Montreal embassy EB-2 interview wait time-Part 2

[Aaron_ 25]

On 11/28/2024 at 1:23 PM, AnnaSalu said:

 

I would take with me anything I possibly can (and of course organized). You never know what the officer may ask for. 

 

In this case, a simple folder might not enough. Are we allowed to bring a document bag inside?

[sapkde9 8]

My bad,  Incorrect posting...  Deleting the comment

 

Edited December 2 by sapkde9
Mistake...

[sapkde9 8]

Looks like the Immigration visa interview schedule status at Montreal Consulate moved here : https://ca.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visa-process/

[AnnaSalu 31]

On 11/27/2024 at 5:13 PM, AlAlp said:

Did you submit the DS-5535? Is it required only for the main applicant or the dependents have to fill it out separately as well?

Yes, I submitted it but only for myself, and not for my spouse. I'm gonna let them ask for it during the interview if they want to

[mgsctravels 24]

I think this has been asked before in different ways, but wanted to know your thoughts.

1. My interview is on Jan. 17. If I have a cruise planned out of Miami at the beginning of February, should I expect to have my passport back so long as everything goes as planned?
2. Is it ok to cross the border with the visa to activate the GC while flying down to Miami to go on a cruise? I'm theoretically entering the country to leave in a couple of days on a cruise ship, to reenter the country at a cruise port a week later. I think they use facial recognition there.
3. Can I enter without activating the GC, or do I need to activate it right away?

Wondering your thoughts based on previous experience.

[sunnylank 6]

Hello, Can anyone who has completed their landing in the last couple of months in the Buffalo area please post their detailed experience.

Received EB2 IV in Oct and planning to do landing with family in early Jan.  Are there any specific questions that were asked and any additional documents 

that we need to carry? Thanks.

Edited December 4 by sunnylank

[AnnaSalu 31]

21 hours ago, mgsctravels said:

I think this has been asked before in different ways, but wanted to know your thoughts.

1. My interview is on Jan. 17. If I have a cruise planned out of Miami at the beginning of February, should I expect to have my passport back so long as everything goes as planned?
2. Is it ok to cross the border with the visa to activate the GC while flying down to Miami to go on a cruise? I'm theoretically entering the country to leave in a couple of days on a cruise ship, to reenter the country at a cruise port a week later. I think they use facial recognition there.
3. Can I enter without activating the GC, or do I need to activate it right away?

Wondering your thoughts based on previous experience.

 

1- I wish I had more accurate information, but all I can say is your timeline is a bit tight. You may have your passport back, but who knows how long they may take.

 

2- I don't see why not.

 

3- I also want to know the answer to this!

 

[Quebekwa ndui 3]

On 11/13/2024 at 8:38 AM, Quebekwa ndui said:

No reply yet

They finally replied but after we went to the consulate to ask whether we can hand deliver our passports.

[Quebekwa ndui 3]

On 11/13/2024 at 8:08 AM, Quebekwa ndui said:

Its says send us passport when we contact you. I think I won't hurt if we send our passport ahead of time. It would be similar to if we had left them at the consulate. Our status is still saying 'Refused' meaning they have not reopened our case to 'Ready' for visa issuance. Thanks for the suggestion, we will send our passports.

We had a rough wait. Looks like not leaving our passport during the interview was a bad idea. Our application appeared to have stagnated.

 

We decided to fly back to Canada and hand deliver our passport. I arrived at the consulate around 830am on Tues. I explained to the officer that we were not able to send our passport from the US and after few explanation of the whole Sept visas being used up, he decided to call the office and asked whether he can allow me to deliver the passport. They said yes and I delivered the passport and the officer took my phone number and said they call me once they print the visa. Next day 8am they call me to go pick up the stamped passport. 

 

They didn't explain why the officer misinformed us that we could send and receive back our passport from the US.

 

I came back the same day and passed the border for activation which took less than 10 mins.

 

Good luck you all

[MazdaAhura 6]

1 hour ago, Quebekwa ndui said:

We had a rough wait. Looks like not leaving our passport during the interview was a bad idea. Our application appeared to have stagnated.

 

We decided to fly back to Canada and hand deliver our passport. I arrived at the consulate around 830am on Tues. I explained to the officer that we were not able to send our passport from the US and after few explanation of the whole Sept visas being used up, he decided to call the office and asked whether he can allow me to deliver the passport. They said yes and I delivered the passport and the officer took my phone number and said they call me once they print the visa. Next day 8am they call me to go pick up the stamped passport. 

 

They didn't explain why the officer misinformed us that we could send and receive back our passport from the US.

 

I came back the same day and passed the border for activation which took less than 10 mins.

 

Good luck you all

It seems odd that a visa can be issued just one day after receiving the passport, while many people have to wait for weeks or months. For instance, today marks the end of my six-week waiting period, and I am now entering my seventh week of waiting. It’s tough.

[shuza 4]

4 hours ago, Quebekwa ndui said:

We had a rough wait. Looks like not leaving our passport during the interview was a bad idea. Our application appeared to have stagnated.

 

We decided to fly back to Canada and hand deliver our passport. I arrived at the consulate around 830am on Tues. I explained to the officer that we were not able to send our passport from the US and after few explanation of the whole Sept visas being used up, he decided to call the office and asked whether he can allow me to deliver the passport. They said yes and I delivered the passport and the officer took my phone number and said they call me once they print the visa. Next day 8am they call me to go pick up the stamped passport. 

 

They didn't explain why the officer misinformed us that we could send and receive back our passport from the US.

 

I came back the same day and passed the border for activation which took less than 10 mins.

 

Good luck you all

Happy for you many congratulations!! and thanks for the update 

[AndrewsN 46]

Hey everyone! 

This will be my final post and final timeline.

I crossed the border last night (land) to activate my green card. It's been a 2.5 year journey, and just like you, have experienced many twists, turns, and challenges. 

 

A quick summary of things that seem to be relevant in some regard:

Visa type: EB1 A 

Country of nationality: Canada

Country of origin: Russia 

Field of work: Arts (film and tv)

 

2022

Applied for visa in August of 2022.

Approved September of 2022.

 

2023

Documentarily Qualified Jan 2023

 

Waiting in radio silence all of 2023.

 

2024....

Beginning of Aug. -  Interview letter 

Mid Aug - medical done in Surrey, BC

Sept 4 - interview at Montreal consulate

Verbal approval on the spot. My passport was taken.
Sep 10- received an email with a Refusal

 

A 221g form stating it was due to them reaching the allotment of visas for the fiscal year was attached. I did not receive a formal issuance of a DS5535. My 221g stated that my case would move forward after October 1st (new Fiscal Year). 

I had reached out several times around the beginning of October to check in (as I was requested to do so on 221g), and was met with the standard cookie cutter replies. But given what everyone here seems to know, I was put into AP. My one and only hunch is that my country of origin sparked that, and I'm a 30 year old, in-shape male.

 

CEAC Observations:
Oct 2- case update - no status change - likely from my email?
Oct 7- case update - no status change- email response
Oct 22 - case update - no status change
Nov 8 - case update - no status change - from email?
Nov 21- case update - no status change - from email?
Nov 22 - case update - no status change
Nov 25 - case update - status change to ISSUED
Nov 26 - contacted courier service support to change address away from Canada Post office due to Canada Post strike
NOTE: Nov. 28- Dec 1 was Thanksgiving weekend and consulate was closed
Dec. 3 - update - no status change or update

Dec. 5 - Passport was delivered to my residential address.

 

I went to the border the same day and got my permanent residency activated. The border gentlemen were very professional, and quite friendly. Shook my hand and told me "welcome home". I damn near teared up.

 

I permanently depart Canada on Monday. 

 

Years of managing work and personal relationships in two countries. Not being able to advance in certain professional aspects, not being able to commit in personal ones. I feel like my life can finally move forward once again.

 

Thank you to everyone on this thread has helped and offered advise throughout the last few months. 

I wish for you all to get through this soon and move on with your lives. 

 

 

Signing off,

N. Andrews. 

[mgsctravels 24]

3 minutes ago, AndrewsN said:

Hey everyone! 

This will be my final post and final timeline.

I crossed the border last night (land) to activate my green card. It's been a 2.5 year journey, and just like you, have experienced many twists, turns, and challenges. 

 

A quick summary of things that seem to be relevant in some regard:

Visa type: EB1 A 

Country of nationality: Canada

Country of origin: Russia 

Field of work: Arts (film and tv)

 

2022

Applied for visa in August of 2022.

Approved September of 2022.

 

2023

Documentarily Qualified Jan 2023

 

Waiting in radio silence all of 2023.

 

2024....

Beginning of Aug. -  Interview letter 

Mid Aug - medical done in Surrey, BC

Sept 4 - interview at Montreal consulate

Verbal approval on the spot. My passport was taken.
Sep 10- received an email with a Refusal

 

A 221g form stating it was due to them reaching the allotment of visas for the fiscal year was attached. I did not receive a formal issuance of a DS5535. My 221g stated that my case would move forward after October 1st (new Fiscal Year). 

I had reached out several times around the beginning of October to check in (as I was requested to do so on 221g), and was met with the standard cookie cutter replies. But given what everyone here seems to know, I was put into AP. My one and only hunch is that my country of origin sparked that, and I'm a 30 year old, in-shape male.

 

CEAC Observations:
Oct 2- case update - no status change - likely from my email?
Oct 7- case update - no status change- email response
Oct 22 - case update - no status change
Nov 8 - case update - no status change - from email?
Nov 21- case update - no status change - from email?
Nov 22 - case update - no status change
Nov 25 - case update - status change to ISSUED
Nov 26 - contacted courier service support to change address away from Canada Post office due to Canada Post strike
NOTE: Nov. 28- Dec 1 was Thanksgiving weekend and consulate was closed
Dec. 3 - update - no status change or update

Dec. 5 - Passport was delivered to my residential address.

 

I went to the border the same day and got my permanent residency activated. The border gentlemen were very professional, and quite friendly. Shook my hand and told me "welcome home". I damn near teared up.

 

I permanently depart Canada on Monday. 

 

Years of managing work and personal relationships in two countries. Not being able to advance in certain professional aspects, not being able to commit in personal ones. I feel like my life can finally move forward once again.

 

Thank you to everyone on this thread has helped and offered advise throughout the last few months. 

I wish for you all to get through this soon and move on with your lives. 

 

 

Signing off,

N. Andrews. 

 

Congrats!

[monk_yatso 26]

1 hour ago, AndrewsN said:

Hey everyone! 

This will be my final post and final timeline.

I crossed the border last night (land) to activate my green card. It's been a 2.5 year journey, and just like you, have experienced many twists, turns, and challenges. 

 

A quick summary of things that seem to be relevant in some regard:

Visa type: EB1 A 

Country of nationality: Canada

Country of origin: Russia 

Field of work: Arts (film and tv)

 

2022

Applied for visa in August of 2022.

Approved September of 2022.

 

2023

Documentarily Qualified Jan 2023

 

Waiting in radio silence all of 2023.

 

2024....

Beginning of Aug. -  Interview letter 

Mid Aug - medical done in Surrey, BC

Sept 4 - interview at Montreal consulate

Verbal approval on the spot. My passport was taken.
Sep 10- received an email with a Refusal

 

A 221g form stating it was due to them reaching the allotment of visas for the fiscal year was attached. I did not receive a formal issuance of a DS5535. My 221g stated that my case would move forward after October 1st (new Fiscal Year). 

I had reached out several times around the beginning of October to check in (as I was requested to do so on 221g), and was met with the standard cookie cutter replies. But given what everyone here seems to know, I was put into AP. My one and only hunch is that my country of origin sparked that, and I'm a 30 year old, in-shape male.

 

CEAC Observations:
Oct 2- case update - no status change - likely from my email?
Oct 7- case update - no status change- email response
Oct 22 - case update - no status change
Nov 8 - case update - no status change - from email?
Nov 21- case update - no status change - from email?
Nov 22 - case update - no status change
Nov 25 - case update - status change to ISSUED
Nov 26 - contacted courier service support to change address away from Canada Post office due to Canada Post strike
NOTE: Nov. 28- Dec 1 was Thanksgiving weekend and consulate was closed
Dec. 3 - update - no status change or update

Dec. 5 - Passport was delivered to my residential address.

 

I went to the border the same day and got my permanent residency activated. The border gentlemen were very professional, and quite friendly. Shook my hand and told me "welcome home". I damn near teared up.

 

I permanently depart Canada on Monday. 

 

Years of managing work and personal relationships in two countries. Not being able to advance in certain professional aspects, not being able to commit in personal ones. I feel like my life can finally move forward once again.

 

Thank you to everyone on this thread has helped and offered advise throughout the last few months. 

I wish for you all to get through this soon and move on with your lives. 

 

 

Signing off,

N. Andrews. 

Thanks for the amazing writeup! Perfectly depicted the backend story of every immigrants. Stay happy and enjoy the new journey 😊

[appleblossom 2,803]

1 hour ago, AndrewsN said:

Hey everyone! 

This will be my final post and final timeline.

 

 

Congrats! But before signing off, if you could fill in your actual timeline on your profile it would be hugely appreciated - that way it helps other EB applicants that follow you. 

 

Good luck.