTL

[mikey78 6]

Hey guys,

I did some homework looking at timelines of cases completed within past months and here is my theory how NVC assigns interviews for MTL for CR/IR:

Each month NVC is able to schedule interviews for up to 2 months ahead because that is the advance with which consulates inform NVC about their interview capacity. For MTL, interviews usually take place within 2 months from receiving the appointment letter. This part is somewhat predictable. What is not, however, is how long we have to wait from the moment when our cases are completed to when we receive our appointment letters. This is due to the fact that more cases are completed than can be scheduled and from month to month there is a backlog, let's call it 'waiting list' and each completed and not scheduled case is added to this list.

At the end of 2nd week/beginning of 3rd week of each month, a magic hand at NVC generates a list of people whose cases are completed and not scheduled and sorts it out using 2 criteria:

first order criterion: NOA1 date (known also as priority date), and then

second order criterion: case completed date

Now, just for illustration assuming that MTL allows 200 Cr/Ir interviews a month, first 200 names from the sorted waiting list will receive appointment letters and interview dates (usually during the 3rd week of each month). Using 2 criteria would explain why people whose cases were completed the same day or about the same time don't have the interviews even close to one another.

Example: people who had their cases completed in Feb got to know on March 23rd that their interviews will be in May.

So if you want to see where in line for the interview you are it is best to first check NOA1 date of people who are getting their interviews assigned now in August for October and then take a look at their 'case completed' dates...So what do you think? Did I just re-invent the wheel? B)

All comments welcome Let's see how it works in practice

[trailmix 77]

Sounds reasonable

[Carlawarla 1]

It's sounds like you're analyzed this long and hard. I don't know if it's correct or not, but let's see!

[Krikit 1,164]

You have WAY too much time on your hands.

[mikey78 6]

You have WAY too much time on your hands.

Nah... just an analytical mind and some Excell skills

so any ideas? opinions? experiences? feelings? all welcome!

[Rustbelt 0]

I think it's just a huge mystery.

I don't have the full timeline, but our case was closed at NVC on June 4th and we didn't move things along as fast as we could have as there was a three month delay on our part in getting stuff to the NVC. We're still waiting for our interview date. We're on a IR1 timeline.

Anyway, by your reckoning, we should be up near the top of the list because the last VJ folks with an interview in August had their case completed on May 24th, IIRC. We're a mere 11 days after that. We had hoped for August. Then September. Now we're hoping for October, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was November.

[lgg 2]

I tried to do the exact same research that Mikey did, I did not come up with anything valid...

Steve -- it worries me that you're still waiting for the effect it'll have on our outcome but as well, yours...

have you called NVC and asked what the hold up is? You took your time with NVC completing your case but it shouldn't have any bearing on when you get an interview or not, right?

Forgive me if I've misunderstood that...

keep us posted eh? The only way we'll know anything regarding the Canadian interviews...

best,

LGG

[Malrothien 6]

That worries me quite a bit given that I'm a June filer. :\

[mikey78 6]

I think it's just a huge mystery.

I don't have the full timeline, but our case was closed at NVC on June 4th and we didn't move things along as fast as we could have as there was a three month delay on our part in getting stuff to the NVC. We're still waiting for our interview date. We're on a IR1 timeline.

Anyway, by your reckoning, we should be up near the top of the list because the last VJ folks with an interview in August had their case completed on May 24th, IIRC. We're a mere 11 days after that. We had hoped for August. Then September. Now we're hoping for October, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was November.

Hey Steve, check their NOA1 date first and then take case completed date...unless of course there is some 3rd criterion they use to sort of the waiting list...well I hope you get that interview in Oct! If they schedule 2 months in advance they should be notifying people this week.

[trailmix 77]

I think it's just a huge mystery.

I don't have the full timeline, but our case was closed at NVC on June 4th and we didn't move things along as fast as we could have as there was a three month delay on our part in getting stuff to the NVC. We're still waiting for our interview date. We're on a IR1 timeline.

Anyway, by your reckoning, we should be up near the top of the list because the last VJ folks with an interview in August had their case completed on May 24th, IIRC. We're a mere 11 days after that. We had hoped for August. Then September. Now we're hoping for October, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was November.

Our file was at NVC for 5 months. Therefore it would seem (based on your criteria) that we should have flown to the top of the waiting list when it was finally completed at NVC.

- Finished at NVC November 30th

- Received interview date December 20th

- Interview February 19th

I would have to go back and look at the interview dates for 2007 - but it seems like a pretty standard timeline - getting an interview 2 and a half months after completion at NVC.

Edited August 25, 2009 by trailmix

[mikey78 6]

Also, what I didn't see is many people getting interviews during the first week of a month...so maybe they do not go by calendar month but 4 week agenda, e.g. in 3rd week of Aug. people are getting interviews for 2nd, 3rd, 4th week of October and 1st week of Nov....just a thought

[trailmix 77]

Also, what I didn't see is many people getting interviews during the first week of a month...so maybe they do not go by calendar month but 4 week agenda, e.g. in 3rd week of Aug. people are getting interviews for 2nd, 3rd, 4th week of October and 1st week of Nov....just a thought

That's true, calling NVC and getting an interview date at the beginning of the month doesn't happen.

Basically, with your theory, Montreal says, we have 30 interview openings for September, NVC runs the files and looks at the priority date and then the completion at NVC date. The only reason I think this may not be so is that it seems a bit too logical

They probably look at one criteria or the other and I would say it's the latter.

[mikey78 6]

LOL, that's right it is more like:

Average day at NVC, 3rd week of a month, employees gather for some afternoon fun...

-Guys we are scheduling MTL today!!!

-Yay, that's gonna be fun again!

-Let's read VJ posts after that....Desperate housewives and Grey's Anatomy are over for now...I need some drama!

-So which method are we using today? Crystal ball? Flip a coin? Longest last names first? Cutest pics to the top of the list? Or completely random picks?

just a short illustration of a possible schedulling pattern...

Also, what I didn't see is many people getting interviews during the first week of a month...so maybe they do not go by calendar month but 4 week agenda, e.g. in 3rd week of Aug. people are getting interviews for 2nd, 3rd, 4th week of October and 1st week of Nov....just a thought

That's true, calling NVC and getting an interview date at the beginning of the month doesn't happen.

Basically, with your theory, Montreal says, we have 30 interview openings for September, NVC runs the files and looks at the priority date and then the completion at NVC date. The only reason I think this may not be so is that it seems a bit too logical

They probably look at one criteria or the other and I would say it's the latter.

[trailmix 77]

Someone (you!) could email Montreal and ask them!

I mean, if you lay out your first scenario they may actually find it interesting and tell you. Then again they may tell you get in line and be quiet.

[mikey78 6]

Someone (you!) could email Montreal and ask them!

I mean, if you lay out your first scenario they may actually find it interesting and tell you. Then again they may tell you get in line and be quiet.

You mean NVC...MTL does not schedule CR/IR (except special cases)...did you ever email nvc with anything even a bit non-standard, let alone a question like that? ...and well, I am in line, as much as one can be