IR1 application--interview location ONLY Montreal?

[tommcp5 6]

I've been on the VJ forums since July, but am recently new this Canada forum. I am the US petitioner and my wife of 8 years is the CA beneficary. I live in the US and she is in BC. I thought that I had a pretty good handle on the whole I-130 application process, and after we received our NOA-2 in December I started to focus more on the NVC stage. Since she lives only 45 minutes from Vancouver, I just assumed that would be the place she would go for her interview (and that was the embassy that we identified in our application). So I was kind of shocked when I randomly saw a mention in one of the threads that for IR1 applications, the only place that they schedule interviews is Montreal.

I did several searches to confirm this, but most of the results were dated a few years ago. Is that still the case in 2016 that all of the IR1 applicants must travel to Montreal for their interview?? That seems incredibly burdensome for people in the west. Have there ever been over-booking periods where they've allowed IR1 applicants to go to Vancouver? We've also filed an I-129 for the K3 visa, which I understand will be administratively closed now that the i-130 has been approved, but since we had filed for an IR-1 and a K-3, is there any chance we'd be allowed to interview in Vancouver?

Also, it seems like the majority of the posts in this forum are for K-1 and K-3 applicants---am I correct that all of the references to Packet 3 and Packet 4 are specific to those K visas, and not required for IR-1?

Thanks to anyone who reads through all this and replies--I was just a little unsettled when I realized this late into the process that we'd have to arrange flights and a hotel in Montreal in addition to everything else, and it got me thinking into what else I might have overlooked.

[falcngrl 3]

Yep, Montreal is it. There is a Dr in Vancouver area at least.

I had packet 4 as a CR1 but I think packet three is just for K1

[Darnell 8,478]

in a timeline,

for CR-1/IR-1 visa chasers,

packet 3 stuff is the NVC Doc intake process, with packet 4 being the interview letter.

-----

and yes, yer gonna be going to Montreal.

This is not a bad thing, in and of itself.

If you plan it right, say a 4 day jaunt, she can get 10 to 12 different poutine joints along the way, maybe even buy those 2 kg boxes of poutine gravy mix to bring to the USA also.

[oncefuturealien 45]

Sorry but yes she needs to go to Montreal.

We've all been through it, it's expensive and a pain in the butt. But only one known VJ case of an interview switch, and it was because the lady had small children who would have had to travel with her, and I still haven't actually figured out who she talked to to get that switch.

Read Saylin's guide, a few small items are out of date, but it's mostly A-1 info to make sure you haven't forgotten anything.

[broppy 204]

Yes, it sucks, but the interview will be in Montreal. At least you have the opportunity for a local medical - Dr Cheema in Surrey. We're totally screwed in the prairies and only have the choice of making two trips (one to BC and then QC) or spending a week in QC.

[MASH 172]

Sadly only in Montreal but she is lucky cuz she can go see Dr.Cheems in BC some ppl have to get flights got both medical and interview and that is even more costly

IMO they should have ATLEAST the medical portion in each province

[tommcp5 6]

Thanks for all of your feedback. If we have to travel outside our province, I guess Montreal isn't so bad a destination--maybe we'll make a mini-vacation out of it. Good luck to everyone for a quick and stress-free path to the end of this journey!

[morgan.croft 210]

Thanks for all of your feedback. If we have to travel outside our province, I guess Montreal isn't so bad a destination--maybe we'll make a mini-vacation out of it. Good luck to everyone for a quick and stress-free path to the end of this journey!

I'm in the same boat... a pain to go way out east... I'm in BC as well.. Kamloops... looking forward to the heat of southern Georgia!!!

[dkunkle 2]

Someone else mentioned this to me on another thread I posted yesterday, and it looks like it's true. My husband is in Calgary, so that really sucks. Does anyone know if I should go with him to his interview? I am in Texas, and will probably plan on that anyway and we'll just make a vacation out of it.

We just sent off the visa application through our attorney, and my understanding it is takes 60 - 90 days to be reviewed, and then within 30 days after that we'll be contacted for an interview. What kind of time frame have others experienced in relation to the interview timing?

[oncefuturealien 45]

Find a few Canada timelines and check them out, or look at people's signatures.

You're most likely looking at 1-6 months for USCIS review depending which service centre it goes to, then 6 weeks to who knows for NVC receipt and review, then 1-2 months until interview in Montreal, generally speaking, if everything is in order.

[NikLR 13,227]

Someone else mentioned this to me on another thread I posted yesterday, and it looks like it's true. My husband is in Calgary, so that really sucks. Does anyone know if I should go with him to his interview? I am in Texas, and will probably plan on that anyway and we'll just make a vacation out of it.

We just sent off the visa application through our attorney, and my understanding it is takes 60 - 90 days to be reviewed, and then within 30 days after that we'll be contacted for an interview. What kind of time frame have others experienced in relation to the interview timing?

You do not need to attend the interview. I lived in Red Deer. I spent a week in Montreal on my own. My husband was working in Colorado. It was fine.

Can you confirm if your NVC number starts with VAC or MTL?

in a timeline,

for CR-1/IR-1 visa chasers,

packet 3 stuff is the NVC Doc intake process, with packet 4 being the interview letter.

-----

and yes, yer gonna be going to Montreal.

This is not a bad thing, in and of itself.

If you plan it right, say a 4 day jaunt, she can get 10 to 12 different poutine joints along the way, maybe even buy those 2 kg boxes of poutine gravy mix to bring to the USA also.

Packet 3 is not intake at the NVC stage. Please restudy the timeline as provided by VJ. Why would they ask for packet 3 information when the I-864, DS-261, and DS-260 are all included in there as separate entities. Makes zero sense. Only K1 and K3 would have a packet 3 at this time.

Also not everyone likes poutine. I can certainly do without.

I've been on the VJ forums since July, but am recently new this Canada forum. I am the US petitioner and my wife of 8 years is the CA beneficary. I live in the US and she is in BC. I thought that I had a pretty good handle on the whole I-130 application process, and after we received our NOA-2 in December I started to focus more on the NVC stage. Since she lives only 45 minutes from Vancouver, I just assumed that would be the place she would go for her interview (and that was the embassy that we identified in our application). So I was kind of shocked when I randomly saw a mention in one of the threads that for IR1 applications, the only place that they schedule interviews is Montreal.

I did several searches to confirm this, but most of the results were dated a few years ago. Is that still the case in 2016 that all of the IR1 applicants must travel to Montreal for their interview?? That seems incredibly burdensome for people in the west. Have there ever been over-booking periods where they've allowed IR1 applicants to go to Vancouver? We've also filed an I-129 for the K3 visa, which I understand will be administratively closed now that the i-130 has been approved, but since we had filed for an IR-1 and a K-3, is there any chance we'd be allowed to interview in Vancouver?

Also, it seems like the majority of the posts in this forum are for K-1 and K-3 applicants---am I correct that all of the references to Packet 3 and Packet 4 are specific to those K visas, and not required for IR-1?

Thanks to anyone who reads through all this and replies--I was just a little unsettled when I realized this late into the process that we'd have to arrange flights and a hotel in Montreal in addition to everything else, and it got me thinking into what else I might have overlooked.

Someone else did go through Vancouver on a K3. But it was all luck to be honest as their I-129F happened to be approved first and make it to the NVC first, and be sent to Vancouver first. Vancouver chose (and the person requested) to keep the K3 path open for them. Montreal has, historically, closed the K3 path once they learn an I-130 was approved. The K3 I speak of was a stay at home mom with several young children, so the cost of flying to and from Montreal with all the children was significantly more than the AOS, which is why she chose to continue with the K3 vs the CR1. However, the CR1 is a superior visa.

Edited January 10, 2016 by NLR

[NikLR 13,227]

While the US consulate and embassy websites are often not frequently updated I present this:

Clickable thumbnail

[dkunkle 2]

Ours starts with VAC. Oh well, Montreal it is. There's nothing we can do to change that, so we'll roll with it. If we are lookinng at a summer interview time that would be better because we are taking a trip to Iceland in early May, and if we interview before then and they take his passport, he won't be able to go. Ugh - this stuff is mindboggling!

[NikLR 13,227]

Ours starts with VAC. Oh well, Montreal it is. There's nothing we can do to change that, so we'll roll with it. If we are lookinng at a summer interview time that would be better because we are taking a trip to Iceland in early May, and if we interview before then and they take his passport, he won't be able to go. Ugh - this stuff is mindboggling!

You should contact the NVC. Perhaps Vancouver has changed it rules without posting. You will need to change your DOS# (NVC#) if you are indeed interviewing in Montreal. Otherwise the file will be sent to Vancouver then need to be moved. You can slow down the NVC processing for a more favourable date btw.

[broppy 204]

You're most likely looking at 1-6 months for USCIS review depending which service centre it goes to, then 6 weeks to who knows for NVC receipt and review, then 1-2 months until interview in Montreal, generally speaking, if everything is in order.

One thing I have learned is that it's closer to six months at USCIS if the petitioner is based in the US. Apparently, things go a lot faster if the US citizen is actually living in Canada and makes the application from there.