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

[CanadianJeff 22]

10 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

I wouldn't necessarily be worried, because the consulate gives a timeline of 2 -3 week (sometimes 3 - 4 weeks) for passport to be returned. That being said, we have recently seen at least one case where the visa issuance took about 30 days after 221g was issued due to medicals not arriving on time. Refer to @CanadianJeff's case and their post below. I see you have already emailed  them. Maybe wait another week and if you still do not see progress, perhaps reach out to your senator for help, as that is what @CanadianJeff did to help push his case along.

@Redie

Like From_CAN_2_US said, I was delayed longer than expected. At the interview I was told they planned to approve my visa. It wasn't until the day after that I was informed f the 221g for medical not arriving on time. While it took over a month after receipt of my medical to process my case, most people seemed to be approved within a week of receipt of medical results - and that includes people that interviewed the same day as me who did not have medical results available. It's always possible my case raised someone's eyebrow for other reasons, although I can't think of anything. I was already in USA on a H-1B visa so maybe that was enough of a difference to cause some extra checks to take place. Hopefully your case is processed not long after receipt of the medical, but if you fail to see movement don't be afraid to reach out to your senator's office. Apparently, helping people navigate red tape is a routine service of the senator's offices.

 

If you haven't heard back from your email to the consulate by 1 week after, I'd send a follow up email. They did confirm receipt of my medical results, but other responses were pretty generic.

 

Good luck!

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

@Redie You posted on the DS-5535 thread, so wondering if you received the DS-5535 questionnaire?

 

If not, best to post your query on the other Montreal DQ thread, so as to not mix up issues.

[Twiz&Toz 240]

23 minutes ago, CanadianJeff said:

It wasn't a long wait at POE, maybe 30-45 minutes. I cross over land at Fort Erie, ON.

That’s my crossing  guess I’m buying some hot water bottles 

[Redie 124]

I still have not heard back from consulate so I will send a follow up email. Did you just reach out to your senator in the state you were moving to?

 

Thanks,

Redie

 

 

[CanadianJeff 22]

13 minutes ago, Twiz&Toz said:

That’s my crossing  guess I’m buying some hot water bottles 

The time was spent inside their office for the paper work. Border crossing itself was non-existent for me but I have Nexus. I think regular lines were 3-4 cars deep so pretty quick I suspect.

[Redie 124]

25 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

@Redie You posted on the DS-5535 thread, so wondering if you received the DS-5535 questionnaire?

 

If not, best to post your query on the other Montreal DQ thread, so as to not mix up issues.

Thanks I will do that since I did not receive the DS-5535 questionnaire.

 

 

 

 

 

[Redie 124]

35 minutes ago, CanadianJeff said:

@Redie

Like From_CAN_2_US said, I was delayed longer than expected. At the interview I was told they planned to approve my visa. It wasn't until the day after that I was informed f the 221g for medical not arriving on time. While it took over a month after receipt of my medical to process my case, most people seemed to be approved within a week of receipt of medical results - and that includes people that interviewed the same day as me who did not have medical results available. It's always possible my case raised someone's eyebrow for other reasons, although I can't think of anything. I was already in USA on a H-1B visa so maybe that was enough of a difference to cause some extra checks to take place. Hopefully your case is processed not long after receipt of the medical, but if you fail to see movement don't be afraid to reach out to your senator's office. Apparently, helping people navigate red tape is a routine service of the senator's offices.

 

If you haven't heard back from your email to the consulate by 1 week after, I'd send a follow up email. They did confirm receipt of my medical results, but other responses were pretty generic.

 

Good luck!

 

35 minutes ago, CanadianJeff said:

@Redie

Like From_CAN_2_US said, I was delayed longer than expected. At the interview I was told they planned to approve my visa. It wasn't until the day after that I was informed f the 221g for medical not arriving on time. While it took over a month after receipt of my medical to process my case, most people seemed to be approved within a week of receipt of medical results - and that includes people that interviewed the same day as me who did not have medical results available. It's always possible my case raised someone's eyebrow for other reasons, although I can't think of anything. I was already in USA on a H-1B visa so maybe that was enough of a difference to cause some extra checks to take place. Hopefully your case is processed not long after receipt of the medical, but if you fail to see movement don't be afraid to reach out to your senator's office. Apparently, helping people navigate red tape is a routine service of the senator's offices.

 

If you haven't heard back from your email to the consulate by 1 week after, I'd send a follow up email. They did confirm receipt of my medical results, but other responses were pretty generic.

 

Good luck!

I still have not heard back from consulate so I will send a follow up email. Did you just reach out to your senator in the state you were moving to?

 

Thanks,

Redie

[CanadianJeff 22]

Yup, but the petitioner had to be the one to reach out as they are the legal entity in the USA. As a beneficiary we are just random nobodies. My senator's office had a form that needed to be completed in order to grant them permission to contact the consulate. That seems to vary state to state so it's worth checking the senator's website. 

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

Does anyone if there is a similar thread as ours for K1 applicants at Montreal. I am curious what the climate is like there. I know of their spreadsheet, but couldn't find their thread.

[Hamlet 122]

On 11/12/2021 at 10:49 AM, From_CAN_2_US said:

Oh no!
 

I’ve seen cases before here on VJ where during Issued (AP), something was flagged that triggered a DS-5535. But never heard of such a case at Montreal before. So I hope it isn’t that.

 

It’s especially weird for your case to be refused at this point, because it was in final processing not AP.

 

I hope it is a mistake of some kind. I suggest you email the consulate (sucks that one can’t call).

I got this email this morning. I never received any phone calls and no message left on my voicemail. I really don’t know what to say. 

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

8 minutes ago, Hamlet said:

I got this email this morning. I never received any phone calls and no message left on my voicemail. I really don’t know what to say. 

So sorry about this. The silver lining is that you haven't been issued the DS-5535, so perhaps it won't take more than a few weeks for your case to clear AP.

 

It appears that Montreal is getting stricter with security checks all of a sudden.

 

Can you think of any reason why you might be put into AP? Were you born or significant time in any country other than Canada? Really weird that you didn't receive a phone call either...

Edited November 16, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[Sharma Ali 36]

2 hours ago, alphabetagamma said:

The fact that they did 3 months worth of interviews last 3-4 weeks, I'm getting a bit concerned if they decide to skip this month brining back the advantage  to 0 😐

I hope the won’t do that. According some Facebook videos, they said they’re creating more slots for months Oct-Dec. 🤲 hard. 

[Hamlet 122]

2 minutes ago, From_CAN_2_US said:

So sorry about this. The silver lining is that you haven't been issued the DS-5535, so perhaps it won't take more than a few weeks for your case to clear AP.

 

It appears that Montreal is getting stricter with security checks all of a sudden.

 

Can you think of any reason why you might be put into AP? Were you born or significant time in any country other than Canada?

Born and raised here in Canada. Wondering if it was a name hit?

 

why would they return my passport  1 week after my interview if it’s going to be quick. 
 

feeling very deflated as I was so close

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

1 minute ago, Hamlet said:

Born and raised here in Canada. Wondering if it was a name hit?

 

why would they return my passport  1 week after my interview if it’s going to be quick. 
 

feeling very deflated as I was so close

Yes, from what I have been reading, these security checks are almost always triggered by name and DOB hits.

 

I wouldn't read too much into them returning your passport. Maybe they intended to call you to ask if you wanted it back, but couldn't reach you for whatever reason. From what I have read if you have no history in any countries other than US and Canada, AP doesn't take very long... Hopefully it isn't more than a 4-6 week wait.

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

1 hour ago, Sharma Ali said:

I hope the won’t do that. According some Facebook videos, they said they’re creating more slots for months Oct-Dec. 🤲 hard. 

I feel like Montreal is struggling at the back end from the surge of interviews in October and November. There have been many refusals, issuances of DS-5535s, extended APs, delays in return of passport. Something changed internally beyond just the sheer increased volume of interviews to trigger all this (especially the stricter security checks).  Regardless, It appears MTL is overwhelmed.

 

I am worried MTL will reassess their service capacity and not issue many interview letters this month or worse, not issue any for IR1/CR1 at all as they clear all the cases from October and November interviews, and take their holidays.

 

Still holding out until tomorrow though, before I have a mental breakdown…

Edited November 16, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US