CP Process in Canada

[tswielder 0]

I have actually contacted the embassy here in Ottawa and they have said that it's not a problem to pass the interview here in Canada. Here is the response :

"It is always best to apply for a visa in your home country. However, we understand that it can be difficult for those living in the U.S. to return home. You may request an appointment for a visa interview at the Embassy in Ottawa or at any of our Consulates throughout Canada. "

As far as the interview goes, I have no idea but I would appreciate any feedback from others that have passed it.

Thanks for sharing that info. It's good to have more options for sure. I think I need to ask KCC if it's ok for me to get my medical done in the United States before I leave for either my home country or Canada and use it. It's so much easier to do it here since I live here now.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

That's because they don't know where you live, but you do. It should be the Nearest to you.

If everyone wants his/her CP in Montreal then guess what? That's gonna start causing delay and makes near impossible to get an interview. Those with high numbers will have no chance!

If you look at the numbers, there aren't actually that many AOS cases a year, and clearly statistically those with high numbers (ie August/September interviews) are pretty few. And obviously not all of those will be able to go to Canada logistically. It's probably not as bad as you think

Thanks for sharing that info. It's good to have more options for sure. I think I need to ask KCC if it's ok for me to get my medical done in the United States before I leave for either my home country or Canada and use it. It's so much easier to do it here since I live here now.

The standard instruction is that medicals must be done in the country you're interviewing in. You can double check of course for Canada, but so far everyone I have seen on the forums that has gone home for CP has reported they need to do medicals in that country.

[tswielder 0]

If you look at the numbers, there aren't actually that many AOS cases a year, and clearly statistically those with high numbers (ie August/September interviews) are pretty few. And obviously not all of those will be able to go to Canada logistically. It's probably not as bad as you think

The standard instruction is that medicals must be done in the country you're interviewing in. You can double check of course for Canada, but so far everyone I have seen on the forums that has gone home for CP has reported they need to do medicals in that country.

Yea, I hear there are only like 200 people each year that take the route of AOS from within U.S., so it shouldn't be too bad.

I'm aware of that standard, but in my case, it really doesn't make a lot of sense since I've been living in U.S. for the past decade, so everything medical has taken place in this country, not my home country. I'm going to ask KCC to see if they can see the obvious logic here.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Yea, I hear there are only like 200 people each year that take the route of AOS from within U.S., so it shouldn't be too bad.

I'm aware of that standard, but in my case, it really doesn't make a lot of sense since I've been living in U.S. for the past decade, so everything medical has taken place in this country, not my home country. I'm going to ask KCC to see if they can see the obvious logic here.

From what I understand it's not KCC seeing the logic but that each consulate "knows" how to read the returns from its panel doctors, although technically they should be standard globally. I would highlight that there are other people who have also been resident in the US for years who have had to medicals in the countries they have done CP in. Given the volume of people that need to be processed I think it's understandable that they end up being inflexible ...can you imagine trying to make exceptions for everyone who asks?

[tswielder 0]

From what I understand it's not KCC seeing the logic but that each consulate "knows" how to read the returns from its panel doctors, although technically they should be standard globally. I would highlight that there are other people who have also been resident in the US for years who have had to medicals in the countries they have done CP in. Given the volume of people that need to be processed I think it's understandable that they end up being inflexible ...can you imagine trying to make exceptions for everyone who asks?

So, you think we should just let things be? Improvements are made when people point out issues, and this is definitely one of them. Medical information doesn't change (and it doesn't change how to read them for that matter) regardless of who performs it as long as they're real doctors. Isn't that the whole point of their approved doctors list??? I really don't think it's about whoever knowing how to read them. Medical records will just show presence/absence of health issues, it's not a rocket science (especially when they are really watching out for specific ones for the immigration purposes). I think it's more that they just didn't think through and just assumed there wouldn't be a need for someone to get the medical done in a different country (which is an understandable assumption because it would be rather impractical under a normal circumstance).

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

So, you think we should just let things be? Improvements are made when people point out issues, and this is definitely one of them. Medical information doesn't change (and it doesn't change how to read them for that matter) regardless of who performs it as long as they're real doctors. Isn't that the whole point of their approved doctors list??? I really don't think it's about whoever knowing how to read them. Medical records will just show presence/absence of health issues, it's not a rocket science (especially when they are really watching out for specific ones for the immigration purposes). I think it's more that they just didn't think through and just assumed there wouldn't be a need for someone to get the medical done in a different country (which is an understandable assumption because it would be rather impractical under a normal circumstance).

Go ahead and ask, give them all your sound reasoning, I guarantee you are not the first to ask or to argue the point with them .. Just don't be surprised when they say no. Remember immigrant visas are not just issued to DV applicants. There are over a million immigrant visas a year issued. They all have to go for medicals. Good luck with expecting them to be flexible for the "exceptions" to the normal process.

[Sm1smom 255]

Yea, I hear there are only like 200 people each year that take the route of AOS from within U.S., so it shouldn't be too bad.

I'm aware of that standard, but in my case, it really doesn't make a lot of sense since I've been living in U.S. for the past decade, so everything medical has taken place in this country, not my home country. I'm going to ask KCC to see if they can see the obvious logic here.

So, you think we should just let things be? Improvements are made when people point out issues, and this is definitely one of them. Medical information doesn't change (and it doesn't change how to read them for that matter) regardless of who performs it as long as they're real doctors. Isn't that the whole point of their approved doctors list??? I really don't think it's about whoever knowing how to read them. Medical records will just show presence/absence of health issues, it's not a rocket science (especially when they are really watching out for specific ones for the immigration purposes). I think it's more that they just didn't think through and just assumed there wouldn't be a need for someone to get the medical done in a different country (which is an understandable assumption because it would be rather impractical under a normal circumstance).

I'm sorry to say, but there's nothing special in your case. There have been so many other selectees in the past who practically lived their entire lives in the US, when they opted to process CP, they went through the same route of doing medical exams from the applicable panel doctor responsible for the countries where their CP took place. Allowance has been made for selectees already in the US (regardless of how long they've lived there) who feel everything about them has always been in the US to do AOS. Every year, DV AOS has always been pushed ahead of all other AOS applicants. How much more should they bend the rules to accommodate people and their 'special' situation or circumstance?

One of the reasons they insist on people doing medical exams from panel doctors responsible for the home country where CP is taking place is to guard against fraudulent practice. Most panel doctors are required to directly send the results of the medical exam to the embassy, it's not given to the applicant. This makes it easier for the embassies to verify the source of the medical exam because they're already familiar with the panel doctor. They do not have to spend countless hours trying to verify the authenticity of medical exams from panel doctors or civil surgeons not under their jurisdiction. For AOS, civil surgeons are required to hand over the medical exam to the applicant in a sealed envelope. AOSers mail the medical exams with their I-485 package. If selectees based in the US are allowed to do medical exam in the US, how is this supposed to get to the embassy for CP? Give it to the applicant to mail in and the embassy staff spend additional hours trying to verify the authenticity of the medical exam?

Anyway, like Sussie posted, good luck with calling KCC and trying to get them to reason with your logic. KCC by the way is manned by contract staff, at least those who respond to phone calls and email messages, (just like the 1st level officers who answer the phone at USCIS) .They have absolutely no power to do anything or give information that is not on a scripted sheet/manual they use in responding to enquiries.

[Sm1smom 255]

I have actually contacted the embassy here in Ottawa and they have said that it's not a problem to pass the interview here in Canada. Here is the response :

"It is always best to apply for a visa in your home country. However, we understand that it can be difficult for those living in the U.S. to return home. You may request an appointment for a visa interview at the Embassy in Ottawa or at any of our Consulates throughout Canada. "

As far as the interview goes, I have no idea but I would appreciate any feedback from others that have passed it.

Ottawa does not handle DV visas, so you might want to take what that email indicates with a pinch of salt. You need to contact the embassy in Montreal where all DV interviews take place. Having said that though, I will confirm reading about a couple of selectees based in the US that have successfully done CP in Canada, I don't recollect if they needed to indicate an address in Canada or not before they were allowed to do that though.

[tswielder 0]

I'm sorry to say, but there's nothing special in your case. There have been so many other selectees in the past who practically lived their entire lives in the US, when they opted to process CP, they went through the same route of doing medical exams from the applicable panel doctor responsible for the countries where their CP took place. Allowance has been made for selectees already in the US (regardless of how long they've lived there) who feel everything about them has always been in the US to do AOS. Every year, DV AOS has always been pushed ahead of all other AOS applicants. How much more should they bend the rules to accommodate people and their 'special' situation or circumstance?

One of the reasons they insist on people doing medical exams from panel doctors responsible for the home country where CP is taking place is to guard against fraudulent practice. Most panel doctors are required to directly send the results of the medical exam to the embassy, it's not given to the applicant. This makes it easier for the embassies to verify the source of the medical exam because they're already familiar with the panel doctor. They do not have to spend countless hours trying to verify the authenticity of medical exams from panel doctors or civil surgeons not under their jurisdiction. For AOS, civil surgeons are required to hand over the medical exam to the applicant in a sealed envelope. AOSers mail the medical exams with their I-485 package. If selectees based in the US are allowed to do medical exam in the US, how is this supposed to get to the embassy for CP? Give it to the applicant to mail in and the embassy staff spend additional hours trying to verify the authenticity of the medical exam?

Anyway, like Sussie posted, good luck with calling KCC and trying to get them to reason with your logic. KCC by the way is manned by contract staff, at least those who respond to phone calls and email messages, (just like the 1st level officers who answer the phone at USCIS) .They have absolutely no power to do anything or give information that is not on a scripted sheet/manual they use in responding to enquiries.

That actually makes much more sense than whether they know how to read the document or not, even though it still doesn't make sense in that you think they'd need to spend "hours" verifying the document since all it takes is a phone call to confirm that the applicant received medical exams at a given office. It's funny how some users here keep calling what I'm talking about "special" or "exception." I never claimed as such, and I don't see it that way at all. There's nothing wrong with asking them a question to see if what makes logical sense is acceptable even though it is not written in the stone. I'll share the result here in case people are curious what happens.

[Sm1smom 255]

That actually makes much more sense than whether they know how to read the document or not, even though it still doesn't make sense in that you think they'd need to spend "hours" verifying the document since all it takes is a phone call to confirm that the applicant received medical exams at a given office. It's funny how some users here keep calling what I'm talking about "special" or "exception." I never claimed as such, and I don't see it that way at all. There's nothing wrong with asking them a question to see if what makes logical sense is acceptable even though it is not written in the stone. I'll share the result here in case people are curious what happens.

Just a phone call you say? Imagine everyone doing CP or ok let's say half the people doing CP showing up at the embassy with medical reports from different panel doctors and civil surgeons all over the world - you still think the man-hours that would be spent verifying those medical results is just an irrelevant phone call? Again will the results be sent ahead of time by the applicants, the PD/CS, or the applicant shows up with the medical result at the time of the interview?

[tswielder 0]

Just a phone call you say? Imagine everyone doing CP or ok let's say half the people doing CP showing up at the embassy with medical reports from different panel doctors and civil surgeons all over the world - you still think the man-hours that would be spent verifying those medical results is just an irrelevant phone call? Again will the results be sent ahead of time by the applicants, the PD/CS, or the applicant shows up with the medical result at the time of the interview?

I see your point, but that's actually unrealistic. We both know that most people actually wouldn't want to have their medicals done in other countries because most people don't have a reason to do so and it'd be more work for them. Just like when someone said it'd be a nightmare if they allowed AOS people to do CP in Canada, it's a hypothetical chaos, not reflecting reality.

[SusieQQQ 11,587]

Where is the :facepalm: emoticon here....?

[Sm1smom 255]

Where is the :facepalm: emoticon here....?

Yeah! I rest my case!!

Edited May 13, 2014 by Sm1smom

[Deco20 7]

I have actually contacted the embassy here in Ottawa and they have said that it's not a problem to pass the interview here in Canada. Here is the response :

"It is always best to apply for a visa in your home country. However, we understand that it can be difficult for those living in the U.S. to return home. You may request an appointment for a visa interview at the Embassy in Ottawa or at any of our Consulates throughout Canada. "

As far as the interview goes, I have no idea but I would appreciate any feedback from others that have passed it.

This answer seems pretty vague to me since all DV visas are processed in Montreal.

[zuroma999 12]

I see your point, but that's actually unrealistic. We both know that most people actually wouldn't want to have their medicals done in other countries because most people don't have a reason to do so and it'd be more work for them. Just like when someone said it'd be a nightmare if they allowed AOS people to do CP in Canada, it's a hypothetical chaos, not reflecting reality.

The bottom line is whether you ultimately want to be right and put effort into convincing UCSIS to see your POV or if you ultimately want to get your green card. The discussion boards are full of anecdotes of people getting declined during the interview for trivial things. When dealing with the government, the rule of thumb is to keep it simple and that unfortunately often means doing it their way.

The response from the Ottawa embassy feels like a "left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing" situation. Everything relating to the DV and Canada indicates that Montreal is the only place that interviews happen, and yet Ottawa is saying you can do it with them. If it were me, I would leave nothing to chance.