Be aware of Consular Officer Mistakes!

[wtsmc 0]

Hi all,

I want to post this for those of you who are having your interviews coming up, especially if you are having your interview at the Montreal Canada Consulate.

My wife went for her Dec. 11th Interview in Montreal. She passed (thanks to those of you who have provided tips for us). However, the consular officer who interviewed her made a very dumb mistake. The officer reviewed my wife's documents and was suppose to keep my wife's medical report and her pictures for the purposes of issuing the visa. But, after reviewing the documents, the officer returned the medical report and the pictures back to her. My wife had no idea the mistakes were made. And she was told that she will receive the visa within 2 weeks. So we booked plane tickets leaving Canada for the U.S. on Dec. 31st, 2013.

2 days after the interview, she woke up by a phone call, asking her if she still has the medical report. We thought they lost the report! But it turned out that she still has the report, and the officer had returned it to her by mistake. My wife immediately sent the medical report back to the consulate via Loomis Express, and was received by the consulate the next business day. She called to confirm that the consular officer received. The officer assured her that as soon as the officer gets the report, the visa will be issued. The officer further told my wife to call back the next day to check.

Well, we have been calling for 3 days, left messages. No answer, no return calls, no emails. I tried to call the consulate too, and even wrote them an email. The email returned the message that it will be answered within 10-15 days! But we already bought tickets leaving on Dec. 31st, 2013! Only 10 days left before we depart Canada, and we still do not have the Visa in hand, and we do not know if the Visa is being issued or not!

So people, check your documents before you leave the consulate to avoid dumb mistakes made by the consular officers. As for us, I can only pray and hope that we will get the Visa in time for our departure. But between now and the departure day, there are only 4 working days left for the consulate.

[Hypnos 6,578]

If you buy plane tickets or other non-refundable items before the visa is in your hands, you're gonna have a bad time.

[Nawlinshoney 7]

WOW sorry this happened to you guys. It is espically hard for people like myself going through all this for a 1st time. Which most people are and don't know what to get back and what documents should be left...

[Cathi 5,784]

Sorry for what happened, but consulate officers are people too, they make mistakes. Unfortunately for you it has made your wait a little longer, but as stated in many threads on this forum, never EVER buy plane tickets or make travel arrangements until the visa is in your hands. Best of luck, I hope you get to travel on the day the tickets are booked.

[Husakovic 31]

Can't you ask them to expedite everything a bit because it IS their mistake? I hope eeverything works out fine and you don't end up having to pay 300 dollars penalty fees for both tickets...

[wtsmc 0]

They were not very responsive for a week, and finally they returned our call this morning that they had finally received it. They actually had to dig around to find it. The visa was delayed for a week. Now they said they issued it today, and is sending out today via DHL, hopefully we can get it by tomorrow, but there is no guarantee. With Christmas and Canadian Boxing day coming up on Wed and Thur. DHL are not working on those two days. Sigh, it's just very tight on time.

Wish they never made that mistake.

[quitepainful 56]

at least you are getting your visa!!!! Always look for some good in situations, that way you will never be doomed!!

[wtsmc 0]

Well, really want people to avoid this kind of situations from happening. Just double check your stuff before you guys leave the consulate/embassy.

[c2a 4]

thanks for sharing your experience. I hope your Visa arrives before you are due to fly.

Edited December 25, 2013 by c2a