Possible Policy Change in Montreal

[Lola_ 0]

They can never make it easy, can they?!

I called and found out that come January, the visas may not be available for the next day pick up. The only option would be to have it mailed! MAYBE (they said to call back and find out first week of January).

Does anyone know how long it takes for them to mail it back to you? Can they mail it to the hotel in MTL? Can it be picked up at a post office in MTL, perhaps?

Now I have to go tell my boss the good news that instead of a 3-day (unpaid!!!) vacation, I have to take a week or more. GRRR

[wrumug 0]

is that true??

i have an interview on Jan 22, 2007

[Lola_ 0]

The guy I spoke to said that their system was having problems, so come the New Year, it MAY very well be true but they won't be able to say until the first week of January.

[zyggy 9]

This isn't any different from any other consulate in the world...People from Montreal were spoiled in a way.. probably trying to standardize everything around the world...

My guess is you wn't need that extra vacation.. they aren't going to let anyone pick up a visa in person anymore...They'll just courier the visa to everyone...

Edited December 18, 2006 by zyggy

[Lola_ 0]

Can I have it couriered to the hotel I will be staying at? And how long is it going to take?

Thanks!

[zyggy 9]

Can I have it couriered to the hotel I will be staying at? And how long is it going to take?

Thanks!

They won't courier it to the hotel... they will courier it to your residence... Based on other tales from around the world.. it takes about a week or so...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Indeed this is quite common. When I renewed my visitor visa in the Mexico embassy, they do not give it you right away... you pay for courier at the embassy and they mail it in give or take 6 fabulous weeks....

[mozplay 29]

There goes any hope of booking a flight now... grrrrr. Nothing is ever easy is it?

[Jersey Girl 2]

Never a dull f'ing moment, eh? We're scheduled for Jan 18. They'll be sending the damn visa to where he lives in Toronto. N'est pas?!

[Kipster 0]

Am I the only one thinking that sending a US visa document via courier to a foreign address is counter productive to good security? I mean..in my way of thinking, it would seem to make more security sense to actually hand the visa to the individual standing in front of you, this way, there is the opportunity to verify a beneficiaries identity in person. Doesn't that make more sense? Or am I missing something here?

[Marilyn. 340]

I got lucky when I went for my CR1 visa interview back in March 2005... they were still handing them out the same day.... I actually got my visa about an hour or so after my interview

I feel sorry for you guys

Edited December 18, 2006 by MarilynP

[Jersey Girl 2]

Kipster: Missing something?! Trying to make sense of things? Where have you been? Didn't you fall down the rabbit hole like Alice and the rest of us? Get a grip. They're trying to "streamline the processs" by simply sending out the stamped passports. If they get lost in the mail, they'll throw up their hands and tell us to call back in 60 days!!! Security? "That's not my job."

Edited December 18, 2006 by Jersey Girl

[Lola_ 0]

See and I can understand the whole mail thing, except they NEVER give you enough notice. In my interview letter it STILL says that I can pick it up the next day! What would have happened if I hadn't called the consulate and would not have brought the xpress envelope to the interview?

Another thing is planning...First I had to tell my boss 3 days for visiting family in Canada, then I found out about the interview (less than a month before it is to happen!) so I have to tell him a week and one day and now I find out about this and have to tell him 2 weeks or more! He's not happy about this, neither am I. I will not get paid for those 2 weeks! I will tell them he will fire me if I don't get back 2 days after the interview and see if they will give it to me next day hee hee

Am I the only one thinking that sending a US visa document via courier to a foreign address is counter productive to good security? I mean..in my way of thinking, it would seem to make more security sense to actually hand the visa to the individual standing in front of you, this way, there is the opportunity to verify a beneficiaries identity in person. Doesn't that make more sense? Or am I missing something here?

Yeah it actually makes a lot sense!

[Jersey Girl 2]

Lola, it's a good thing you called. Now we can all revise our plans. It might be that we visit Canada for 2-3 days only to attend the interview. Then, SOs wait for the visa to arrive by mail and enter unaccompanied. Your job could be safe after all.

[Lola_ 0]

Lola, it's a good thing you called. Now we can all revise our plans. It might be that we visit Canada for 2-3 days only to attend the interview. Then, SOs wait for the visa to arrive by mail and enter unaccompanied. Your job could be safe after all.

but you see, I'm the one that's having the interview. I'm here in the States on K-3 and working with a work permit...