MTL Timeline to Interview

[Lance27 19]

Couldn't edit my previous post...

I would like to add that 2 weeks ago I was told 1-3 Months which would have been June-August and now its July/August. So as I said, I'll believe it when I see it

[lynamon 0]

Congratulations on your interview Galateia!!

I wonder if Alan and Sharon have contacted Montreal recently?? It looks like they've been passed over even though their congressman contacted Montreal on their behalf I do believe (correct me if I'm wrong )

I had called them on Tuesday and they said no interview booked yet ... I'm really hoping for good news next week.

Hi Lynamon nothing yet You should be hearing from them very soon I'm really surprised you haven't head anything yet

Soon you will be getting the good news, hang in there

I have that feeling like your playing bingo and waiting for that last number to fill a card

I called Montreal today really really hoping to get some good news because of the fee increase at the end of July .. nothing booked to date .. she says they only book after the 15th of the month .. people don't cancel .. they just don't show up .. and pretty much sorry about your freekin luck with the aos increases ... I really do believe that they should grandfather some of the files

[Ron/Sharon 0]

According to what the lady said just a few moments ago "6 month" not 4 to 6 month but most likely 6 months before we are given a date, for me that would be sometime after October 16 since packet 3 was only returned on April 16. Since we have 49 days in we only have give or take 138 to go. So much for the garden wedding, it will be off to the chapel for us, it seems that the only constant right now is going backwards.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I called Montreal today really really hoping to get some good news because of the fee increase at the end of July .. nothing booked to date .. she says they only book after the 15th of the month .. people don't cancel .. they just don't show up .. and pretty much sorry about your freekin luck with the aos increases ... I really do believe that they should grandfather some of the files

My dear friend,

I understand your frustration and I'm sending you hugs and good vibes. I also called MTL last week and got the same story. I am so fed up with them and the wait it's not funny anymore.... and some people in the forum are being less than supportive I'm sorry to say (no comment).

Hang in there amiga, you're not alone.

Len.

[jenmac75 1]

I called Montreal today really really hoping to get some good news because of the fee increase at the end of July .. nothing booked to date .. she says they only book after the 15th of the month .. people don't cancel .. they just don't show up .. and pretty much sorry about your freekin luck with the aos increases ... I really do believe that they should grandfather some of the files

My dear friend,

I understand your frustration and I'm sending you hugs and good vibes. I also called MTL last week and got the same story. I am so fed up with them and the wait it's not funny anymore.... and some people in the forum are being less than supportive I'm sorry to say (no comment).

Hang in there amiga, you're not alone.

Len.

I think part of what is so frustrating about the wait time is the MAJOR discrepancy between MTL and Vancouver. It all just seems so unfair and while I understand that the entire process is difficult no matter where you are, it is really hard to see the Vancouver filers getting their interviews two months after returning packet three. SUCKY!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I think part of what is so frustrating about the wait time is the MAJOR discrepancy between MTL and Vancouver. It all just seems so unfair and while I understand that the entire process is difficult no matter where you are, it is really hard to see the Vancouver filers getting their interviews two months after returning packet three. SUCKY!

I have no problem at all with Vancouver filers getting quick interviews... you'd think that would speed up DCF scheduling... unfortunately it does not... apparently even within MTL there is no difference or priority. And then the Adam Walsh debacle DID back MTL up for like 3 months (not their fault, I get that). Still sux, I am still upset, resentful, etc., but not at Vancouver filers! Only against bureaucratic cr@p that is keeping some VJ families apart. Sux, sux, sux, and I will keep venting.

This whole shebang is taking such a toll in our lives, in our marriage,, in our mental and physical health, our stress levels are to the freaking roof, weigh loss, hair loss, sanity loss. We've had it, we want to leave Canada asap and we can't (Bren can but won't leave without me) - and we know there's nothing to do but wait... wait.... wait... arghhhh.

done ranting. for now.

Len.

[Lance27 19]

Im just surprised that you did not get scheduled for June since almost everyone who sent in their packet 3s in Jan have been scheduled for June Interviews. But then again we are dealing with MTL so I really shouldn't be surprised. Hopefully you will hear some good news in 11 days

Congratulations on your interview Galateia!!

I wonder if Alan and Sharon have contacted Montreal recently?? It looks like they've been passed over even though their congressman contacted Montreal on their behalf I do believe (correct me if I'm wrong )

I had called them on Tuesday and they said no interview booked yet ... I'm really hoping for good news next week.

Hi Lynamon nothing yet You should be hearing from them very soon I'm really surprised you haven't head anything yet

Soon you will be getting the good news, hang in there

I have that feeling like your playing bingo and waiting for that last number to fill a card

I called Montreal today really really hoping to get some good news because of the fee increase at the end of July .. nothing booked to date .. she says they only book after the 15th of the month .. people don't cancel .. they just don't show up .. and pretty much sorry about your freekin luck with the aos increases ... I really do believe that they should grandfather some of the files

[Allie 5]

Congratulations on your interview Galateia!!

I wonder if Alan and Sharon have contacted Montreal recently?? It looks like they've been passed over even though their congressman contacted Montreal on their behalf I do believe (correct me if I'm wrong )

I had called them on Tuesday and they said no interview booked yet ... I'm really hoping for good news next week.

Hi Lynamon nothing yet You should be hearing from them very soon I'm really surprised you haven't head anything yet

Soon you will be getting the good news, hang in there

I have that feeling like your playing bingo and waiting for that last number to fill a card

I called Montreal today really really hoping to get some good news because of the fee increase at the end of July .. nothing booked to date .. she says they only book after the 15th of the month .. people don't cancel .. they just don't show up .. and pretty much sorry about your freekin luck with the aos increases ... I really do believe that they should grandfather some of the files

Sorry to hear they still have you on wait. I thought for sure you'de have heard something right after mine was given,your timeline is almost identical to mine

[Ron/Sharon 0]

Well it seems I made a faux pas and became a burr in someone's saddle. Len I am sorry that I'm not as supportive as you would like me to be but that is just how I am, when the time comes that I am feeling that suport is needed I will be there with all the sincerity I can muster, I am not one to say something just because it is expected and others do it. At this time everyone here is hoping for a quick fix, we are all waiting and wanting and in the same line for a date with Montreal. My post was as Lynette's about a conversation we each had with Montreal today.

Lynette as always and from the very beginning of our time here I am following your progress, in the past it was because we were always so close in our progress, the good thing now is you have continued to move forward to where you are soon to be home with Ed and that makes me very happy for you. I will be happy again when you get the much awaited visa for a selfish reason, it will mean that I am closer to getting ours.

Len I am glad that you pointed out my shortcomming, it is something that will work at to make better.

Ron

[lynamon 0]

Reading your posts makes me . I feel all guilty about desperately wanting my interview when I know that there are others that have had so much waiting on their hands. I really am sincerely happy for all of you that have been moving forward and my heart breaks for those that are stuck in limbo .... I do know that my time has not passed me by as of yet and that I shouldn't get so caught up and I should just patiently wait my turn ... but my goodness .. Just Hurray up Montreal for craps sake .. for allllll of our sakes!!!!!!!!!! ... anything more than 3 months is way toooo long to wait for a GD interview!!!!!! Thanks for being there my VJ Canadian friends

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Well it seems I made a faux pas and became a burr in someone's saddle. Len I am sorry that I'm not as supportive as you would like me to be but that is just how I am, when the time comes that I am feeling that suport is needed I will be there with all the sincerity I can muster, I am not one to say something just because it is expected and others do it. At this time everyone here is hoping for a quick fix, we are all waiting and wanting and in the same line for a date with Montreal. My post was as Lynette's about a conversation we each had with Montreal today.

Lynette as always and from the very beginning of our time here I am following your progress, in the past it was because we were always so close in our progress, the good thing now is you have continued to move forward to where you are soon to be home with Ed and that makes me very happy for you. I will be happy again when you get the much awaited visa for a selfish reason, it will mean that I am closer to getting ours.

Len I am glad that you pointed out my shortcomming, it is something that will work at to make better.

Ron

Ron!!! Nothing directed at you at all - sorry if that's how it came across! I just get so teary when people tell me to just take it as it is. As if it made it any easier. I am going trhough a freaking nervous meltdown right now. I am.

[Amy and Brian 1]

Brian and I have often joked about the fact that our places of residence have caused us so many delays. Back when we filed our I-129F (in March 2006!) we were sent to Nebraska, which wasn't quite as slow as California, but still no where as speedy as Vermont! Then, lo and behold! We were transfered to CSC where we proceeded to wait even more before finally being approved (and let's not forget how wonderful CSC was for losing our petition after that too! ).

And now, simply because of where I live, we get to go through Montreal instead of the speedier Vancouver. It really is impressive.

Must be something about those "V"s

Still, we're patient. There may have been some "damn those Vermont/Vancouver people" comments briefly let escape, but we've never actually felt any true animosity towards the people fortunate enough to be processed through those locations... it's not their fault they live in prime immigration territory

[lynamon 0]

Brian and I have often joked about the fact that our places of residence have caused us so many delays. Back when we filed our I-129F (in March 2006!) we were sent to Nebraska, which wasn't quite as slow as California, but still no where as speedy as Vermont! Then, lo and behold! We were transfered to CSC where we proceeded to wait even more before finally being approved (and let's not forget how wonderful CSC was for losing our petition after that too! ).

And now, simply because of where I live, we get to go through Montreal instead of the speedier Vancouver. It really is impressive.

Must be something about those "V"s

Still, we're patient. There may have been some "damn those Vermont/Vancouver people" comments briefly let escape, but we've never actually felt any true animosity towards the people fortunate enough to be processed through those locations... it's not their fault they live in prime immigration territory

Seee .... this is exactly what I mean about all of those poor souls stuck in limbo .. gawd I feel so guilty ... it makes me feel bad that I want that interview still sooo much ... but I want us to all have our interviews ... like .. yesterday

[Amy and Brian 1]

Seee .... this is exactly what I mean about all of those poor souls stuck in limbo .. gawd I feel so guilty ... it makes me feel bad that I want that interview still sooo much ... but I want us to all have our interviews ... like .. yesterday

I don't think you should feel guilty. This process is hard on everyone, no matter what their wait time! None of us can be blamed for wanting to be with our loved ones as soon as possible

[Lance27 19]

Something interesting I came accross on AFP about State Dept Staff Shortages

State Department hit by staff shortage crisis, Rice blamed Tue Jun 5, 3:00 PM ET

WASHINGTON (AFP) - Saddled by the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the State Department faces an acute staff shortage crisis amid "worsening morale," according to a study which blames Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice for the problem.

The report by the influential Foreign Affairs Council, comprising senior retired American diplomats and ambassadors, said the department faced a shortage of 1,100 staff and that in the "first two years of Secretary Rice's stewardship almost no net new resources have been realized."

Rice took office in January 2005, facing the full impact of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"My own view is that the foreign service is at the front edge of a personnel crisis and if something isn't done about what we have identified here as 'job number one,' we are going to be in a very, very serious situation a year or so from now," the council's president, Thomas Boyatt, told a news conference.

"Job one" is to obtain 1,100 new positions needed "to move the foreign service from where it is to where it needs to be," said the council's report, "Managing Secretary Rice's State Department: An independent assessment."

Reinforcing the view that Rice had to bear responsibility for the crisis, Boyatt said, "Every cabinet level officer has the responsibility to taking care of the institution he or she leads.

"Every secretary of government has responsibility to at least lead that institution as healthy as they founded, if not to improve it," he said.

Boyatt stressed that the State Department was "more overstrectched" than the military.

The report said that some 200 existing jobs -- mostly overseas -- were unfilled and than an additional 900 training slots necessary to provide essential "linguistic and functional" skills "do not exist."

All 1,069 new positions and program funding increases between 2001 and 2005 had been absorbed by assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan and other "difficult" posts, it said.

"Morale of course is strongly impacted by the fact that we didn't have enough people -- which means that an awful lot of people are pushing it to the limit," Boyatt said.

"It is also impacted by the fact that it is even more stressful today in the foreign service than it has been in the past ... more dangerous," he said.

The council, which comprises 11 organizations, including the American Foreign Service Association, monitors the processes of US diplomacy and management of the State Department.

"I think our view is widely shared within the (foreign) service and within the State Department," Boyatt said.

Maybe thats why MTL cannot get additional help and their website did mention staff shortages during the summer.