part IV, the big IR1/CR1 DQ'd message group...

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

4 minutes ago, DijonMustard said:

I think I saw someone else ask a very similar question, but now I can't find it. My husband's interview is scheduled for June 26th. He got a doctors appt for April 25th. Is this too far in advance? We saw other people saying there was a huge wait so when he saw the April 25th date, he booked it, but now we're worried it might not be close enough to the actual interview. 

Thanks for your help and sorry if this is a repeat question!

Keep in mind that the medical exam will expire 6 months after it is done.  The visa will also expire then.

Edited April 24, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[llcoolwil 99]

8 minutes ago, DijonMustard said:

I think I saw someone else ask a very similar question, but now I can't find it. My husband's interview is scheduled for June 26th. He got a doctors appt for April 25th. Is this too far in advance? We saw other people saying there was a huge wait so when he saw the April 25th date, he booked it, but now we're worried it might not be close enough to the actual interview. 

Thanks for your help and sorry if this is a repeat question!

From what I understand, this should be fine. However! You won't have the full 6 months to enter the US after receiving the approval. The 6 months to enter the US timing starts to tick away based on the medical. So for instance, medical is April 26, Interview is June 26 - Latest time to enter the US after approval would be October 26. The closer the medical to the interview date, that more time you have to the enter the US after approval.

 

Please someone correct me if I am wrong! This is what I have seen on some threads in the past.

 

Edit: Crazy Cat confirmed above

Edited April 24, 2023 by llcoolwil

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

1 minute ago, llcoolwil said:

Please someone correct me if I am wrong! This is what I have seen on some threads in the past.

Yes, normally, the visa expiration is 6 months after the medical....but sometimes, visas expire sooner than 6 months after the medical.  My wife's visa, for example, had an expiration date only 5 months after the medical.  I'm not sure why.  

Visa expiration is never later then 6 months after medical. 

[llcoolwil 99]

4 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Yes, normally, the visa expiration is 6 months after the medical....but sometimes, visas expire sooner than 6 months after the medical.  My wife's visa, for example, had an expiration date only 5 months after the medical.  I'm not sure why.  

Visa expiration is never later then 6 months after medical. 

Oh! That's interesting about your wife's visa! As we all know, this process isn't all that predictable! 

[DijonMustard 10]

2 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

Yes, normally, the visa expiration is 6 months after the medical....but sometimes, visas expire sooner than 6 months after the medical.  My wife's visa, for example, had an expiration date only 5 months after the medical.  I'm not sure why.  

Visa expiration is never later then 6 months after medical. 

Ah got it! As long as everything goes well at the interview, my husband plans to immediately move to the US so hopefully we'll be okay. But yes... nothing is predictable in this process. Thank you all!

[Joel Craig 1]

Hey everyone. Quick question! My sister is getting married in Florida in May. Im still waiting for my Montreal interview (DQ’d 02/21/2023) I know I won’t be receiving my green card before the wedding that’s for sure, but does anyone know if im able to cross the border and go to the wedding? Or am I not allowed to go to the states until I receive my green card? (Would just be going for a few days and would most likely at least have my IL to show the border officer) 

[NorthnerSouth98 23]

4 hours ago, Joel Craig said:

Hey everyone. Quick question! My sister is getting married in Florida in May. Im still waiting for my Montreal interview (DQ’d 02/21/2023) I know I won’t be receiving my green card before the wedding that’s for sure, but does anyone know if im able to cross the border and go to the wedding? Or am I not allowed to go to the states until I receive my green card? (Would just be going for a few days and would most likely at least have my IL to show the border officer) 

You should be fine, I cross 1-2 times a month to visit my wife and each time and have just outlined that I have an IR1 pending to the officer. 
 

They then ask you what you do for work, where you live, etc to prove your ties to Canada and that you will in fact being going back. 
 

If you’re flying, showing a return ticket can help as well! 
 

**I’ve been travelling 1-2 a month since I filed last February and have had no issues**

[EC&IC 32]

8 hours ago, Joel Craig said:

Hey everyone. Quick question! My sister is getting married in Florida in May. Im still waiting for my Montreal interview (DQ’d 02/21/2023) I know I won’t be receiving my green card before the wedding that’s for sure, but does anyone know if im able to cross the border and go to the wedding? Or am I not allowed to go to the states until I receive my green card? (Would just be going for a few days and would most likely at least have my IL to show the border officer) 

I think *some* people have had bad luck with a border officer who thought they weren't allowed to enter the US while their green card application was pending, and then at the interview they had to say that they had been denied entry to the US, and while they explained the situation to the interviewing officer, it created some delays after the interview, for some of them, because the officer had to investigate what really happened. Just in case this happens to you, you might want to bring some print-outs from the USCIS website or other official sources explicitly stating that you are allowed to enter while waiting for your green card! That way you could show them to the border agent if there is an issue.

[mam521 2,111]

On 4/26/2023 at 9:33 AM, Joel Craig said:

Hey everyone. Quick question! My sister is getting married in Florida in May. Im still waiting for my Montreal interview (DQ’d 02/21/2023) I know I won’t be receiving my green card before the wedding that’s for sure, but does anyone know if im able to cross the border and go to the wedding? Or am I not allowed to go to the states until I receive my green card? (Would just be going for a few days and would most likely at least have my IL to show the border officer) 

If you haven't had your interview yet, then it will be fine.  If you've had your interview and are recommended for your visa, the Consulate will keep your passport to stick your temporary I-551 in it.  

 

If you want to visit for the wedding, go for it.  Just bring evidence of ties to Canada to demonstrate you will be returning in the even that you are asked to provide proof of said ties.  Employment letter, lease agreement, return ticket, things like that. 

[llcoolwil 99]

So I just realized something and I feel super dumb about it. I've been DQ'd already and I just realized that I said that I do not need a new SSN card. I have one that says "Authorized for DHS Work Authorization Only" and it has my maiden name on it because I worked in the US previously. I probably should have selected Yes so I got a new one with my new name and without that verbiage printed across it. 

 

Is it too late? Can I fix that up with the interviewing officer? Ack! Not sure what I should do. Maybe I'll just have to go to the SSN office as soon as I can when I get to the US on my Visa after it's approved. 

 

Did anyone else ever deal with something like that??

[thenextman 14]

11 minutes ago, llcoolwil said:

So I just realized something and I feel super dumb about it. I've been DQ'd already and I just realized that I said that I do not need a new SSN card. I have one that says "Authorized for DHS Work Authorization Only" and it has my maiden name on it because I worked in the US previously. I probably should have selected Yes so I got a new one with my new name and without that verbiage printed across it. 

 

Is it too late? Can I fix that up with the interviewing officer? Ack! Not sure what I should do. Maybe I'll just have to go to the SSN office as soon as I can when I get to the US on my Visa after it's approved. 

 

Did anyone else ever deal with something like that??

You might be able to fix it at interview time; before the interview you'll see a consular officer who will take your documents and confirm a bunch of information from your visa application.

 

Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much about it.... The stamped visa serves as entitlement to work, and you should just be able to go directly to a social security office and get things fixed up. They're easy to work with and cards are normally issued within 10 days.

[llcoolwil 99]

1 minute ago, thenextman said:

You might be able to fix it at interview time; before the interview you'll see a consular officer who will take your documents and confirm a bunch of information from your visa application.

 

Otherwise, I wouldn't worry too much about it.... The stamped visa serves as entitlement to work, and you should just be able to go directly to a social security office and get things fixed up. They're easy to work with and cards are normally issued within 10 days.

Amazing! Thanks so much! I feel like the waiting game honestly just makes my brain work in overdrive and I panic about things that are likely easy to fix at the end of the day. PHEW. 

[mam521 2,111]

1 hour ago, llcoolwil said:

So I just realized something and I feel super dumb about it. I've been DQ'd already and I just realized that I said that I do not need a new SSN card. I have one that says "Authorized for DHS Work Authorization Only" and it has my maiden name on it because I worked in the US previously. I probably should have selected Yes so I got a new one with my new name and without that verbiage printed across it. 

 

Is it too late? Can I fix that up with the interviewing officer? Ack! Not sure what I should do. Maybe I'll just have to go to the SSN office as soon as I can when I get to the US on my Visa after it's approved. 

 

Did anyone else ever deal with something like that??

Just go to the SSA and fix it with the name change and your status change.  The number will stay the same. 

 

https://faq.ssa.gov/en-us/Topic/article/KA-01981

 

DoS and the SSA are not the same.  You just want that visa in hand from DoS so you can get on with life.  You can totally manage the SSN once in the US.  

[ROSALINDDELOST 2]

Anyone else who was DQ'ED mid feb still waiting for an IL? I have been checking the NVC website religiously and they updated it May 1st saying that most cases DQ'ED in January have interviews which hasn't changed from last month.

I was DQ'ED Feb 17th.

[Gurpreet01 0]

2 hours ago, ROSALINDDELOST said:

 

Anyone else who was DQ'ED mid feb still waiting for an IL? I have been checking the NVC website religiously and they updated it May 1st saying that most cases DQ'ED in January have interviews which hasn't changed from last month.

I was DQ'ED Feb 17th.

DQ’ed on feb 13, still waiting for an interview letter. Some people DQ’ed in feb has already gotten their letters.