IR-1/CR-1 Montreal DQ'd private message group goes public

[Todd@Alya 45]

I'm hoping we get news regarding the February interview this Friday or Monday. Am I being too optimistic?

[rafale1973 141]

For those who have crossed the border but haven’t received their SSN. What are you doing to pass the time if the employer isn’t employing you until you receive your social? I crossed December 15, I haven’t revu my SSN yet and my green card (which I think is normal for the GC). I don’t like to be stuck at home and being unable to work. 

[Makeitgood 25]

I did my medical today at Medisys in Montreal. It took four hours just for the medical test.  There were a lot of ppl waiting  too. Most of the time was just waiting for your turn for x rays , forms, urine test , BP etc. Tests actually tests little to no time at all. I asked if I could pick up the Med report in person next week but they said that they will email it to US embassy directly and don’t do paper handouts anymore due to COVID 19. Chest X Ray copy will be mailed to me and I was told that I will probably have to show it while crossing the border. It takes no more than 3-4 business to get the results. 
I have heard that US embassy is not really upto speed with updating the medical reports which has caused delays in issuing the visa.  I guess I will wait and see what happens. My interview is on Jan 13th. Good luck to everyone! 

[PennyLaneB 55]

I had my medical at Dr. Cheema's office on December 29th. It took me about 3 hours in total (mostly waiting for the blood and urine test at Life Labs). I got an email on January 4th from the office confirming that my medical report has been emailed to the consulate. Posting the information in case anyone is curious about the processing time for Dr. Cheema.

[darth vader 133]

Do you have to quarantine in Quebec if you travel from another province to Quebec for interview?

[Makeitgood 25]

1 hour ago, darth vader said:

Do you have to quarantine in Quebec if you travel from another province to Quebec for interview?

No, travellers are not required to quarantine while entering Quebec from other provinces right now. They do recommend to frequently check l the website for more info like Quebec.ca; I am here in Montreal for my Medical and interview as well. They are in lockdown right now though. I read that  it’s till 11th but they might extend it. 

[April M 28]

15 hours ago, jjiplaya said:

If this was say, 300 days ago I'd have to agree with you. This is day 903 since application was accepted~356 days since being DQ'd. This was an open-close case. I have been married for 13.5 yrs already. This is a little more than "it takes time".  These services are the rights of American citizens. There are rules and regulations for a reason and those rules have to be adhered to, even by the employees of the Consulate who's job it is to render a decision in a timely manner. I have followed those rules and was deemed worthy of a Green Card. Now, if there was an acceptable reason for this delay, I should be made aware of it so I can rectify it.  When people that have interviewed after me are getting their passports back, I can't help but question what the heck is going on at that Consulate.  Are we now back logged in the "issued" department"????? I mean for God sake, enough already.

 

@April MI appreciate your response and understand where your coming from but not every situation deserves the same ol' Be PaTieNT iT tAkeS TiMe...

Ours was and still is worth a reasonable time frame but sadly we were interrupted time and time again. The trial of having to wait for others it's very senseless but it is happening. It took our case over two years even though the USCIS office in America accepted him into the country. When they say process that's exactly what they mean they're going to take you through a very lengthy long process. sometimes I think that that's how they find out how serious you really are. most people that are just willing for the benefit are not willing to take the time and find other means if it's not that important to them. But I do understand the cost that honorable people are having to go through because of the people who take advantage of the system. Even though my husband is in the States now after more than two years of waiting we are still hung up on processes in order to make things work. Just keep going just keep hanging in there it'll happen. 

[mam521 2,174]

On 1/4/2021 at 3:46 PM, jackanddeona said:

From the research I have done at the Texas DMV you should be able to get a drivers license with this proof:

• Foreign passport with attached temporary I-551 (immigrant visa endorsed with ADIT stamp)
• Proof of Identity
• Proof of Texas Residency
• SSN (people who have not ever been issued one can go to a DMV location and sign an affidavit stating so)

This website really has helped me plan for it. https://www.dps.texas.gov/DriverLicense/ApplyforLicense.htm

 

I would appreciate if you try to get a drivers license without a ssn if you let me know how it goes since I was planning on trying to do that myself the first week I am there.

 

On 1/4/2021 at 4:24 PM, wordsfromdani said:

I have the same list of requirements, I am changing our utility bills to be in my name so that I have proof of Texas Residency .  I'm giving it two weeks in hopes that my SSN comes in fast like some other's have experienced, and if I don't have my SSN I'll head in.

Texas is dumb - you have to have your vehicle registered in state within 30 days of arrival.  HOWEVER, you CANNOT get your driver's license changed until you've been IN state for 30 days.  

 

That said, depending on where you are, book an appointment online with DPS ASAP.  Most locations are booking months out.  I spoke with a state trooper when I came back and he said that as long as you have a valid driver's license, be it Canadian or American, they are probably just going to turn a blind eye because they know how backed up things are.  He was really great because I was super upset - I'd booked an appointment in Conroe but they turned me away because I didn't have a copy of my truck insurance card with my name specifically listed on it, just hubby's (I've been on the insurance on the truck for YEARS. He was on my Canadian insurance, despite never lived in Canada - CYA!).  

 

12 hours ago, rafale1973 said:

For those who have crossed the border but haven’t received their SSN. What are you doing to pass the time if the employer isn’t employing you until you receive your social? I crossed December 15, I haven’t revu my SSN yet and my green card (which I think is normal for the GC). I don’t like to be stuck at home and being unable to work. 

Your employer can't require the SSN.  See page 3 of the I-9 form.  Your validated I-551 in your passport satisfies both Identity and Employment Authorization requirements.  

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9-paper-version.pdf

[aurmorr 270]

has anyone who has gone for the medical had a kinda complicated medical history? Like- you can’t fail a medical right? Especially if I have insurance waiting for me on the other side? 

[rafale1973 141]

1 hour ago, mam521 said:

 

Texas is dumb - you have to have your vehicle registered in state within 30 days of arrival.  HOWEVER, you CANNOT get your driver's license changed until you've been IN state for 30 days.  

 

That said, depending on where you are, book an appointment online with DPS ASAP.  Most locations are booking months out.  I spoke with a state trooper when I came back and he said that as long as you have a valid driver's license, be it Canadian or American, they are probably just going to turn a blind eye because they know how backed up things are.  He was really great because I was super upset - I'd booked an appointment in Conroe but they turned me away because I didn't have a copy of my truck insurance card with my name specifically listed on it, just hubby's (I've been on the insurance on the truck for YEARS. He was on my Canadian insurance, despite never lived in Canada - CYA!).  

 

Your employer can't require the SSN.  See page 3 of the I-9 form.  Your validated I-551 in your passport satisfies both Identity and Employment Authorization requirements.  

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9-paper-version.pdf

Yeah i know that. I told that to the employer. I said well my visa authorize me to work right now even if I haven’t recent SSN yet. But they said no we really need you to have your social. To call them once I receive it. My bet is the position will be filled once I’ll call back... 

[Specter 35]

Did Anyone recently had their medical examination performed with Dr Lyndon Mascarenhas (Toronto)? How was your experience?

[legendqueue 163]

20 minutes ago, aurmorr said:

has anyone who has gone for the medical had a kinda complicated medical history? Like- you can’t fail a medical right? Especially if I have insurance waiting for me on the other side? 

I'd like to know this as well.  It seems the main purposes of the medical are to find out if you have any communicable diseases.  But my medical history is also kinda complicated, and while I'm a healthy weightlifting 40something now, I have hip replacement scars and a lifetime Lyrica script as souvenirs of my chemo many years ago :).  I'm hoping it's like, yeah you're fine now.  What blood tests are even included?  

[jjiplaya 7]

6 hours ago, April M said:

Ours was and still is worth a reasonable time frame but sadly we were interrupted time and time again. The trial of having to wait for others it's very senseless but it is happening. It took our case over two years even though the USCIS office in America accepted him into the country. When they say process that's exactly what they mean they're going to take you through a very lengthy long process. sometimes I think that that's how they find out how serious you really are. most people that are just willing for the benefit are not willing to take the time and find other means if it's not that important to them. But I do understand the cost that honorable people are having to go through because of the people who take advantage of the system. Even though my husband is in the States now after more than two years of waiting we are still hung up on processes in order to make things work. Just keep going just keep hanging in there it'll happen. 

Thanks for taking the time to write this, I appreciate it.

[mam521 2,174]

25 minutes ago, rafale1973 said:

Yeah i know that. I told that to the employer. I said well my visa authorize me to work right now even if I haven’t recent SSN yet. But they said no we really need you to have your social. To call them once I receive it. My bet is the position will be filled once I’ll call back... 

Its usually that their HR is not familiar with the rules because they don't typically deal with PR.  I'd print the instructions and show them.  I had this headache, too.  It's just like everything else it seems - we, the immigrant, often know more than the "authority".  

 

They say pandemic fatigue is real...well, ain't nothing like immigration fatigue, y'all!  And EVERY. SINGLE. PERSON here is alllll too familiar.  

 

Side note: Kid2's greencard came with the wrong status (CR instead of IR.  Mine and Kid1's were correct).  Sent in the I-90 application.  Had it sent back.  Fixed the issue (I didn't know I was supposed to sign it on Kid2's behalf and only signed as the preparer).  NOA received.  Logged into USCIS online: "this case should take no more than 4 months".  Great...Kid2's freaking passport expires Mar. 31, 2021! I can't send it to Canada to get a new one because we won't have any proof of residency here without it.  The pre-covid plan was to replace said passport in the summer when the kids usually spend a month with their dad in Alberta.  

 

Add to that, the ladies at the Conroe SSA office don't think they can issue a SSN without the physical card.  Tried to tell them otherwise, but they don't listen.  

 

Ugh.  

[April M 28]

1 hour ago, rafale1973 said:

Yeah i know that. I told that to the employer. I said well my visa authorize me to work right now even if I haven’t recent SSN yet. But they said no we really need you to have your social. To call them once I receive it. My bet is the position will be filled once I’ll call back... 

We went to the office and gave the info and now have to wait 4 to 6 weeks for the social security number in the mail. We called the USCIS office and asked about the green card and they told us that we need to wait until the green card comes in even though his passport was stamped before he can get a job. What to do while waiting well... He's trying to get back on mated to the area, see if he can make some friends, and we have some other applications that need to take care of. Yes, it is hard to wait. We have waited long already but we want to do what is right. We don't wont to mess up all that we have done already.