Who receives Packet 3????

[desi78 1]

Who receives PACKET 3 from the Montreal Consulate? Is it the petitioner or the beneficiary, Or BOTH?????

[jkelly07 120]

you can down the package 3 forms uscis, you don't have wait for the consulate to send it to you.

[desi78 1]

We already have the forms completed and ready to go. We are just waiting for packet 3 to arrive, as a sign that it is now okay to fax the checklist and mail it with the forms. Our NOA2 was of November 2nd, but we haven't received PACKET 3 yet. So just wanted to know where the consulate mails it out...

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Every consulate around the world is different. Please don't make generic statements about how a consulate conducts it's business unless you know. What they do in Columbia may be different from what they do in Canada.

To answer your question OP, the beneficiary is suposed to be the one who receives the P3. This is what happens 98% of the time. Every now and then, they make a mistake and send it to the petitioner.

Edited November 26, 2010 by Hugglebuggles

[desi78 1]

Thank you for your replies.

[CBM 14]

hey desi, you'll be getting the new Packet 3 from Montreal, with instructions to go online and fill everything out, print it, and mail it all back. We received our NOA2 as of October 20th, and Packet 3 was mailed out on November 1st.

Strangely, Montreal is now sending letters to both people. My fiance got a copy of Packet 3 before I did, and same as Packet 4. I think it used to be that only the Canadian got Packets 3 and 4, but now both people are getting it.

Packet 3 will instruct you to go online, and register for a DHL location "near" you. I put that in quotes because the closest one is 2 hours from me, so I registered for that. Now, that means the consulate will be sending my (hopefully!!) approved visa back to that DHL location, but I sent Packet 3 back to Montreal via a closer DHL to me. It's just that they don't have every location on their list of ones you can select.

Even though the same website you register for DHL, you also book your interview on.... don't book it yet! You will get Packet 4 pretty quickly. We sent Packet 3 back November 10th, and it was signed for a few days later (there was a holiday and weekend in between).... and we got Packet 4 the other day.

A lot of stuff with Montreal has changed in the last couple months, and most of the information on VJ is outdated. Me, tallfrond, and Liltiggster seem to be the first VJ'ers to get this new Packet 3/Packet 4 deal from Montreal, so feel free to ask away if you have any questions!

[desi78 1]

Okay. Thank you very much for these details. I do have a couple more questions for you. 1.) Besides faxing the ds230 part 1, and the checklist, we are also suppose to mail out all the forms (DS 156, 156K, 160, 230 PART 1&2, and the Checklist) to them, plus take them to the interview, correct?

[CBM 14]

Yep, I did DS-230 (part 1 and 2), DS-156, DS-156K (which was expired on the Montreal website, so I attached a post-it note pointing that out, but it was the only one available, and said I would bring an updated version to my interview), DS-160 - this is actually submitted online, you only print the confirmation page. You can print the entire form, too, but you only have to send back the confirmation page.

And of course, the check list.

I opted to DHL my stuff back, not fax, but I'm sure if it says fax is fine, then it's fine!

And, for your other question, I printed 3 copies of everything. One to send back, one for me to keep, and one for me to bring to the interview.

Oh, and one of the forms requires 2 copies. I think it might be DS-156K, but the Montreal website will tell you exactly what to send, and in what quantity.

Hope this helps!

[desi78 1]

Thank you for your help. This truly does help. I will definitely let you know if and when I have more questions.

[desi78 1]

Does the Embassy accept documents via express couriers from all companies, or only DHL? I understand that their preference of sending out passport is DHL, but what about receiving documents??

How is Packet 3 delivered from Montreal Consulate? IS it regular post, or via a courier service???

[CBM 14]

Does the Embassy accept documents via express couriers from all companies, or only DHL? I understand that their preference of sending out passport is DHL, but what about receiving documents??

How is Packet 3 delivered from Montreal Consulate? IS it regular post, or via a courier service???

Montreal sends Packet 3 to you & your fiance(e) via regular post. For whatever reason, my fiance in California received it before my parents in Nova Scotia received it (I have my mail go there, because I move around for university and visiting my fiance, etc, so I use their address as my permanent address)

I wasn't sure if Montreal would accept my documents via UPS, which is really close to me, and WAY more convenient, so in the end, I just sent them via DHL. It was annoying and inconvenient, but now I have my interview scheduled, so the inconvenience is irrelevant, I suppose.

If I were you, I would play it safe and send it via DHL. I can tell you first hand though, it does NOT have to be one of the DHL locations they list on the website. I have selected London, Ontario for them to mail my passport back to me, however, I sent my Packet 3 back from Windsor, Ontario.

I personally don't see why they couldn't accept it via another courier service, or even Canada Post, but I didn't want to waste time having it rejected, so I just used DHL.

One thing - if you DON'T use a DHL on their list, you will pay for the delivery, but if you use one on the list, it is free if you print out some paper. I ended up paying close to $20 to have it delivered, but it would have cost WAY more to drive to London and send it for "Free" from there!

[desi78 1]

I found out that NVC mailed out the package to Montreal on the 18th, and they also said now I need to speak with Montreal Consulate to see the status of my case. My question is does Montreal take phone calls? I read under the Embassy info page that Montreal does not, but maybe that has changed. Can anyone shed light on this for me?