What are my options?

[MCMLXXXII 29]

pakistan is one of the countries where AP is practically just another step in the visa order. The majority of folks that have been placed in AP through Montreal either have absolutely no idea why they were placed in AP OR they were born in another country. while it may in fact be up to the individual CO to put a case in AP, there are certain criteria that automatically put the applicant in the AP category.

i'm not trying to scare you or say that she definitely will be put in ap, i'm just saying, her chances are much much higher than most.

Yes but looking at people placed in AP from Islamabad Consulate, I see that females often escape being placed in AP while males are almost always placed in AP.

Some additional info, she hasn't resided in Pakistan for the last 20 years or so. She has spent most of her life in Dubai. I don't know if that further complicates matters or makes things simpler.

[decocker 7,198]

1) Cancel the venue and pay the fees.

2) Reschedule for a later date (What date exactly?) and recover portion of the cancellation fees.

3) Go ahead with current dates and hope for the best.

and there is absolutely no way she can travel here while in process? man, that really sucks. i would go with two but i would schedule it out as far as possible. if she does get put in ap, there's no telling. it could be fairly quick, like a month or two but it could also be close to a year or more. it's heartbreaking.

there is a forum for ap (Waivers (I-601 and I-212) and Administrative Processes (221g)), maybe search through the threads. sorry, but you won't find much specific to montreal.

[skiptex 225]

The fees were listed in the OP. Basically if it is cancelled before April 14th, it will be $6,000. Between April 15th and June 14th it will be $9,000 and after that it will be $12,000.

dang it.. it didn't register.. i going to drink more coffee..

man, i am sorry you have in this jam.. i really hope you get something worked out..

[MCMLXXXII 29]

I think it might be cheaper to hire a body double for the reception. I am not sure if she will be ok with that though

[decocker 7,198]

Yes but looking at people placed in AP from Islamabad Consulate, I see that females often escape being placed in AP while males are almost always placed in AP.

Some additional info, she hasn't resided in Pakistan for the last 20 years or so. She has spent most of her life in Dubai. I don't know if that further complicates matters or makes things simpler.

i understand what you're saying, and i agree that it's possible that she won't get put in ap. you asked if it was 'safe' to make certain assumptions concerning time frame. i'm just trying to tell you what i've seen in reading these threads for three plus years. foreign born applicants are typically placed in ap out of montreal.

for what it's worth, i hope your wife is the exception to that trend..

[MCMLXXXII 29]

i understand what you're saying, and i agree that it's possible that she won't get put in ap. you asked if it was 'safe' to make certain assumptions concerning time frame. i'm just trying to tell you what i've seen in reading these threads for three plus years. foreign born applicants are typically placed in ap out of montreal.

for what it's worth, i hope your wife is the exception to that trend..

Another thing that I have noticed, in places where AP is almost routine, the chances for females without hits on their names to be placed in them are less but in places where the majority of cases are not placed in AP, the slightest suspicion causes them to be placed in AP. I think I would have had better chances going through Islamabad then Montreal. At least the interview dates are available quicker there and if there is no AP the overall process would be faster.

[SapphireDreams 71]

I may have missed this in your inital post, but is rescheduling for later in the year or early next year with the venue completely out of the question?

It's still only February, with some time for them to rebook that July date. There are always last minute people. Esp. considering today is Valentine's Day and there will be more engagements and people who may want a July wedding date.

Maybe you can work out a deal where you reschedule for a later open date in 2013 and if they don't rebook for July, you pay them a lower cancellation fee, something like $2000? Maybe they'll be able to work something out?

[MCMLXXXII 29]

I may have missed this in your inital post, but is rescheduling for later in the year or early next year with the venue completely out of the question?

It's still only February, with some time for them to rebook that July date. There are always last minute people. Esp. considering today is Valentine's Day and there will be more engagements and people who may want a July wedding date.

Maybe you can work out a deal where you reschedule for a later open date in 2013 and if they don't rebook for July, you pay them a lower cancellation fee, something like $2000? Maybe they'll be able to work something out?

That is one of the options I have. However, I need to know a specific date to reschedule to. There isn't much availability either. People have already booked most of the Saturdays and sundays in the summer of 2013. I need to have some kind of idea of when to schedule it as they will not reschedule indefinetly and they cannot guarantee availability in the future unless I book a specific date right now.

However you bring up a good point of peopel proposing on Valentine's day and needing venues. I should act quick then to reschedule, but at the same time I am tempted to wait till at least the NOA2. I really don't knwo what to do.

Edited February 14, 2012 by MCMLXXXII

[BBCC 16]

I could answer your original questions but they would be identical to Ryan H.

There is not way to predict how long any of this will take. It is random.

I wouldn't book anything until the interview. Even then, you could be put into AP and get screwed.

The only alternative I can possibly think of is to work directly with the venue.

Explain your circumstances and see if can help you out at all.

You can be assured that the US immigration authorities are far more rigid.

Edited February 14, 2012 by BBCC

[Ippsy Pippsy 31]

$12,000? Ha ha, I'd cancel and find a cheaper venue!

[skiptex 225]

The only alternative I can possibly think of is to work directly with the venue.

Explain your circumstances and see if can help you out at all.

You can be assured that the US immigration authorities are far more rigid.

is there a way you could find a someone else to get the venue!?

idk.. just throwing that out there.. sounds like its breaking a lease or something.. but getting another person to take over the space..

or does venue not care about that part.. just the $$$$

[MCMLXXXII 29]

$12,000? Ha ha, I'd cancel and find a cheaper venue!

Good luck with finding something cheap that is available in this region for the size of the event we have planned.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Good luck with finding something cheap that is available in this region for the size of the event we have planned.

How many people?

Even if it's expensive to go through with the event, that's a pretty bogus cancellation policy. I'd run from that venue.

Edited February 14, 2012 by Harpa Timsah

[MCMLXXXII 29]

How many people?

Even if it's expensive to go through with the event, that's a pretty bogus cancellation policy. I'd run from that venue.

300 people. Large families, it will be very hard to have any event with less people. This cancellation policy is very common with most of the venues here. Sometimes I wish I lived in a cheaper part of the US. But this is where you earn the good money though also so it evens out.

[skiptex 225]

300 people. Large families, it will be very hard to have any event with less people. This cancellation policy is very common with most of the venues here. Sometimes I wish I lived in a cheaper part of the US. But this is where you earn the good money though also so it evens out.

300?!?!?

heck!! now i want to go too