My Montreal Experience

[Bern. 3]

Aw... I hope it's resolved soon. Take care.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Sorry to hear your news. Even though it may seem like the end of the world, keep your chin up & don't stop trying.

[Abby62 23]

As someone new here, please forgive me, but I am really interested as to why you were denied. I want to make sure that neither of us make the same mistake so this doesn't happen to anyone else. We are in the process of this all and the last thing I want to do is make a mistake from day one. Is their any "general" advice you can give us on what not/to do so this doesn't happen like it did to you.

Respectfully if you want to pm me with "general" advice, I would so so so..appreciate it. I am so sorry for your troubles.

[Revenesque 2]

How tramautic! I'm sorry you went through all this...but don't give up!

[Rhiannercakes 14]

That's terrible.

I hope it can be resolved and you two can be together.

[trailmix 77]

I agree with the others that have said that you may want to share your situation with us or with just a few people here.

When she said to you that she didn't just want to have you denied at the border - this reminded me of someone who went to the border last month, went to use their visa (that had been issued at Montreal) and they were denied entry.

In that situation the person should have (according to the border personnel) had to file a waiver, had that processed and then been issued the visa - or not. I can only surmise that yours is a similar situation and therefore the person at Montreal did not want to have you end up in that same situation.

So while I completely understand your devastation, if that is the case she probably did the right thing for you. However perhaps with more research she will find out that a waiver is not needed, hard to say.

Regardless, I hope things get smoother and that your visa will be issued soon. Try to be calm, this isn't the end of the process, just a part of it. Take a deep breath and try to think as clearly as possible. This afternoon is your opportunity to get as much information as you can, in case you do need to do more work on this before your visa can be issued. You may even want to write up a short list of questions, or even just take a notebook with you later today to take notes.

Edited January 21, 2010 by trailmix

[ZansGirl 0]

I really feel for you...I can only imagine the emotions running through you.... I sincerly hope everything gets cleared up and you and your hubby are together forever soon!

[wmtc 0]

Hope u get thru this quickly, keep hope! you will be reunited with your hubby soon! Is there any way you could give us the reason for your denial, so some of us hear don't make the same mistake.

Thanks

wmtc

[Dan and Ali 3]

I'm really sorry to hear that this happened -- I hope that you get your approval and this whole mess can be taken care of for you soon.

[sachinky 465]

Were you denied outright because it sounds like you're in AP -- what does the piece of paper say?

[HisGirl 0]

I have never been denied at the border, nor has my husband. I have never been arrested, do not have a criminal record, do not take drugs and am in perfect health.

The lady who interviewed me was very vague about why she thought that if she gave me the visa it would be denied at the border. She just wouldn't tell me and she was not answering any of my questions!

Okay let me tell you why I think we are running into these problems....my husband has quite a criminal history. He is in prison right now and will not be released for another 2 years. Since the initial petition, we made it very clear that he is incarcerated, from all the documents we submitted, to the pictures of us together visiting in the prison! I mean, it couldn't have been any clearer! I know that this information might come as a shock to you and the lady who interviewed me bascially said that they have never processed a case like this. Thats why she said she has to do some 'legal research', but she never told me research into what. I contacted 3 lawyers before we even submitted the petition and all of them said that there is no law written that an inmate cannot petition for a spouse.

I think that we will have to wait until his release and try again at that point

I don't know why the USCIS and the NVC would let us pay all this money, go through this heart wrenching process and then deny us at the very end. It is just so cruel.

I apologize if this information is shocking and surprising you.

Were you denied outright because it sounds like you're in AP -- what does the piece of paper say?

Yes, the paper says we are in AP. She gave me my passport back and was basically getting on like our case was denied.

[SomberCat 0]

Oh girl, I am SO sorry. I was so excited for you that finally your big day was coming. I didn't know that you had any kind of special circumstances, but like many before me have said, surely someone around here has gone through the same thing and could offer a little advice. I'll keep thinking about you and definitely PM me if you need anything. Like others have said, it's not over - just another battle to fight. Hang in there.

[trailmix 77]

Hi HisGirl,

I'm sorry you have had such a hard day, you must be exhausted.

For what it is worth, I don't find your story to be shocking or surprising.

It sounds to me like they are just unsure what to do (if there even is anything TO be done) in this situation - as she stated, they have never processed an application where the sponsor is incarcerated.

They may do their research and find there is nothing to be done except issue your visa. I am sure your Husband is not the first person who is in prison who has sponsored a spouse and he won't be the last.

I do understand why they had you come in for the interview, even if they were going to defer issuing the visa, it is a step in the process everyone has to go through - regardless of approval or denial. The interview is the final step and is not always the end of the process.

Please keep us updated as things develop, take care and keep your chin up.

[OBX 51]

So sorry about your situation. I hope things work out. Hang in there. There's a lot of support here for you.

[LiLMermaid 2]

I recall reading about someone before who's spouse was in prison. Maybe it was you? If not you may want to do a search of the boards and see how it worked out for them. I don't recall the details or even what country they were from but it is an usual circumstance and it may be possible that the Montreal consulate just hasn't dealt with situation before. I hope it works out for you. If there is no law written about it...it may work out. I'm praying for you that it does. Take care and keep us updated.