Montreal Interview - How long to schedule?

[Darryl 0]

Hi,

This summer I got married to my girlfriend who is a dual citizen (Canadian/American). We went to the consulate in Toronto and filled out all the paperwork and submitted the petition. We were sent the case # and a checklist of all documentation we had to obtain - we gathered all the documentation and send the checklist back (couriered it). So now we're waiting for the Montreal interview to be scheduled and nothing has happened. We sent the checklist back in mid-October 2006 and it is not mid-February 2007. I called the Visa office in Montreal back in December to make sure they got the checklist (they did on October 23rd) and to find out when we might hear back - the guy on the phone said it would 'probably' be January when we'd receive the letter with the interview date and the interview should be in February. We still haven't heard anything about the interview. Does anyone know how long this usually takes? We are left hanging with our lives kind of in limbo...My wife wants to move to the US for family reasons, my company wants to move me to the US for a promotion...but none of this can happen until we get the interview.

Also - what happens during the interview? I've read somewhere that there is a medical evaluation? Is the interview a long process? Once its done when do you get the Visa? When could we move to the US?

If anyone could shed some light on this whole situation I would be incredibly grateful!

Thanks

[Darryl 0]

Me again - just wanted to include also that since submitting the package with the checklist - we have not received anything else at all. No medical information or pre-interview package.

[riblet 0]

The process you applied for is known as DCF (direct consular filing). Unfortunately there has been a lot of upheaval with this process in the last month due to a new law. In all likelihood your petition was sent back to USCIS (fromw what I've heard of what's happening).

I would call Montreal if I were you. Sorry for the bad news. Check out the DCF forum on this site for more info.

Me again - just wanted to include also that since submitting the package with the checklist - we have not received anything else at all. No medical information or pre-interview package.

[Darryl 0]

GULP! So what is the difference between the DCF and the process everyone else seems to be following? Can you give me some info on the new law and what it might mean to our process/result?

Thanks very much for your response

Darryl

[riblet 0]

The difference with DCF is that the I130 petition is submitted and approved at a consulate without going through USCIS, and is then forwarded for the interview.

The new "John Walsh" law is some sort of child protection law and is triggering additional security checks. Because DCF filings were not reviewed by USCIS, they are now being sent for these security checks. This is my basic understanding.

I believe that once the checks are done, that your petition will be returned to Montreal. I've heard that you should not be placed at the back of the line. I saw your post in the Canada forum, and hopefully that's what Montreal has written to you about.

Good luck!

[Darryl 0]

Sandy -

First off - thank you! I have nothing but respect for people like you who are willing to share information with someone you've never met and liekly never will! This whole process has been a learning experience and a stressful one. With folks like yourself who are happy to help out and explain I am truly grateful.

Hopefully our case will be routed as you explained above and we will hear something shortly. I'm sure I will be on this site more and more as the time goes by just checking to see if anyone has heard anything and how others cases are progressing. I'll let you know when we hear something.

Thanks again

Darryl

Sandy -

First off - thank you! I have nothing but respect for people like you who are willing to share information with someone you've never met and liekly never will! This whole process has been a learning experience and a stressful one. With folks like yourself who are happy to help out and explain I am truly grateful.

Hopefully our case will be routed as you explained above and we will hear something shortly. I'm sure I will be on this site more and more as the time goes by just checking to see if anyone has heard anything and how others cases are progressing. I'll let you know when we hear something.

Thanks again

Darryl