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

[CGs_Mother 114]

3 hours ago, YYZ-DFW said:

My husband had his interview this morning and was approved! He was in and out of there in 40 minutes, said that the only documents they requested were our original marriage certificate, his birth certificate and his passport. The officer interviewing him asked only a few questions:

-what is your wife's name?

-what does she do?

-what does her mother do? (because she is acting as the joint sponsor in our case)

-what do you do?

After that, he said he will be approving the visa and handed him the "welcome to the USA" letter.

 

He drove to Montreal yesterday from Toronto and crossed the Quebec border around noon. No police in sight and no stops. Drove back today and there was a checkpoint at the Ontario border but they waved through everyone with an Ontario license plate. 

 

Now will wait for the passport to be mailed back! Overall a smooth morning  

 

 

 

I'll bet we saw him there. I'm just about to type up my report.  

[CGs_Mother 114]

My teenager and I had our interviews this morning. I don't know how much detail people want, but I'm a writer so I will probably give way too many details.

 

We drove yesterday to Montreal from Toronto (Ajax, just east of Toronto). We saw the SQ flashing lights as we neared the ON/QC border, and I remembered the tip I got from here about pulling into the plaza (thank you!). I confused my teenager because I spoke French with the SQ and then confused the SQ because my letter was in English. But he waved us on - they had about 5 stops set up so if you were trying to drive past in a passenger vehicle (not a transport), they were going to stop you. 

 

We stayed at a hotel about 10 min away from the Consulate because we got a good deal. The only problem was their checkout time was noon and I was concerned about being stuck in the interview, so I ended up driving and parking at Dominion Square (Peel and Ste-Catherine parkette). I was shocked to see how much of a ghost town Montreal is because of COVID, but at least the curfew has been moved back to 9:30, so we got a good walk in before bed last night.

 

We arrived about 10 minutes early for the interview, and were told to go and come back precisely at 9:45. Since nothing was open, we just walked back to the corner and stood inside Dominion Square for a few minutes before going back. It was my teenager's first time wearing a belt, so Security was fun. There were plenty of boxes so I was able to store my electronics (phone, car key fob, earphones, USB key) in a box. We went upstairs and went to Window 6, handed in our passports, and waited to be called. My teenager did quite well waiting without electronics or anything. I think we were sitting for about 20 minutes when our number was called and we went to pre-processing. The first processing person asked me to confirm the address where we would be residing in the US, and then asked for the following documents:

 

- birth certificates for my teenager and me

- marriage certificate for me (and my husband)

- divorce decrees for my husband

- death certificate for my late husband (evidence of termination of first marriage)

- police check 

- 1 passport photo for each of my teenager and me

 

When I handed in the passport photos, I had brought the same photos as we used for the NVC uploads. They were nearly a year old, so we were asked to go have new ones taken. The processing clerk gave us a note granting us permission to leave the consulate for 20 minutes to go get passport photos taken at the Pharmaprix next door, and we were told to come back to the same booth when we had the photos. We had to take all of our belongings, including the electronics, and go over to the Pharmaprix, except their passport camera was broken (of course!) so we ended up going to Jean Coutu two blocks up from the Consulate. Once again, I spoke French and made sure they could do US Passport photos. I guess all of the pharmacies there are used to being asked because it wasn't a problem at all. We had our photos in hand ($20 for both sets) in less than 10 minutes, and went back to the consulate, where we had to go through Security again, had to lock back up our electronics, and take off and put back on the troublesome belt (one of those "Worst Day Ever" things for teenagers!). The clerk was still waiting for us, so we handed in our photos, and then, after scanning our fingerprints, he asked us to be seated and wait for our number. 

 

I think we waited for another 20 minutes and our number was called. The interviewer was a lovely gentleman, very friendly, very chipper. He scanned our fingerprints asked the following questions:

 

- what is the name of the petitioner?

- (to my teenager) is he your stepfather?

- (to me) how did you and your husband meet?

- when did you meet in person the first time? (since we met online)

- how often did you see each other before you got married?

- how often do you see each other? (I told him that COVID had made things more difficult and he was very understanding)

- have you ever been arrested or charged with any crime? (asked this of both me and my teenager)

- have you ever lived in any country other than Canada?

- where will you be living when you move to the US? (I confirmed the address)

- confirmed that my husband is not the biological father of my child

- asked if there were any more children (I said my husband had a 27 year old son with a family of his own, which apparently doesn't count for AoS but it counts for something because he made a note of it.)

 

Then he asked if I had read the pamphlet about spousal abuse and I confirmed I had. He asked if I had any questions, and I said no.

 

He did a thorough review of my updated I-864A and our updated I-864, which he already had in the system. He confirmed that my company would continue to employ me after I moved, and I brought my ink original of my Letter of Intent, which he did not need since he already had the scanned version. He did not ask for the originals of the AoS documents. He did ask for the Property Tax Assessment for my husband's house since we had initially submitted this with our first AoS.

 

Then he said, "There are a couple of clearances we're waiting for, but I am going to recommend that you be approved for residency. You should get your passports back in about 3 weeks or so." Then he handed me the letter, and I thanked him. 

 

Then he asked my teenager if they were excited about going to high school in the US and what grade they would be going into. 

 

That was it - so I am guessing we were approved! He didn't say what clearances he was waiting for, but I did see the medical on the file through the window. I haven't logged in to check. But there was no mention of AP, and I got the letter, so I'm guessing that's what they normally say...?

 

Sorry if I sound too cautious about that. I want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a big cheer about going to Texas! Can someone let me know if the bit about "waiting for clearances" is standard language?

 

Thanks again to everyone here who has helped us get through this crazy process, especially this past year!! 

 

PS After picking up fresh bagels at Fairmount, we drove back to Ontario, and were waved through, though we did stop at the rest stop for some food and cheaper gas.

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by CGs_Mother
extra information

[CGs_Mother 114]

2 hours ago, HAB said:

Thanks for the info Kai. I agree with you, is better to have it than not. But to upload a new Affidavit of support I 864 sounds excessive cuz the same information is there. I think to uploading the new W2 also 1040 for the year 2020  should be enough. 

I had scanned my husband's new W2 for 2020 and my tax documents for 2020 (because I filed and he hasn't yet because the US deadline is May 17) into CEAC and brought copies. The interviewer already had the documents from CEAC. So upload everything, and bring copies in case. 

[TedsGirl 193]

51 minutes ago, CGs_Mother said:

My teenager and I had our interviews this morning. I don't know how much detail people want, but I'm a writer so I will probably give way too many details.

 

We drove yesterday to Montreal from Toronto (Ajax, just east of Toronto). We saw the SQ flashing lights as we neared the ON/QC border, and I remembered the tip I got from here about pulling into the plaza (thank you!). I confused my teenager because I spoke French with the SQ and then confused the SQ because my letter was in English. But he waved us on - they had about 5 stops set up so if you were trying to drive past in a passenger vehicle (not a transport), they were going to stop you. 

 

We stayed at a hotel about 10 min away from the Consulate because we got a good deal. The only problem was their checkout time was noon and I was concerned about being stuck in the interview, so I ended up driving and parking at Dominion Square (Peel and Ste-Catherine parkette). I was shocked to see how much of a ghost town Montreal is because of COVID, but at least the curfew has been moved back to 9:30, so we got a good walk in before bed last night.

 

We arrived about 10 minutes early for the interview, and were told to go and come back precisely at 9:45. Since nothing was open, we just walked back to the corner and stood inside Dominion Square for a few minutes before going back. It was my teenager's first time wearing a belt, so Security was fun. There were plenty of boxes so I was able to store my electronics (phone, car key fob, earphones, USB key) in a box. We went upstairs and went to Window 6, handed in our passports, and waited to be called. My teenager did quite well waiting without electronics or anything. I think we were sitting for about 20 minutes when our number was called and we went to pre-processing. The first processing person asked me to confirm the address where we would be residing in the US, and then asked for the following documents:

 

- birth certificates for my teenager and me

- marriage certificate for me (and my husband)

- divorce decrees for my husband

- death certificate for my late husband (evidence of termination of first marriage)

- police check 

- 1 passport photo for each of my teenager and me

 

When I handed in the passport photos, I had brought the same photos as we used for the NVC uploads. They were nearly a year old, so we were asked to go have new ones taken. The processing clerk gave us a note granting us permission to leave the consulate for 20 minutes to go get passport photos taken at the Pharmaprix next door, and we were told to come back to the same booth when we had the photos. We had to take all of our belongings, including the electronics, and go over to the Pharmaprix, except their passport camera was broken (of course!) so we ended up going to Jean Coutu two blocks up from the Consulate. Once again, I spoke French and made sure they could do US Passport photos. I guess all of the pharmacies there are used to being asked because it wasn't a problem at all. We had our photos in hand ($20 for both sets) in less than 10 minutes, and went back to the consulate, where we had to go through Security again, had to lock back up our electronics, and take off and put back on the troublesome belt (one of those "Worst Day Ever" things for teenagers!). The clerk was still waiting for us, so we handed in our photos, and then, after scanning our fingerprints, he asked us to be seated and wait for our number. 

 

I think we waited for another 20 minutes and our number was called. The interviewer was a lovely gentleman, very friendly, very chipper. He scanned our fingerprints asked the following questions:

 

- what is the name of the petitioner?

- (to my teenager) is he your stepfather?

- (to me) how did you and your husband meet?

- when did you meet in person the first time? (since we met online)

- how often did you see each other before you got married?

- how often do you see each other? (I told him that COVID had made things more difficult and he was very understanding)

- have you ever been arrested or charged with any crime? (asked this of both me and my teenager)

- have you ever lived in any country other than Canada?

- where will you be living when you move to the US? (I confirmed the address)

- confirmed that my husband is not the biological father of my child

- asked if there were any more children (I said my husband had a 27 year old son with a family of his own, which apparently doesn't count for AoS but it counts for something because he made a note of it.)

 

Then he asked if I had read the pamphlet about spousal abuse and I confirmed I had. He asked if I had any questions, and I said no.

 

He did a thorough review of my updated I-864A and our updated I-864, which he already had in the system. He confirmed that my company would continue to employ me after I moved, and I brought my ink original of my Letter of Intent, which he did not need since he already had the scanned version. He did not ask for the originals of the AoS documents. He did ask for the Property Tax Assessment for my husband's house since we had initially submitted this with our first AoS.

 

Then he said, "There are a couple of clearances we're waiting for, but I am going to recommend that you be approved for residency. You should get your passports back in about 3 weeks or so." Then he handed me the letter, and I thanked him. 

 

Then he asked my teenager if they were excited about going to high school in the US and what grade they would be going into. 

 

That was it - so I am guessing we were approved! He didn't say what clearances he was waiting for, but I did see the medical on the file through the window. I haven't logged in to check. But there was no mention of AP, and I got the letter, so I'm guessing that's what they normally say...?

 

Sorry if I sound too cautious about that. I want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a big cheer about going to Texas! Can someone let me know if the bit about "waiting for clearances" is standard language?

 

Thanks again to everyone here who has helped us get through this crazy process, especially this past year!! 

 

PS After picking up fresh bagels at Fairmount, we drove back to Ontario, and were waved through, though we did stop at the rest stop for some food and cheaper gas.

 

-lurk in-

 

So happy for you!!!!! ❤️ I know this has been a very long road for you (as it is and has been for everyone else) 

All the very best to you! Wow! Also what a fantastic anniversary gift to you and your husband. 

 

-lurk out-

[DGF 730]

9 hours ago, ANL said:

If it comes down to it and I had to file a CRBA, would I be able to take baby to the States no problem once I get my visa? How long does processing take? I know they're not allowing Canadian citizens to drive across the border unless they have visa/permanent residence. I was in Canada in February and we had to fly back to the States even though we were allowed to drive in to Canada.

It doesn't take too long. You'll need the baby's birth certificate to file for CRBA, and then it's just waiting for their passport to be printed. It's probably going to be easier to wait in Canada for the CRBA to process than to try to cross without them having status in the US. 
 

8 hours ago, AnkitShah20 said:

Hi,

Does anyone know what are the status changes of Green card after paying the fees and activating the CR1 visa? As of now, status is showing Immigrant Visa Fee Received.  

It stays at payment received until it's printed, at which point I think it changes to card was processed. Then that it was sent, and then that it was delivered. 
 

3 hours ago, CGs_Mother said:

My teenager and I had our interviews this morning. I don't know how much detail people want, but I'm a writer so I will probably give way too many details.

 

We drove yesterday to Montreal from Toronto (Ajax, just east of Toronto). We saw the SQ flashing lights as we neared the ON/QC border, and I remembered the tip I got from here about pulling into the plaza (thank you!). I confused my teenager because I spoke French with the SQ and then confused the SQ because my letter was in English. But he waved us on - they had about 5 stops set up so if you were trying to drive past in a passenger vehicle (not a transport), they were going to stop you. 

 

We stayed at a hotel about 10 min away from the Consulate because we got a good deal. The only problem was their checkout time was noon and I was concerned about being stuck in the interview, so I ended up driving and parking at Dominion Square (Peel and Ste-Catherine parkette). I was shocked to see how much of a ghost town Montreal is because of COVID, but at least the curfew has been moved back to 9:30, so we got a good walk in before bed last night.

 

We arrived about 10 minutes early for the interview, and were told to go and come back precisely at 9:45. Since nothing was open, we just walked back to the corner and stood inside Dominion Square for a few minutes before going back. It was my teenager's first time wearing a belt, so Security was fun. There were plenty of boxes so I was able to store my electronics (phone, car key fob, earphones, USB key) in a box. We went upstairs and went to Window 6, handed in our passports, and waited to be called. My teenager did quite well waiting without electronics or anything. I think we were sitting for about 20 minutes when our number was called and we went to pre-processing. The first processing person asked me to confirm the address where we would be residing in the US, and then asked for the following documents:

 

- birth certificates for my teenager and me

- marriage certificate for me (and my husband)

- divorce decrees for my husband

- death certificate for my late husband (evidence of termination of first marriage)

- police check 

- 1 passport photo for each of my teenager and me

 

When I handed in the passport photos, I had brought the same photos as we used for the NVC uploads. They were nearly a year old, so we were asked to go have new ones taken. The processing clerk gave us a note granting us permission to leave the consulate for 20 minutes to go get passport photos taken at the Pharmaprix next door, and we were told to come back to the same booth when we had the photos. We had to take all of our belongings, including the electronics, and go over to the Pharmaprix, except their passport camera was broken (of course!) so we ended up going to Jean Coutu two blocks up from the Consulate. Once again, I spoke French and made sure they could do US Passport photos. I guess all of the pharmacies there are used to being asked because it wasn't a problem at all. We had our photos in hand ($20 for both sets) in less than 10 minutes, and went back to the consulate, where we had to go through Security again, had to lock back up our electronics, and take off and put back on the troublesome belt (one of those "Worst Day Ever" things for teenagers!). The clerk was still waiting for us, so we handed in our photos, and then, after scanning our fingerprints, he asked us to be seated and wait for our number. 

 

I think we waited for another 20 minutes and our number was called. The interviewer was a lovely gentleman, very friendly, very chipper. He scanned our fingerprints asked the following questions:

 

- what is the name of the petitioner?

- (to my teenager) is he your stepfather?

- (to me) how did you and your husband meet?

- when did you meet in person the first time? (since we met online)

- how often did you see each other before you got married?

- how often do you see each other? (I told him that COVID had made things more difficult and he was very understanding)

- have you ever been arrested or charged with any crime? (asked this of both me and my teenager)

- have you ever lived in any country other than Canada?

- where will you be living when you move to the US? (I confirmed the address)

- confirmed that my husband is not the biological father of my child

- asked if there were any more children (I said my husband had a 27 year old son with a family of his own, which apparently doesn't count for AoS but it counts for something because he made a note of it.)

 

Then he asked if I had read the pamphlet about spousal abuse and I confirmed I had. He asked if I had any questions, and I said no.

 

He did a thorough review of my updated I-864A and our updated I-864, which he already had in the system. He confirmed that my company would continue to employ me after I moved, and I brought my ink original of my Letter of Intent, which he did not need since he already had the scanned version. He did not ask for the originals of the AoS documents. He did ask for the Property Tax Assessment for my husband's house since we had initially submitted this with our first AoS.

 

Then he said, "There are a couple of clearances we're waiting for, but I am going to recommend that you be approved for residency. You should get your passports back in about 3 weeks or so." Then he handed me the letter, and I thanked him. 

 

Then he asked my teenager if they were excited about going to high school in the US and what grade they would be going into. 

 

That was it - so I am guessing we were approved! He didn't say what clearances he was waiting for, but I did see the medical on the file through the window. I haven't logged in to check. But there was no mention of AP, and I got the letter, so I'm guessing that's what they normally say...?

 

Sorry if I sound too cautious about that. I want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a big cheer about going to Texas! Can someone let me know if the bit about "waiting for clearances" is standard language?

 

Thanks again to everyone here who has helped us get through this crazy process, especially this past year!! 

 

PS After picking up fresh bagels at Fairmount, we drove back to Ontario, and were waved through, though we did stop at the rest stop for some food and cheaper gas.

 

Woo! I'd been waiting for your post since I know how stressed you were. So glad to hear it went well! I wouldn't worry about the waiting for clearances thing. Everyone goes through an additional background check in between being approved at the interview and the visa being issued so I think this is just his weird way of conveying that. You got the welcome letter and he took your passports so I'd consider that an approval  

[rafale1973 141]

On 4/30/2021 at 11:38 AM, Kai (CanadaDude) said:

I sure hope so, but as you can tell by latest trends that Montreal is unpredictable. It seems that the Consulate observes both Victoria Day and Memorial Day which apparently means that the bureaucrats have written off every day after May 19th for IV interviews next month.

 

However, the good news is that June has no holidays in either the US or Canada, so I would hope that means that they'll get off their backsides and actually process our cases. I can hope!

 

 

June has la st.Jean-bapstiste which is off for government, therefore the consulate would most likely be affected if it’s during the week 

[mam521 2,062]

18 hours ago, ANL said:

Does anyone have experience with requesting an expedite? I got pregnant while waiting for the interview. With the way things were going it looked like we'd be okay, but with the recent slow-down, I'm now getting nervous that it'll be too close to my due date. I found info on where to send a request this morning, and now waiting on a note from my doctor.

Unfortunately, it is basically impossible to get an expedite through Montreal.  

 

17 hours ago, ANL said:

If it comes down to it and I had to file a CRBA, would I be able to take baby to the States no problem once I get my visa? How long does processing take? I know they're not allowing Canadian citizens to drive across the border unless they have visa/permanent residence. I was in Canada in February and we had to fly back to the States even though we were allowed to drive in to Canada.

@aaron2020 had given @Mikeeastern some comments about this. I believe the long and short was that baby needed the CRBA before they could enter the US.  

[Mikeeastern 81]

8 minutes ago, mam521 said:

Unfortunately, it is basically impossible to get an expedite through Montreal.  

 

@aaron2020 had given @Mikeeastern some comments about this. I believe the long and short was that baby needed the CRBA before they could enter the US.  

There has to be another way. What if the USC parent cannot prove 5 years. Then you need wait 12-18 months to get the baby's papers?? I130 or N600K? What if you have another child in the meantime. Perpetual waiting?  This makes no sense. There has to be a procedure for babies born while waiting for consular processing which does not entail waiting a year. 

[Tofu 343]

Hi - Does anyone have any suggestions for a "gap" health insurance to cover the time from when we the cross the border to when they are eligible to be added on to their spouses insurance? 

 

...I was previously going to be using Seven Corners but they no longer have the "new immigrant" insurance I was looking at last year. They have now suggested I go on their "Liaison® Travel Medical Insurance for International Travelers" but this isn't sitting right with me because technically you are a resident of US when you cross the border, and not an international traveler.  They told me it was no problem, but just wanted to investigate other options.

 

I will be doing a 30 hour drive home and not having appropriate coverage is worrisome..

[NimF 119]

2 minutes ago, Mikeeastern said:

There has to be another way. What if the USC parent cannot prove 5 years. Then you need wait 12-18 months to get the baby's papers?? I130 or N600K? What if you have another child in the meantime. Perpetual waiting?  This makes no sense. There has to be a procedure for babies born while waiting for consular processing which does not entail waiting a year. 

My wife, who is the USC petitioner gave birth while we’re waiting. Montreal rejected  our expedited request. As much as it’s annoying, you have to look at it through the dry law, meaning there is no special procedure because the baby isn’t a USC. You may transmit citizenship at birth, but until then - the baby is only Canadian. We did expedite the CRBA with Toronto however. 
 

as for proofing 5 years, a FOIA request will get you that information and prove that. You can do it online.

[aaron2020 11,651]

44 minutes ago, Mikeeastern said:

There has to be another way. What if the USC parent cannot prove 5 years. Then you need wait 12-18 months to get the baby's papers?? I130 or N600K? What if you have another child in the meantime. Perpetual waiting?  This makes no sense. There has to be a procedure for babies born while waiting for consular processing which does not entail waiting a year. 

If the USC parent can't prove 5 years physical presence in the US and the CRBA is denied, then the parent has to file an I-130.  

Laws don't have to make sense.  Pregnancy is not a reason to expedite a case.  

 

You may wish for another way, but the reality is that there isn't.

[Hawk Riders 814]

1 hour ago, Tofu said:

Hi - Does anyone have any suggestions for a "gap" health insurance to cover the time from when we the cross the border to when they are eligible to be added on to their spouses insurance? 

Unless there's a new job in play, or company-specific HR limitations, someone should be eligible ASAP.

Canadian Hawk Rider has US health coverage as soon as enough days after our marriage had elapsed to be added to US Hawk Rider's employer-sponsored policy. (Marriage is a qualifying life event in insurance-speak, which allows a new spouse to be added per company policy.)

If that doesn't work for you, take a look at healthcare.gov, what's known as the marketplace, and see about purchasing a policy that way.

Edited May 6, 2021 by Hawk Riders

[mam521 2,062]

1 hour ago, Tofu said:

Hi - Does anyone have any suggestions for a "gap" health insurance to cover the time from when we the cross the border to when they are eligible to be added on to their spouses insurance? 

 

...I was previously going to be using Seven Corners but they no longer have the "new immigrant" insurance I was looking at last year. They have now suggested I go on their "Liaison® Travel Medical Insurance for International Travelers" but this isn't sitting right with me because technically you are a resident of US when you cross the border, and not an international traveler.  They told me it was no problem, but just wanted to investigate other options.

 

I will be doing a 30 hour drive home and not having appropriate coverage is worrisome..

Have you filed taxes?  If so, you'll have a ITIN.  We were able to add myself and the kids to Hub's US insurance before we even left using their ITIN's.  

[Tofu 343]

Thanks @mam521 and @Hawk Riders 1&2!

 

Unfortunately no ITIN yet.

 

I can get on my spouses insurance, however I have a job lined up starting June 1 where I am eligible under their insurance plan - so was hoping for something short term! 

[mam521 2,062]

1 hour ago, NimF said:

My wife, who is the USC petitioner gave birth while we’re waiting. Montreal rejected  our expedited request. As much as it’s annoying, you have to look at it through the dry law, meaning there is no special procedure because the baby isn’t a USC. You may transmit citizenship at birth, but until then - the baby is only Canadian. We did expedite the CRBA with Toronto however. 
 

as for proofing 5 years, a FOIA request will get you that information and prove that. You can do it online.

@DGF this might be something to add to the FAQ's or at least have on the back burner when the information is needed.  We have a couple of more expectant couples coming through the process these days it seems!