Waiting for our passports from Montreal

[ralyse 31]

Had my interview on Tuesday and was approved. Not much to add to a review as it went pretty much as others have recounted. Got there early, waited in line, doors opened at 7:30, elevator at 8:00 and by 9:10 I was done. What came as a complete shock was the fact that my Visa/package was ready for pick up on THURSDAY, a mere 48 hours later.

Wow! Congratulations on that!!

[brooksie 3]

i got my visa today, yay. for some reason theres 3 envlopes lol everything i have read says 1 anyone else get more then 1?

[ralyse 31]

i got my visa today, yay. for some reason theres 3 envlopes lol everything i have read says 1 anyone else get more then 1?

I only got the one sealed envelope, my passport, and another copy of the K-1 FAQ sheet they gave me at the interview. Weird!

[Andy and Kayla 45]

So after refreshing the tracking page all morning, I logged onto the CSC site around noon to see if it said anything different, and it had changed to 'Available for Pick Up" again and a new waybill number. We checked that waybill number out and it told us that my package was NOW at the location it was supposed to be so we went and picked it up! I now have visa in hand!

I'm really glad Montreal/CSC came through in good time. I was surprised that they corrected the issue so quickly. Looks like Montreal is on a roll right now. If it weren't for that mix up, I would have had it yesterday, 4 business days after the interview. Even with the confusion, I got it in 5 business days.

That means, though, that I have it in time to go home with Andy and I won't have to fly down separately plus ship all of my ####### later.

[ralyse 31]

So after refreshing the tracking page all morning, I logged onto the CSC site around noon to see if it said anything different, and it had changed to 'Available for Pick Up" again and a new waybill number. We checked that waybill number out and it told us that my package was NOW at the location it was supposed to be so we went and picked it up! I now have visa in hand!

I'm really glad Montreal/CSC came through in good time. I was surprised that they corrected the issue so quickly. Looks like Montreal is on a roll right now. If it weren't for that mix up, I would have had it yesterday, 4 business days after the interview. Even with the confusion, I got it in 5 business days.

That means, though, that I have it in time to go home with Andy and I won't have to fly down separately plus ship all of my ####### later.

That's great news Kayla! I'm glad it all worked out and you get to travel together!!

[pocheros 101]

I still haven't picked up my visa but I bought my plane ticket! Coming to the States on September 9th via Toronto Pearson

[TheFantastics09 19]

So after refreshing the tracking page all morning, I logged onto the CSC site around noon to see if it said anything different, and it had changed to 'Available for Pick Up" again and a new waybill number. We checked that waybill number out and it told us that my package was NOW at the location it was supposed to be so we went and picked it up! I now have visa in hand!

I'm really glad Montreal/CSC came through in good time. I was surprised that they corrected the issue so quickly. Looks like Montreal is on a roll right now. If it weren't for that mix up, I would have had it yesterday, 4 business days after the interview. Even with the confusion, I got it in 5 business days.

That means, though, that I have it in time to go home with Andy and I won't have to fly down separately plus ship all of my ####### later.

Glad to hear you have your visa in hand!!

[JerryA 1]

CR-1 interview for my wife at Montreal consulate on Tuesday Aug 19th - Approved.

Waiting for passport ordeal in Montreal:

Signed up for DHL prior to interview and picked DHL location as Anjou in Montreal. We waited in Montreal for DHL package Wed, Thu & Fri. Was supposed to fly back together on Friday evening. Till late Friday evening (post-interview business day 3), NO NEWS, no emails, no phone calls, no change in applicant summary page on the CSC page.

Friday evening cancelled wife's flight and I had to come back to US alone. Found out DHL closed Sat & Sun.

Late friday night CSC status changed to "Applicant Status: At consular section" with waybill number. No emails or phone calls received by us. See attached image.

Clicking on waybill number took me to Loomis webpage. Again no emails or phone calls received. (Loomis handles DHL for domestic Canada for consulate purposes).

Loomis tracking page showed: (See attached image)

2011-08-19 08:05 Undeliverable DORVAL

2011-08-19 00:00 Shipment Record Received DORVAL

2011-08-18 21:19 Picked Up by Loomis DORVAL

Eventhough the CSC status shows "Applicant Status: At consular section", it looks like DHL already picked up the package from the Consulate on Thu Aug 18th ----> Reached Dorval on Fri Aug 19th ---> Sitting in Dorval over the weekend to be delivered to Anjou....! I HOPE SO....!

Lets see what tomorrow has to bring.....!

Anyone been through similar situation? Any thoughts/ opinions???

Thanks.

Edited August 21, 2011 by RinTse

[pocheros 101]

CR-1 interview for my wife at Montreal consulate on Tuesday Aug 19th - Approved.

Waiting for passport ordeal in Montreal:

Signed up for DHL prior to interview and picked DHL location as Anjou in Montreal. We waited in Montreal for DHL package Wed, Thu & Fri. Was supposed to fly back together on Friday evening. Till late Friday evening (post-interview business day 3), NO NEWS, no emails, no phone calls, no change in applicant summary page on the CSC page.

Friday evening cancelled wife's flight and I had to come back to US alone. Found out DHL closed Sat & Sun.

Late friday night CSC status changed to "Applicant Status: At consular section" with waybill number. No emails or phone calls received by us. See attached image.

Clicking on waybill number took me to Loomis webpage. Again no emails or phone calls received. (Loomis handles DHL for domestic Canada for consulate purposes).

Loomis tracking page showed: (See attached image)

2011-08-19 08:05 Undeliverable DORVAL

2011-08-19 00:00 Shipment Record Received DORVAL

2011-08-18 21:19 Picked Up by Loomis DORVAL

Eventhough the CSC status shows "Applicant Status: At consular section", it looks like DHL already picked up the package from the Consulate on Thu Aug 18th ----> Reached Dorval on Fri Aug 19th ---> Sitting in Dorval over the weekend to be delivered to Anjou....! I HOPE SO....!

Lets see what tomorrow has to bring.....!

Anyone been through similar situation? Any thoughts/ opinions???

Thanks.

It seems like it's proceeding how it should? Should be in Anjou pretty soon. I got an email and the CSC website updated when the waybill was created, but it wasn't "ready to pick up" until I got a phonecall from DHL a couple days later. I got the phonecall a few hours after it arrived at my local DHL facility. (It arrived at 6am, phonecall at 3:30 pm).

It sucks that you had to cancel her flight (although this is why they recommend you don't make travel plans until you have the visa), but at least it seems to be going quickly. 3 days isn't that long at all. Sorry if I sounded preachy

[JerryA 1]

No not preach....Thanks for ur opinion. Am staying optimistic and hoping its available for pick up tomorrow at the DHL location in Anjou. Yeah, I was cutting it close with trying to fly back on Friday (post-interview 3rd business day).

FYI for people picking up package in Montreal DHL locations:

1. People picking up package in Montreal should select Dorval if its convenient. Picking another location seems to add another day.
   
2. Also it looks like tracking of the package can be started on day 1 without waybill number - Go to website http://www.loomisexpress.com/ca and track package using reference number on CSC applicant summary page.
   
3. Waiting for email or phone call or status update on CSC applicant summary page seems unreliable.
   

In hind sight - it looks like if I had known and tracked package on Loomis website using reference number, and picked Dorval as DHL pick up location - I could possibly have picked up our package on Friday (post-interview 3rd business day) - Looks like packet was picked up from Consulate by Loomis on Thursday at 9:19 PM (post-interview 2nd business day) & was at Dorval on Friday 8:05 AM (post-interview 3rd business day).

[JerryA 1]

No phone calls, no emails. Packet was at Dorval ready for pick up eventhough we picked Anjou. Doesn't matter...Got the packet back today...Yayy!

[been2 0]

pocheros make sure u give lots of time for customs, i went through immigration at Pearson last thursday it took them 2 and 30 mins to process my visa (not counting any other lines). It was a pretty terrible experience.

[pocheros 101]

Congrats RinTse!

pocheros make sure u give lots of time for customs, i went through immigration at Pearson last thursday it took them 2 and 30 mins to process my visa (not counting any other lines). It was a pretty terrible experience.

Noted. I read immigration opens at 5:30 am, and my flight leaves at noon on friday september 9th... I hope that's enough time! I'm going to try to be there at 6am...

Oh, I actually picked up my visa today. The folder looks a bit worn but it hadn't been opened. The also spelled my fiance's middle name wrong... Ah well, I hope it's not an issue :S

Edited August 22, 2011 by pocheros

[been2 0]

i wouldn't mention it and tell them once u have arrived where u are going, god knows how long they will hold up the train over a mispelling ;-)

[edsotherhalf 1]

Received my green card in the mail on Friday. It only took 3 weeks from crossing and they had told me it could be 6 months. Glad something went fast. Now they also said my SSN would be here in three weeks. Still waiting for that. Still can't look for work without the thing. Apparently the green card comes first, then the paperwork is sent to SSN for processing.