Administrative Processing Pending Medical.

[StephK 0]

Hi guys, 

Glad to have found this forum and hoping to get some advice/opinions. 
 

My husband and I have been working our way through the spousal visa process since Jan 2019. He is Australian but also a Canadian permanent resident so we have been working with the Montreal Consulate as it is much closer. We had our first child last year and he spent most of that year traveling back and forth on his ESTA while we awaited an interview. He received a date in early December with 12 days notice. Since he was here in the States visiting he did not have time to complete the mandatory quarantine so we very reluctantly had to reschedule. To avoid that situation again we decided he would stay in Canada until he received another interview. He has been there since mid-December and recently received another interview date of March 15th. Again, extremely short notice. The earliest medical appointment he could get was for March 10th and they informed us there was not any way it would be finalized before March 16th, one day after his interview. I have heard horror stories of administrative processing taking months while they hold your passport. 
Our dilemma is this. I am due with our second child in mid-May. My pregnancy is high risk and will likely go earlier than that. Do we risk the administrative processing leaving him unable to get home  or reschedule the interview....again, and have him come back on his ESTA. 
 

Does anyone know of any scenarios where pending medical was finalized promptly? The two stories I found on here were both months even when medical was submitted virtually the next day after the interview. 
 

I know it is clear that pregnancy is not considered any reason to expedite so I am trying to make the best decision while having realistic expectations. 
 

Thanks for any help in advance 

 

Steph

[SalishSea 18,185]

19 minutes ago, StephK said:

Hi guys, 

Glad to have found this forum and hoping to get some advice/opinions. 
 

My husband and I have been working our way through the spousal visa process since Jan 2019. He is Australian but also a Canadian permanent resident so we have been working with the Montreal Consulate as it is much closer. We had our first child last year and he spent most of that year traveling back and forth on his ESTA while we awaited an interview. He received a date in early December with 12 days notice. Since he was here in the States visiting he did not have time to complete the mandatory quarantine so we very reluctantly had to reschedule. To avoid that situation again we decided he would stay in Canada until he received another interview. He has been there since mid-December and recently received another interview date of March 15th. Again, extremely short notice. The earliest medical appointment he could get was for March 10th and they informed us there was not any way it would be finalized before March 16th, one day after his interview. I have heard horror stories of administrative processing taking months while they hold your passport. 
Our dilemma is this. I am due with our second child in mid-May. My pregnancy is high risk and will likely go earlier than that. Do we risk the administrative processing leaving him unable to get home  or reschedule the interview....again, and have him come back on his ESTA. 
 

Does anyone know of any scenarios where pending medical was finalized promptly? The two stories I found on here were both months even when medical was submitted virtually the next day after the interview. 
 

I know it is clear that pregnancy is not considered any reason to expedite so I am trying to make the best decision while having realistic expectations. 
 

Thanks for any help in advance 

 

Steph

With the interview queues being what they are at Montreal, it would be a very bad idea to miss this rescheduled interview. Most people would give their eyeteeth for that interview date. If he interviews without the medical being available, he will get a 221g until it is received.

 

My husband's medical results were not available at the time of his interview in Auckland, and it did not delay the issuing of his visa at all.

 

Worst case scenario, he can request his passport back during AP so that he can travel.

 

[StephK 0]

7 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

With the interview queues being what they are at Montreal, it would be a very bad idea to miss this rescheduled interview. Most people would give their eyeteeth for that interview date. If he interviews without the medical being available, he will get a 221g until it is received.

 

My husband's medical results were not available at the time of his interview in Auckland, and it did not delay the issuing of his visa at all.

 

Worst case scenario, he can request his passport back during AP so that he can travel.

 

Thank you for your reply. I know it would be absolutely crazy to miss another interview but I’m just worried about worst case scenarios. I’m just looking for some hope that it won’t be months but maybe weeks in AP. I know he can ask for his passport back but he won’t be able to travel to the States until AP is complete. It just seems insane that a medical delivered a few hours after the interview can delay visa issuance months. 

[retheem 568]

9 hours ago, StephK said:

Hi guys, 

Glad to have found this forum and hoping to get some advice/opinions. 
 

My husband and I have been working our way through the spousal visa process since Jan 2019. He is Australian but also a Canadian permanent resident so we have been working with the Montreal Consulate as it is much closer. We had our first child last year and he spent most of that year traveling back and forth on his ESTA while we awaited an interview. He received a date in early December with 12 days notice. Since he was here in the States visiting he did not have time to complete the mandatory quarantine so we very reluctantly had to reschedule. To avoid that situation again we decided he would stay in Canada until he received another interview. He has been there since mid-December and recently received another interview date of March 15th. Again, extremely short notice. The earliest medical appointment he could get was for March 10th and they informed us there was not any way it would be finalized before March 16th, one day after his interview. I have heard horror stories of administrative processing taking months while they hold your passport. 
Our dilemma is this. I am due with our second child in mid-May. My pregnancy is high risk and will likely go earlier than that. Do we risk the administrative processing leaving him unable to get home  or reschedule the interview....again, and have him come back on his ESTA. 
 

Does anyone know of any scenarios where pending medical was finalized promptly? The two stories I found on here were both months even when medical was submitted virtually the next day after the interview. 
 

I know it is clear that pregnancy is not considered any reason to expedite so I am trying to make the best decision while having realistic expectations. 
 

Thanks for any help in advance 

 

Steph

Easy decision. Go to the interview and do your medical. Your case will be in AP, but that can be easily delt by doing your medical and submitting them. Waiting for another interview is another hell you do not need to go through

[SalishSea 18,185]

6 hours ago, StephK said:

I know he can ask for his passport back but he won’t be able to travel to the States until AP is complete

Why not?