Montreal Administrative Processing since June 2019 (221g)

[LoveCalifornia 3]

Hey guys, 

 

I went to my interview at Montreal consulate in June 2019 for EB2 work based green card. My paperwork was complete but the nice officer told me she would have to send my case to Washington DC and did not know how long it would take for them to process my case. She did not give me any specific reason, as I have extensive travel history to the U.S. with my Canadian passport in the past with no issues and a clear record. I wanted to know if there are any other cases like me here and if they have had any updates since then. One year is a very long time and every time I, my employer, or my senator contact the embassy, we just get a boiler plate response that the case is still in Administrative Processing.

 

Also my employer has now filed an H-1B petition for me and wants me on board by July 9th. As you know Canadians can with an approved H-1B petition don't need to go to consulate for visa stamping and can get admitted at the border or pre-clearance area of Canadian airports. Do you think I should try this option or just wait until the COVID-19 ban is lifted and my AP is complete? Does being in AP complicate my H-1B admission process considering the fact that H-1B is a dual intent visa? I am just not sure how many more months it might take and I don't want to lose this amazing job opportunity.

 

Thanks for your comments and advice.

 

 

Edited June 8, 2020 by LoveCalifornia

[TOtoVA 4]

Have you emailed the consulate? You could qualify for a review because of the job offer, but I know some visas are now temporarily banned from issue due to the recent presidential proclamation.. Email address for MTL consulate is montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

 

[LoveCalifornia 3]

1 minute ago, TOtoVA said:

Have you emailed the consulate? You could qualify for a review because of the job offer, but I know some visas are now temporarily banned from issue due to the recent presidential proclamation.. Email address for MTL consulate is montreal-IV-DV@state.gov

 

Thanks for your response. I have sent them two job offers. The consulate doesn't respond to my emails or just sends a boiler plate response. One of my job offers expired already and turned into a contract to work remotely from Canada and the other is still valid. The 2nd offer employer has sponsored me for H-1B but that category is banned along with all immigrant visas. Not sure if the H-1B ban applies to Canadians as well just waiting to hear on that. 

[lk27 0]

Hi, 

Any update on your case? 

My wife and I had the interview back in July 2019. I got the green card but 'the nice officer' sent my wife's case to administrative processing. 

With covid and Trump's EO, things got worse. 

Please share if your case was approved and if they explained why it got held so long. 

regards, 

Leo