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

[annierob 194]

It’s official: Canada will open the border on August 9 for fully vaccinated Americans. Watching the press conference right now.

[Lovewithoutborder 69]

3 hours ago, Hawk Riders said:

Canadian Hawk Rider has a stamp with CR1 and the date.

The visa printed in your passport states: "IV docs in CCD. Upon endorsement serves as temporary I551 evidencing permanent residence for 1 year"

It might be worth pointing out that statement to your DMV agent.

I contacted my lawyer and he said it was normal to not have it written since it’s an immigrant visa and not a visitor visa. That sounds really wrong to me especially since all of you are telling me yours have it. I’m planning on going up to Canada on Friday for my sisters wedding so I hope I don’t have any issues trying to return. 
 

As for the DMV I attempted to show them where it says the stamp is temporary proof of I-551 and they were stubbornly cocky in telling me it didn’t matter and that they weren’t allowed to. I think I will attempt to go to another DMV and try again. 

[Twiz&Toz 240]

1 hour ago, annierob said:

It’s official: Canada will open the border on August 9 for fully vaccinated Americans. Watching the press conference right now.

I saw that too!!! Wooo my husband can now come up and wait in the hotel room when I do my interview !!! 

[mam521 2,029]

2 hours ago, Lovewithoutborder said:

I asked my lawyer about the stamp and he said since it’s an immigrant visa not a B2 the type of visa does not need to be written on the stamp? This sounds incorrect but now I’m not sure what to do or how to go about it. 
 

As for the DMV, I agree I don’t think they deal with it very often so instead of looking into it they just tell me no without my greencard. I showed them where it says is temporary proof of I-551 and they didn’t care. I will probably attempt to try a different DMV location and see if I can do it again. 
 

thanks! 

Sorry you're stuck dealing with this #######! 

 

I had a stamp incorrectly dated on my L1 visa once.  I had to go to the local CBP office and have it fixed there.  I'd think it needs the date to prove the date you activated it.  You should be able to send an inquiry through your MyUSCIS account online.  They are usually not super delayed in replying.  

 

Even better would be if you're one of the luckier ones that seems to get their green card quickly!  If you haven't already, sign up for informed delivery.  I was able to track my envelope that way even before USCIS sent tracking info.  

 

You may well be onto something in trying another DMV.  I had bad luck at one location and ended up at a supercenter here, which is normally an awful experience, but actually turned out quite good!  Something else you may want to google or inquire about is if the DMV will request a Lawful Presence Verification.  When I was trying to renew my DL in Texas after reclaiming time spent out of country on my L1, the DPS here in Texas sent USCIS a LPV.  Once they verified I was lawfully present, they issued my license.  It was just a verification from USCIS and IIRC, it stated my status (so, L1.  It would be LPR for you), so it doubles back on something that is already physically present in your passport!  

[ADW & JOP 146]

2 hours ago, Lovewithoutborder said:

I contacted my lawyer and he said it was normal to not have it written since it’s an immigrant visa and not a visitor visa. That sounds really wrong to me especially since all of you are telling me yours have it. I’m planning on going up to Canada on Friday for my sisters wedding so I hope I don’t have any issues trying to return. 
 

As for the DMV I attempted to show them where it says the stamp is temporary proof of I-551 and they were stubbornly cocky in telling me it didn’t matter and that they weren’t allowed to. I think I will attempt to go to another DMV and try again. 

I had this issue too when I went to a DMV in San Diego. Fortunately, the DMV agent was humble enough to seek help with a senior employee who processes my driver’s license/real ID application with just the passport stamp.

 

One added perk, the senior employee told me my license would expire when my temporary passport stamp expire, but when it came through the mail, I received a 5-year license.

 

 

[Hawk Riders 814]

@Melody1920, please read the FAQ document linked in my signature. The document covers exactly the types of inquiries you are presenting here. Cheers!

[mam521 2,029]

@Lovewithoutborder here's a website for SAVE.  The DMV should be able to use it.  https://www.uscis.gov/save. Whether or not AZ chooses to use it is likely another story.  There's no reason your LPR status cannot be verified so you can get on with life!  

[Melody1920 3]

49 minutes ago, Hawk Riders said:

@Melody1920, please read the FAQ document linked in my signature. The document covers exactly the types of inquiries you are presenting here. Cheers!

Thank you

[Coricat 3]

5 hours ago, B&Grr said:

I had to send in my documents after my interview. Long story short, I used the consulate-paid courier from Canada Post because in their email correspondence with me it stated "We strongly encourage applicants to send ALL the required documents together to the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal using our courier service at no cost for the applicant. This helps process mail more efficiently and helps avoid unnecessary delays.".

 

Using their paid courier system from Canada Post, it took a just under a week to get from BC to Montreal. After that, it took them 3 weeks to review/update my status. Followed by 2 days to send out my approved visa/passport/documents. My documents were sent out last Friday and it should arrive this Wed.. waiting to pick it up. 

Thanks for the helpful data point, B&Grr! I'll take your advice and use Canada Post then. If you don't mind sharing, was your situation a case of simply forgetting to bring an original (like me), or did they have doubts and asked you to provide additional docs? I had booked tickets to visit my in-laws in the US in two weeks, so wondering if I too should expect a 3-week delay for them to review/update status. Thanks so much!

[Coricat 3]

5 hours ago, Melody1920 said:

I was reading security instructions for Montreal embassy .. seems like they don’t allow any backpack or purse . How are people planning to carry their documents ?

 

2. It also seems no recording devices are allowed including cellphones . Does that mean that cellphones need to be kept at hotel or if we turn it off it is fine ?

From my observation today at the consulate, lady's purse and even plastic bags (sizeable, enough to carry a thick stack of documents) are allowed in. However, anything that resembles a backpack, no matter how small, is not allowed. And yes, like others have said, you can't carry the phone with you to the interview floor. 

[B&Grr 17]

5 minutes ago, Coricat said:

Thanks for the helpful data point, B&Grr! I'll take your advice and use Canada Post then. If you don't mind sharing, was your situation a case of simply forgetting to bring an original (like me), or did they have doubts and asked you to provide additional docs? I had booked tickets to visit my in-laws in the US in two weeks, so wondering if I too should expect a 3-week delay for them to review/update status. Thanks so much!

My case was my birth certificate was the correct long form format as per requirements on website, except during the interview the officer told me I need to have my parents' names on it. So I had to go and apply for another birth cert and send it to the consulate office. From my email correspondences to the consulate - they state "It can take 2-3 weeks for us to review new documents, thank you for your patience. We will contact you if we need any additional information." .. For me they took 2.8 weeks to review and approve my documentation. Also keep in mind that just for sending documents in and for them to send documents back that already easily take up a week. Good luck!

[Twiz&Toz 240]

For those who had interviews today how much staff was in doing interviews?

[Shumai84 157]

I'm gathering documents to bring with me to the interview. Do I need to bring an original birth certificate of the petitioner to the interview?

 

I only have a photocopy of my partner's (US citizen) birth certificate, but the instruction below is a bit confusing and I'm wondering if I actually need an original:

 

"Your original birth certificate and that of your petitioner if applicable, English translation, and a photocopy."

 

But there is another instruction also saying below, which seems to indicate the petitioner's original birth certificate is not needed if an original passport is available: 

 

"If you previously submitted to NVC an I-864 affidavit of support (AOS):  Bring proof of your petitioner’s legal status in the United States (photocopy of a U.S. passport, birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or legal permanent resident card) and their federal U.S. tax return (Form 1040) from the previous year."

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/MTL-Montreal.html#pre_interview_checklist

 

Did everyone bring original birth certificates of the petitioners or alternatives like passports?

[Coricat 3]

4 hours ago, Twiz&Toz said:

For those who had interviews today how much staff was in doing interviews?

In the 8-9:30am period there seemed to be 2 interview officers. Also judging by the rate at which interviewees came in, they scheduled 2 people per 15 minute time slot. I don't know how many hours they interviewed each day, though. 

 

 

5 hours ago, B&Grr said:

My case was my birth certificate was the correct long form format as per requirements on website, except during the interview the officer told me I need to have my parents' names on it. So I had to go and apply for another birth cert and send it to the consulate office. From my email correspondences to the consulate - they state "It can take 2-3 weeks for us to review new documents, thank you for your patience. We will contact you if we need any additional information." .. For me they took 2.8 weeks to review and approve my documentation. Also keep in mind that just for sending documents in and for them to send documents back that already easily take up a week. Good luck!

Thanks again!

[Fobosdaemios 24]

Hello, Im just curious about process of getting to Montreal. Could anyone give me some tips?

Do you guys usually fly in a day before interview or 2 days? 

Is it alright to fly back on the same day of your interview? Do we need to stay an extra day for any extra process after the interview is completed?

 

 Thanks!