avoiding having to reschedule consular appt.

[mtlgato 2]

Ok, so...as some of you know, I'm pregnant and can't fly from Vancouver to Montreal in the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I'm due Oct. 3, so I pretty much can't make it to a Sept. interview--or an early Oct. one (though I can't help but notice that there aren't often CR1 interviews early in the month anyway). I had "SIF" at NVC on April 22...but, fatally, they didn't officially give me "case complete" till May 12. So, I really should have had a July interview, but now it's looking totally hopeless even for August.

I'm *desperate* not to have to reschedule a consular interview, because I keep reading about people waiting 7 + months for rescheduled interviews at Montreal. But I'm clearly in line now to be scheduled for Sept....and no airline in the world is going to let me make that trip. And before anyone suggests that I DRIVE 5 days across the country and five days back: my doctor says officially that's a BAD idea. I risk going into labour in the middle of nowhere.

NVC and the consulate have notes from my doctor on file saying "no travel after Sept. 1." Not that they care.

My husband wrote to Nancy Pelosi's office; the official reply was "good luck with that." Thanks a bunch.

We also wrote to Dianne Feinstein. No reply.

Today I called a visa specialist at DoS. I asked if there was any way to be taken out of the scheduling lineup just for Sept., and then put back in for Oct./ Nov. She said: Nope. She said I'm just going to have to try to reschedule if they schedule me for Sept.

Those of you who are really in the know...what do you think? I'm looking at almost another year of waiting, aren't I? Is there *anything* more I can do? Should I just abandon the whole process and try instead to bring my husband to Canada?

C.

[Sprailenes 47]

You're not looking at another year.

2-5 months at most... is my guess. You have come this far, you might as well just go the whole way.

[mtlgato 2]

But where does your 2-5 months guess come from? I was just reading a post today from a woman who's already been waiting 7 + months for a rescheduled interview

You're not looking at another year.

2-5 months at most... is my guess. You have come this far, you might as well just go the whole way.

[Sprailenes 47]

is she Canadian?

I have just heard from people it can take anywhere from 2-5.

Unfortunately there's already a backlog. Maybe you'll get an October interview and you don't have to worry about September at all.

[mtlgato 2]

Well, I can *hope* for an Oct. interview...but I think I'm probably near the front of the line for Sept. The only hope really is just if they plain don't do CR1/IR1 interviews in Sept...which would obviously be a sad situation for lots of folks on here!

C.

is she Canadian?

I have just heard from people it can take anywhere from 2-5.

Unfortunately there's already a backlog. Maybe you'll get an October interview and you don't have to worry about September at all.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I don't follow the CR-1 interview trail too closely, but I have noticed some months in the past where there were only a couple CR-1 interviews given out in a given month. It is very possible that they only schedule 1-2 VJers for the month of September and you aren't one of them.

Honestly, there really isn't anything you can do at this point but keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best. Things have a funny way of working themselves out. I'm sending you positive vibes!

[Sweetcheeksss 91]

I agree, I'd just wait it out to see what happens, because you (and your hubby) have come an awfully long way to just abandon it. Good luck with everything!

[Married2009 32]

Ok, so...as some of you know, I'm pregnant and can't fly from Vancouver to Montreal in the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I'm due Oct. 3, so I pretty much can't make it to a Sept. interview--or an early Oct. one (though I can't help but notice that there aren't often CR1 interviews early in the month anyway). I had "SIF" at NVC on April 22...but, fatally, they didn't officially give me "case complete" till May 12. So, I really should have had a July interview, but now it's looking totally hopeless even for August.

I'm *desperate* not to have to reschedule a consular interview, because I keep reading about people waiting 7 + months for rescheduled interviews at Montreal. But I'm clearly in line now to be scheduled for Sept....and no airline in the world is going to let me make that trip. And before anyone suggests that I DRIVE 5 days across the country and five days back: my doctor says officially that's a BAD idea. I risk going into labour in the middle of nowhere.

NVC and the consulate have notes from my doctor on file saying "no travel after Sept. 1." Not that they care.

My husband wrote to Nancy Pelosi's office; the official reply was "good luck with that." Thanks a bunch.

We also wrote to Dianne Feinstein. No reply.

Today I called a visa specialist at DoS. I asked if there was any way to be taken out of the scheduling lineup just for Sept., and then put back in for Oct./ Nov. She said: Nope. She said I'm just going to have to try to reschedule if they schedule me for Sept.

Those of you who are really in the know...what do you think? I'm looking at almost another year of waiting, aren't I? Is there *anything* more I can do? Should I just abandon the whole process and try instead to bring my husband to Canada?

C.

A friend of mine did that. I don't know what happened, but they abandoned the USA visa about the same time my huband and I started the process. She is still going thru the process to get to Canada. It doesn't look like it is any faster trying to get to Canada. It would actually take you longer, at this point. Hang in there.

Edited July 8, 2010 by Married2009

[Udella&Wiz 325]

I agree with Sprailenes...I don't think you're looking at another year. You can best rely on another Cdn's experience only...anyone else's experience from another country simply won't match.

If the scenario plays out that they give you late Sept or early Oct - which you cannot attend, then a couple month wait may be fine (and yes, I know that is horrible...not as if you haven't waited long enough already ). I don't know if this is your first baby...but you're honestly not going to be in the best state to be trying to fly with a new baby and all the baggage that comes with them a week or 2 after the birth. Your boddy will need recovery time.

You'll find out the interview date hopefully a month or few weeks before it and then you can spring into action on getting it rescheduled...that may cut down the actual time too.

Sorry for the stupidity in Montreal though...sucks

Edited July 8, 2010 by Udella&Wiz

[Flames9_RN 358]

One never truly knows how the immigration process wil pan out, as it never seems to go as planned. If it has to be rescheduled, it has happened quickly (rarely,lol) or have seen it take as long as 6 months--as in the case of Neiks, who had to reschedule due to having a little earthling. Mtl doesnt schedule the cr-1 (ir-1) interviews, so not sure if they are the ones that reschedule them.

[mtlgato 2]

6 months will bring me to next March--which will also be my 2-year wedding anniversary, so I guess maybe I would end up with an IR-1 instead of a CR-1 after all.

But seriously: all this waiting for a 10-minute interview???? I'm so disgusted I can just barely see straight.

I think the intention behind this must be to build in a disincentive for US citizens to marry foreigners. It makes no sense whatsoever otherwise.

C.

One never truly knows how the immigration process wil pan out, as it never seems to go as planned. If it has to be rescheduled, it has happened quickly (rarely,lol) or have seen it take as long as 6 months--as in the case of Neiks, who had to reschedule due to having a little earthling. Mtl doesnt schedule the cr-1 (ir-1) interviews, so not sure if they are the ones that reschedule them.

[trailmix 77]

I think mtlgato is talking about this post and it is a Canadian and she postponed her interview that was to take place January 14th and still has not been rescheduled.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/94768-ir1-cr1-montreal-timeline-to-interview/page__view__findpost__p__4049901

I doubt it is a disincentive for US citizens to marry foreigners, because that would mean it's just a disincentive for citizens to marry Canadians - other countries don't have the wait times and total lack of communication that we have with the US consulate in Montreal.

Some people get to actually call their consulate and ask questions. I was reading a post from someone last week, it was about their I-864 and they had actually called the consulate and spoken to a CO about the documents they had submitted, did they look ok? Did they need to bring anything else? That is quite foreign to those of us who are familiar with the ways of Montreal.

[Sprailenes 47]

See I remember I called the consulate (mind you this was three years ago) and spoke to a person, they said my interview had been scheduled for the previous week, I freaked because I missed it, and she rescheduled me for two weeks later. I guess those were literally the 'good ole days' because everything coming out of Montreal seems like such cluster ** these days.

Edited July 8, 2010 by Sprailenes

[mtlgato 2]

Yes, Trailmix, that is exactly the post I had in mind. I've been pretty much miserable ever since I read it.

You are right: it would specifically be a disincentive to marry Canadians, which--#######??? What *is* their problem??

One thing at least that I liked about talking to the visa specialist at DoS (the "202" area code, so not NVC) was that she frankly admitted that Montreal has problems. The NVC people always claim to have no knowledge of that whole situation.

Can everyone please write to their congresspeople once your cases are finished and complain about the Montreal problem? I mean, really. It's disgusting.

C.

I think mtlgato is talking about this post and it is a Canadian and she postponed her interview that was to take place January 14th and still has not been rescheduled.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/94768-ir1-cr1-montreal-timeline-to-interview/page__view__findpost__p__4049901

I doubt it is a disincentive for US citizens to marry foreigners, because that would mean it's just a disincentive for citizens to marry Canadians - other countries don't have the wait times and total lack of communication that we have with the US consulate in Montreal.

Some people get to actually call their consulate and ask questions. I was reading a post from someone last week, it was about their I-864 and they had actually called the consulate and spoken to a CO about the documents they had submitted, did they look ok? Did they need to bring anything else? That is quite foreign to those of us who are familiar with the ways of Montreal.

[truckerbob 0]

Can't you just write/fax Montreal and explain what is going on and ask for a later date, instead of waiting for them to schedule, then ending up not making it and then rescheduling it? It was just a thought...I hated waiting for them too but that's the way it is and you just have to work within their little world...good luck