Using the Montreal Consulate as a non-Canadian citizen

[buster90387 0]

Hi,

I am extremely early in the K1 visa process. We are just gathering our documents to file the initial I-129f petition. A bit of background info - I came to Canada for my undergraduate as an international student, and since graduation I have been working in Toronto on a post-grad work permit (valid till 2018). My fiance(e) is a US citizen.

I was wondering as a temporary resident in Canada (i.e. with status), will I be eligible to use the montreal consulate as my 'home' consulate for the K1 visa? Previously, I had no problems getting J1 visas on multiple occasions (I had 4 internships in the US as my part of my co-op program) from the Toronto consulate.

From the official website, it seems like the answer to the above question is yes. I was hoping to find someone on this forum who went through a similar process. I am worried that I might be put under AP after my interview based on the fact that I am not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

Any insights regarding this matter will be highly beneficial?

[aaron2020 11,651]

You can have your K1 processed in Canada since you are there legally.

[NikLR 13,232]

Aaron is right. You are legally residing in Canada so you can interview in Montreal.

[buster90387 0]

Thanks for the quick replies. Yeah, that's what I thought.

I am still a bit worried considering the fact that the Montreal consulate is notoriously slow at processing these cases. I was going through the forum and it seems that applicants have been put on administrative processing even after their interview gave them an approval (which is disheartening).

I guess I have to keep my fingers crossed, and prepare for a long wait. I'm just glad that we are both financially stable so we can visit each other during the process. That being said, have you guys had issues going south of the border while your K1 visas were being processed (it will be on tourist visa for my case)?

[simsim2 50]

I applied for 2 non immigrant visas at the Montreal consulate and I'm on a student permit. Never got any problems just had to show my student permit. However I'm from a low risk country so that might be why

[NikLR 13,232]

Thanks for the quick replies. Yeah, that's what I thought.

I am still a bit worried considering the fact that the Montreal consulate is notoriously slow at processing these cases. I was going through the forum and it seems that applicants have been put on administrative processing even after their interview gave them an approval (which is disheartening).

I guess I have to keep my fingers crossed, and prepare for a long wait. I'm just glad that we are both financially stable so we can visit each other during the process. That being said, have you guys had issues going south of the border while your K1 visas were being processed (it will be on tourist visa for my case)?

Most people don't have too many issues crossing into the USA from Canada. You have a valid tourist visa of course and proof of your ties to Canada because of schooling. The CBP don't know that you're going through any process unless you tell them or they do some extensive digging, which they generally don't bother.

K1's are processed slow at Montreal. All K1 go into a period of AP before the visa is issued. Generally the AP is at most 2 weeks.

[buster90387 0]

Most people don't have too many issues crossing into the USA from Canada. You have a valid tourist visa of course and proof of your ties to Canada because of schooling. The CBP don't know that you're going through any process unless you tell them or they do some extensive digging, which they generally don't bother.

K1's are processed slow at Montreal. All K1 go into a period of AP before the visa is issued. Generally the AP is at most 2 weeks.

Thanks for all the helpful info. Usually, when they ask me about the intention of my visit, I say that I am visiting friends and family (which is vague, but true) for 'x' days. I also have a return ticket and a letter from my employer (or previously school) to show proof of ties. Can I still use the same line when I am specifically going to visit my fiance (or, would that be considered being deceitful)?

[NikLR 13,232]

Yes you can and you can say you're visiting your fiancee if you want. I always said i was going to visit my husband and never had an issue crossing. Probably because the visits were no longer than 10 days and I had a job.