Will Christmas Holidays Create Delays at Montreal?

[IntoTheLight 5]

Hi Everyone,

My fiance and I have our interview booked for December 11th at Montreal. I'm very excited, but a little worried about the timing. He will be spending most of the month here and we hoped to drive into the US together on Dec 30th, to be married Jan 3rd (2 years after we met). I understand that you cannot know dates and booking things is a bad idea, so we aren't officially doing that, just hoping.

My question is, what kind of delays can we expect because of the holidays around that time? Does Montreal normally stop processing things during the week of Christmas or something? I'm hoping to maybe hear from someone who had a December interview and could give us a bit of an idea of what to expect.

We're hoping to receive it before Christmas, but there's only 7 working days between interview and then, so I'm worried. It will suck if he has to go back to AZ before I get it. We want to be married in PA where his family is. :\

[Kimbear 53]

well keep in mind the consulates close for both usa and canada holidays so its possible. Also i'm not sure how busy loomis will be along with all the other delivery companies. And there is the typical montreal weather especially in December can cause delays in and of itself.

[Flames9_RN 358]

May slow down a tad as more people are on holidays!! I'm guessing they just assign fewer interviews closer to holidays, so really does not al that much if you do get a holiday! Now if ur interview was right close to the actual cmas holiday season, it may cause problems

[IntoTheLight 5]

Okay, thanks guys. That's about what I figured. We may ask at the interview itself, because there may be an option for us to stay in Montreal for a couple days if it would be fastest to pick it up in person. As long as I have it before New Years, I'll be happy.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Okay, thanks guys. That's about what I figured. We may ask at the interview itself, because there may be an option for us to stay in Montreal for a couple days if it would be fastest to pick it up in person. As long as I have it before New Years, I'll be happy.

I could be wrong but I don't think picking up in person was an option anymore.

Not to be 'glass half full'...but counting on anything in the immigration process is like counting your chickens before they hatch - of course we do hope it works out in your favour

Edited October 17, 2013 by Udella&Wiz

[SF2007 48]

I was going to say the same thing about picking it up in person. I am pretty sure it's not an option and they mail it to the beneficiary's address on file, but there's no harm in asking at the interview. But know you could be stuck in Montreal anywhere from a couple days to a couple weeks before it's ready. Not to be a downer (you're almost done!), but you should not assume you will get the visa quickly or make any sort of plans until you have it in hand. It's a bummer with your timeline around the Holidays, but better safe than sorry (and very disappointed). My case, for instance, was stuck in AP for a couple days after I had been approved. For no apparent reason; a blank background check, no red flags, nothing in my case warranted AP. Yet my visa issuance was delayed because they had to double check something. What? I will never know. It seems to usually happen to foreign national of countries with which the U.S. are not a friendly terms, but it also seems to sometimes happen randomly.

Edited for typos.

Edited October 17, 2013 by SF2007

[IntoTheLight 5]

Just wanted to post a quick update for those of you who responded to this. It actually worked! My visa arrived at the loomis pick-up location TODAY, December 24th, just in time to leave when we plan to at the end of the week. What an awesome Christmas present.

[NikLR 13,227]

YAY congrats!