Montreal Consulate closes bc of gov’t shutdown?

[MC1 36]

I checked Montreal Consulate’s twitter feed to see its status now that the us govt is in actual shutdown mode, and it doesn’t look promising.  It posted about six hours ago that, (translated roughly,) “Due to the lapse in appropriation of the Government, this account is not updated regularly.” 

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/usconsmontreal/status/1076466354172166145

 

I have read elsewhere consulates will likely stay open Bc 1) govt does not fund them, visa fees support their operations, or 2) consulates have some reserve funds they can use to keep them operational for a short time.  Hoping that still to be true even though the twitter post makes me consider otherwise.  

Edited December 22, 2018 by MC1

[MC1 36]

CTV posted a few days ago:

 

STATE DEPARTMENT

If no deal is reached to keep the government open, many State Department operations will continue. Passport and visa processing, which are largely self-funded by consumer fees, will not shut down. The agency's main headquarters in Washington, in consultation with the nearly 300 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions around the world, will draw up lists of non-essential employees who will be furloughed.

Department operations will continue through the weekend and staffers will be instructed to report for work as usual on Monday to find out whether they have been furloughed.

 

https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/world/here-s-what-won-t-get-done-during-a-u-s-government-shutdown-1.3767451

 

So CTV says visa processing will stay open.  

 

And hoping that’s true. The twitter post doesn’t actually contradict the CTV article Bc the post just says the twitter feed won’t be updated regularly.  

 

But the twitter feed post is the most recent update directly from the consulate, and it does suggest part of consulate is being affected. 

 

 

 

Edited December 22, 2018 by MC1

[nvm lol 35]

I have no idea if it will stay open or not. Trump declared December 5th a federal holiday and they closed and moved my interview from the 5th till the 6th and gave me 1 days notice. So I have no idea if shut down will impact it or not - but just pay attention to your email. 

[MC1 36]

3 hours ago, telitty said:

I have no idea if it will stay open or not. Trump declared December 5th a federal holiday and they closed and moved my interview from the 5th till the 6th and gave me 1 days notice. So I have no idea if shut down will impact it or not - but just pay attention to your email. 

Yes, I remember that.  So sorry that happened to you!  It's the last-minute changes that make me weary.  I had my interview Dec 13th, and my passport has been in "final processing" (where you get the message "if you don't get your visa within 5 days, track your package") as of last Wednesday (Dec 18th).  It didn't make it out of the mailroom by Friday, though, and now I don't know when it will go into the mail.   So close, and then more drama.  😓

 

 

[Loois 21]

On 12/15/2018 at 8:49 AM, NikLR said:

 Yay! Congrats!

 

11 hours ago, MC1 said:

Yes, I remember that.  So sorry that happened to you!  It's the last-minute changes that make me weary.  I had my interview Dec 13th, and my passport has been in "final processing" (where you get the message "if you don't get your visa within 5 days, track your package") as of last Wednesday (Dec 18th).  It didn't make it out of the mailroom by Friday, though, and now I don't know when it will go into the mail.   So close, and then more drama.  😓

 

 

Yes same here. Interview dec 14th. We think visa been issued but no tracking number. Hoping to get it by Friday or Monday after. 

[MC1 36]

2 hours ago, Loois said:

 

Yes same here. Interview dec 14th. We think visa been issued but no tracking number. Hoping to get it by Friday or Monday after. 

Montreal Consulate website updated yesterday to say they will stay open for all scheduled visa services during government shutdown:

 

https://ca.usembassy.gov/u-s-mission-to-canada-providing-scheduled-consular-services-during-lapse-in-appropriations/

 

@Loois, I hope that also means they will be sending passports out.

[MeghanK 629]

Just FYI, the consulates (as all govt entities) have specific staff that run their social media accounts, those employees will definitely be furloughed, hence the no updates on Twitter. Posts on gov't social media accounts as such are standard shutdown procedure.