Frustrated with vicious circle

[Allie Wabbit 1]

Hey hey!

I am in the 3rd ring of hell....

Our interview in Montreal is scheduled for February 7.

Our holiday to Greece (fully paid for) is February 17-27. With our application to the USCIS we included a chart of all our future holidays, this one included.

As there is no guarantee that 10 days will be enough for me to get my passport back, I commenced my frustrating journey to nowhere.

From the consulate website, I got the number to call to (potentially) reschedule. Upon calling said number was given an email address to forward all interview rescheduling related enquiries. Upon emailing said email address I got a link to a form on the consulate's website where I pasted the body of the email. The response from the consulate was nothing short of generic saying that I should try to keep my appointment, as there is a considerable wait (few months) to reschedule. That I can discuss my situation with the consular officer on the day of my interview. Thereafter, I was advised to call a Montreal number or visit the website and given a specific set of instructions on how to go about rescheduling if I am truly unable to attend my interview.

I tried calling to see what the next available interview date is and this was a true test of my patience. Both the agent who answered my call and I felt very frustrated. She asked what visa had I applied for and explained there is no CR-1 visa (it does not exist). I begged to differ and attempted to give her my MTL number. She said if I had such a number it means it is a fiancee visa. Explained that ship has sailed when we said "I do" half a year ago, but she kept on saying the same thing. "No, I cannot check the calendar for the next available date unless you provide me with your I-979 number (no idea what that is). No, there is no CR-1 visa. No, if you have a MTL number you are a fiancee and not a spouse."

So after a few rounds of us both sounding like a broken record I give up and get on the website. I log in (as I had registered for Loomis already) and follow their instructions to a T. And when I get to "what type of visa" I realize the woman was telling the truth - no CR-1 in site. Accordingly, I am now stuck on the site and cannot proceed any further as my type of visa is not listed.

I contact the consulate again (yup, email them, receive their email with the link to the form on the website and paste the body of the email there.... waste of time and totally user unfriendly situation). I explain the above situation as succinctly as possible.

Again, I receive a generic, totally unhelpful response - "Thank you for your email. We do not reschedule appointments for you. Unfortunately, you will need to follow the instructions provided in order to reschedule. " This was followed by a copy and paste of the paragraph with the instructions from the previous email. The fact that I am emailing them stating exactly what the problem is and why their instructions do not work was completely ignored.

Obviously, they are not reading or if they are they dont care to find out the answer and are just copying and pasting....

I am going to the interview fearing that the consular officer will feel like I am pressuring them into rushing my case by being cheeky and not rescheduling thus putting them in a position. My only game plan is to print the "helpful" correspondence with the consulate to show I took steps to resolve the situation by considering all options and failed due no fault of my own. Can only hope they do get it together and give me my passport back in time to make the flight to Greece.... The other possible outcomes make me shudder (telling me to restart the application from scratch or forcing me to miss part or all of my vacation as well as incurring unnecessary considerable expenses)

Am I blind or silly? Is there really no CR-1 option on the website? I realize they are dead set on discouraging any rescheduling but my recent experience leads me to believe they have made it impossible for CR-1 visa applicants to reschedule or even consider it.... Any insight will be helpful - thanks in advance. Oh, and sorry for the length of this post....

[nightingalejules 678]

Could you just tell the person you're applying for a spousal immigrant visa - I'm sure the interview is the same whether it's IR1 or CR1. Did you check that on the website? And I wonder if there's some other number on your final approval notice that they might be looking for. A quick google search for I979 suggests that it might be the form they use for the last NOA. Or maybe the person to whom you spoke is dyslexic and meant I797... Which is the form for all the other NOAs. I'm not there yet, but from the description of your problem that's what came to mind.

It's always seemed strange to me that US government personnel are actually not permitted to "help you out" in finding the information you really need. I think it's a liability issue: if they happened to be wrong you could sue and you'd win. But now, you basically have to know the information already in order to ask about it.

So my best advice is to keep phrasing your questions in different ways, or try something out and ask for confirmation, like: ok, I'm looking at my notice of action that tells me my appointment is ready to be booked (or whatever). Where on that form can I find the number you're looking for.

I think they can answer a question like that.

[jan22 3,056]

You are actually applying for an IR-1 -- spouse of an American citizen. It becomes a CR-1 (Conditional Resident) because you have been married for less than two years. So, schedule an IR-1 appointment.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Canada regional forum

[NikLR 13,227]

You are actually applying for an IR-1 -- spouse of an American citizen. It becomes a CR-1 (Conditional Resident) because you have been married for less than two years. So, schedule an IR-1 appointment.

You cannot.

This website will not allow you to schedule your own appointment, it is for K1 only.

Honestly I think you should go to your appointment and if you do not get the visa back in 3 business days, then request your passport back. OR you can request your passport and send it to them to include the visa in after you're returned. I had my visa the next day but it was summer.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I would email MTL--with case # in subj line----and if u get no response--attend the assigned interview and THEN 2 options. Ask the interviewer if they can give u the visa then, or next day because of ur vacation(bring proof) yes this has worked for a few, but not something u should count on. other option is keep the passport and on completion of the trip, you mail it back to mtl. keep in mind they can be slow at returning the passport pkg. but less stress!!!

[Allie Wabbit 1]

You are actually applying for an IR-1 -- spouse of an American citizen. It becomes a CR-1 (Conditional Resident) because you have been married for less than two years. So, schedule an IR-1 appointment.

Thanks for this! I went back in and updated my info (that am applying for an IR-1 and my currency date i.e. I-797 was my NOA1 date. So I entered all of this info in and put purpose of trip "Permanently immigrate to the US" - Scheduled by NVC. It brought me to a page where my details were (name, etc.) and in bold it said "there are no appointments at this time". So I went back and changed my info to "Permanently immigrate to the US" - Ready to Schedule. Again it brought me to the page with my deets and the "there are no appointments at this time"....

Can that be?

[Allie Wabbit 1]

Could you just tell the person you're applying for a spousal immigrant visa - I'm sure the interview is the same whether it's IR1 or CR1. Did you check that on the website? And I wonder if there's some other number on your final approval notice that they might be looking for. A quick google search for I979 suggests that it might be the form they use for the last NOA. Or maybe the person to whom you spoke is dyslexic and meant I797... Which is the form for all the other NOAs. I'm not there yet, but from the description of your problem that's what came to mind.

It's always seemed strange to me that US government personnel are actually not permitted to "help you out" in finding the information you really need. I think it's a liability issue: if they happened to be wrong you could sue and you'd win. But now, you basically have to know the information already in order to ask about it.

So my best advice is to keep phrasing your questions in different ways, or try something out and ask for confirmation, like: ok, I'm looking at my notice of action that tells me my appointment is ready to be booked (or whatever). Where on that form can I find the number you're looking for.

I think they can answer a question like that.

That is what I told them... I wasnt sure how much more clear I could be. I think you are right - the interview cant be that much different... Thanks for googling a solution for me. I guess it is an I797, which is the NOA priority date....

I did manage to update my account and try and reschedule only to be told there is no appointments available at this time.... So off to the interview I go while hoping for the best...

[Allie Wabbit 1]

You cannot.

This website will not allow you to schedule your own appointment, it is for K1 only.

Honestly I think you should go to your appointment and if you do not get the visa back in 3 business days, then request your passport back. OR you can request your passport and send it to them to include the visa in after you're returned. I had my visa the next day but it was summer.

You're right. I tried to after updating my info (applying for IR visa) and it says there are no available appointments...

I have no choice but to attend. I have more than 3 business days available. I would drive to Montreal from Toronto just to pick my passport up if push comes to shove and they are ready to return it on day 9 Yeah, I hope that they would accept me to give them the passport upon my return on February 27 if they are not able to turn it around in the 10 days prior to my trip. I am hoping this will all be much ado about nothing and that I will get my passport back within a few days. Fingers crossed Thanks for your great advice!

[Flames9_RN 358]

CR-1/IR-1 are initially the same at the beginning----but since you are married for less than 2 years, you are a Cr-1 and will end up with a 2 year green card! The IR-1--married 2 years or more, will end up with a 10 yr greencard. As a cr-1 (or ir-1) I don't believe you can go online and change ur interview like a K1 can---they are two totally different visa and processes. I belive the only way it can be changes is via a phone call. Search out the VJ poster SAYLIN, she usually has some good posts and put together some sort of guide. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/90397-saylin/

[Allie Wabbit 1]

I would email MTL--with case # in subj line----and if u get no response--attend the assigned interview and THEN 2 options. Ask the interviewer if they can give u the visa then, or next day because of ur vacation(bring proof) yes this has worked for a few, but not something u should count on. other option is keep the passport and on completion of the trip, you mail it back to mtl. keep in mind they can be slow at returning the passport pkg. but less stress!!!

I did. Twice. Their response is generic and telling me to reschedule on their site or call the consulate. So dead end there. I will ask the interviewer nicely to get it done within 10 days after the interview and hope that they are in a good mood and will do their best to do so. The second option would not be as good as we are planning on moving around March 11, if things go well at the interview (am already giving notice to my cable company and apartment as I need to give them 60 days....) So, all is connected and it is starting to be stressful as am getting my ducks in a row without having all the answers Am sure am just walking a path so many took before me ) Thanks for your response!

[Allie Wabbit 1]

CR-1/IR-1 are initially the same at the beginning----but since you are married for less than 2 years, you are a Cr-1 and will end up with a 2 year green card! The IR-1--married 2 years or more, will end up with a 10 yr greencard. As a cr-1 (or ir-1) I don't believe you can go online and change ur interview like a K1 can---they are two totally different visa and processes. I belive the only way it can be changes is via a phone call. Search out the VJ poster SAYLIN, she usually has some good posts and put together some sort of guide. http://www.visajourney.com/forums/user/90397-saylin/

Oh, I see. I cannot even begin to imagine being married for 2 years while living apart We are dying to be together (as am sure everyone else on here) and have been lucky to be together for a few days every second week since last December. But a year of being together apart is already much too much ) It is so silly that the consulate advises by email for me to go to the site to change my interview date when they know that is impossible... They honestly do not seem to read at all. Just copy and paste same generic email over and over. And the phone call experience was no less frustrating unfortunately. Am gonna let sleeping dogs lie and just hope for the best at the interview. I have seen Saylin's posts - she is very informative I like her pics and info about the Montreal consulate - already feel like I will have a deja vu when I enter it next month )) Thanks for your help!

[NikLR 13,227]

I had the same issue when I asked the consulate if my daughter could come to my interview. She wasn't moving and frankly I just wanted a trip with my kid before I was moving. But it was a generic answer that essentially did not answer me, so I played it safe and didn't take her with me. The last thing I wanted was to get there and have us turned away because a) she's not a US citizen and b) she didn't have an interview.

[Allie Wabbit 1]

I had the same issue when I asked the consulate if my daughter could come to my interview. She wasn't moving and frankly I just wanted a trip with my kid before I was moving. But it was a generic answer that essentially did not answer me, so I played it safe and didn't take her with me. The last thing I wanted was to get there and have us turned away because a) she's not a US citizen and b) she didn't have an interview.

I have my husband coming with me and am not sure if they will allow him in. If they dont, he will just go back to the hotel to impatiently wait for me. We will go a day early and leave the day after the interview, so we will attempt to combine the pleasant and the useful ) Not sure that Montreal sightseeing during the first week of February will be the most pleasant weatherwise but we figured we will give it a shot

[Flames9_RN 358]

They will let him in. Just remember no big bags or electronics of any kind (including keys, cell phones) and the elevator opens from the rear,lol! What works great is 1 of those accordion style plastic binders that have many compartments. And it can be continued to be used to save documents, when it comes time to apply for the 10 yr greencard. And keep track of the dates that you leave the USA, in the future when ur filling out more forms, they ask, and you will have them handy