Montreal Interviews

[Crystal&Tommy 2]

I'm going to send an email to Montreal as well. We're bound to get something out of them. Thx everyone!!

[KarenG 1]

This is the response we received from our first email...we sent the same email to the address they suggested and received the second response. Our suggestion is to keep sending to both addresses. They are passing the buck!

1.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/> using the contact details listed here http://montreal.usconsulate.gov/content/content.asp?section=visas&document=visa_generalinquiries.

2.This is an automatic response acknowledging receipt of your request. We will process your request within 3 business days.

If you have already sent information to us please DO NOT SUBMIT additional requests on the same matter. If necessary we will contact you to clarify any information needed. Sending multiple e-mails with the same request only slows response time.

Please note: The Contact Desk is for technical issues only such as applicant record issues, payment validation issues or correcting DHL routing issues.

Inquiries concerning visa questions or assistance in confirming, canceling, or rescheduling (aside from No Shows) your visa appointment will not be answered through this service.

We cannot provide you any status updates regarding your application (NIV or IV) as we are not consular officers

[dualhammers 1]

Those computers sure did pass the buck, eh KarenG?

[KarenG 1]

Grrrrrrr!! I will not give up dualhammers!!

[Erin & Marc 0]

ROFL! Even if they do not respond to emails about appointments..they will still get a ton of emails..that has to say something!

[dualhammers 1]

You're not going to get anywhere. Just consider yourself lucky that you are married to or are marrying American. Things are a lot worse for people who want to come to America without those connections.

Consider for a moment that for each of us on this site there are probably hundreds more trying to get the same interviews we are. The literal amount of interviews they can do per day lags far behind the demand. Hiring more people isn't a solution because the limitations are put in place to somewhat ease up the demand on the Green Card services department. A department that itself cannot expand because of the political pressure exerted on it by people in America who don't want to see, quote, "any more damn mexicans taking their job."

Couple this with the fact that people can file without actually having a vested interested in entering the US just in case they do. For every person applying because of a genuine relationship there are probably 2-3 more who file just to keep their options open, or because they work for a marriage/green card brokering service. That is why they moved away from auto-generated interview dates. It weeds out the people who are not willing to put in the work to get their interview date. It isn't an ideal situation, and no it isn't fair, but life isn't fair and the blame cannot be put completely upon those who work at the consulate.

If anything this is only going to increase their workload, as someone is going to have to read these emails, reply to them, and managing whatever internal reports go along with registering complaints. Even if you got enough people to email that it would do more than just be a bother to the cleric who reads these emails, and that would take many more people than are on this entire board, you would still be facing all the problems I listed above.

Special treatment won't come from this. You won't fix the system. It may make you feel better at the expense of inconveniencing someone at the Consulate but considering you are all upset because your lives have been inconvenienced it seems rather hypocritical.

[Soulmates513 3]

Ryan and Jen..........try this and then see "contact us" at the top ....this may work. I couldn't open that other link either. Good idea!! http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/biog/130426.htm

[ryanandjen04 1]

Dualhammers, I do agree with you, absolutely I do not expect "special treatment" I understand how many others are also trying to get appointments. But 2 months of refreshing this page and wondering if there is something you are missing is very upsetting, and I think each of us is hoping that although it will not "fix" the system, maybe it will get them to release a few appointments, maybe not, but hopefully it will get them to take notice that there is an issue here. I have sent many emails today but I will not continue for weeks on end to do this, because as you say it will just increase there workload. As for the weeding people out, that is also true however they should do more weeding out during the application process if that is the case, instead of sending pkt 4 well before there are in fact interview appointments available.

Also in terms of the blame not being put on the embassy.. Montreal has noted problems with response times, and appointment times. I recently emailed Vancouver and had a response the next day (actually written) and when I replied I received another written response. I have also done this with Ottawa which replied within a few minutes...I understand Montreal has more on their plates in terms of immigration but the staffing should account for that and real responses could be sent within the 2 week time frame given. There email outlines that they basically do not reply for anything, and calling gets you no where as it is all automated... something has to give!!?

Our "inconvenience" of being away from our family members is far greater then that of the embassy, sorry! :/

[dualhammers 1]

Dualhammers, I do agree with you, absolutely I do not expect "special treatment" I understand how many others are also trying to get appointments. But 2 months of refreshing this page and wondering if there is something you are missing is very upsetting, and I think each of us is hoping that although it will not "fix" the system, maybe it will get them to release a few appointments, maybe not, but hopefully it will get them to take notice that there is an issue here. I have sent many emails today but I will not continue for weeks on end to do this, because as you say it will just increase there workload. As for the weeding people out, that is also true however they should do more weeding out during the application process if that is the case, instead of sending pkt 4 well before there are in fact interview appointments available.

Also in terms of the blame not being put on the embassy.. Montreal has noted problems with response times, and appointment times. I recently emailed Vancouver and had a response the next day (actually written) and when I replied I received another written response. I have also done this with Ottawa which replied within a few minutes...I understand Montreal has more on their plates in terms of immigration but the staffing should account for that and real responses could be sent within the 2 week time frame given. There email outlines that they basically do not reply for anything, and calling gets you no where as it is all automated... something has to give!!?

Our "inconvenience" of being away from our family members is far greater then that of the embassy, sorry! :/

Actually, I've gotten responses from Montreal in 1-2 days. In my own research I've found these wait times for interviews date as far back as 2002, and my guess is none of you are the first people to come up with the idea for a letter writing campaign. Have you ever thought that perhaps part of the reason they take so long to email back to you is because even more people than you are constantly emailing them complaints?

It is, however, good to know that you know you won't fix anything but are going to do it anyway because you're more upset than someone at the consulate so they better have as bad a day as you.

[ryanandjen04 1]

I have also done unlimited amounts of research on this topic, also dating back past 2004. That's great that you have received responses from Montreal, good for you. I'm pretty sure we all know that this is not the first thread to think of starting a "letter writing campaign" I don't really care...this is us, now. We just want to feel like we are doing something to help us be close to our relatives. I'm not hoping for anyone to have a bad day, just hoping they will do their job. Everything is computer generated now, not only does it take away jobs from people, it also moves away from any form of personal communication, it is very frustrating for everyone involved.

I wonder if you have realized that you are not the only one with a brain on this site?

By the way, why are you so defensive, if you don't agree with the thread (which by the way began as a way to notify others of appointments) then don't subscribe to it!

[KarenG 1]

Dualhammers~~~~We live in what is purported to be the greatest democracy in the history of humankind. We are simply exercising our rights under the Constitution. A free and open society has it's basic tenet...the right to dissent. Those of us at VisaJourney are exercising that fundamental right. You are entitled to your opinion and we are entitled to disagree. Our goal is to be treated in a civil and respectful manner by the bureaucracy that we fund. Justice will prevail and this grassroots movement will be the watchdog.

[dualhammers 1]

I have also done unlimited amounts of research on this topic, also dating back past 2004. That's great that you have received responses from Montreal, good for you. I'm pretty sure we all know that this is not the first thread to think of starting a "letter writing campaign" I don't really care...this is us, now. We just want to feel like we are doing something to help us be close to our relatives. I'm not hoping for anyone to have a bad day, just hoping they will do their job. Everything is computer generated now, not only does it take away jobs from people, it also moves away from any form of personal communication, it is very frustrating for everyone involved.

I wonder if you have realized that you are not the only one with a brain on this site?

By the way, why are you so defensive, if you don't agree with the thread (which by the way began as a way to notify others of appointments) then don't subscribe to it!

Because when someone shouts "there are interviews" I plan on getting mine.

If you want to 'feel' like you are doing something then at least use your brain and acknowledge that it is only an emotional activity - it is akin to punching a pillow. It will make no actual progress. You'd probably make more progress trying to get your interviews moved to Vancouver.

[ryanandjen04 1]

I did actually, thanks

[dualhammers 1]

I haven't seen anything from the Montreal consulate that has been uncivil or disrespectful. For the purposes of your argument you are calling the use of an automated response and the length of wait times both of those things but that is an irrational projection onto the situation.

[Soulmates513 3]

I have emailed valid questions – asking for some clarification and I think that’s what the others are doing as well. We’re not trying to inundate the system with emails – we all know that won’t solve anything. I agree with those who say that Montreal should be staffed for this. Vancouver K-1ers are getting interviews within 3 weeks – one girl emailed me to say she saw appts “open” many of them 12 days from then but she couldn’t take it – it was “too early” – oh to have such a problem eh guys? And I saw a post by someone in London England – interview in 3 weeks, they’ll be together for Christmas….. we’re now hoping for Easter. We also would have to agree that if Montreal is so back logged – so be it – then at least have the common sense to open up the calendar further just so we can actually book something. Heck, I’d be happy with an appointment in March – as long as I could secure “an” appointment and get off this refreshing frenzy and get back to the normalcy that life once held before I was told to go and book my interview. Let’s just all stay united here and please check the site when you can and if you get your appointment post it right away! And if you get any other information in the meantime that may help all of us who only want to be with our loved ones …..please post it. Good luck everyone – it’ll come …………see you in Montreal! 