Montreal embassy EB-2 interview wait time-Part 2

[ACC24 40]

2 hours ago, farzady said:

No, I’m Iranian-Canadian and military is mandatory in Iran. 

Hope it will get resolved soon !  

1 hour ago, DTCC said:

Thanks for checking. Just stepped in. The interview went well and the visa was issued. The officer who interviewed me asked to collect my  Passport/Visa/Information packet today at the consulate (no need to wait for the courier) since I live in US and they called me around 12:30 pm when I was at the resturant  in Montreal downtown to collect my passport/packet. I went to the Consulate at 1PM and collected my passport /packets for me and my wife from the Officer.

 

I was heading back to US tomorrow  crossing Port Champlin boader.

 

That's great News! Congratulations !

[ACC24 40]

@sZ How was your interview today?

[kachab 30]

3 hours ago, DTCC said:

My visa was issued today and collected my passport/information packet from the consulate right after the interview.  Thank you all for all your help in this forum. 

 

@kachab Special thanks to you for all your help/valuable and timely inputs. The officer advised me to pick up my visa/packet today at the Consulate so that I can drive back to US and no need to wait for the courier to collect my passport to extend my stay in Montreal so picked them up today and driving back to US tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

That's really great news, congratulations! Were you able to change your address during your interview?

 

Have a nice trip back to the US tomorrow!

 

[DTCC 14]

4 hours ago, ACC24 said:

Hope it will get resolved soon !  

That's great News! Congratulations !

Thank you!

2 hours ago, kachab said:

That's really great news, congratulations! Were you able to change your address during your interview?

 

Have a nice trip back to the US tomorrow!

 

Thank you. Yes, They updated my address and reflected in the Immigration summary sheet attached to the packet.

[DTCC 14]

4 minutes ago, DTCC said:

Thank you!

Thank you. Yes, They updated my address and reflected in the Immigration summary sheet attached to the packet.

@kachab You have stated "USICS should have my fingerprints on file"  as one of the item for green card printing.  Is this something happened at the time of interview you were referring to (Montreal Consulate  will share it with USICS) or  Are you referring to the fingerprinting  when you cross the border (CBP office will transfer it to USCIS)?

 

Please clarify if you happen to see this msg and preferably before 5AM Montreal time tomorrow(2/25). Thank you!

[kachab 30]

4 hours ago, DTCC said:

@kachab You have stated "USICS should have my fingerprints on file"  as one of the item for green card printing.  Is this something happened at the time of interview you were referring to (Montreal Consulate  will share it with USICS) or  Are you referring to the fingerprinting  when you cross the border (CBP office will transfer it to USCIS)?

 

Please clarify if you happen to see this msg and preferably before 5AM Montreal time tomorrow(2/25). Thank you!

Hi @DTCC

Hope you get this on time before leaving for the US. 

 

That's a good question... I am actually not sure which set of fingerprints they are using to release the printing of the green card. I saw someone on VJ who was not asked for fingerprints at the border and I think got his green card without issues, but most people seem to have been asked to be fingerprinted. The best thing to do if you see that they will not be asking for your fingerprints at the border would probably to simply bring up the topic and ask them to confirm that the USCIS will be using your fingerprints taken during your interview at the consulate or ask them to retake them if they can for peace of mind. 

 

I have seen on VJ that some people who had issues with their fingerprints received a letter from the USCIS a few weeks after entering the US asking them to take an appointment to a local USCIS office. I am assuming that in some instances even if they were taken, the fingerprints may not have been clear enough or did not save properly in the system. 

 

 

[DTCC 14]

2 hours ago, kachab said:

Hi @DTCC

Hope you get this on time before leaving for the US. 

 

That's a good question... I am actually not sure which set of fingerprints they are using to release the printing of the green card. I saw someone on VJ who was not asked for fingerprints at the border and I think got his green card without issues, but most people seem to have been asked to be fingerprinted. The best thing to do if you see that they will not be asking for your fingerprints at the border would probably to simply bring up the topic and ask them to confirm that the USCIS will be using your fingerprints taken during your interview at the consulate or ask them to retake them if they can for peace of mind. 

 

I have seen on VJ that some people who had issues with their fingerprints received a letter from the USCIS a few weeks after entering the US asking them to take an appointment to a local USCIS office. I am assuming that in some instances even if they were taken, the fingerprints may not have been clear enough or did not save properly in the system. 

 

 

thank you @kachab as always for your timely response. Yes, I will bring this up if they do not ask for one with CBP office. Keep you posted.

 

 

 

 

[DTCC 14]

@ACC24 I saw your post in my inbox (cell phone) last night  but when tried to locate it in the blog this AM couldn't find it. I tried to respond to your msg last night from my cell phone but the blog didn't allow me to do so for some reason. I know your ask but  in a bit of rush now.

 

Will be reaching Atlanta  Sunday night and will respond to your msg by Tuesday EOD. Good luck with your prep for March 27th.

[ACC24 40]

9 hours ago, DTCC said:

@ACC24 I saw your post in my inbox (cell phone) last night  but when tried to locate it in the blog this AM couldn't find it. I tried to respond to your msg last night from my cell phone but the blog didn't allow me to do so for some reason. I know your ask but  in a bit of rush now.

 

Will be reaching Atlanta  Sunday night and will respond to your msg by Tuesday EOD. Good luck with your prep for March 27th.

@DTCC Absolutely not in a hurry for the response. You settle down and we can talk later, happy for you that all went well!

[AgriSiva 12]

just thinking ahead for planning purposes - if and when we receive our Immigrant visas, do we have to wait until we physically move to our destination closer to our employer or can we do a quick round trip to the land border nearby just to activate our visas and become permanent residents? In my case, I live in Vancouver but my employer is in Colorado. Wondering if I can do a quick road trip to the Blaine border crossing right away before actually moving to Colorado which will happen in a month or so?

[3LabMom 76]

2 hours ago, agrisiva said:

just thinking ahead for planning purposes - if and when we receive our Immigrant visas, do we have to wait until we physically move to our destination closer to our employer or can we do a quick round trip to the land border nearby just to activate our visas and become permanent residents? In my case, I live in Vancouver but my employer is in Colorado. Wondering if I can do a quick road trip to the Blaine border crossing right away before actually moving to Colorado which will happen in a month or so?

That was our initial plan as we wanted to go house shopping first.  However, we have changed our plans since the wait time for the interview has been much longer than anticipated.  Now we will activate the visa and move down at the same time.

[DTCC 14]

On 2/25/2023 at 3:47 AM, DTCC said:

thank you @kachab as always for your timely response. Yes, I will bring this up if they do not ask for one with CBP office. Keep you posted.

 

 

 

 

Hi @kachab All went well at the border and  they took my fingerprint. They didn't cancel my TN and I was told GC trumps TN. Estimated  time to get printed card 90 days. Thank you!

[DTCC 14]

On 2/25/2023 at 1:45 PM, ACC24 said:

@DTCC Absolutely not in a hurry for the response. You settle down and we can talk later, happy for you that all went well!

Hi @ACC24 I believe your ask was around  documents. Other than Birth certificate, Police certificate, Employment letter, Marriage Certificate & 2 Photos - no other documents asked.

 

As far as  interview question goes,

#1 Where do you live in US?

#2 Other than US/Canada, Have you travelled any other country?

#3 Other than TN visa, Did you work on any other visa in the US?

#4 US visa refused or deported from US  in the past?

 

Eventually she said based on my employment, she is approving my visa.  Hope this helps!

 

Only hiccup on the interview day was, the elevator broke so they made everyone to wait outside for about 45 mins and it was terribly cold on that day. 

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

 

[kachab 30]

1 hour ago, DTCC said:

Hi @kachab All went well at the border and  they took my fingerprint. They didn't cancel my TN and I was told GC trumps TN. Estimated  time to get printed card 90 days. Thank you!

Hi @DTCC

 

Glad to hear all went smoothly. Enjoy your new PR status!

 

 

[DTCC 14]

12 minutes ago, kachab said:

Hi @DTCC

 

Glad to hear all went smoothly. Enjoy your new PR status!

 

 

Thank you. 

 

 If you have any phone number to reach out to USCIS to follow-up on  green card production, please share it. Just wanted to have it perhaps if the process gets extended beyond 90 days. The blog  shared by you  (GC after arrival) is informative and am keeping an eye on it.