Passport Return: Canada Post strike

[C32 46]

13 minutes ago, california3 said:

I am really frustrated. I had my interview on Oct. 17. Apparently THAT DAY they decided to stop sending out passports/visas and NO ONE notified us at the interview. And they didn't email my ANYTHING so I JUST found out about the Oct. 17 stoppage of delivery from this site. I would have extended my stay in Montreal, and I live in Vancouver. Additionally, NO ONE has emailed me regarded pick up, I emailed and called the Visa information center three times and they just kept saying my visa is in final processing, they did not mention ANYTHING about the stoppage of delivery. FINALLY today the Montreal consulate answered MY initial email from last week saying to come pick it up in Montreal... this is ridiculous I have been waiting three weeks and who knows how long I will have to wait. They didn't even notify me that I have to pick it up! Very unhappy with this upsetting process.

Wow, that sounds awful. I’m sorry it was so rough 😕 

[Mevora 11]

Take it easy guys. Life could be much more worse !

First world problems

 

[Fiker 5]

35 minutes ago, california3 said:

I am really frustrated. I had my interview on Oct. 17. Apparently THAT DAY they decided to stop sending out passports/visas and NO ONE notified us at the interview. And they didn't email my ANYTHING so I JUST found out about the Oct. 17 stoppage of delivery from this site. I would have extended my stay in Montreal, and I live in Vancouver. Additionally, NO ONE has emailed me regarded pick up, I emailed and called the Visa information center three times and they just kept saying my visa is in final processing, they did not mention ANYTHING about the stoppage of delivery. FINALLY today the Montreal consulate answered MY initial email from last week saying to come pick it up in Montreal... this is ridiculous I have been waiting three weeks and who knows how long I will have to wait. They didn't even notify me that I have to pick it up! Very unhappy with this upsetting process.

I know it is very disappointing but you are almost done and I went there today and I over heard that the lady told the person I front he has like till December to expire his visa. And better to go and pick up your passport 

[saadbutt 10]

Hi everyone,

 

Here is how i got my passport back without making a trip to Montreal.

 

I had already seen my status changed to issued online. I emailed montreal embassy and they sent me the generic email.

 

I contacted a messenger company in Montreal (the one i used was called messageries speedo though i am pretty sure there are other courier companies as well).

 

I emailed them the pickup email as well as a signed authorization letter (not notarized though) to pick up my passport on my behalf from the embassy.

 

Their messenger went out on tuesday and the embassy gave them my passport. they sent it to me same day through UPS and i received it today in Halifax in the afternoon.

 

This whole process was less than 2 days and cost me a total of 55 dollars.

 

Hope this helps some of you

[arellah 125]

1 minute ago, saadbutt said:

Hi everyone,

 

Here is how i got my passport back without making a trip to Montreal.

 

I had already seen my status changed to issued online. I emailed montreal embassy and they sent me the generic email.

 

I contacted a messenger company in Montreal (the one i used was called messageries speedo though i am pretty sure there are other courier companies as well).

 

I emailed them the pickup email as well as a signed authorization letter (not notarized though) to pick up my passport on my behalf from the embassy.

 

Their messenger went out on tuesday and the embassy gave them my passport. they sent it to me same day through UPS and i received it today in Halifax in the afternoon.

 

This whole process was less than 2 days and cost me a total of 55 dollars.

 

Hope this helps some of you

Thank you so much!

[SR_CAN 111]

15 hours ago, california3 said:

I am really frustrated. I had my interview on Oct. 17. Apparently THAT DAY they decided to stop sending out passports/visas and NO ONE notified us at the interview. And they didn't email my ANYTHING so I JUST found out about the Oct. 17 stoppage of delivery from this site. I would have extended my stay in Montreal, and I live in Vancouver. Additionally, NO ONE has emailed me regarded pick up, I emailed and called the Visa information center three times and they just kept saying my visa is in final processing, they did not mention ANYTHING about the stoppage of delivery. FINALLY today the Montreal consulate answered MY initial email from last week saying to come pick it up in Montreal... this is ridiculous I have been waiting three weeks and who knows how long I will have to wait. They didn't even notify me that I have to pick it up! Very unhappy with this upsetting process.

Yep - Myself, MSHAM, and Mariahk all had interviews on the 17th. I'm also from Vancouver and I flew to Montreal last week to pick my stuff up...they ended up replying to my initial email a week later as well haha. If you have the chance to fly to Montreal, I highly recommend doing so. It's a bit of a hassle, but I'm not sure when you'll get your passport back otherwise. However, if you're not in a rush, then you can wait it out! There is also an option to hire a courier service to pick it up for you and mail it via UPS!

[riya2017 0]

Hi Folks...I have been following this thread.

My visa interview was on 1st Nov at Calgary, online DS160 shows issued. No email regarding passport yet. I wrote to the consulate and hoping to get a response. So disappointing ! 

Did anyone have interview recently at the Calgary consulate?

[california3 0]

2 hours ago, SR_CAN said:

Yep - Myself, MSHAM, and Mariahk all had interviews on the 17th. I'm also from Vancouver and I flew to Montreal last week to pick my stuff up...they ended up replying to my initial email a week later as well haha. If you have the chance to fly to Montreal, I highly recommend doing so. It's a bit of a hassle, but I'm not sure when you'll get your passport back otherwise. However, if you're not in a rush, then you can wait it out! There is also an option to hire a courier service to pick it up for you and mail it via UPS!

Yes I just noticed that someone was able to hire a courier, others mentioned that it was not an option.. I will look into that! Do you guys recommend Fedex or UPS? 

[SR_CAN 111]

Just now, california3 said:

Yes I just noticed that someone was able to hire a courier, others mentioned that it was not an option.. I will look into that! Do you guys recommend Fedex or UPS? 

I think UPS!!

[arellah 125]

55 minutes ago, riya2017 said:

Hi Folks...I have been following this thread.

My visa interview was on 1st Nov at Calgary, online DS160 shows issued. No email regarding passport yet. I wrote to the consulate and hoping to get a response. So disappointing ! 

Did anyone have interview recently at the Calgary consulate?

What kind of visa are you applying for? For spousal visas, I would say pretty much all of us have gone to the Montreal consulate.

[C32 46]

4 hours ago, saadbutt said:

Hi everyone,

 

Here is how i got my passport back without making a trip to Montreal.

 

I had already seen my status changed to issued online. I emailed montreal embassy and they sent me the generic email.

 

I contacted a messenger company in Montreal (the one i used was called messageries speedo though i am pretty sure there are other courier companies as well).

 

I emailed them the pickup email as well as a signed authorization letter (not notarized though) to pick up my passport on my behalf from the embassy.

 

Their messenger went out on tuesday and the embassy gave them my passport. they sent it to me same day through UPS and i received it today in Halifax in the afternoon.

 

This whole process was less than 2 days and cost me a total of 55 dollars.

 

Hope this helps some of you

So helpful! Thank you! 

[Soubz 29]

On 11/7/2018 at 10:35 AM, saadbutt said:

Hi everyone,

 

Here is how i got my passport back without making a trip to Montreal.

 

I had already seen my status changed to issued online. I emailed montreal embassy and they sent me the generic email.

 

I contacted a messenger company in Montreal (the one i used was called messageries speedo though i am pretty sure there are other courier companies as well).

 

I emailed them the pickup email as well as a signed authorization letter (not notarized though) to pick up my passport on my behalf from the embassy.

 

Their messenger went out on tuesday and the embassy gave them my passport. they sent it to me same day through UPS and i received it today in Halifax in the afternoon.

 

This whole process was less than 2 days and cost me a total of 55 dollars.

 

Hope this helps some of you

That is so helpful, thank you! 

 

Do you mind sharing what information you needed to include in the authorization letter?

[saadbutt 10]

I just put in my passport number and my case number. 

 

I left a blank space for the name field of the person picking up and put in the name of the courier company so the letter was something along the lines of

 

" my name is ______, my passport number is ______ and my case number is ______

 

I authorize _________ (that is the field i left blank so the courier company could fill out the name of the person picking up if needed) from messageries speedo to pick up my passport on my behalf if my visa has been issued. If you need any confirmation or clarification please contact me at ______(phone number)"

 

 

[Soubz 29]

26 minutes ago, saadbutt said:

I just put in my passport number and my case number. 

 

I left a blank space for the name field of the person picking up and put in the name of the courier company so the letter was something along the lines of

 

" my name is ______, my passport number is ______ and my case number is ______

 

I authorize _________ (that is the field i left blank so the courier company could fill out the name of the person picking up if needed) from messageries speedo to pick up my passport on my behalf if my visa has been issued. If you need any confirmation or clarification please contact me at ______(phone number)"

 

 

Thank you!!!

[riya2017 0]

On 11/7/2018 at 4:30 PM, arellah said:

What kind of visa are you applying for? For spousal visas, I would say pretty much all of us have gone to the Montreal consulate.

L1 visa...I am thinking of going to Calgary to pick it up next week Nov 13th or 14th . The consulate replied saying they will hold the passport and ship it as soon as strike is over. I will write to them and see if they can hold it so that I can pick it up in person . 

 

Is that possible?

Edited November 9, 2018 by riya2017