Possible Policy Change in Montreal

[wrumug 0]

just got a call from my hubby. he said he called MTL Consulate yesterday and they told him there is no more option for the next day visa pick up anymore.

[Flames9_RN 358]

guess one can be thankful they found VJ. Wonder how many people that don't visit VJ will still be expecting the visa the next day!! I would assume that would cause even more hassles for some.

[QC2CO 1]

I wonder if they would provide a letter or something to people who need their passport to return home to the US. So they can hand it to the customs agent.

i will have to call them today.

[misa 2]

Oh yeah, what does this mean for people interviewing for IR1/CR1 that live in the US? Guess whenever I get my K3, I will just go the AOS route in the US instead of coming back for my CR1 interview...

[MissStacey 1]

I thought about that too. Some people will need their passports to travel.

[Jersey Girl 2]

I just called Montreal and was told it could take 10 days to 2 weeks to receive the visa by ExpressPost! She said they need 3 to 5 days "to complete our work," and can't guarantee when they'll mail out the visa!

I'd originally asked if they could send the visa to a hotel (thinking we'd stay an extra day or two after the interview) and she asked if I'd be living in the hotel for two weeks, since that's how long it might take to get the envelope!

[Darkchild80 0]

Montreal is screwing up many peoples lives!!! My journey was totally screwed in Montreal. My fiance and I have spent so much money and heartache due to Montreal. We are awaiting our visa right now! I am praying that it arrives very soon. My fiance is visiting me and he is having the visa sent to a relative's home due to previously ending his apartment lease and becoming homeless on Nov 20! I am upset with this whole process. It can becoming overwhelming at times! It is worth every heartache in the end. I will spend life with my soulmate!!! Don't let these people kill your happiness and joy!

[QC2CO 1]

hehe, so I guess this is a bit redundant, but I just called them also, because I live in the US under the K3, and sending it to an address in Canada just doesn't really help.

Well, she said that they are putting in new security measures on the visas which is changing the "next day pick up" option. But she said they are having problems with the new measure, so she can't guarantee that next day pick up will be possible or not during the time of my interview.

I guess in my situation, if they have to mail the passport to me, I will fly back home to the US, I will bring a photocopy of my visa and passport, bring birth cert and other ID to show customs and pray that that will work out

[QC2CO 1]

I guess in my situation, if they have to mail the passport to me, I will fly back home to the US, I will bring a photocopy of my K3 visa and passport, bring birth cert and other ID to show customs and pray that that will work out

hmm.. no edit option. I forgot to mention, I would take a chance to fly back without the passport, since its not mandatory to have a passport to cross the border until the 23rd of January 2007.

[Lola_ 0]

I guess in my situation, if they have to mail the passport to me, I will fly back home to the US, I will bring a photocopy of my K3 visa and passport, bring birth cert and other ID to show customs and pray that that will work out

hmm.. no edit option. I forgot to mention, I would take a chance to fly back without the passport, since its not mandatory to have a passport to cross the border until the 23rd of January 2007.

Hmmm I wonder if in that case they would mail it to the US address...

I just called them too and said "well, what if I don't have a Canadian address?" and the woman said, "then you would have to wait for a couple of days to pick it up. There is no guarantee that it will be ready next day. Last week we had a person wait 4 days". I guess that sounds SORT OF promising? They can deliver it to the hotel she said...Now I really have to take some chances in making my decisions...I guess if there is a cheap hotel, like YMCA, waiting for 4 or so days would not be too too bad. Except it's COLD and I will hole up in the hotel...

[Amanda-Lise 0]

10-14 days Jersey? Its a good thing that my fiance and I were talking about making the move on march 1st. 2006. The year of immigration hell apparently. Suppose this new system and whatever glitches its gonna come off with is my payback for missing out on all the IMBRA fun.

[mozplay 29]

Have I mentioned before that I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS!?!?!?!?!?

Mo

[Jersey Girl 2]

I've been beside myself all day, wondering how to re-arrange our plans. I could still meet my husband in Montreal for the interview, then he returns to Toronto to wait for the visa while I go back to New Jersey. Hardly the reunion we hoped for. Or, he could go to the interview alone. Not ideal, since I did all the forms.

As for those of you who need your passport to return home to the U.S., well, I guess they didn't think that one through. Maybe you'll get yours quicker.

One thing is for sure, though, there's no more next-day-pick-up, and they'll probably be slow when it comes to mailing out the visas.

Mo, I'm as pi**ed as you and hope I don't see another illegal ...

[misa 2]

I've been beside myself all day, wondering how to re-arrange our plans. I could still meet my husband in Montreal for the interview, then he returns to Toronto to wait for the visa while I go back to New Jersey. Hardly the reunion we hoped for. Or, he could go to the interview alone. Not ideal, since I did all the forms.

Maybe you can still do a couple of days in a hotel and relax, knowing that the hard part is over after the interview. Montreal is a really fun city and what better way to celebrate than a few nights on the town? You guys both deserve it after this long wait.

I know, it's not the same as getting the visa the next day though.

Edited December 20, 2006 by misa

[mozplay 29]

Jersey,

We are considering me going alone too. Aarrggghhh!!!! As much as I would like David there (and he is willing to go) it won't make much sense if he is just going to have to come back up at some point soon after to get all my stuff. It all comes down to money.

It's all that has been going through my head today too.

Monique