Montreal and Pkt 3

[devotional 4]

Hi,

I'm just about ready to send my packet 3 to the consulate in Montreal. At this point, our process has been going on for a little over 7 months. I'm wondering if anyone who's been processed through the Montreal consulate can share their experience with me. Once I've sent the packet 3- how long till I hear back from them? How about scheduling medicals and interviews?

I'm not sure if there is a forum or portal for people who are in the same stage as me with the same consulate- if anyone can lead me that way- it would be much appreciated!

[C-ma'am 684]

**Moved from K1 Progress Reports to Canada; as the question is embassy specific and can be best addressed here.

[SF2007 48]

In couple weeks, they will send you your Packet 4, which are instructions to make an appointment for your interview and medical. You can pick where you have your medical done, but it has to be from one of their certified civil surgeons (current list available on their website). Your medical has to be done prior to your interview as you are required to bring the sealed (unopened) envelope at your appointment with the consulate. And you will need an appointment with the consulate to book your medical, so as soon as you receive your Packet 4, book your interview and then your medical.

It's pretty easy from then on, but a long wait game. The soonest appointment available with the consulate could be months ahead, so be patient. Also, make sure you have at least 3 business days between your medical and appointment with the consulate, as they cannot deliver results faster than this. And you might want to confirm with them what they recommendation is. If you have known health issues, increase the amount between the two appointment to ensure it won't delay your process further. My own medical took 3 weeks to come back due to a false positive result to one of the things they screen for. They gave me a letter to hand the consulate and I had to mail them my medical once I received it, after my interview had taken place. It delayed my process by about a month and a half. Whenever you send anything to Montreal, it sits in their mail room for a week or two before they process it.

After your interview, you will wait for them to mail your passport back with your visa in it. You might be in AP (advanced processing) for little while, which is nothing to worry about.

You can keep calling DOS for updates on your case.

Edit: There is no portal for people at that stage with that consulate, but feel free to post your questions in the ''Canada'' forum. We pretty much all been through it

Edited November 29, 2012 by SF2007

[Rob & Monika 87]

We got our packet 4 response via email 2 days after sending in packet 3.

It looks like people are scheduling interviews for early March for Montreal, so expect a long wait.

Edited November 29, 2012 by Rob & Monika

[KTandTommy 31]

Check out my timeline below for my experience at Montreal.

Packet 3 was received in September - I had to send back new photographs because the passport photos I submitted were not sufficient. After that, I was allowed to book my interview. It's been a 3 month wait between my packet 4 email, and my interview (which is next week!!)

[East Coast 1]

In couple weeks, they will send you your Packet 4, which are instructions to make an appointment for your interview and medical. You can pick where you have your medical done, but it has to be from one of their certified civil surgeons (current list available on their website). Your medical has to be done prior to your interview as you are required to bring the sealed (unopened) envelope at your appointment with the consulate. And you will need an appointment with the consulate to book your medical, so as soon as you receive your Packet 4, book your interview and then your medical.

It's pretty easy from then on, but a long wait game. The soonest appointment available with the consulate could be months ahead, so be patient. Also, make sure you have at least 3 business days between your medical and appointment with the consulate, as they cannot deliver results faster than this. And you might want to confirm with them what they recommendation is. If you have known health issues, increase the amount between the two appointment to ensure it won't delay your process further. My own medical took 3 weeks to come back due to a false positive result to one of the things they screen for. They gave me a letter to hand the consulate and I had to mail them my medical once I received it, after my interview had taken place. It delayed my process by about a month and a half. Whenever you send anything to Montreal, it sits in their mail room for a week or two before they process it.

After your interview, you will wait for them to mail your passport back with your visa in it. You might be in AP (advanced processing) for little while, which is nothing to worry about.

You can keep calling DOS for updates on your case.

Edit: There is no portal for people at that stage with that consulate, but feel free to post your questions in the ''Canada'' forum. We pretty much all been through it

What is Advanced Processing? I go for my interview in Montreal next week and I have never heard of this before.

Thanks

[SF2007 48]

What is Advanced Processing? I go for my interview in Montreal next week and I have never heard of this before.

Thanks

I am not sure what they do in AP. But sometimes after the interview, some visas are not printed and sent right away. Most are in AP just for couple days, some for couple weeks. In my experience on VJ, it's usually people born abroad but living and doing their visa process in Canada. Perhaps they have more things to check then. Maybe they need to further review some cases, double check a typo in an application, ask a manager's approval to print the visa. Who knows? It usually simply means a longer wait to get your visa and passport abck, not that there's anything wrong with it.

[pocheros 101]

My timeline is in my sig. With packet 4 you don't have to wait to physically receive it in the mail before moving ahead with booking your medical exam and interview, you can simply call DOS until they say packet 4 has been logged. As you can see I booked an interview before receiving packet 4 in the mail.

For your medical exam you should check what immunizations you need here: http://www.panelphysicians.com/Pages/Immunizations.htm And locate your vaccination records. If they are missing you can get titre tests showing what you're immune to.

Start looking at the I-134 and gathering evidence for it: the USC's last 3 years of tax returns or tax transcripts, pay stubs, a letter from their employer, etc. The I-134 is important.

AP usually happens to individuals who are born abroad in countries that are not on friendly terms with the US. One VJer awhile ago was placed in AP because her parents were born in Egypt, even though she was born in Canada.

Edited November 29, 2012 by pocheros

[amberlynnloves 125]

Just be advised...right now Montreal is booking interviews 130 days out. The soonest from right now is 130 days away. You're in for a long wait. Good luck.