How Long ? Geez!

[Catbones 0]

Good Morning Everyone,

To answer some of the post above and from my own experience;

1. Our Visa has gone to the consulate, I did have the interview but had to provide extra documentation only because of my 10 year criminal history. Now funny things is, both the border and consular officer wanted a letter that clears things up, even though I have a copy of the original document that I've saved from 10 years ago which is the parole court order document and on it specifically states if it was a Summary offense using (s) after the sentencing. Now, the court, lawyers, etc.. are laughing at it all because they say that not so the border but the consular officer should understand the Canadian Laws a little and know the abbreviations, that (S) means Summary Offense which is stated on that paper. The consular officer was a lady with a little bit of attitude as soon as she found out that I admitted to the offense. She asked me to provide a documentation or letter that explains the criminal code and if it was a Summary offense or other because I had no proof at the time besides the court document. So, the criminal lawyer wrote the letter explaining under oath what it all means and what my case ended up on being. The Court laughing at this all because they cannot provide me with anything else but rather same copy of the document that I have that they have. The border looked at my lawyers letter and said it doesn't mean a thing to them. Now, my fiance being pregnant 31 weeks this Monday, when I told the consular on March 24 that I hope we can get this expedited and I can get my visa because my fiancee will need help carrying for 3 children, one of her previous relationship and two twins on the way as shes pregnant, the response I got was "ohh well then she's pregnant." How nice, seems United States doesn't care at all for their Citizens and the hardship that it might cause them. So that's to answer the question above. Now, 10 weeks and counting.

2. The Congress didn't do much other then the case is pending, that I know too. LOL. They also were told off by Montreal that it was unethical for congress to contact them when me and my fiancee have a lawyer dealing with this. Now we haven't signed a thing for USCIS or any other department stating that the lawyer is in charge and all documents come to me rather then my lawyer. Pretty stupid if you ask me, I can understand if we signed something stating only one and only one person can answer, ask questions, etc.. with our case. But we haven't signed a thing.

3. From what I'm learning is that, Montreal is backed up, doesn't care for anyone not even their own US Citizens. If you forget something, and need to send it in, well expect 3 months, 6 months, a year, maybe few years to get somewhere. Congress won't help you, Senator won't know a thing either. What can you really do? is just wait for air. I'm going to miss my twin girls birth thanks to the new home country and its government for that, very awesome start. I guess slowly US Citizens are learning how awesome their government is in treating them and their needs, hardships. (Now that stated don't kill me over it, I think my Canadian Government stinks just as much, just stating the facts here).

That is that, now its funny and makes you question which way is it really better. 1. Doing the right thing, being honest, trying to make everything legal = Well you will get screwed. 2. Doing everything illegal = You will get screwed just as well. I guess it's equal and some may even say (I've heard it from many people in both countries) that breaking the rules is something better then trying to be honest, not break the rules and do things the legal way.

I would love to see or hear from someone who has send in extra documentation after their interview at Montreal, and find out from them how long it took for them to get a response or be approved = a month, two months, 3 months, 4 months, etc.. please post those who have successfully waited out their horrible waiting period.

I have a question, besides contacting the Montreal Consulate by Email which is a joke, how does one contact DOS (Department of State) using a phone number??? (I've heard few people did and got their case status)

Thank you, me and my hunny bun are still waiting.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Not a fun situation to be in! Over the years I have been on VJ, don't recall any cases being expedited just because one is pregnant! I'm sure if that was the case, many would just do it to get through the process faster.

We had a lawyer, but when I emailed the consulate, they answered my questions. One has to ensure they have thew case # in the subject line. Now a days it appears one has to email them numerous times, before one gets a response, ie multiple emails a week.

[Cowgirl2 0]

Hi,

The number to DOS is 1-202-663-1225 and press 1 and 0 right after and someone will ask you for your case number and update you on your status. We sent in documents for my husband's IR-1 visa on March 30th, they started reviewing it April 20th, and still nothing yet. We were told that once they start REVIEWING the case, it will take them 2-4 weeks after to issue the visa...as you can tell its almost 2 months and still nothing.

[mast3r12 0]

Hi,

after and someone will ask you for your case number and update you on your status. We sent in documents for my husband's IR-1 visa on March 30th, they started reviewing it April 20th, and still nothing yet. We were told that once they start REVIEWING the case, it will take them 2-4 weeks after to issue the visa...as you can tell its almost 2 months and still nothing.

Same story here, sent on March 15th, received on May 18th.. and haven't heard of anything since then. MTL blows!!

Edited June 11, 2010 by mast3r12

[Catbones 0]

Well, I've been told that in any delays maximum would be 5-6 weeks by the CO. However, in my situation 5 - 6 weeks, been here and gone long time ago. I've just got off the phone with the DOS and from what they could tell me in a rude fashion was that my case is in AP. How long, who knows that's what I'm told by DOS. Good Luck to All waiting, my hopes are like gone for anything. I might just wait 2 years and not see my kids till they are 2. I just wished someone with enough $$$, US citizenship and tonz of balls would take such BS from the government to court. DOS website if you look at it is a joke with statements; we will respect you with gratitude and politeness.... sure, the dude at the DOS sounded like a guy sitting on a couch scratching his nuts while having chips, no bye, or sorry, but rather a rude "GOOD LUCK" and hung up.

That's my venting for now. Sorry everyone! hope you have better luck then we did.

[suzique3 0]

I had read this whole post and thought I might have seen someone who had gone thru the same situation and had received their visa from MTL, so we all have an idea of some time frame, but nothing. I am in the same boat. Had our interview, on April 7th they required a notorized letter from my exhusband, sent this Canada Post, consulate received april 10, (canada post lost it). Received a confirmation letter from the Washington office stating they had received the documents - dated april 30. My status had changed on the computor to received required documentation and processing information (something like that - not quite sure of correct wording, just know that it had changed from pending to this) and here we sit. Our passports are with the consulate and we are sitting here waiting (tried to get my lawyer involved but she was of no help, she added fuel to the fire stating that it is possible that they are holding things up because my son has since turned 16 and now is going to need a RCMP report) which would then in turn put date sensitive material expired, which in turn would mean we would have to send this all in and wait another 3 to 4 months.

so if there is anyone that has been in a similiar situation and any of us and have a time frame that might ease our stress that would be wonderful.

I really do hope Catbones gets over soon, the stress of this is one thing but the stress of being a new parent is quite another and to combine the two.

hopefully someone has some information

[monica6 1]

Hi everyone.

I'm new to this forum and I'm glad I found it. After I had the interview I sent additional proof and they requested my passport after 6 weeks. Now it's been over 8 weeks since they received my passport and I haven't got it back. Frustration grows day by day. I'm supposed to start graduate school in august but I'm afraid that my passport won't come in time. Good luck to all of those waiting.

[Catbones 0]

I had read this whole post and thought I might have seen someone who had gone thru the same situation and had received their visa from MTL, so we all have an idea of some time frame, but nothing. I am in the same boat. Had our interview, on April 7th they required a notorized letter from my exhusband, sent this Canada Post, consulate received april 10, (canada post lost it). Received a confirmation letter from the Washington office stating they had received the documents - dated april 30. My status had changed on the computor to received required documentation and processing information (something like that - not quite sure of correct wording, just know that it had changed from pending to this) and here we sit. Our passports are with the consulate and we are sitting here waiting (tried to get my lawyer involved but she was of no help, she added fuel to the fire stating that it is possible that they are holding things up because my son has since turned 16 and now is going to need a RCMP report) which would then in turn put date sensitive material expired, which in turn would mean we would have to send this all in and wait another 3 to 4 months.

so if there is anyone that has been in a similiar situation and any of us and have a time frame that might ease our stress that would be wonderful.

I really do hope Catbones gets over soon, the stress of this is one thing but the stress of being a new parent is quite another and to combine the two.

hopefully someone has some information

Hi, thank you for replying and posting your story.

Believe me I hope it's not a long road for anyone, I think that these rules and policies are a joke. In any case, after I've sent my documents, refusal letter and passport, I didn't get a single letter from either the consulate in Montreal nor DC. The only thing I have is a UPS signature by the receptionist. Who know if its even at the right place. DOS just today confirmed that they did receive them and my case is in AP status but for all I care that could be the same status since I left the interview.

Good luck to you in your journey, keep us posted though here... I will do the same.

By the way, do you recall the website you went to check your status and what numberdid you use the USCIS case number or the MTL case number? Let me know I'd like to see and check my status on there, see if I can gather any more info. A URL would help a lot.

Thank you!

[trailmix 77]

Hi everyone.

I'm new to this forum and I'm glad I found it. After I had the interview I sent additional proof and they requested my passport after 6 weeks. Now it's been over 8 weeks since they received my passport and I haven't got it back. Frustration grows day by day. I'm supposed to start graduate school in august but I'm afraid that my passport won't come in time. Good luck to all of those waiting.

Hi monica and welcome to vj, it's too bad that you are also in the Montreal queue!

What additional information were you asked to provide, if you don't mind me asking.

[suzique3 0]

Hi, thank you for replying and posting your story.

Believe me I hope it's not a long road for anyone, I think that these rules and policies are a joke. In any case, after I've sent my documents, refusal letter and passport, I didn't get a single letter from either the consulate in Montreal nor DC. The only thing I have is a UPS signature by the receptionist. Who know if its even at the right place. DOS just today confirmed that they did receive them and my case is in AP status but for all I care that could be the same status since I left the interview.

Good luck to you in your journey, keep us posted though here... I will do the same.

By the way, do you recall the website you went to check your status and what numberdid you use the USCIS case number or the MTL case number? Let me know I'd like to see and check my status on there, see if I can gather any more info. A URL would help a lot.

Thank you!

The only thing i did was email the MTL consulate a couple of times, (trying to follow there rules - they say not to email multiple times and that it takes two weeks or so to get a response) I emailed a couple of times though and they sent back a email stating that the documents had been received. But the time between getting that email and them actually inputting it into the computer took about a month. So you are at about the same stage. The number i called was the DOS one ( you would think I would know this off by heart) the number that I used for reference was the number on the piece of paper the guy behind the glass gave us with the required information needed. So I gather that would be the MTL case number.

sorry that is not much help,

[monica6 1]

Hi monica and welcome to vj, it's too bad that you are also in the Montreal queue!

What additional information were you asked to provide, if you don't mind me asking.

Hi. I was in the U.S on a J1 visa in 2002 and I had to provide proof that my J1 did not require me to return to the country of nationality and live there for 2 years; I had Romanian nationality at the time. So I had to dig up that old passport and send them a copy of that visa which luckily stated that I was not subject to that stupid requirement.

Are you waiting for your passport as well?

[trailmix 77]

Hi. I was in the U.S on a J1 visa in 2002 and I had to provide proof that my J1 did not require me to return to the country of nationality and live there for 2 years; I had Romanian nationality at the time. So I had to dig up that old passport and send them a copy of that visa which luckily stated that I was not subject to that stupid requirement.

Are you waiting for your passport as well?

No i'm not, we have already obtained my Husband's visa, moved to Florida for 15 months and returned to Canada

[smurfette1971 0]

I had read this whole post and thought I might have seen someone who had gone thru the same situation and had received their visa from MTL, so we all have an idea of some time frame, but nothing. I am in the same boat. Had our interview, on April 7th they required a notorized letter from my exhusband, sent this Canada Post, consulate received april 10, (canada post lost it). Received a confirmation letter from the Washington office stating they had received the documents - dated april 30. My status had changed on the computor to received required documentation and processing information (something like that - not quite sure of correct wording, just know that it had changed from pending to this) and here we sit. Our passports are with the consulate and we are sitting here waiting (tried to get my lawyer involved but she was of no help, she added fuel to the fire stating that it is possible that they are holding things up because my son has since turned 16 and now is going to need a RCMP report) which would then in turn put date sensitive material expired, which in turn would mean we would have to send this all in and wait another 3 to 4 months.

so if there is anyone that has been in a similiar situation and any of us and have a time frame that might ease our stress that would be wonderful.

I really do hope Catbones gets over soon, the stress of this is one thing but the stress of being a new parent is quite another and to combine the two.

hopefully someone has some information

Same here

interview in MTl april 22 sent and they received notarized letter apr 28

and now still waiting....

my son has turned 16 now

they never sent me anythign stating i would need police record for him

they also got our passports

lukcy i went and applied for enhanced drivers and enhanced ID for my 16 year old and using birth certificate for 9 year old

so hoping that will be good enough to go to texas for summer holidays while MTL moves slowly

this is crazyyy that all i can say

[suzique3 0]

you were smart!!! although my 16 year does not have a drivers lic, we figured why start over here and then find out that the beginners over here has to be changed over there, so we had decided to wait until we moved over there. Not thinking that it would take this long.

hopefully we hear some good news soon, very hard not being able to go over there when we had been going over ever weekend and now can not.

have fun in Texas, went there a couple of years ago at the end of July, even though it was very warm we loved it. where about in Texas are you going. We went to Mesquite.

[smurfette1971 0]

you were smart!!! although my 16 year does not have a drivers lic, we figured why start over here and then find out that the beginners over here has to be changed over there, so we had decided to wait until we moved over there. Not thinking that it would take this long.

hopefully we hear some good news soon, very hard not being able to go over there when we had been going over ever weekend and now can not.

have fun in Texas, went there a couple of years ago at the end of July, even though it was very warm we loved it. where about in Texas are you going. We went to Mesquite.

i cant wait to be home in TEXAS with hubby

we are going to Tyler texas

now this week just getting all documents to prove TIES to CANADA

so if anyone has thoughts on that let me know

just praying we make it across border

being with hubby makes this LONG wait a bit easier if SUCH a thing