Montreal is driving me crazy!!

[redfragglekat 0]

I figured I'd share my adventures in the hopes that someone else can laugh over this, cause I just wanna scream.

Government red tape is such a pain, eh? :-)

From: Me

To: Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

date: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 1:39 PM

subject:Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Good afternoon,

On February 23rd I sent in the requested information for Packet 3 (which was received by you, according to the tracking receipt, on February 24th).

I spoke to the (US) Department of State this afternoon to inquire about the status of my Case (case number referenced above). They have told me that the Montreal Consulate has not yet sent out my Packet 4 information nor scheduled an interview.

At their suggestion, I am writing to you to inquire about the status of my expected Packet 4, specifically to be sure that:

1) Packet 3 has indeed been received, and;

2) Packet 4 should be expected by email soon?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

(redfragglekat)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

from: Montreal, IV <Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov>

to: Me

date: Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 1:39 PM

subjectRE: Case Number XXXXXXXXXX

Thank you for your message to the Immigrant Visa (IV) unit of the U.S. Consulate General in Montréal, Canada.

We review and reply as appropriate to all e-mails in order they are received.

DO NOT send inquires about the status of the case. All cases are handled and reviewed in turn.

Please note: IV Unit will NOT reply to inquiries about DHL courier services, scheduling / rescheduling an appointment, status of documents sent to/from the Consulate. These inquires should be addressed to CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> using the contact details listed here http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_generalinquiries.The IV Unit receives a high volume of messages daily. You may expect a reply to your inquiry within two weeks. Please do not send the same inquiry by both mail and email as this will further delay a reply.

1. If you have been asked to provide additional documents, please send all the required documents together. Sending documents separately will not allow the IV unit to complete processing of your case. When you have all of the required documents, please mail them together with your name, case number, mailing address and email address to our office using the CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> . Please visit http://canada.usvisa-info.com/to'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/to register for a DHL courier location to drop-off your documents. Upon receipt of all the required documents, the IV unit will review your file. In rare instances, you may be required to return to Montreal for a follow-up interview. If the visa is approved, the IV unit will send the completed visa packet to you via the DHL courier services to the courier location you have previously registered for. Please allow six to eight weeks from the time you send correspondence to receive a reply from the Consulate. Please note the IV unit is not able to confirm receipt of documents. Documents received at the IV unit are processed in the order in which they are received.

NOTE: our P.O. Box 65 at Stations Desjardins is no longer in service. Mail sent to this address as well as the mail sent to our office address will be returned to the sender.

2. If you have difficulties registering for the DHL courier services, scheduling / rescheduling an appointment, please try again to access the CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> website. A new appointment date might become available daily. If you still have difficulties registering on the website or you want to inquire about the courier services, please send an e-mail to contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com or call CSC Visa Information Services <http://canada.usvisa-info.com/>'>http://canada.usvisa-info.com/> using the contact details listed here http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_generalinquiries.

3. If you have sent your passport to the IV unit and need it returned without a visa being issued, please send a separate message to Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov with the subject line "Passport return." In the text of your message, please list your full name, your IV case number, the date on which you mailed your passport, and the DHL location to which you would like your passport mailed back. Please visit http://canada.usvisa-info.com/ to register for a DHL courier location to pick-up your passport.

Please also note the IV Unit is not able to accept communication by facsimile machine or telephone.

Thank you for your cooperation,

Immigrant Visa Unit

Consulate General of the United States of America

Montréal, Canada

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

redfragglekat emails the new email address as directed in the auto-response

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

from: Me

to: contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com

date: Tue, Mar 29, 2011 at 11:59 AM

subjectCase Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Good afternoon,

Following the instructions from the Immigration Visa (IV) unit, highlighted below, I am contacting you for more information.

On February 23rd I sent in the requested information for our K1 Visa application's Packet 3 (which was received by you, according to the tracking receipt, on February 24th).

I spoke to the (US) Department of State this afternoon to inquire about the status of my Case (case number referenced above). They have told me that the Montreal Consulate has not yet sent out my Packet 4 information nor scheduled an interview.

At their suggestion, I am writing to you to inquire about the status of my expected Packet 4, specifically to confirm that:

1) Packet 3 has indeed been received, and;

2) Packet 4 should be expected by email soon?

Your assistance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

________________________________________________________________________

from: info <info@visaops.net>

to: Me dateTue, Mar 29, 2011 at 1:12 PM

subjectRE: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

We are only the non-immigrant visa appointment scheduling service for the US Mission to Canada. You would need to address your question directly to the consular section at montreal-iv-dv@state.gov.

The Contact Desk Support Team

___________________________________________________________________________

from: Me

to: info <info@visaops.net>

dateTue, Mar 29, 2011 at 1:17 PM

subjectRe: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Thank you for your response, unfortunately I have already the Department of State who told me to contact montreal-iv-dv@state.gov. I did and montreal-iv-dv@state.gov. they told me to contact you. You have now asked me to contact montreal-iv-dv@state.gov.... Any new or additional direction would be appreciated.

Thank you!

(redfragglekat)

__________________________________________________

from: info <info@visaops.net>

to: Me dateTue, Mar 29, 2011 at 1:57 PM

subject

RE: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As we are only the non-immigrant visa appointment scheduling service for the US Mission to Canada we cannot advise you when the consulate in Montreal will prepare your IV packet.

Only the IV section at the consulate would have that information.

_______________________________________________________

redfragglekat calls DOS again on March 29th, they advise me that the case is not logged and to contact the Consulate for more information.

redfragglekat calls DOS again on April 5th, they advise me that the case is not logged and to contact the Consulate for more information.

redfragglekat calls DOS again on April 12th, they advise me that the case is not yet logged and to contact the Consulate by email at montreal-iv-dv@state.gov for more information.

_______________________________________________________

Re: Case Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

From: Me Tue, Apr 12, 2011 at 11:47 AM

To: montreal-iv-dv@state.gov

Good afternoon,

The Department of State information line (202-663-1225) has advised me to contact the Montreal Consulate again to inquire about the status of my case. I have previously (as seen by the email trail below) been directed, by montreal-iv-dv@state.gov to direct my inquiry to contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com instead. Unfortunately contactus_en_CA@usvisa-info.com has redirected me back to montreal-iv-dv@state.gov. A call placed to DOS has also directed me back to montreal-iv-dv@state.gov.

Therefore I would like to request further information on the status of my case, as I am now outside of normal processing times stipulated in the previous correspondence I have received from the Consulate.

On February 23rd I sent in the requested information for Packet 3 (which was received by you, according to the tracking receipt, on February 24th).

I am writing to you to inquire about the status of my case, specifically

1) that Packet 3 has indeed been received, and;

2) the date when I should expect Packet 4

Your assistance is greatly appreciated, thank you.

(redfragglekat)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Within minutes I get the same auto-response I received to my first email to them a month ago back as a response. *sighs*

[SF2007 48]

I figured I'd share my adventures in the hopes that someone else can laugh over this, cause I just wanna scream.

Government red tape is such a pain, eh? :-)

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Within minutes I get the same auto-response I received to my first email to them a month ago back as a response. *sighs*

I agree it's a terribad situation for you

I don't know any way you could reach out to someone in Montreal.

Can you make an extra copy and resubmit your Packet 3? It might not have been delivered at all. I sent mine with Xpresspost and required a signature upon delivery. It was signed for the morning after.

Good luck and hang in there!!!

[Krikit 1,165]

Haha. It made me think of when I was little and I would ask my mother if I could do something and she would say "Ask your father." So then I'd go to my father and he would say "Ask your mother." I'd be in an endless loop which would frustrate the heck out of me. Nothing compared to the frustration you must be feeling, though. Sorry.

[redfragglekat 0]

Haha. It made me think of when I was little and I would ask my mother if I could do something and she would say "Ask your father." So then I'd go to my father and he would say "Ask your mother." I'd be in an endless loop which would frustrate the heck out of me. Nothing compared to the frustration you must be feeling, though. Sorry.

LOL this is exactly what I thought of too!!!

[Krikit 1,165]

LOL this is exactly what I thought of too!!!

Edited April 12, 2011 by Krikit

[Happy75 2]

DOS should be able to tell you if Packet 3 was approved by the consulate. Did they tell you it was not received yet? It took them about 10 days to receive ours- and just to let you know Montreal appears to be blocking appointments, to my knowledge I haven't heard of anyone making an appointment with them since last Tuesday or Wednesday. I just tried to schedule and it still says "No appointments available." I notice you waited four months to send packet 3 to the consulate, is that right?

Edited April 12, 2011 by Happy75