Planning your life around Montreal

[Kipster 0]

I hear the frustration, and I can relate to some, but not all of it because our wait times with Montreal were not as long as the OP's. But here's the thought that came to my mind. We are now thankfully in the AOS process and we are reading reports from some VJ'ers who are receiving two year conditional green cards very quickly after they file their I-485s and without interviews being conducted. My question is this, if CIS would provide a permanent residence card to a non-immigrant shorty after filing the necessary paperwork here in the States, why does a consulate need to go to the trouble of conducting an interview for a temporary visa (K-1)? If the paperwork is all in order, and the consulate officer said ours was, then why was an interview necessary? An interview that lasted all of three minutes? Talk about being ripped off. You invest so much money and time in trying to get there, and then, *poof* its over.

[CutienPurg 0]

that lasted all of three minutes? Talk about being ripped off. You invest so much money and time in trying to get there, and then, *poof* its over.

<sigh>

sounds like sex.....cept the money .....and the 3 minutes

wrong thread ?

[misa 2]

I suppose they need to conduct the interview so they can verify it's actually a real person through in-person meeting matching with the photographs supplied as well as taking biometrics.

I guess since that verification is done already, there's less work for USCIS to do during the AOS stage for those transferred to CSC and approved without an interview as far as verifying the person (aside from the AOS biometrics appt).

[lynamon 0]

Thank you for starting this thread .. it does help with the frustration of the waiting ... a little stress releasing humour is always a good thing

[Flames9_RN 358]

If u wish i can get my wife to call some her old buds at State Dept and get them to contact Montreal to increase the length of the interview, lol. Staff were great when I went through mtl, but I belive they are staffed by the Foreign Service, and they transfer every 2 to 3 yrs.

[CutienPurg 0]

The woman I spoke to when I called, was extremely nice. I was pleasantly surprised. I think at the point I was at then, I would have ripped her head off verbally and then been permanently blacklisted. That move to Nova Scotia woulda been a near future plan instead of a someday move......

I cant emphasize enough that the point of this thread was not to bash Montreal. It was simply an effort at informing what the possibilities are. So much of this phase caught me off guard and Im positive its what weighed me down mentally. I have little doubt that the people employed at Montreal do the best they can........sometimes though your best isnt good enough.

and FlamesNINE.......c'mere <holds up a 5 knuckled sammie>

[Flames9_RN 358]

More than likely like many Govt organizations,they are probably short staffed, and Mtl proberly isn't a high priority to be filled

[CutienPurg 0]

you would think, if the fact is they are understaffed and i'd put my money there.......they could reduce their workload by giving straight accurate answers. They say 2-4 months.......2 months passes and we dont hear anything so then we have to start to wonder about the other govt factor .....Canada Post.... did they loose it? So then ya just gotta email or call. That's my logic anyway.......if you dont give me a reason to call , I wont.

[misa 2]

That's thing the thing, they should give accurate answers instead of just making stuff up to get people off the phone... If they just said, "I'm sorry, we're extremely overloaded at this time", I think people would understand.

Wasn't there a case of one person here who was told their interview date over the phone and it turned out the person at the consulate just said that to get them to go away?

[derekkj 0]

If u wish i can get my wife to call some her old buds at State Dept and get them to contact Montreal to increase the length of the interview, lol. Staff were great when I went through mtl, but I belive they are staffed by the Foreign Service, and they transfer every 2 to 3 yrs.

Hey Scott,

Not to hijack the thread, but I just noticed that you got your 10 year green card. Congrats! Keeping fingers crossed that Derek's process goes as smoothly as yours. And that we get it done before the fees go up, lol

Now back to the regular thread programming...

[CutienPurg 0]

That's thing the thing, they should give accurate answers instead of just making stuff up to get people off the phone... If they just said, "I'm sorry, we're extremely overloaded at this time", I think people would understand.

Wasn't there a case of one person here who was told their interview date over the phone and it turned out the person at the consulate just said that to get them to go away?

Im sure people would......well a lot would anyway.... and OMG I didnt hear about the other thing ......thats awful!!

[misa 2]

I am almost positive it was here... maybe back in November? I'm sure it was somewhere here. Maybe riblet remembers?

[Flames9_RN 358]

thanks, was pretty painless. Start the citizenship thingy in Sept. I would not do it, if it weren't for my wife, lol

If u wish i can get my wife to call some her old buds at State Dept and get them to contact Montreal to increase the length of the interview, lol. Staff were great when I went through mtl, but I belive they are staffed by the Foreign Service, and they transfer every 2 to 3 yrs.

Hey Scott,

Not to hijack the thread, but I just noticed that you got your 10 year green card. Congrats! Keeping fingers crossed that Derek's process goes as smoothly as yours. And that we get it done before the fees go up, lol

Now back to the regular thread programming...

[Necrotica 0]

Things to plan for when dealing with Montreal..........

~Plan for a 6 month wait between them receiving your file and your interview, provided you send DS-230 and checklist back immediately.

*feels like crying again*

[Asamu 0]

I really feel for those who had/have to go through Montreal. I know I am extremely fortunate that I didn't. Even when I was going through the transfer I got misinformation from the Montreal consulate over the phone. They only acted on the transfer when someone at the Vancouver consulate personally emailed them and cc'd me to initiate the transfer.

If you can by any means possible transfer to Vancouver, do it!

Hi Misa!

Do you know the process of transferring your case from Montreal to Vancouver?

Kindly direct me? I am just dreading going through Montreal.

Thanks,

Asamu