Canada Immigration & K1 Guide for Montreal

[shashonie 6]

My hero! Merci, thank you, thank you, merci!

This is so helpful I could cry. I have a game plan now and will let my fiance know about the Packet 3 bypass

[Cougs 0]

Hello Everyone!

First I would like to say thank you all for posting your experiences on here. I have already learned a ton of information reading all your posts in the last few months!

I have a few questions to start if I may?

My wife and I got married in the US 7 years ago this October and she came to Canada and is now is a PR here. We live very close to the border (Niagara) and to start would ideally like to live in the US legally and commute to work here in Canada. Eventually, we would both like to work in the states and move further south.

Has anyone been through this type of process?

My idea was process the I-130 to the Chicago Lock box and follow the steps I found here: http://montreal.usco...-in-canada.html

But my concern, from what I read the process described above by most of you is that when we go through the process for the green card we should be making it clear we intend on moving to the US immediately upon process.

Any ideas folks?

Thank you again!

[hikergirl 277]

You need to take a look at the proving domicile thread. Apparently Montréal is picky about that.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/164618-proving-domicile-when-not-living-in-the-us/

[Buxi&Dusk 6]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all of the advice - it is a huge help!

I just checked the example form for the DS-156 on this site, but I noticed its changed and I have a few questions:

2. Place of insurance - Montreal or where you live?

14. National identification number - is that your passport number?

36. Has anyone ever filed an immigrant visa petition on your behalf - yes, K1?

Any help would be fantastic I can't wait to send P3 off.

[Buxi&Dusk 6]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all of the advice - it is a huge help!

I just checked the example form for the DS-156 on this site, but I noticed its changed and I have a few questions:

2. Place of insurance - Montreal or where you live?

14. National identification number - is that your passport number?

36. Has anyone ever filed an immigrant visa petition on your behalf - yes, K1?

Any help would be fantastic I can't wait to send P3 off.

I figured it out. These threads are so helpful.

Edited June 20, 2013 by Buxi&Dusk

[SweetSimplicity 1]

This is amazing, thank you soo much!!

[Allanah and Chris 8]

Calling the DoS may not be necessary for a K1 with regards to logging packet 3, as we received an email immediately when it was logged (I had called in the AM, "not logged yet", and 2 hours later received an email with packet 4).

[kc247 22]

So the checklist of documents is just you stating you HAVE all of those? But you keep them and do not send them. Correct? All the other forms/passport pictures/photocopy of passport page etc, you mail, but not anything on the checklist? Should I get my police check now or wait until closer to my interview date? I am just making sure I do everything right when I have to send this!

Also, does it matter if it is the petitioner who calls or can I (Canadian resident) call NVC?

[Canerican 242]

So the checklist of documents is just you stating you HAVE all of those? But you keep them and do not send them. Correct?

That is correct, they are asking that you have them all, but you do not have to send them in.

All the other forms/passport pictures/photocopy of passport page etc, you mail, but not anything on the checklist?

That is correct.

Should I get my police check now or wait until closer to my interview date? I am just making sure I do everything right when I have to send this!

Personally I would get it now if I was you, as I do not remember how long it takes to get the Police report back

Also, does it matter if it is the petitioner who calls or can I (Canadian resident) call NVC?

No, it does not matter who calls as long as you know names, DOB, and case #

[kc247 22]

Thankyou!!

[ady 0]

Hi everyone,

I just have a question for clarification as it seems there has been different answers roaming around.

I just sent in my packet 3 and waiting for it to be logged. Does the immigration visa unit schedule your interview for you or do you do it yourself when packet 4 has been logged? I've read around in other forums that they schedule it for you. But on packet 4 it says you have to do it...and when I check the CSC website it shows this as well:

"Please note that this system does not reflect appointments that have been assigned directly by the U.S. Government. If you have received an appointment letter (or e-mail) directly from the National Visa Center, Kentucky Consular Center or the Immigrant Visa Unit, you should attend the appointment date and time listed in that letter."

So which one is it?

[Fayeara 8]

For the K-1 , you are the one who schedules your interview

[Cliff&Liz 10]

Montreal Interview

How much cash do I need to bring?

$1070 US plus $131 non-immigration fee? can that 131 be visa or us cash as well?

Edited September 10, 2013 by Cliff&Liz

[Canerican 242]

Montreal Interview

How much cash do I need to bring?

$1070 US plus $131 non-immigration fee? can that 131 be visa or us cash as well?

If you have already paid the MRV fee which is $240(http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1263.html) then you do not need to pay anything at the interview. What is the $131 fee?

The $1070 is for your AOS which you will do after you have got married here in the USA. No need to pay that right now.

[Canerican 242]

General Immigration Guide: http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada

K1 Montreal Guide:

Put this together with some help from a few other members (JeannieL, pocheros, coconuts, Stuart & Thea) to try and get all the confusing FAQs about the Montreal process in one place. Hope it helps people out!

1. NOA2

Once you’ve gotten your NOA2, it’s time to celebrate! Most people wait a while for this, sometimes even dealing with an RFE... Instead of jumping headfirst into the “What comes next!” Stage, take a minute to relax. If you’re going through Montreal, it’s going to take some time. You’ve got it. Put your NOA2 in a safe place since you’ll need it later on for AOS and relax.

2. NVC

Once at least a week has passed, you can feel free to start calling The National Visa Center (NVC). Their number is: 1-603-334-0700 (Pressing 1 for English and 5 for an Operator). They will want both the petitioner and beneficiary’s names and dates of birth, as well as the receipt number for your petition. (WAC# if you went through California, EAC if you went through Vermont). NVC can’t do very much for you as a typical K1 petition doesn’t stay there very long, but this is the information you’re looking to get from them:

-Has your petition arrived at NVC? If not, there’s nothing they can do yet. It can take time for the petition to get there, anywhere from a week to a month, so don’t worry if you find yourself calling frequently.

-Once it’s arrived, does it have a Montreal case number yet? This number will begin with MTL and if they can provide it at NVC, write it down!

-Has the petition left for the consulate? Once this happens, you’re done with NVC! No need to call them for any further updates.

3. DOS

After you get word that the petition is headed for Montreal, give it a few days (I’d say minimum a week) and you can start calling the Department of State (DOS). Their number is: 1-202-663-1225 (this number has changed to 1-202-485-7600) and to get to a visa specialist, it’s 1 and then 0. This operator will want your MTL # and sometimes both the names and dates of birth for both petitioner and beneficiary. At this stage, you’ll go through the follow things with DOS:

-Has your petition arrived in Montreal? If it has not, there’s nothing to do yet. Montreal is notorious for delays in its mailroom so even if you think it’s unrealistic it hasn’t physically arrived yet, chances are it’s sitting somewhere waiting to be logged. Until DOS gives the word the petition is in Montreal, you just have to sit tight.

-Once the case has arrived, you can ask DOS is Packet 3 has been sent out. Even if it hasn’t, you can prepare and send Packet 3 yourself, the important thing is to make sure Montreal has your case before you send them anything.

4. Preparing Packet 3

Waiting for P3 to physically arrive can be a fruitless task. Many people never get it, sometimes only the petitioner gets it, sometimes it shows up months later. If you want to expedite the process, don’t wait for it. There’s nothing including in Packet 3 that isn’t available on Montreal’s website: http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_pkt3

Since even the website can be a little confusing, this is what you send back (all forms available above at Montreal’s website):

Signed Checklist

DS-160 x 1

DS-156K x 1

DS-230 x 1

DS-156 x 2

US style passport photos of the beneficiary x 2

Many have found it helpful to also include a very brief cover letter summarizing the contents, providing an email address and re-iterating the MTL case #.

(If you are doing a K2 as well, don’t forget the forms for them!)

5. Sending Packet 3

How you send P3 is up to you. It can be done for free via DHL, but many have found it faster to just use an xpresspost mailer from Canada Post and eat the cost themselves. If you are sending it via xpresspost, it goes to the following address:

ATTN: Immigrant Visa Unit

315 Place d'Youville Suite 500

Montreal Quebec

H2Y 0A4

Make sure to again write your MTL case # on the mailer itself.

(You could also just send it regular mail, but it’s usually better for peace of mind to get a tracking number, which means XPpesspost.)

6. Waiting

Once P3 has been sent, for the sake of your own sanity give it at least a week before you start calling about it. Again, Montreal is notoriously slow processing documents so there’s no use fretting if you know it’s physically there and it still hasn’t been logged. At this stage, you’re back to calling DOS. They’re open M-F from 8:30am until 5, except for Wednesday’s when they’re closed from 11:30-12:30.

-You’ll want to ask them if P3 has been logged. If it hasn’t, you’ll have to keep calling.

-Once they tell you P3 has been logged, you’ll ask if Packet 4 has been sent out yet? If it has, you will be eligible to schedule your interview.

Note: There have been a LOT of cases of people getting incorrect information from DOS at this stage. Every consulate is different, so even if a representative tells you that your interview will be scheduled for you, this is not the case for K1s right now. As soon as P4 has been sent, you are about to schedule.

7. Scheduling Interviews

The website (Referred to on VJ as the CSC site) is here: http://usvisa-info.com/en-CA/selfservice/ss_country_welcome

You can register at any time once you have your MTL case #, but do NOT schedule an interview until you’ve been told P4 has been sent out. You’ll be prompted to select your reason for immigrating, and you can chose either of the K1 options (Permanently immigrate or ready to schedule). If you chose “Permanently Immigrate” you will need to pay the $350 fee via credit card before you can schedule. If you would rather pay the fee at the interview (US cash only, exact change!) just choose “ready to schedule”

You will follow the prompts to schedule your interview as well as select the DHL branch you wish to pick up your Visa at.

If all goes well, you will get an interview date. A confirmation email will be sent to you, make sure to hold on to that, as you will need to bring it with you to Montreal.

8. No Interviews Available!

Unfortunately, what seems to happen often with Montreal is a message stating “No Interviews Available”. If that is the case, there’s not a lot you can do except keep checking back. If someone cancels their appointment, a time may open up that you can grab. Sometimes Montreal opens additional interviews in the afternoons or just more dates... there’s no specific time of day or month that these things happen, so it’s just luck of the draw. If you’re stuck in limbo without an appointment date, calling DOS or contacting Montreal won’t do anything, unfortunately. Just keep refreshing and waiting.

If you’re lucky it’s just a day or so, sometimes it can be as long as a month without interviews being available. It’s just luck, sadly.

9. Rescheduling Interview?

Oftentimes, if interviews are available they’re months away. If you log in and that’s all that’s available: TAKE IT. Even if it’s further than you’d like, it’s better to have something booked than to hope for something better. You can always reschedule by logging in and clicking “reschedule”. (Note: If the CSC site says the next available interview day is further away than the one you have: do NOT continue from there. You will lose the one you already have booked as soon as you go to the calendar.)

Also: You don’t need to log in and out. Just refreshing the page that tells you if/when the next available appointment is will work fine.

10. Medical

You’ll need to complete a medical before your interview. There’s only four places in Canada you can do this at and they all have different processes and costs. Once you’ve decided where to have it, your best bet is to search the VJ forums for reviews of that particular place. Typing “Toronto Medical” or “Medisys Montreal” in the search bar will bring up excellent accounts.

The websites for the doctors are:

Dr. Seiden: http://panelphysicians.com/ (Toronto and Montreal)

Medisys: http://www.medisys.ca/ (Montreal)

Working Medical: http://www.wokingmedical.com/ (Vancouver)

Your medical can be done at any time before the interview, but it’s best to keep it relatively close. If done within a year of when your AOS is processed, you can use the same medical. All the locations vary for how long it takes to get the results, so refer to the specific location for the specifics on how much time you need to leave.

11. Interview

When it’s finally time for your interview, the best thing you can do is know what to expect. VJ has plenty of consulate reviews available right here: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php?cnty=Canada&cty=&dfilter=5 and searching “Montreal Consulate Review” on the forums will also bring up lots of tips and tricks.

The interview really is the easiest part of the process as long as you’re prepared with the correct documents.

For the trip, VJ also has threads about hotels in Montreal close to the consulate and information on parking and travel within the city. Again, searching the forums is your best bet.

12. DOS & DHL

After your interview is when Montreal is most unpredictable. They vary so wildly on the length of time to return visas that it’s really impossible to say what might happen. The best thing to do is prepare for a lengthy wait, you might be pleasantly surprised.

There’s four ways to learn what’s going on with your visa at this stage.

-First, you can go back to calling DOS. They can’t tell you when it will be sent, but they can tell you if the Visa has been printed. Keep in mind, it getting printed doesn’t tell you anything about how soon you’ll be getting it, but sometimes it’s nice to have an update. (Also: Don’t worry too much if DOS tosses around comments about AP at this stage, sometimes they say it to just mean Montreal is still working on the case, not true AP.)

-If you signed up correctly for DHL, you should get an email with your tracking # as soon as the Visa departs Montreal. Depending on your location, the shipping time varies but you’ll be able to track it. Not everyone gets this email, even if they signed up correctly.

-Logging into the CSC website: If you log in and see a waybill # printed underneath your DHL location information, you can track that at dhl.ca to get an update. Not everyone sees this on the website, though.

-If you never get the tracking number, there’s a good chance you’ll get a phone call from DHL once you’re able to pick up the package. If you don’t hear anything, you can always stop by your DHL location and ask, but while it’s happened, there’s a pretty small chance it may be there without any notice. (I’d save this option until you’re absolutely at the end of your rope, however.)

13. POE & Shipping Belongings

Once you have your Passport back from Montreal, you can POE at any time within 6 months. All you need at POE is your passport and the sealed envelope that will come with it, then you’re set to go!

If you’re curious what to expect for POE, head to the reviews section on VJ and look up where you intend to cross: http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php

If you have questions about shipping belongings from Canada, search the forums. There have been plenty of threads on this topic!

14. Get Married

You have 90 days from POE to get married. Congratulations!