Canada Embassy status/processing times

[Wisconsinbound 1]

Is there any way to check the status of my case with the embassy in Canada? Two weeks ago, my fiance (US citizen) called the NVC and were told that our case had been approved and was sent to Canada. We were given our case number MTL2017xxxxxx and we were told that in the very near future we should expect to hear back from the embassy about what documentation we would need to collect. (Packet 3) We haven't heard anything as of yet, and would like to inquire about the status of our case. Is there an equivalent service to the USCIS's system where an individual can input their receipt/case number and see how things are progressing for the embassy?

 

Also, how long does it typically take to have the visa in-hand from the time the embassy receives the parcel from the NVC? (Of course, assuming minimal delays at my fiance's/my side when compiling documentation for Packets 3 and 4) I have heard conflicting information from 6 weeks to 52 weeks.

 

Thanks

[s + j 71]

Check CEAC's website and put in your case number. That'll tell you where the visa packet currently is. NVC or at the embassy

Edited February 28, 2017 by s + j

[Cryssiekins 976]

I think it's closer to 6 weeks rather than 52.

 

Check my timeline from the time Embassy received until my interview.  I remember pushing my interview out a couple weeks to make sure I could schedule the medical.  

 

The whole K1 process from date of filing to feet on ground in Buffalo was about 6 months. 

 

Hang in there.. you're in the home stretch!!

 

Some advice for Montreal - book the Courtyard by Marriott.  Embassy is literally a block from there and that saves you having to deal with Montreal traffic. 

[Wisconsinbound 1]

3 minutes ago, Cryssiekins said:

I think it's closer to 6 weeks rather than 52.

 

Check my timeline from the time Embassy received until my interview.  I remember pushing my interview out a couple weeks to make sure I could schedule the medical.  

 

The whole K1 process from date of filing to feet on ground in Buffalo was about 6 months. 

 

Hang in there.. you're in the home stretch!!

 

Some advice for Montreal - book the Courtyard by Marriott.  Embassy is literally a block from there and that saves you having to deal with Montreal traffic. 

Thanks for the advice! 6 months for the whole process would be great. 4 months in thus far!

[namchou 8]

Good day,

 

After reading a lot here, this is what I did.

 

Once my status says READY on the CEAC, using my MTL# I sent my PACKET 3 as I gathered all the required paperwork as I was waiting. (You can get packet 3 from the consulate website.)

So in my case I sent on Feb 23, and received packet 4 (email) on Feb 27.

So you can sent your packet 3 before you actually receive it. I would recommend not to pay until you receive packet 4, but once you get packet 4 pay all fees and book your appointment

 

I hope this will help you a little, as of yesterday they still had availability every Wednesday from March 22 up to April 26.

 

If you have any other question feel free to ask, and i'll be more than happy to help you if I can!

[KimchiLumpia 315]

3 hours ago, namchou said:

Good day,

 

After reading a lot here, this is what I did.

 

Once my status says READY on the CEAC, using my MTL# I sent my PACKET 3 as I gathered all the required paperwork as I was waiting. (You can get packet 3 from the consulate website.)

So in my case I sent on Feb 23, and received packet 4 (email) on Feb 27.

So you can sent your packet 3 before you actually receive it. I would recommend not to pay until you receive packet 4, but once you get packet 4 pay all fees and book your appointment

 

I hope this will help you a little, as of yesterday they still had availability every Wednesday from March 22 up to April 26.

 

If you have any other question feel free to ask, and i'll be more than happy to help you if I can!

Great info!

For the OP, here is the Canadian Embassy website with the packet 3 PDF information.  Its step 2 on the bottom of the page:
https://ca.usembassy.gov/visas/fiancee/

[Wisconsinbound 1]

On 2/28/2017 at 10:21 AM, namchou said:

Good day,

 

After reading a lot here, this is what I did.

 

Once my status says READY on the CEAC, using my MTL# I sent my PACKET 3 as I gathered all the required paperwork as I was waiting. (You can get packet 3 from the consulate website.)

So in my case I sent on Feb 23, and received packet 4 (email) on Feb 27.

So you can sent your packet 3 before you actually receive it. I would recommend not to pay until you receive packet 4, but once you get packet 4 pay all fees and book your appointment

 

I hope this will help you a little, as of yesterday they still had availability every Wednesday from March 22 up to April 26.

 

If you have any other question feel free to ask, and i'll be more than happy to help you if I can!

I called the NVC and they had said my packet was mailed on February 21st to the embassy. I confirmed with them my case # as well as steps going forward. The individual I spoke to (who was very polite) stated that until I receive something in the mail from the embassy, I'm stuck playing a waiting game.

Upon going to the ceac website and entering my case # I get the following error: Invalid Application ID or Case Number

 

Question being: My fiance got Form I-797 from the NVC back in early February, is that the queue for use to download packet 3 and start collecting that information on our own? Or should sit and wait to hear something from the Montreal embassy? I'm not sure on what to do, especially since our case isn't appearing on the ceac website as of yet.

Thank you kindly

[namchou 8]

Download packet # 3 and start getting all the necessary paperwork. keep track of your MTL case # number and when it says ready then If you gathered all the required paperwork from the the list of packet #3 I would then send it. Like I said, in my case the day that I received packet 3 from the consulate is also the day I received packet 4 via email, so it's all a mater of how patient you are, and as you can see in my case not so much. If i can save a day here and there, that's one less day away from my fiancee.

 

I think at this point you are probably for the consulate to review and process your file. Fill the DS-160 right away, but don't pay anything until you receive packet 4 and you booked your interview. Nothing to loose!

[Wisconsinbound 1]

On 3/5/2017 at 9:10 PM, namchou said:

Download packet # 3 and start getting all the necessary paperwork. keep track of your MTL case # number and when it says ready then If you gathered all the required paperwork from the the list of packet #3 I would then send it. Like I said, in my case the day that I received packet 3 from the consulate is also the day I received packet 4 via email, so it's all a mater of how patient you are, and as you can see in my case not so much. If i can save a day here and there, that's one less day away from my fiancee.

 

I think at this point you are probably for the consulate to review and process your file. Fill the DS-160 right away, but don't pay anything until you receive packet 4 and you booked your interview. Nothing to loose!

I ended up getting Packet 3 just this past week! I filed DS-160 right away, as well as a copy of my passport and a signed copy of the list of things that I would be bringing to my interview. They got back to me with Packet 4 in less than 12 hours, which was unbelievable!

 

However, in Packet 3, it says that I need to bring I-134 and associated proof to the interview. (This is on the checklist that I signed and dated for them) In Packet 4, it states that I need both I-864 AND I-134. However, to my understanding, the I-864 is only for immigrant visas (which K1 visas are not), so I wouldn't bring an I-864 to the interview. The I-864 would only be submitted when applying for a green card (after marriage). Correct?

 

I sent them an email asking for clarification, but they say it could take 2+ weeks for clarification, and I'd like to save work for my fiance if at all possible.

 

Thanks

[Cryssiekins 976]

4 hours ago, Wisconsinbound said:

I ended up getting Packet 3 just this past week! I filed DS-160 right away, as well as a copy of my passport and a signed copy of the list of things that I would be bringing to my interview. They got back to me with Packet 4 in less than 12 hours, which was unbelievable!

 

However, in Packet 3, it says that I need to bring I-134 and associated proof to the interview. (This is on the checklist that I signed and dated for them) In Packet 4, it states that I need both I-864 AND I-134. However, to my understanding, the I-864 is only for immigrant visas (which K1 visas are not), so I wouldn't bring an I-864 to the interview. The I-864 would only be submitted when applying for a green card (after marriage). Correct?

 

I sent them an email asking for clarification, but they say it could take 2+ weeks for clarification, and I'd like to save work for my fiance if at all possible.

 

Thanks

I wound up bringing completed copies of both bc information was conflicting (I hadn't found VJ yet) but all the embassy wanted was the 134. 

[Cryssiekins 976]

Also, it didn't say it in any of the paperwork I got from the embassy but bring a photocopy of your biometrics page from your passport! 

[Wisconsinbound 1]

On 3/11/2017 at 4:49 PM, Cryssiekins said:

I wound up bringing completed copies of both bc information was conflicting (I hadn't found VJ yet) but all the embassy wanted was the 134. 

Thank you. I my fiance makes about 120% the federal poverty line for a 3 person family (which is more comfortable than it sounds in rural Wisconsin!) so her mother agreed to submit I-864 with my fiance's I-864 when we apply for the green card. So we were planning on bringing an I-134 for both her and her mother to the interview, just in-case they're going to expect evidence of 125% the poverty line. We were just curious if they'd want I-864s from both her and her mom for the interview for this reason.

[Ash.1101 1,756]

On 3/11/2017 at 11:31 AM, Wisconsinbound said:

I ended up getting Packet 3 just this past week! I filed DS-160 right away, as well as a copy of my passport and a signed copy of the list of things that I would be bringing to my interview. They got back to me with Packet 4 in less than 12 hours, which was unbelievable!

 

However, in Packet 3, it says that I need to bring I-134 and associated proof to the interview. (This is on the checklist that I signed and dated for them) In Packet 4, it states that I need both I-864 AND I-134. However, to my understanding, the I-864 is only for immigrant visas (which K1 visas are not), so I wouldn't bring an I-864 to the interview. The I-864 would only be submitted when applying for a green card (after marriage). Correct?

 

I sent them an email asking for clarification, but they say it could take 2+ weeks for clarification, and I'd like to save work for my fiance if at all possible.

 

Thanks

You are correct.

P4 is a broad based response and covers many visas. So it lists everything almost every visa would need and just puts which ones which in parenthesis. You only need the I-134 and supporting documents.

[KimchiLumpia 315]

4 hours ago, Wisconsinbound said:

Thank you. I my fiance makes about 120% the federal poverty line for a 3 person family (which is more comfortable than it sounds in rural Wisconsin!) so her mother agreed to submit I-864 with my fiance's I-864 when we apply for the green card. So we were planning on bringing an I-134 for both her and her mother to the interview, just in-case they're going to expect evidence of 125% the poverty line. We were just curious if they'd want I-864s from both her and her mom for the interview for this reason.

I read from other's experiences with co-sponsors, to make sure to have a copy of your mother-in-law's US birth certificate and biometrics page of her passport along with her signed I-134 to prove her US citizenship as well.

 

[Cryssiekins 976]

5 hours ago, Wisconsinbound said:

Thank you. I my fiance makes about 120% the federal poverty line for a 3 person family (which is more comfortable than it sounds in rural Wisconsin!) 

Ohhhhh trust me, I hear you.  I'm from Mississauga, ON (just outside Toronto) and the cost of living there is astronomical.  Also, the drive to and from work for me each day was over an hour when it really should only take 20 minutes.  A lot of the US I find is such a different pace.  

 

Our cost of living in Buffalo, NY (even as a "city") is significantly less.  The job I have here pays about $4/hour less than what I was making in Canada (after exchange) but it's a 5 minute drive from home, so cutting down on the gas for my car, 407 toll route bill and excess food (bc I would just grab something at work each day) I'm actually saving way more than I ever could in Ontario.