IR-1/CR-1 Montreal DQ'd private message group goes public part 3

[DGF 730]

10 minutes ago, Lovewithoutborder said:

Hi Everyone,

 

So I went to go pay my $220 immigrant fee and when I entered in my IV case number it would not allow me to enter all of the numbers. It stopped me after the second last number and I was unable to enter the last digit. I thought I have seen other people on here having issues with paying this fee but I thought it was them having not enough numbers to fill in the box not too many numbers. Of course when I tried to submit it one digit short it came up with the error cannot find this A number or DOS number. Any ideas on this? 

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/uscis-immigrant-fee/immigrant-fee-payment-tips-on-finding-your-a-number-and-dos-case-id

[Lovewithoutborder 69]

1 minute ago, DGF said:

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/filing-fees/uscis-immigrant-fee/immigrant-fee-payment-tips-on-finding-your-a-number-and-dos-case-id

Ahhh thank you. So my case number that I’ve been using since the NVC stage of the process was MTL followed by 10 numbers and I just realized that on my actual visa it’s MTL followed by the same 10 numbers and then 01 at the end for a total of 12 numbers. I entered my original case number without the 01 and it worked right away. Not sure why they have added “01” to the end on the visa itself. 

[Longdistancewife 0]

On 5/19/2021 at 8:46 AM, G_K said:

Can you confirm me the validity is 12 months for police certificates?

Yes I found that out as a pleasant surprise at my interview thinking it was only valid for 6 months. 

[Amz&S 4]

Can I ask a question along the immigrant fee topic since it’s been brought up? I just got my passport back today as well and I’m wondering if I need to pay the immigrant fee right away or if it’s best to wait until closer to move date? Or does it really matter? I won’t be moving for approx 8-9 weeks 

[Hawk Riders 814]

Just saw a lot of posts with inquiries we've addressed in the FAQ.

Public service reminder: please review that document before posting! It exists to help eliminate people repeatedly asking the same questions. 

 

5 hours ago, Amz&S said:

 Or does it really matter? 

Nope. 

Just do it before border crossing so GC production is not delayed.

[aurmorr 270]

19 hours ago, Hawk Riders said:

This livestream began as a scripted Q&A, not a venue for posing inquiries and receiving responses--but then changed.

In 2019, this was Neal Vermillion's number 202-485-7425; it may still be.

👀 maybe we will try to give this a go today.

 

18 hours ago, Twiz&Toz said:

So who do we report that Montreal isn’t following the guidelines ?? 

They basically said in the broadcast that they can’t force any consulate or embassy to do anything, the guidelines are suggestions. Seems like all embassies and consulates are rouge ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 

 

18 hours ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

@aurmorr

 

"It seems that May 2021 had quite a few consulates and embassies around the world where this priority category was not addressed, while Tier 3 and Tier 4 priority did receive interviews. We would understand if Tier 1 only got addressed, but to see other Tiers get addressed and to see IR-1/CR-1 stop moving is heartbreaking. Many of us did not expect 10+ months of waiting for an interview when the process began and our lives and futures are completely on hold"

 

Do we know that Tier 3 and Tier 4 categories received interviews for the month of June for Montreal Consulate? I thought it was only K1 which is Tier 2 (Same as CR1/IR1).

 

Yes there are confirmations of tier 3. K-1 is in Tier 2 but it’s still considered non-immigrant visa so I’m fairly sure it is managed differently. Clearly there is something going on. 
 

Though in regards to non-spousal immediate relatives, he also said in the broadcast that some consulates are not opening up appointments for the next 2-3 months to address the files they already have on hand. I am not sure if this applies to Montreal, and if this was the case why would everything stop so abruptly in just one category, but it could. Who knows. All we learned is that this progress is ruthlessly unregulated at a consular level, full of holes that no one wants to address, with no accountability, and no one cares. They say it’s about money but lol I would literally take out a personal loan to pay them to stay open on a Saturday JUST to do interviews. It doesn’t even seem like a lot of people work in the department so like, I doubt it’s even that unaffordable. Let me crowdfund you, Montreal Consulate! We would all chip in at this point 😭

 

Also the consulate did confirm they are closed on Monday next week. I’m trying to get a list of closures for the summer so at least it can fit with my assumed expectations which are no IR-1/CR-1 on shortened work weeks which means 4/8 weeks they will not be scheduling any IR-CR-1. And, with that logic, why schedule any at all amirite /sarcasm. 
 

anyways I’m super tired of all of this. I’m going to keep trying to talk to literally anyone but please keep interacting with their social media asking about updates and transparency and ill let y’all know if I see anything else helpful.

[hellbob 11]

1 hour ago, aurmorr said:

👀 

 

Though in regards to non-spousal immediate relatives, he also said in the broadcast that some consulates are not opening up appointments for the next 2-3 months to address the files they already have on hand. I am not sure if this applies to Montreal, and if this was the case why would everything stop so abruptly in just one category, but it could. Who knows. All we learned is that this progress is ruthlessly unregulated at a consular level, full of holes that no one wants to address, with no accountability, and no one cares. They say it’s about money but lol I would literally take out a personal loan to pay them to stay open on a Saturday JUST to do interviews. It doesn’t even seem like a lot of people work in the department so like, I doubt it’s even that unaffordable. Let me crowdfund you, Montreal Consulate! We would all chip in at this point 😭

 

Oh my god I read this and about had a heart attack!  They said non-spousal appointments may not open for 2-3 months though, right??

 

Also, mos def would pay extra to fund our interview!

 

-CR-1 here, DQ 23 Sep

[aurmorr 270]

8 minutes ago, hellbob said:

Oh my god I read this and about had a heart attack!  They said non-spousal appointments may not open for 2-3 months though, right??

 

Also, mos def would pay extra to fund our interview!

 

-CR-1 here, DQ 23 Sep

I literally screamed when he said it in the chat. They said family category spouses of US permanent residents (Tier 3), but honestly I don’t see why they wouldn’t pull the rug out from under us like this. To simply not book any IR-1/CR-1? No notice, announcement, update, etc…? They could be rescheduling cancelations but there are several active members on here waiting for a reschedule and no I’m has reported being contacted despite the fact that they keep the records at NVC.

 

I’m trying to be realistic and set reasonable expectations for myself, but I don’t even know what that means anymore when there is so little communication, accountability, consistency, or regulation at the consulate. NVC doesn’t have answers for what is going on at the consulate, DoS Consular Affairs doesn’t know what it going on at the consulate, and I wonder sometimes if even the consulate knows what is going on at the consulate.

[slowasmolasses 9]

14 hours ago, chanel167 said:

Congrats on your husband's approval! I'm so happy for you guys  I was DQ June 1 and had to cancel my Feb 22 interview. I emailed them last month to reschedule. Did you need to contact the consulate to reschedule or did they just send you the new interview date? Thank you in advance! 

 

So in my cancellation email I had said something like "we will email at a later date to reschedule for anytime after May 15th" and then they randomly emailed us 2 months later that it had been scheduled a date for May 21.. 

 

It wasn't ideal when it happened but we made it work! 

 

I think if you emailed them to reschedule that should be all you need to do. I'm not sure if ours was faster because I had put that date in my cancellation or how that worked on their end.

 

I don't believe they would reschedule you automatically -- I think ours was simply added to the May batch because I mentioned we couldn't attend until after May 15th. 

 

I hope that's helpful? 

[mam521 2,174]

9 minutes ago, slowasmolasses said:

 

So in my cancellation email I had said something like "we will email at a later date to reschedule for anytime after May 15th" and then they randomly emailed us 2 months later that it had been scheduled a date for May 21.. 

 

It wasn't ideal when it happened but we made it work! 

 

I think if you emailed them to reschedule that should be all you need to do. I'm not sure if ours was faster because I had put that date in my cancellation or how that worked on their end.

 

I don't believe they would reschedule you automatically -- I think ours was simply added to the May batch because I mentioned we couldn't attend until after May 15th. 

 

I hope that's helpful? 

Rarely are these things ideal, it seems!  Always short notice! 

 

Happy to hear that you were able to make it work!

[hellbob 11]

11 minutes ago, aurmorr said:

I literally screamed when he said it in the chat. They said family category spouses of US permanent residents (Tier 3), but honestly I don’t see why they wouldn’t pull the rug out from under us like this. To simply not book any IR-1/CR-1? No notice, announcement, update, etc…? They could be rescheduling cancelations but there are several active members on here waiting for a reschedule and no I’m has reported being contacted despite the fact that they keep the records at NVC.

 

I’m trying to be realistic and set reasonable expectations for myself, but I don’t even know what that means anymore when there is so little communication, accountability, consistency, or regulation at the consulate. NVC doesn’t have answers for what is going on at the consulate, DoS Consular Affairs doesn’t know what it going on at the consulate, and I wonder sometimes if even the consulate knows what is going on at the consulate.

I'm with you. I also keep trying to make sense of it. Keep coming up with different explanations. I want there to be some rhyme and reason but it really seems like there is none. 

[aurmorr 270]

38 minutes ago, hellbob said:

I'm with you. I also keep trying to make sense of it. Keep coming up with different explanations. I want there to be some rhyme and reason but it really seems like there is none. 

It’s difficult because it’s human nature to look for patterns and try to make ‘sense’ of things, and that’s why I love the access to data thanks to the spreadsheet. I know things were going to be different during COVID times but a complete communication shut down and insulation was not expected. Some people here have lives where they are to keep them busy, so maybe it’s easier to get through the day, but some have been completely separated with their entire life put on hold and are in purgatory. I have nothing to do sometimes other than think about this and try and make sense of it to give myself hope, you know? I want there to be a reason too, so it doesn’t feel like I’m living like this for nothing. Because wow if I could Adam Sandler’s Click my way through this l absolutely would.

[MA1793 28]

@Hawk RidersWasn't sure if this is the right place to put this: but can you add my timeline to the CR-1 Montreal spreadsheet/list of desperate spouses hoping for an interview sometime soon. 😁 Thank you!

[MA1793 28]

Just wanted to let you all know that my US spouse contacted two different senators (and President Biden!) looking for answers regarding a lot of questions that we all have:

• what is happening with the inhumane amount of time we have been waiting;
• why can we not interview remotely or at a closer consulate during COVID restrictions;
• why do we not receive regular feedback or notices about timelines for interviewing;
• and more recently, why did the Montreal Consulate schedule less CR-1 interviews in May/and none for June.

So far, their process has been to get in touch with USCIS/NVC/Consulate in regard to our individual case and send us back the same stock replies that don't tell us anything new. Basically, they tell us the dates that our application was forwarded along and that we're waiting in line. Still waiting for specific answers to specific questions in a timely manner, but I don't know if that will ever happen. The White House didn't respond at all.

 

That said, I would encourage you to reach out (respectfully) anyway. Mr. Vermillion was terribly nice yesterday on the Immigrant Visa Backlog Q&A, but they're not doing enough. They CAN do more and they CAN, in the very least, communicate better with us.

[Mintaftertaste 25]

32 minutes ago, MA1793 said:

@Hawk RidersWasn't sure if this is the right place to put this: but can you add my timeline to the CR-1 Montreal spreadsheet/list of desperate spouses hoping for an interview sometime soon. 😁 Thank you!

Mine too please