Apparantly after saying my case has been approved, it isn't

[HisGirl 0]

Hi all,

as you know at my interview my case was put into Administrative Processing. A week later I get an email from the Montreal Consulate telling me the review has been complete and a visa can be issued in my case. I get a letter in the mail a few days later saying I have to send in my passport for further processing of my case.

I send in my passport and its been at the consulate since the beginning of February. I sent a couple of emails inquiring as to when I can expect to receive my passport and visa back. Today I got a reply and this is what it said:

"We received your emails. The file is being reviewed by the consular officer, as soon as the review is complete we will advise you with the decision on your file. thank you for your patience and understanding. processing delays are due to the high volume of mail, emails and cases pending review."

Ummm okay

Why ask me to send in my passport, after telling me a visa can be issued in my case and then tell me that they are still reviewing my file? Does that make any sense at all? I am so confused right now.

This is what the 'approval' email said:

The Immigrant Visa unit has concluded its administrative processing and is able to issue an immigrant visa in your case. In order to do so, please send your passport (valid for at least six months) to:

U.S. Consulate

I.V. unit

P.O. Box 65, Station Desjardins

Montréal QC H3B 3Z1

Please note the IV unit is mailing a letter to you today regarding same.

Does this make any sense at all? I am so baffled at all of this. First they say that I'm approved and to send my passport and now they are saying my file is being reviewed and they will let me know what is going to happen?

[Darnell 8,479]

IMO - somethings wonky -

and I think it's the human that wrote the email reply to you, not the 'status' of yer petition.

There's only so much they can 'copy/paste' on them templates - IMO, the human used the wrong template in 'his' response to you.

Montreal is lagged.

Supposedly, you can call DOS Hotline, get a Human and inquire about yer case status. I suggest you do that, for a bit - take note, each time, of:

1. current status, with the date/time stamp and

2. prior 3 status thingies, with the date/time stamp (ask the tele-operator to scroll down the page, or go to page 2 - the prior status thingies are in there).

Good Luck !

[HisGirl 0]

what DOS hotline? I never knew there was a number I could call.

Can you please give me the phone number, I definitely need to speak to someone.

This is so crazy and confusing and upsetting

Am I approved? Am I not approved? Ugh!

[Darnell 8,479]

check my profile - it's in the 'my story' section.

The DOS Hotline tracks status on petitions (among other things) from the time it's left NVC to the time the Visa Packet is mailed out of the Embassy Mailroom.

[HisGirl 0]

Okay I will call on Monday and see what they say. Thanks.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

If you don't get a satisfactory answer, then copy the message you received, send it to the address you had to mail your passport (including all of the relevant information) and ask them when you will receive back your passport since they notified you the visa was ready. I don't know if it will help but it might get someone asking the question, 'why'.

[mikey78 6]

There is nothing in this second email that says your case is not approved which is a good sign, maybe they are just referring to the fact that they didn't print the visa and place it in your passport as they are have a backlog...the message you received seems super generic so if I were you I wouldn't worry too much yet.

[Downtoride 0]

Dont worry you should be good to go... I did the same thing back in mid january and emailed and all they said was "they are going to review the file and proceed and process your case." I kept tracking the case thru canada post. They sent it a few maybe 3 or 4 weeks later.. I Dont know why it takes so long when you mail it in... versus if they had approved it the day of the interview and you get it a week or so later...but im sure you will get it because from the words of the lady who did our interview. They dont like to keep passports any longer than they have to... In case of emergencies or anything of that nature. We offered to let them keep the passport during our interview when they asked us for further info and thats what she said.

[HisGirl 0]

Dont worry you should be good to go... I did the same thing back in mid january and emailed and all they said was "they are going to review the file and proceed and process your case." I kept tracking the case thru canada post. They sent it a few maybe 3 or 4 weeks later.. I Dont know why it takes so long when you mail it in... versus if they had approved it the day of the interview and you get it a week or so later...but im sure you will get it because from the words of the lady who did our interview. They dont like to keep passports any longer than they have to... In case of emergencies or anything of that nature. We offered to let them keep the passport during our interview when they asked us for further info and thats what she said.

Thank you that gives me hope!

[Darnell 8,479]

Hey - any news?

[HisGirl 0]

Yep!

I was so freaked out reading that a decision had not been made and my case was still 'under review', that I kept emailing asking what the hell is going on and got a reply in 24 hours lol. This is what it said:

"whenever we receive documents or the officer has it, we consider that under review."

so I guess they have my passport and are finishing up my case? They are kind of vague in their responses!

I made sure to get the name of the woman that interviewed me so I direct all my emails to her and I guess she got sick of reading them all.

I hope I get my visa soon, I have not seen my husband in almost 1 & 1/2 years!

[kaitea 0]

Hey, I am sure u get ur visa soon. Apparently, they issue visa after 6 weeks from the day they receive ur passport. I jus got mine today , and they sent it from the consulate exactly 6 weeks and 1 day after they received my passport on Jan 27th. So, I am guessing u get it by next monday

Please keep us posted! and Good Luck

[HisGirl 0]

I hope hope hope that I get my visa very soon.