Montreal embassy EB-2 interview wait time

[AshleyJill 3]

11 minutes ago, ascb said:

The country of chargeability only plays a role in determining if one's priority date is current. If someone was born in Armenia, but is a naturalized Canadian citizen living in Canada, their chargeability will be Armenia, but their CP will be done at the Montreal consulate. For the purposes of this discussion, it is assumed that everyone expecting an interview is current on their priority dates, regardless of where they (or their spouse) was born.

 

That said, yes, we all will go with what our respective lawyers suggest. However, it would be prudent for us to pay attention to what other folks in the same boat are experiencing or have experienced. Lawyers may or may not have information specific to a particular CP center. There are over 150 centers in the world where CP occurs, and each CP center has their own policy on the factors they use in scheduling interviews. NVC clearly states they receive open slots from the respective consulates, and the NVC computer just fills them. I tried finding out from NVC analyst if she knew the logic for the algorithm, but that information is not known to the analyst. All NVC says is that it is usually on a FIFO method for all applications where the priority date is current, but there are other factors that may play a role. Such as, the type of application (EB1/2/3, Family etc.), potentially the priority date itself, if someone has kids reaching 21 soon etc., and hopefully being able to exchange whatever little information we can on sites like these may enable us to get insights over and beyond what NVC or lawyers may state out of a book.

Again - no one can 100% be certain how things are done there.  I was told 6-8 weeks to get my case number but had it in under 3 weeks.  While this site is super helpful in realizing that you're not alone in the process and helping to sort out and avoid possible administrative and paperwork errors, I find that it's easy to become pessimistic about the process if you pay too much attention to everyone else's timeline.  Sure it can help be somewhat of a predictor - but for EB's there's just not enough information or data here for us to make conclusions.  

 

I'm optimistic about my own based on my own experiences, process and attorney's guidance. 

[ascb 1]

3 minutes ago, AshleyJill said:

Again - no one can 100% be certain how things are done there.  I was told 6-8 weeks to get my case number but had it in under 3 weeks.  While this site is super helpful in realizing that you're not alone in the process and helping to sort out and avoid possible administrative and paperwork errors, I find that it's easy to become pessimistic about the process if you pay too much attention to everyone else's timeline.  Sure it can help be somewhat of a predictor - but for EB's there's just not enough information or data here for us to make conclusions.  

 

I'm optimistic about my own based on my own experiences, process and attorney's guidance. 

I do agree with you that it is rather easy to get pessimistic. I was fine until yesterday till I saw these 5-6 month waiting times. Your post does give me hope, and I have to admit, did cheer me up a bit. So thanks for that, and good luck to all of us here.

[Shaki 2]

Thanks CanMon for this information but were you able to renew your TN after it expired? Seems so.

I frequently cross the border every other weekend and border would have been the best place to renew TN in my case but as you rightly said I will consider renewing with USCIS.

My prayer now is that I get interview before my TN expires.

Ashley, I agree with CanMon, the information on this site is accurate, what you need though is information from many sources and that's what helped me as I do not have a lawyer, my employer helped with Stage 1 & 2 of the GC process and told me to complete last stage.

I read number of forums and realized you do not need a lawyer for CP, infact your lawyer is not allowed to go into the consulate with you when interviewing so whats the point, don't get me wrong if you already have a lawyer looking at the whole process for you.

One thing I gained on this site is the interview timeline, I was told after CC its a month after for interview, I have called NVC multiple times with no valid information and I realized on this site that some cased closed in July are still awaiting interview.

If the backlog continues to the point my TN expires, I will extend my status with USCIS as CanMon had done.

Great info guys!!!

[CanMon 1]

1 hour ago, Shaki said:

Thanks CanMon for this information but were you able to renew your TN after it expired? Seems so.

I frequently cross the border every other weekend and border would have been the best place to renew TN in my case but as you rightly said I will consider renewing with USCIS.

My prayer now is that I get interview before my TN expires.

Ashley, I agree with CanMon, the information on this site is accurate, what you need though is information from many sources and that's what helped me as I do not have a lawyer, my employer helped with Stage 1 & 2 of the GC process and told me to complete last stage.

I read number of forums and realized you do not need a lawyer for CP, infact your lawyer is not allowed to go into the consulate with you when interviewing so whats the point, don't get me wrong if you already have a lawyer looking at the whole process for you.

One thing I gained on this site is the interview timeline, I was told after CC its a month after for interview, I have called NVC multiple times with no valid information and I realized on this site that some cased closed in July are still awaiting interview.

If the backlog continues to the point my TN expires, I will extend my status with USCIS as CanMon had done.

Great info guys!!!

Shaki,

 

I did not wait until my visa expired. USCIS received my I-129 extension application the day before my TN status expired. This gave me a window from when my TN status expired until the case was adjudicated to stay and work in the USA, however I COULD NOT TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY if you are crossing the border every weekend this would not work for you. Once you leave the USA you would abandon your 1-129 application. The current posted time line for TN extension applications is 2.5 - 4.5 months, my plan was to apply for the extension and once my interview was scheduled I would abandon the application and come back on the green card, but as I said I could not leave the USA during this time. However, the adjudication only took 10 days, which was surprising and not the norm. You can of course apply for premium processing and get and answer in 15 days, but if it is denied for some reason you are stuck right back with no TN status.

Also, the I-129 is significantly more expensive than the border...without lawyer fees the filing is $460 and if you have dependents it is $370 (I believe per person)

Premium processing is an addition 1225

 

I would highly recommend getting an immigration lawyer with experience with the the TN to GC situation.

[Shaki 2]

CanMon,

 

Thank you for this info, are you able to tell me when you submit your I-129?

I don't think I should rush applying for it, the reason been the timeline based on the thread:

PhilCanUSRN and Deztiny cc were May and got interviews in Nov, 2018, my guess is that you too will have your interview by Jan 2019.

Based on my cc and TN expiry date, there is over 7 months, so I can wait till Mar/Apr next year which am hopeful an interview would have been scheduled, if not I will start my I-129 application with USCIS by end of Mar /early April of 2019.

Any thought?

 

Thanks for your help

[CanMon 1]

42 minutes ago, Shaki said:

CanMon,

 

Thank you for this info, are you able to tell me when you submit your I-129?

I don't think I should rush applying for it, the reason been the timeline based on the thread:

PhilCanUSRN and Deztiny cc were May and got interviews in Nov, 2018, my guess is that you too will have your interview by Jan 2019.

Based on my cc and TN expiry date, there is over 7 months, so I can wait till Mar/Apr next year which am hopeful an interview would have been scheduled, if not I will start my I-129 application with USCIS by end of Mar /early April of 2019.

Any thought?

 

Thanks for your help

Shaki,

 

My previous visa expired on October 23, my application received date was October 22. As long as your extension application is received the day before your status expires you are good. You should be fine with 7+ months remaining. At least you know you have extension options so it is a little less stressful with the deadline.

 

Remember your company has to file the I-129.

[LoveCalifornia 3]

On ‎5‎/‎27‎/‎2018 at 9:05 PM, Canadianeh! said:

Hi everyone,

 

My case was completed at the NVC 03/16/18 (over 70 days ago) and I am waiting for an interview date to be assigned at the Montreal Embassy.  My visa category is EB-2.  Is anyone in a similar situation (EB-2, Montreal) who can share their experience/wait time?  This is taking much longer than anticipated.

 

Thanks a lot!

When did the OP end up getting their interview date?

[Canadianeh! 14]

24 minutes ago, GottaLoveCalif said:

When did the OP end up getting their interview date?

I ended up getting assigned an interview date on July 3 and the interview itself was on Aug. 21.  Good luck everyone!

Edited November 16, 2018 by Canadianeh!

[LoveCalifornia 3]

32 minutes ago, GottaLoveCalif said:

When did the OP end up getting their interview date?

Thanks. So it took you about 6 months from CC to interview. I guess I should expect about a year considering that I am 5 months into my I-140. BTW if HR 392 or it's language implemented in the DHS funding bill of 2019 is passed into law all of us non-Indians are screwed. I hope that's not gonna happen.

Edited November 16, 2018 by GottaLoveCalif

[Shaki 2]

GottaLoveCalif,

How do you mean 5months into I-140, are you saying your CP has not started?

Well, if you are non-indian, it will be better you fast track your I-140 processing i.e. if your priority date is current just go for premium processing on your I-140 application and this can be done anytime, as this could take a year or so to approve, then you now have to start the CP...

[ascb 1]

On 11/14/2018 at 9:36 AM, vnca said:

good idea

Did anyone in EB category with CC in July or August get scheduled for an interview in December yet? From another thread, it appears that all Sep CC cases in family based have been scheduled for December interviews.

[vnca 2]

21 minutes ago, ascb said:

Did anyone in EB category with CC in July or August get scheduled for an interview in December yet? From another thread, it appears that all Sep CC cases in family based have been scheduled for December interviews.

Nope,  no one I think.

[LoveCalifornia 3]

15 hours ago, Shaki said:

GottaLoveCalif,

How do you mean 5months into I-140, are you saying your CP has not started?

Well, if you are non-indian, it will be better you fast track your I-140 processing i.e. if your priority date is current just go for premium processing on your I-140 application and this can be done anytime, as this could take a year or so to approve, then you now have to start the CP...

Yes but unfortunately premium processing is not available for EB-2 NIW. 

[Shaki 2]

Vcna, Ascb,

 

It appears then that the Family cases are given priority over the employment cases.

I have stopped calling NVC and my timeline for interview now is 6 months from when case is closed.

Please guys when you get update on your visa interview at Montreal, kindly let us know- this info is very beneficial.

 

Thanks 

[ascb 1]

On ‎11‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 12:00 PM, Shaki said:

Vcna, Ascb,

 

It appears then that the Family cases are given priority over the employment cases.

I have stopped calling NVC and my timeline for interview now is 6 months from when case is closed.

Please guys when you get update on your visa interview at Montreal, kindly let us know- this info is very beneficial.

 

Thanks 

That's unfortunate. This means AOS may have been a better option.