Waiting for our passports from Montreal

[Undefined 4]

They will not issue a visa if you need to send in more stuff. They will hold on to your application and wait for you to mail the missing documents and your passport through DHL. It adds an extra 4-6 weeks as it will sit in their mail room for that long before they get to it.

They told me it won't take that long, can there be that chance? I much hate this, as it was not my error. But life is what it is, gotta take it with the punches lol.

Thanks anyways

[CourtneyRox 25]

Hey guys,

Just wondering how I go about getting DHL to send my passport/visa to my home directly since my local DHL office is 2 hours away? I know there is about an $18 fee and I've tried to complete this now (haven't had my interview yet) but it seems to keep taking me in circles.. Can anyone give me some advice on how to complete this?? Thanks!

[canadianjade 1]

They told me it won't take that long, can there be that chance? I much hate this, as it was not my error. But life is what it is, gotta take it with the punches lol.

Thanks anyways

Hi there - I had my interview on August 3rd. Unfortunately our lawyer said that we did not need a specific document, but we did. This resulted in a 221g (is said "Visa Refusal"). I was able to get the necessary documents the same day Unfortunately they wouldn't take them at the consulate and requested that I submit them via courier. I sent the documentation from the Montreal DHL (in Dorval) since I was already there the same day. I tracked the package and it was received by the Consulate in MTL the following morning.

I received an email from the MTL Consulate after I inquired about the status of my Visa since every time I called DOS they said I was "in admin processing". This is what they said:

Good day,

Please note that all mail addressed to the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal undergoes thorough security clearance procedures at an offsite facility. This creates additional delays for the mail to actually reach our office. The date you claim the mail was delivered is not the actual date our office has received your mail. You may expect your case to be reviewed within 4 weeks from the date that the mail was sent.

I hope that this information may be useful.

Sincerely,

OP8

Correspondence Assistant | Immigrant Visa Unit

Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

I ended up getting an email from DHL (Loomis Express) the evening of August 29th. My Visa was ready for pick up the next morning. It says it was "approved" August 26th. So in total it took 27 days from the time I sent the additional documents in to have the Visa in my hand.

If you don't mind me asking what additional documents did they ask for? Ours were around my husbands 2010 tax return and although it wasn't requested by the Consulate about 2 weeks after I submitted the requested documentation I sent my husbands recent job offer letter. I'm not sure if this helped, but I had the Visa in hand 10 days later!

Good Luck! And, hang in there. You'll be approved, it's just a little more waiting and the average is about 4 weeks. Start packing and enjoy a few more trips to Tim Hortons!

[Saylin 1,605]

Hey guys,

Just wondering how I go about getting DHL to send my passport/visa to my home directly since my local DHL office is 2 hours away? I know there is about an $18 fee and I've tried to complete this now (haven't had my interview yet) but it seems to keep taking me in circles.. Can anyone give me some advice on how to complete this?? Thanks!

You can only sign up for home delivery AFTER you've had your interview and only AFTER the visa has been shipped out and you have a waybill number. You can see the instructions here: http://usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_courier_information It's near the bottom, the last section on that page.

[Undefined 4]

Hi there - I had my interview on August 3rd. Unfortunately our lawyer said that we did not need a specific document, but we did. This resulted in a 221g (is said "Visa Refusal"). I was able to get the necessary documents the same day Unfortunately they wouldn't take them at the consulate and requested that I submit them via courier. I sent the documentation from the Montreal DHL (in Dorval) since I was already there the same day. I tracked the package and it was received by the Consulate in MTL the following morning.

I received an email from the MTL Consulate after I inquired about the status of my Visa since every time I called DOS they said I was "in admin processing". This is what they said:

Good day,

Please note that all mail addressed to the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal undergoes thorough security clearance procedures at an offsite facility. This creates additional delays for the mail to actually reach our office. The date you claim the mail was delivered is not the actual date our office has received your mail. You may expect your case to be reviewed within 4 weeks from the date that the mail was sent.

I hope that this information may be useful.

Sincerely,

OP8

Correspondence Assistant | Immigrant Visa Unit

Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

I ended up getting an email from DHL (Loomis Express) the evening of August 29th. My Visa was ready for pick up the next morning. It says it was "approved" August 26th. So in total it took 27 days from the time I sent the additional documents in to have the Visa in my hand.

If you don't mind me asking what additional documents did they ask for? Ours were around my husbands 2010 tax return and although it wasn't requested by the Consulate about 2 weeks after I submitted the requested documentation I sent my husbands recent job offer letter. I'm not sure if this helped, but I had the Visa in hand 10 days later!

Good Luck! And, hang in there. You'll be approved, it's just a little more waiting and the average is about 4 weeks. Start packing and enjoy a few more trips to Tim Hortons!

Hi and thanks and congrats! yeah it sure is a rollercoster of a journey lol. Its actually pretty funny on how my visa was delayed, all the chaos they did, wasn't shown or asked at the interview, they only wanted an updated Fiance Letter. Because the one dated in March wasn't good enough, talking about commitment like a piece of paper does that, they say they always know everything, then they should know how committed me and my Fiance are lol.

But that life, it is what it is lol. Im just taking it with the punches, being determined, positive and patient. The interview lady said it will take no time, my Fiance, sent the stuff today. But its ok a month not that far, anyways got bunch of stuff to finish up, organize lol.

I always end up to destination just a few U-turns,dangerous curves lol

Thanks again for the info and advice and a spank to your Lawyer lol. I bet you were both mad especially after all the money and time and energy spent lol

Life is not a breeze but whom we share it with makes it so much better, even after all the bullshit, hardships, the fact that he is by my side makes it so worth it and makes me more determined and stronger.

They might be the Government and think they own us, but they don't. I know to be calm and collected and patient but at the end its our way.

P.S. how is married life? and living in the U.S.?

[CourtneyRox 25]

You can only sign up for home delivery AFTER you've had your interview and only AFTER the visa has been shipped out and you have a waybill number. You can see the instructions here: http://usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/us_courier_information It's near the bottom, the last section on that page.

THANK YOU!!

[Paul H 4]

WOOHOO! Jenni's passport with visa is ready to be picked up!!! YAY!!!

It took 3 business days after the interview. One less thing to worry about.

[BellasCanadian 0]

Our interview was on August 29th .. that makes today the 7th business day (didn't count the holiday on Monday).

I will be patient and wait until Monday .. but what if we still haven't gotten a waybill number by then? Do I still just have to wait or can DOS do anything?? What if it got "lost" somewhere?

[Saylin 1,605]

Our interview was on August 29th .. that makes today the 7th business day (didn't count the holiday on Monday).

I will be patient and wait until Monday .. but what if we still haven't gotten a waybill number by then? Do I still just have to wait or can DOS do anything?? What if it got "lost" somewhere?

Just keep calling DOS and asking for an update on your case. Since about mid-May this year, Montreal has been taking longer than usual to sending out passports and people receiving them. Before, it used to take on average 6 days. Now, it's taking quite a bit longer. Of course, there's some people still getting it within the old average time frame, but lots aren't. All you can do is be patient.

I hope you get it soon!

[BellasCanadian 0]

I know 2 others who had the interview same day as us ... they had their visa in hand 2 days later! It's making me crazzzzzzy lol

[Saylin 1,605]

I know 2 others who had the interview same day as us ... they had their visa in hand 2 days later! It's making me crazzzzzzy lol

I find it so weird that some people get it within a week, yet there's others stuck in this backlog where it's taking like 2+ weeks to get the passport. It seems like Montreal has no order of sending out passports just like USCIS has no order of approving petitions

[BellasCanadian 0]

I find it so weird that some people get it within a week, yet there's others stuck in this backlog where it's taking like 2+ weeks to get the passport. It seems like Montreal has no order of sending out passports just like USCIS has no order of approving petitions

LOL I never thought about it like that ... but you are right!!! Thanks!

[BellasCanadian 0]

Still nothing .. I'm reading through this thread and am a little confused. If DOS told me that the visa was "issued", does that mean it has been printed? Another woman a few days later said we should not have been given that info and our case was still being processed but it "looks like a good case". What the heck does this mean???

Part 2 of my question: my fiance has a flight booked to NY on Sept. 20th for a wedding we need to attend in Florida that weekend (we booked this back in April). If he doesn't get his passport back by then, is there any way he can enter the US with just his Nexus card or something .. then go back to Toronto to continue to wait for his visa and eventually POE?

[Paul H 4]

Still nothing .. I'm reading through this thread and am a little confused. If DOS told me that the visa was "issued", does that mean it has been printed? Another woman a few days later said we should not have been given that info and our case was still being processed but it "looks like a good case". What the heck does this mean???

Part 2 of my question: my fiance has a flight booked to NY on Sept. 20th for a wedding we need to attend in Florida that weekend (we booked this back in April). If he doesn't get his passport back by then, is there any way he can enter the US with just his Nexus card or something .. then go back to Toronto to continue to wait for his visa and eventually POE?

He could use his Nexus card, but I believe he'd have to drive across the border to do so. Airports require a passport. You don't need one to drive across if you have a Nexus card or a land and sea card or an Enhanced drivers license.

[CourtneyRox 25]

Anyone get their passport/visa yet??? I'm still waiting for mine...

Edited September 13, 2011 by CourtneyRox