Montreal embassy EB-2 interview wait time

[VA21202 109]

@CanadianMD yeah, it’s super frustrating and we’ll have wait and see what next month’s interview letters look like to see if there’s continued movement on the interviews for EB. Question for you to clarify your last comment: “obtain a work visa from an employer instead”. You mean “from my employer” right? Asking coz I’m assuming your employer that filed for the EB2 would be the only employer you can work for at the moment. Just curious, and I couldn’t find the answer to this clearly anywhere so I’m asking for awareness: If there is a layoff from the company that sponsored and filed the EB2 application, that application ends there correct?

[Leeching Spouse 87]

5 minutes ago, VA21202 said:

@CanadianMD yeah, it’s super frustrating and we’ll have wait and see what next month’s interview letters look like to see if there’s continued movement on the interviews for EB. Question for you to clarify your last comment: “obtain a work visa from an employer instead”. You mean “from my employer” right? Asking coz I’m assuming your employer that filed for the EB2 would be the only employer you can work for at the moment. Just curious, and I couldn’t find the answer to this clearly anywhere so I’m asking for awareness: If there is a layoff from the company that sponsored and filed the EB2 application, that application ends there correct?

I am filing through EB2 NIW (national interest waiver) for my I-140, which does not require an employer/sponsor for the visa. I do not have any US employers/sponsors.

 

I am now strongly considering applying for EB1-A as well, because of the premium processing option. This also does not require an employer/sponsor.

Edited July 23, 2021 by CanadianMD

[VA21202 109]

1 minute ago, CanadianMD said:

No, I meant that I will have to find an employer. I am filing through EB2 NIW (national interest waiver) for my I-140, which does not require an employer/sponsor for the visa.

 

I am now strongly considering applying for EB1-A as well, because of the premium processing option. This also does not require an employer/sponsor.

Oh okay, cool got it. Wasn’t aware of those variations - makes sense, thanks for clarifying!

[Leeching Spouse 87]

Just now, VA21202 said:

Oh okay, cool got it. Wasn’t aware of those variations - makes sense, thanks for clarifying!

No worries. This visa process is unnecessarily complex...

[vancitycdn8 16]

3 hours ago, Stephenc111 said:

I wonder about that myself. Which employer would wait 2-3 years and still keep the job offer for you?

 

in my case, I am in US and already have the GC. This is follow-to-join application for my son, which graduated from high school just now. Since I got the GC through EB, he is also in EB. Not family class. 

I have EB-1 with premium processing. I was accepted with extraordinary experience and qualifications which means I did not require an employer to sponsor me. The only person this wait affects is myself -- it sucks but it's not the worst. I'm still doing just fine in Canada but will be very happy once my interview is scheduled and I get my GC

[Leeching Spouse 87]

1 hour ago, vancitycdn8 said:

I have EB-1 with premium processing. I was accepted with extraordinary experience and qualifications which means I did not require an employer to sponsor me. The only person this wait affects is myself -- it sucks but it's not the worst. I'm still doing just fine in Canada but will be very happy once my interview is scheduled and I get my GC

May I ask what field are you in, and approximately how many citations / manuscripts have you authored?

[Stephenc111 30]

3 hours ago, vancitycdn8 said:

I have EB-1 with premium processing. I was accepted with extraordinary experience and qualifications which means I did not require an employer to sponsor me. The only person this wait affects is myself -- it sucks but it's not the worst. I'm still doing just fine in Canada but will be very happy once my interview is scheduled and I get my GC

Not bad. That’s cool

[Sorrel 83]

On 7/23/2021 at 3:26 PM, VA21202 said:

@CanadianMD yeah, it’s super frustrating and we’ll have wait and see what next month’s interview letters look like to see if there’s continued movement on the interviews for EB. Question for you to clarify your last comment: “obtain a work visa from an employer instead”. You mean “from my employer” right? Asking coz I’m assuming your employer that filed for the EB2 would be the only employer you can work for at the moment. Just curious, and I couldn’t find the answer to this clearly anywhere so I’m asking for awareness: If there is a layoff from the company that sponsored and filed the EB2 application, that application ends there correct?

Has anyone even gotten an IL for August? I called USCIS on Thursday and the person who answered checked with her supervisor, who indicated that EB1's were not being scheduled for Montreal right now. Montreal's update dated July 22, 2021 is the same as it was a month ago, they are still working on cancelled interviews from March and April, 2020.  But how many could that be?  There is no movement on our end!

[VA21202 109]

3 hours ago, Sorrel said:

Has anyone even gotten an IL for August? I called USCIS on Thursday and the person who answered checked with her supervisor, who indicated that EB1's were not being scheduled for Montreal right now. Montreal's update dated July 22, 2021 is the same as it was a month ago, they are still working on cancelled interviews from March and April, 2020.  But how many could that be?  There is no movement on our end!

Yes, if you scroll back a couple of pages you’ll notice that we have had at least two of our friends receive ILs for the month of Aug. These are the first EB interviews we’re aware of here and they both were initially scheduled for March 2020 and now rescheduled for Aug 2021. Additional note: their Case Complete dates were in September 2019.

Edited July 25, 2021 by VA21202

[Leeching Spouse 87]

Anyone tried to apply for Consular Processing in other countries instead, given the significant delay in Montreal consulate? A friend of a friend applied for Consular Processing in Malaysia during COVID and got it in 4 weeks.

Edited July 25, 2021 by CanadianMD

[Sorrel 83]

7 hours ago, VA21202 said:

Yes, if you scroll back a couple of pages you’ll notice that we have had at least two of our friends receive ILs for the month of Aug. These are the first EB interviews we’re aware of here and they both were initially scheduled for March 2020 and now rescheduled for Aug 2021. Additional note: their Case Complete dates were in September 2019.

sorry missed it!  That's at least a very very small start!   

[LMIV 19]

On 7/23/2021 at 3:32 PM, CanadianMD said:

I am filing through EB2 NIW (national interest waiver) for my I-140, which does not require an employer/sponsor for the visa. I do not have any US employers/sponsors.

 

I am now strongly considering applying for EB1-A as well, because of the premium processing option. This also does not require an employer/sponsor.

If you qualify for an O1, it might be best to get the O1 and then apply for an Adjustment of Status to EB1 once you're in the States.   Then you can avoid consular processing and the hellish backlog at the Montreal Consulate!  Btw-as far as I know, premium processing only speeds up getting the initial approval but does not jump the line for the final interview - have you heard differently?

[VA21202 109]

2 hours ago, LMIV said:

If you qualify for an O1, it might be best to get the O1 and then apply for an Adjustment of Status to EB1 once you're in the States.   Then you can avoid consular processing and the hellish backlog at the Montreal Consulate!  Btw-as far as I know, premium processing only speeds up getting the initial approval but does not jump the line for the final interview - have you heard differently?

Chiming in since it’s kinda relevant, I actually just came back to the US on an L1. However according to the lawyers, the AOS process is itself taking 14-16 months and 8-10 months to get an EAD+AP (they could very well be wrong but I haven’t found any good timelines) so I’m watching this forum to see if there’s some good movement and hope a few of the folks here get lucky when the August interview letters are released.  

Edited July 26, 2021 by VA21202

[viksaw 12]

8 hours ago, VA21202 said:

Chiming in since it’s kinda relevant, I actually just came back to the US on an L1. However according to the lawyers, the AOS process is itself taking 14-16 months and 8-10 months to get an EAD+AP (they could very well be wrong but I haven’t found any good timelines) so I’m watching this forum to see if there’s some good movement and hope a few of the folks here get lucky when the August interview letters are released.  

They are correct that AOS process is taking 14-16 months but after your i485 is pending for more than 6 months you can switch jobs under i485 J supplement. This gives you additional security if something happens to underline job offer. Also since there is no interview process, there is no chance of denial. If I had a chance I will go AOS route any day!!!

[VA21202 109]

21 minutes ago, viksaw said:

They are correct that AOS process is taking 14-16 months but after your i485 is pending for more than 6 months you can switch jobs under i485 J supplement. This gives you additional security if something happens to underline job offer. Also since there is no interview process, there is no chance of denial. If I had a chance I will go AOS route any day!!!

Sweet! Thanks for sharing that! 100% makes sense since it’s a super volatile situation. Let me look into it. I wonder if the lawyers are going to have any hesitation from the company with regards to filing this J supplement. Appreciate the info, this is what I was hoping to hear about!