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

[Kai G. Llewellyn 837]

25 minutes ago, alphabetagamma said:

Sharing some stats for IR1 + CR1 vs Total. Couldn't find any pattern. Any comments?

Looks like for May and June they did slack off a bit compared to Mar and Apr, so I guess they might've had staff away and also stat holidays.

 

But it seems that for the most part it's that other categories got included into Montreal's workload rather than at the height of the pandemic where they pretty much only focused on IR/CR visas. So my guess is that the DoS directive forced MTL to start processing other categories which reduced the room for our category. This isn't too surprising given that there are ENORMOUS backlogs in the other categories right now, it's understandable although frustrating that there's reduced capacity for spousal cases.

 

The solution would be to increase the capacity because it's obviously insufficient to serve the demand. Reopening the IV Units in other Consulates would be a good start. Given how long I-130 petitions can take, anything more than a 3 month wait for an IV interview is excessive imo.

 

Edited July 20, 2021 by Kai (CanadaDude)

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

1 hour ago, Twiz&Toz said:

With the year up in sept Montreal seems to be pushing more ir5 visas.

Interesting to note.

 

1 hour ago, Twiz&Toz said:

Also looks like they doubled k1 visas to clear up backlog.

Makes sense, as DoS has upgraded their priority status to tier 2.

 

1 hour ago, Kai (CanadaDude) said:

I don't think IR-5 visas are numerically limited because they're still considered immediate relatives, but for this category it's parents of USC's rather than spouses.

This is correct. there is no upper limit for IR-5. They fall under immediate relatives and enjoy the same priority as IR1/CR1 applicants.

[Danii 312]

53 minutes ago, alphabetagamma said:

Sharing some stats for IR1 + CR1 vs Total. Couldn't find any pattern. Any comments?

Just saw @Kai (CanadaDude) 's post, that makes the most sense to me!

Edited July 20, 2021 by Danii

[Twiz&Toz 240]

1 hour ago, Kai (CanadaDude) said:

Looks like for May and June they did slack off a bit compared to Mar and Apr, so I guess they might've had staff away and also stat holidays.

 

But it seems that for the most part it's that other categories got included into Montreal's workload rather than at the height of the pandemic where they pretty much only focused on IR/CR visas. So my guess is that the DoS directive forced MTL to start processing other categories which reduced the room for our category. This isn't too surprising given that there are ENORMOUS backlogs in the other categories right now, it's understandable although frustrating that there's reduced capacity for spousal cases.

 

The solution would be to increase the capacity because it's obviously insufficient to serve the demand. Reopening the IV Units in other Consulates would be a good start. Given how long I-130 petitions can take, anything more than a 3 month wait for an IV interview is excessive imo.

 

I agree they need to open more units or get more staff. Our backlog is going to get worse if we keep this trend. The spread of covid they are worried about will be less as well as we all won’t have to travel from all over Canada to go to one place. Toronto did how many b1/b2 visas last month. 

[AnkitShah20 32]

Has anyone who crossed into US on CR1 around April end / early May received their green card yet ? It’s almost 80 days since entry into the states but no update on green card. 

[Lovewithoutborder 69]

On 7/19/2021 at 2:02 PM, mam521 said:

@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!  

Great thank you! Hopefully I’ll be able to use it or at least get more lucky at a different dmv. 
 

As far as your other comment regarding the stamp, I tried doing the whole ask Emma thing on USCIS today and it gave me the link saying that a stamped immigrant visa is proof of legal status for up to one year from the entry date, it didn’t say anything about needing writing on it. The border guard did stamp my visa upon entry and it has the entry date on the stamp, the CBP officer just didn’t write the visa class on it in pen so I’m not sure if it would be an issue or not? I mean I’m a legal LPR with a scannable visa and an entry stamp from when I activated that visa. I can’t imagine the CBP officer not writing the visa class in pen on the stamp would cause any issues? I am going back to Canada on Friday so I guess I’ll find out when I attempt to cross back into the USA. 

[Twiz&Toz 240]

2 hours ago, Lovewithoutborder said:

Great thank you! Hopefully I’ll be able to use it or at least get more lucky at a different dmv. 
 

As far as your other comment regarding the stamp, I tried doing the whole ask Emma thing on USCIS today and it gave me the link saying that a stamped immigrant visa is proof of legal status for up to one year from the entry date, it didn’t say anything about needing writing on it. The border guard did stamp my visa upon entry and it has the entry date on the stamp, the CBP officer just didn’t write the visa class on it in pen so I’m not sure if it would be an issue or not? I mean I’m a legal LPR with a scannable visa and an entry stamp from when I activated that visa. I can’t imagine the CBP officer not writing the visa class in pen on the stamp would cause any issues? I am going back to Canada on Friday so I guess I’ll find out when I attempt to cross back into the USA. 

I can’t see it being a problem if so they will pull u into secondary and all the info is log in the system when they run the checks

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

19 hours ago, alphabetagamma said:

Sharing some stats for IR1 + CR1 vs Total. Couldn't find any pattern. Any comments?

Analysed this in conjunction with the VJ tracking chart:

 

1. Before the COVID suspension (April - August 2020), the DQ-to-interview time was ranged between 3 to 5 months. Before this suspension Montreals steadily appeared to process about 100 CR1/IR1 visas per month, and that appeared to keep the backlog fairly steady.

2. After the suspension starting September 2020, they resumed issuing CR1/IR1s at the same pace as prior to pandemic (about 100/ month). From Dec 2020 to April 2021, they upped this by a LOT, tripling (in some months) their visa issuance for CR1/IR1 per month. Then Montreal brought it back to the pre pandemic pace in May and an almost suspension in June.

3. Provided the number of applications remained the same per month, the push between Dec 2020 - Apr 2021 should have balanced out the suspension between Apr 2020 - Aug 2020, and brought back the DQ-to-interveiw wait time back to 3 to 5 months (even brought it down to 2). But, this did not happen which tells me we have many many more applicants in IR1/CR1 category than before, perhaps even as much as 2 times more.

 

I hope Montreal sees this (I bet they do). The only solution is to increase their staff or split the work between the other consulates in Canada (I don't mind even flying abroad to other less busy consulates to interview). I doubt it is sustainable for them to process 300 CR1/IR1s per month (which is required currently to reduce the backlog) with their current staff capacity.

Edited July 21, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[State and Maine 190]

Interview went well this morning but was giving 221g and put into AP. I’m guessing this has to do with my application withdrawal in Toronto. The officer also said everything looks good and will hopefully be completed by lunchtime. So who knows but it did suck to get that 221g

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

5 minutes ago, State and Maine said:

Interview went well this morning but was giving 221g and put into AP. I’m guessing this has to do with my application withdrawal in Toronto. The officer also said everything looks good and will hopefully be completed by lunchtime. So who knows but it did suck to get that 221g

Congratulations on having a good interview. Hopefully you will be out of AP and approved by this afternoon.

 

What do you mean by application withdrawal in Toronto?

[State and Maine 190]

9 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Congratulations on having a good interview. Hopefully you will be out of AP and approved by this afternoon.

 

What do you mean by application withdrawal in Toronto?

I got turned around at the customs trying to enter the USA in December because I had no ties to Canada 

on another note, It was great running into fellow VJer @Riversong

Edited July 21, 2021 by State and Maine
Edit

[Riversong 420]

7 minutes ago, State and Maine said:

I got turned around at the customs trying to enter the USA in December because I had no ties to Canada 

on another note, It was great running into fellow VJer @Riversong

Was great to meet and chat with you. I passed my interview and got my welcome letter

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

1 minute ago, Riversong said:

Was great to meet and chat with you. I passed my interview and got my welcome letter

Yay! Congratulations!

 

Very happy you can reunite with your hubby soon.

[State and Maine 190]

2 minutes ago, Riversong said:

Was great to meet and chat with you. I passed my interview and got my welcome letter

Congratulations!! Very happy for you!

[Riversong 420]

7 minutes ago, State and Maine said:

Congratulations!! Very happy for you!

Thank you. I hope you get out if AP.  One of the girls after us also got put in AP

9 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

Yay! Congratulations!

 

Very happy you can reunite with your hubby soon.

Thank you