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HumanUnit

Got the visa! From the Montreal Consulate

By HumanUnit in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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HumanUnit Contributor

HumanUnit   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hi all!! Very exciting news and I definitely had to update everyone here. I couldn't have done it without you!

Long backstory short: my husband and I live in Toronto, moving to New York City next month for my work. I'm the US citizen so we figured back when we were still engaged that the easiest route would be to get married quickly and get him a Green Card. So, done! That was in October of 2005 and I had all the papers ready to go for the CR1 visa as soon as the marriage certificate arrived in the mail! I used this site endlessly for information! Mostly my concerns were about definitions I didn't understand and also conflicting information that I was getting, for example about how many years of tax information you must provide. I was also under the impression it would take the rest of my life to get an interview but things fortuitously picked up for us this summer!

The interview was on Thursday, August 24th. From the advice on this forum, we knew to be there at like 7am and we were the first people let in at 7:30. Most people seemed to be there for the non-immigrant or temporary visas, and they go through those quicker. The actual time we spent talking to human beings probably added up to a total of five minutes - I kid you not. First you go through the scanner, and be advised that now they're also confiscating things like lip gloss. You get a little ticket and can come back for it later. You then go downstairs and wait on uncomfortable chairs until one of the officers takes you all upstairs. Like they say, go to the back of the elevator and when you get out, take a left. You go to a kiosk and get a number - we didn't know if there were any more fees to pay but apparently not if you're going the permanent visa route.

Next step - you're called into a little room where they just check over all your documents and look at your medical results. We updated our address, and even answered a couple of questions like "when did you get married". Amazingly, my husband messed up on our wedding date and my birth date. I was like, doh! But we just burst out laughing and luckily the officer thought it was pretty funny too. Then we went back to sit down for a few minutes before being called into a booth. It was not at all like I would have imagined - you're literally in a tiny booth, with a hard chair, with an officer behind a pane of glass. The gentleman officer was sooo incredibly nice - asked maybe five questions about when we were married, when we met, what we were planning to do in the US, and then told us he wouldn't waste our time and we were a straightforward case! So subject to the FBI fingerprinting, we're in!

Other random stuff - we stayed at the Hotel Tour de Centre Ville as most people recommend, just because it's close to the embassy. It was so gross - ugh! I was sooo glad we were out of there in a day. But what do you expect for $100 I guess :). Other thing - if you get a chance, have a meal at the St. James' pub near the Intercontinental Hotel. Amazing food, and so reasonable. Finally, bring some darned sweaters! For some reason Montreal is always freezing to me, even in August.

Hope that's helpful!! Again, thanks to Visa Journey for all the help! I've been singing this forum's praises everywhere - I would have ripped my hair out many times if it wasn't for you all! Off to update my timeline and post this in the embassy reviews now!

Nov 29 2005 I-130 received at VSC

Mar 13 2006 I-130 approved at CSC

April 24 2006 $380 mailed to NVC

May 5 2006 I-186 mailed to NVC

May 18 2006 I-186 received by NVC

tommysgirl Explorer

tommysgirl   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Congrats Human Unit!. Thanks for the report

I would be interested in when your case was complete, when your case was sent to Mtl. and when you heard about your interview date. These are the things we're waiting for now. Thanks

I-130

sent to NSC Jan 6 2006

NOA1 rec Jan 28

NOA2 rec Apr 27

NVC rec May 18 and case # assigned

NVC generates DS 3032 & I-864 bill May 29

DS-3032 rec and sent snail mail June 7

I-864 bill rec. by petitioner June 12

NVC rec. DS-3032 June 13

I-864 pmt sent by petitioner June 15

IV fee bill generated June 19

IV bill rec. June 26

IV bill pmt sent June 28

NVC rec. IV bill pmt July 10

Got I-864 July 18

I-864 returned to NVC July 24

DS-230 rec. and returned to NVC July 28

NVCrec I-864 ??

NVC rec DS-230 Aug 1

RFE on I-864 Aug 4

Rec. RFE snail mail Aug 11

Returned RFE over night Aug 12

NVC rec RFE Aug 15

CASE COMPLETE!!! Aug 21

INTERVIEW DATE OCTOBER 20TH -as of Sept 13.!!!!!

Crossed border at Intl. Falls,MN. Nov. 14

App. for SSN Nov. 17 - rec. SSN Nov. 25

DEC 7 - RECEIVED GREEN CARD

10 year green card ordered Jan. 21, 2009 DONE
HumanUnit Contributor

HumanUnit   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
Congrats Human Unit!. Thanks for the report

I would be interested in when your case was complete, when your case was sent to Mtl. and when you heard about your interview date. These are the things we're waiting for now. Thanks

Hi tommysgirl, and thanks :).

I'm so mad at myself but I didn't note the exact date that I found out about the interview date! And now I can't find the stupid interview letter! I'm so sorry :(. I know I posted here when I got the notification but I can't find that either...I'm so useless! However, I'm pretty sure it was over a month ago, and it was totally out of the blue because from this forum it seemed like it was taking months and months for Montreal to see people. I'm not sure if that's because we were going for a permanent visa or if that even makes a difference. Good luck with it! Believe me, the actual interview is probably the most pleasant part of the whole process.

Nov 29 2005 I-130 received at VSC

Mar 13 2006 I-130 approved at CSC

April 24 2006 $380 mailed to NVC

May 5 2006 I-186 mailed to NVC

May 18 2006 I-186 received by NVC

Cygnet Proficient

Cygnet   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Congratulations, HumanUnit! :dance:

Congrats Human Unit!. Thanks for the report

I would be interested in when your case was complete, when your case was sent to Mtl. and when you heard about your interview date. These are the things we're waiting for now. Thanks

Hi tommysgirl, and thanks :).

I'm so mad at myself but I didn't note the exact date that I found out about the interview date! And now I can't find the stupid interview letter! I'm so sorry :(. I know I posted here when I got the notification but I can't find that either...I'm so useless! However, I'm pretty sure it was over a month ago, and it was totally out of the blue because from this forum it seemed like it was taking months and months for Montreal to see people. I'm not sure if that's because we were going for a permanent visa or if that even makes a difference. Good luck with it! Believe me, the actual interview is probably the most pleasant part of the whole process.

I tried looking for your post, too, but couldn't find it. However, I think they may have forwarded your case to the consulate on July 7th. I say that only because I posted a list of people getting CR-1 interviews and I noticed that the interviews in August were sent out that day.

CR-1

09/16/2005 Mailed I-130 (CSC)

09/21/2005 NOA 1

02/07/2006 NOA 2 (Day 143)

02/25/2006 Petitioner receives AOS Bill in U.S. (Day 161)

02/27/2006 AOS Bill (regular USPS) and DS-3032 (Canada Post regular) are mailed out

03/21/2006 Petitioner receives I-864 package (Day 185)

03/22/2006 Beneficiary receives IV Bill and sends payment - regular mail (Day 186)

03/24/2006 Petitioner sends back I-864 (Day 188)

04/13/2006 Beneficiary receives DS-230 (Day 208)

05/10/2006 Beneficiary sends back DS-230 and docs to NVC via Fedex (Day 235)

05/19/2006 NVC issues RFE on Question # 20 on the DS-230. (Day 244)

05/29/2006 Beneficiary receives RFE and sends it off (Day 254)

06/02/2006 NVC receives RFE (Day 258)

06/16/2006 Case Complete! (Day 272)

07/07/2006 Case forwarded to Consulate in Montreal (Day 293)

08/11/2006 INTERVIEW! VISA APPROVED!

08/14/2006 Picked up visa and crossed the border.

08/25/2006 SS card arrives in the mail

09/07/2006 GC arrives in the mail.

K-3

02/01/2006 Mailed I-129F

02/07/2006 NOA1

04/14/2006 I-129F is approved!

04/24/2006 NVC forwards the application to the consulate in Montreal

05/01/2006 Packet 3 is received from consulate & is sent of 3 days later

07/07/2006 Medical

08/08/2006 INTERVIEW- cancelled bec. of CR-1

Married_my_love Rising Star

Married_my_love   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa (DCF) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
Thanks Cygnet! July 7th actually sounds just about right!

Just out of total curiousity, why didn't you dcf? or did I read wrong..... was it not offered yet?

Congrats on being complete with all of this, I am envious!! and good luck with everything in New York.

Married 12-30-05

Started our visa journey Jan 06.

01-06 - I-130, K3 shortly after

04-06 - switched to Canada Immigration

07-06 - Moved to Canada (PR almost complete)

07-06 - Changed again, back to US imm.

09-06 - Landed as Canadian PR

10-06 - DCF Toronto, Approved in 1.5 hrs!

11-06 - Interview Montreal (success!)

I-130

10-05-06 DCF in Toronto - Approved

10-19-06 Packet 3 received & sent back

10-20-06 Montreal receives P3

11-03-06 Packet 4 received

11-06-06 Medical

11-22-06 Interview / Visa approved

11-26-06 heading home, 6 day drive, my oh my

HOME SWEET HOME

10.24.08 - Mailed I-751 to CSC

Delivered at 9:03 AM on October 25, 2008

10.29.08 NOA1

10.30.08 Check cashed

12.06.08 Biometrics Appt.

12.19.08 Received new Drivers License extended to 2011

03.12.09 Received CONGRATULATIONS letter - Card on the way!!

03.20.09 Received his SHINY new card. WOO HOOOOOOO

YAY!! We can take a break from this madness until Citizenship.

HumanUnit Contributor

HumanUnit   0

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks Cygnet! July 7th actually sounds just about right!

Just out of total curiousity, why didn't you dcf? or did I read wrong..... was it not offered yet?

Congrats on being complete with all of this, I am envious!! and good luck with everything in New York.

Thanks so much! And you're right, it wasn't offered when I filed. Incredibly, it was like literally two days after I filed that I found out you could now do the DCF. Doh! And they wouldn't let me cancel one and start the other without paying all the fees and whatnot again, and I was like okay, forget it, we'll just continue the current application. Good luck to you!!

Nov 29 2005 I-130 received at VSC

Mar 13 2006 I-130 approved at CSC

April 24 2006 $380 mailed to NVC

May 5 2006 I-186 mailed to NVC

May 18 2006 I-186 received by NVC

aussiewench Mentor

aussiewench   9

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Australia
 Timeline
Posted

YAYYYYYYYYYY!! Congrat HumanUnit :thumbs: All the best to you both for your future.

Lorelle

You can find me on FBI

An overview of Security Name Checks And Administrative Review at Service Center, NVC & Consulate levels.

Detailed Review USCIS Alien Security Checks

fb2fc244.gif72c97806.gif4d488a91.gif

11324375801ij.gif

View Timeline HERE

I am but a wench not a lawyer. My advice and opinion is just that. I read, I research, I learn.

snz1802 Proficient

snz1802   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: South Korea
 Timeline
Posted
:dance: Congratulations :thumbs:

1/12/06 Mail I-129f express mail

1/13/06 TSC rec'd

1/23/06 NOA1 from CSC

1/27/06 - Check cleared

7/10/06 - NOA2

7/14/06- rec'd @ NVC

8/14/06- NVC sent petition to Consulate

8/17/06 - Korean Consulate rec'd Petition

8/23/06 - rec'd packet 3 from Consulate

8/25/06 - sent packet 3 back to Consulate

8/27/06 - got confirmation email from Consulate, they rec'd packet three

8/27/06 - requested interview date via Consulate internet site.

9/1/06 - Checked internet site for interveiw date, it was there

9/25/06 - Interview date - APPROVED

9/28/06 - Visa in Zaeems Hand - YEAHHHHH

1/6/07 - leaving for USA

1/20/07 - Wedding Date

1/20/07 - MARRIED!!!!!

2/10/07 - rec'd certified copy of marriage license

AOS

3/13/07 - AOS package rec'd at Chicago Lockbox

3/20/07 - Rec'd Social Security Card

3/21/07 - Checks Cashed and Case Status online

3/24/07 - NOA1 Rec'd for AOS and EAD

3/27/07 - rec'd Biometrics appt letter - scheduled for 4/20/07 @ 11:00am

4/02/07 - "touched"

4/20/07 - had biometrics appt.

4/21/07 - rec'd letter stating case was transferred to CSC

5/22/07 - rec'd Case Pending at CSC email

6/25/07 - EAD card production ordered

7/7/07 - EAD "touched"

7/7/07 - AOS "touched"

8-6-07 - Rec'd EAD Card in the Mail

5-20-08 - AOS INTERVIEW - APPROVED - PASSPORT STAMPED

7-2-10 - Received 10 year green card in mail

 
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