Montreal Consulate Interviews

[shewolf 0]

I am just wondering if everyone who is there with you on your interview date, at the Montreal consulate, there for the same visa type as you? For example, if I am in line at the consulate and my interview is for a CR-1 marriage visa, is everyone who is waiting there with me, going to be interviewed for the same visa? Also how many people are usually interviewed that morning? (How many people in line?)

Lastly, would anyone know how many Canadians are interviewed for CR-1/IR-1 visas each month on average? And how many apply?

thanks!

[canadian_wife 1,829]

No, people are there for various reasons. Some are there for visas, some are US citizens looking for services. People will be interviewing for many different classes of visas - we were talking to a woman who was a Canadian resident but was applying for a US tourist visa.

There will be a LOT of people there. At least when we went there were certainly over 100. We went extremely early so when they opened the doors we were the first ones in and first ones interviewed. When we left, the line up outside was ridiculous!

Good luck

[OBX 51]

I am just wondering if everyone who is there with you on your interview date, at the Montreal consulate, there for the same visa type as you? For example, if I am in line at the consulate and my interview is for a CR-1 marriage visa, is everyone who is waiting there with me, going to be interviewed for the same visa? Also how many people are usually interviewed that morning? (How many people in line?)

Lastly, would anyone know how many Canadians are interviewed for CR-1/IR-1 visas each month on average? And how many apply?

thanks!

The day we went there were filers interviewing for spousal, fiance, and self-petitioned visas. Hard to estimate how many people are interviewed per morning. For sure you want to be at the consulate early because it is essentially first come, first served. We arrived before 7 o'clock, doors opened by 7:30 and there were 7 people behind us and 3 in front by that time. By the time we actually went in for our interview the room was almost full.

[LiLMermaid 2]

The day I interviewed there was a line down the block, at least 50 couples, probably more by the time the doors opened. Lets just say I was not in a good place in the line and was there till about 12:30pm. lol

[birdnerd 5]

I've always thought this was a really interesting page - look how few immigrant visas Canada processes!

Immigrant Visas

[mtlgato 2]

EXACTLY!! I have seen that same page (and I think one that gives a similar breakdown specifically for family-based immigrant visas) and I am struck by how much more efficient other consulates are that have to deal with far greater numbers! And I know that, like me, you've been waiting months, birdnerd, for an MTL interview date. It's so frustrating.

Now, that said...One thing that does cross my mind is that Mtl probably processes a *lot* of visas that are, strictly speaking, not immigrant visas. I'm sure they do TONS of Nafta TNs, for example...and those won't be available to citizens of other countries (except Mexico). I think Mtl has a lot of business in "temporary" work visas and study visas, and that's prob what has them swamped. The number of CR1/ IR1s--or even immigrant visas generally--just doesn't justify the hideous delays.

A really legitimate question is: How exactly does the prioritizing of temp work and study visas over CR1/IR1 visa processing work? I think we're entitled to more transparency on this point. I NEVER would have guessed, when I started this process, that as a spouse of a US citizen my visa application would be treated as such very, very low priority. I know our visas are treated as a higher priority than, say, those of siblings of US citizens. But we're still very low on the totem pole.

Anyway, hang in there, birdnerd...Surely your turn is coming...as is mine (though baby is going to complicate things for me!)

C.

I've always thought this was a really interesting page - look how few immigrant visas Canada processes!

Immigrant Visas

[birdnerd 5]

Anyway, hang in there, birdnerd...Surely your turn is coming...as is mine (though baby is going to complicate things for me!)

C.

Heh, unfortunately, this process is pretty much preventing us from baby-making at this point. But yeah, they've certainly got you between a rock and a hard place, baby/interview-wise.