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

[annierob 194]

Has anyone tried crossing the border by foot into Canada recently? 
 

I can’t rent a car from the US to Canada, so I will need to fly to Vermont, have my father-in-law drive me to the border, and have my father pick me up at the border in Quebec.

 

Checking to see if anyone has done it by foot recently and they have any tips.

 

My B2 visa expires July 3…so frustrating that I’m 3 days from being able to fly in and avoid the hotel quarantine. So crossing by foot it is…

Edited June 29, 2021 by annierob

[DMV 18]

1 hour ago, annierob said:

Has anyone tried crossing the border by foot into Canada recently? 
 

I can’t rent a car from the US to Canada, so I will need to fly to Vermont, have my father-in-law drive me to the border, and have my father pick me up at the border in Quebec.

 

Checking to see if anyone has done it by foot recently and they have any tips.

 

My B2 visa expires July 3…so frustrating that I’m 3 days from being able to fly in and avoid the hotel quarantine. So crossing by foot it is…

I could be wrong but I think you need to have atleast 6 months to expiration on your B2 to be admitted in the US.

[Twiz&Toz 240]

Ok so super dumb question. I got my Dq letter on feb 2 (email) however when I check the website it had a notice saying approved on Jan 28. So is it Jan or feb ? 

[annierob 194]

8 hours ago, DMV said:

I could be wrong but I think you need to have atleast 6 months to expiration on your B2 to be admitted in the US.

Not sure I fully understand. I’ve been in the US for the 6 months already, and cannot overstay. So I need to go back to Canada while I await my IL.
 

If my B2 didn’t expire July 3, of course I would fly into Canada after July 6 when the new quarantine regulations would be in place. But I have no choice to cross over the border by foot to avoid having to go the quarantine hotel. 

Just seeing if anyone had recently done this…

 

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

10 hours ago, annierob said:

Has anyone tried crossing the border by foot into Canada recently? 
 

I can’t rent a car from the US to Canada, so I will need to fly to Vermont, have my father-in-law drive me to the border, and have my father pick me up at the border in Quebec.

 

Checking to see if anyone has done it by foot recently and they have any tips.

 

My B2 visa expires July 3…so frustrating that I’m 3 days from being able to fly in and avoid the hotel quarantine. So crossing by foot it is…

I haven't done this personally, but I do not see a problem with walking across the border at a checkpoint where walking across the border was allowed pre-covid. Recommend you call CBSA to confirm.

 

Note - They may ask questions about how you will physically distance from your father who is picking you up, so he doesn't have to quarantine for 14 days with you. I would think so long as you are wearing a mask, sitting at the back of the car, with windows rolled down, and he is dropping you off to your place of quarantine you should be OK. (it is similar to taking an Uber from the airport and the Uber driver not needing to quarantine). If you are quarantining in a residence where there are other people, you would need to have a separate bedroom and ideally separate bathroom. Just be prepared with these answers about your quarantine plans.

 

Sucks that you are just 2 days shy of the lifting of airport stay. Is it possible for you to extend the B2?

Edited June 29, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[NimF 119]

6 hours ago, Twiz&Toz said:

Ok so super dumb question. I got my Dq letter on feb 2 (email) however when I check the website it had a notice saying approved on Jan 28. So is it Jan or feb ? 

Can you feel in your timeline please? It’s difficult to answer as you’re using terms reserved for other milestones in the process (e.g your visa cannot be approved before you got DQ’d)

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

6 hours ago, Twiz&Toz said:

Ok so super dumb question. I got my Dq letter on feb 2 (email) however when I check the website it had a notice saying approved on Jan 28. So is it Jan or feb ? 

So what I am understanding is below:

 

1. When you log into your ceac account and click on messages, there is a message there dated Jan 28 saying "all required applicant documents have been received and approved." When you click on that message it says "Documentarily Qualified" in the white space below.

 

2. You received the email with subject "Notice regarding your immigrant Visa Case becoming Documentarily Qualified" on Feb 2.

 

If the above is correct, in my opinion your DQ date is Jan 28. There may have been a delay in NVC's system in sending you the email (which didn't happen in my case, but perhaps happens.) I would go by the date of the notice on the ceac account.

[annierob 194]

7 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

I haven't done this personally, but I do not see a problem with walking across the border at a checkpoint where walking across the border was allowed pre-covid. Recommend you call CBSA to confirm.

 

Note - They may ask questions about how you will physically distance from your father who is picking you up, so he doesn't have to quarantine for 14 days with you. I would think so long as you are wearing a mask, sitting at the back of the car, with windows rolled down, and he is dropping you off to your place of quarantine you should be OK. (it is similar to taking an Uber from the airport and the Uber driver not needing to quarantine). If you are quarantining in a residence where there are other people, you would need to have a separate bedroom and ideally separate bathroom. Just be prepared with these answers about your quarantine plans.

 

Sucks that you are just 2 days shy of the lifting of airport stay. Is it possible for you to extend the B2?

Absolutely, we have all that planned and ready to explain. Definitely not worried about that, it was more just the logistics of best places to stop before the US border and then in Canada. Just spoke to the border agent at that specific border, he tried explaining there are areas to turn around before the “buildings”. I guess we’ll see once we get there…! He also didn’t seem like walking through was weird or anything. 
 

I thought about extending, but I’m DQ’ed Oct 20. So I was trying to balance out what made the most sense 45 days ago when I could have requested the extension, and wasn’t sure the fee and hassle (and uncertainty whether they’d approve it, or not) was worthwhile.

 

If I get my IL later than a September date (October would really be unfortunate), then I’ll 100% regret not having extended it…so trying to stay positive August will be a big month (even though I’m at the end of Oct…!)

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

19 minutes ago, annierob said:

Absolutely, we have all that planned and ready to explain. Definitely not worried about that, it was more just the logistics of best places to stop before the US border and then in Canada. Just spoke to the border agent at that specific border, he tried explaining there are areas to turn around before the “buildings”. I guess we’ll see once we get there…! He also didn’t seem like walking through was weird or anything. 
 

I thought about extending, but I’m DQ’ed Oct 20. So I was trying to balance out what made the most sense 45 days ago when I could have requested the extension, and wasn’t sure the fee and hassle (and uncertainty whether they’d approve it, or not) was worthwhile.

 

If I get my IL later than a September date (October would really be unfortunate), then I’ll 100% regret not having extended it…so trying to stay positive August will be a big month (even though I’m at the end of Oct…!)

Yeah the uncertainty makes it so difficult to plan. Sending positive vibes for a large batch of ILs in July!

[DMV 18]

1 hour ago, annierob said:

Not sure I fully understand. I’ve been in the US for the 6 months already, and cannot overstay. So I need to go back to Canada while I await my IL.
 

If my B2 didn’t expire July 3, of course I would fly into Canada after July 6 when the new quarantine regulations would be in place. But I have no choice to cross over the border by foot to avoid having to go the quarantine hotel. 

Just seeing if anyone had recently done this…

 

Ahh, sorry I misunderstood

[DGF 730]

7 hours ago, Twiz&Toz said:

Ok so super dumb question. I got my Dq letter on feb 2 (email) however when I check the website it had a notice saying approved on Jan 28. So is it Jan or feb ? 

Probably February 2nd (assuming the notice in CEAC was saying your documents were approved and not saying that you're DQ in which case you'd be DQ on Jan 28th). I've seen a few instances where people's documents have said approved but when they've contacted the NVC they haven't been DQ yet. Usually those people are DQ within a week. All in all, it's only a few days difference and unless you're on the cusp of getting into the next interview batch, it won't affect you (and our data can be updated retroactively once you do have your IL if you picked the wrong DQ date).

[HD_BIRDS 121]

2 hours ago, annierob said:

Absolutely, we have all that planned and ready to explain. Definitely not worried about that, it was more just the logistics of best places to stop before the US border and then in Canada. Just spoke to the border agent at that specific border, he tried explaining there are areas to turn around before the “buildings”. I guess we’ll see once we get there…! He also didn’t seem like walking through was weird or anything. 
 

I thought about extending, but I’m DQ’ed Oct 20. So I was trying to balance out what made the most sense 45 days ago when I could have requested the extension, and wasn’t sure the fee and hassle (and uncertainty whether they’d approve it, or not) was worthwhile.

 

If I get my IL later than a September date (October would really be unfortunate), then I’ll 100% regret not having extended it…so trying to stay positive August will be a big month (even though I’m at the end of Oct…!)

In terms of describing quarantine plans and traveling to Canada before July 6th, someone a few pages ago mentioned that if you are vaccinated, you could explain this to the border officer, and you may be able to have your quarantine requirement lifted according to the new regulations, either day of entry or on July 6th. It doesn't help the issue of flying versus land crossing related to the hotel quarantine, but it will likely allow you to be in Canada without having to quarantine for 14 days if you are vaccinated. Definitely an annoying situation! 

[Twiz&Toz 240]

3 hours ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

So what I am understanding is below:

 

1. When you log into your ceac account and click on messages, there is a message there dated Jan 28 saying "all required applicant documents have been received and approved." When you click on that message it says "Documentarily Qualified" in the white space below.

 

2. You received the email with subject "Notice regarding your immigrant Visa Case becoming Documentarily Qualified" on Feb 2.

 

If the above is correct, in my opinion your DQ date is Jan 28. There may have been a delay in NVC's system in sending you the email (which didn't happen in my case, but perhaps happens.) I would go by the date of the notice on the ceac account.

I just double checked it does say Jan 28th Dq I just got the email late.. it may only be a few days but seeing how il are going out that could save me a month of waiting.

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

52 minutes ago, HD_BIRDS said:

In terms of describing quarantine plans and traveling to Canada before July 6th, someone a few pages ago mentioned that if you are vaccinated, you could explain this to the border officer, and you may be able to have your quarantine requirement lifted according to the new regulations, either day of entry or on July 6th. It doesn't help the issue of flying versus land crossing related to the hotel quarantine, but it will likely allow you to be in Canada without having to quarantine for 14 days if you are vaccinated. Definitely an annoying situation! 

Yes, that was me who mentioned that after talking to the helpline. They did not commit that the quarantine will be lifted, but asked to call on or after July 6 with the proof of vaccination and check with them. Worth mentioning that you are fully vaccinated at the border as well. Carry proof.

[HD_BIRDS 121]

18 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Yes, that was me who mentioned that after talking to the helpline. They did not commit that the quarantine will be lifted, but asked to call on or after July 6 with the proof of vaccination and check with them. Worth mentioning that you are fully vaccinated at the border as well. Carry proof.

Oh that's right! Thanks for confirming. I hope they allow people who enter earlier to stop their quarantine on the 6th with proof of vaccination.