Montreal embassy EB-2 interview wait time-Part 2

[appleblossom 3,066]

But point is that now it’s back on any trips there will potentially be subject to extra scrutiny, just as if you’d visited North Korea for example…except probably a few more cocktails and a bit more sunshine. 😂

[monk_yatso 38]

4 minutes ago, appleblossom said:

But point is that now it’s back on any trips there will potentially be subject to extra scrutiny, just as if you’d visited North Korea for example…except probably a few more cocktails and a bit more sunshine. 😂

Lolz. Ya we can’t control their scrutiny. As long as we just went there as tourist, their long lasting screening will have to end at some point and issuing us clearance 😁

[monk_yatso 38]

@MikeS2024 hi, i assume you had your interview today? Hope it went well

[mgsctravels 41]

On 1/17/2025 at 1:12 PM, mgsctravels said:

Adding my experience for a data point. The interview was on Jan. 17, 2025, in Montreal.

 

The first agent took my civil documents and verified everything. Remember to bring photocopies with you in addition to the originals - I didn't realize until a couple of days ago and rushed to get copies done.

 

The second agent took my fingerprints shortly after. Easy.

 

The third stop was the interview with a very kind officer who spoke with me for about 10 minutes. They took my oath, then asked me questions about my previous research, verified if I'd travelled to the U.S. before, why I was looking to move now, and promptly said I was approved.

 

I was done in just over 2.5 hours. Most of it was spent waiting.

 

Best of luck, everyone, and thanks for the wealth of information on this forum. I will update once I cross the POE.

 

Following up:

 

Montreal consulate issued my immigrant visa on the business day after the interview. It was shipped and delivered via Purolator the next day. Super speedy.

 

I crossed the POE at Rainbow Bridge today. Aside from waiting to see a secondary officer (about an hour as they only had 3 on duty), the processing took 10 minutes max. No questions. He opened my packet, updated his records, stamped my passport, and said "Welcome home."

 

Thanks to everyone for being such a wealth of information on this forum. I wish everyone the best of luck on their visa journey.

[MikeS2024 5]

7 hours ago, monk_yatso said:

@MikeS2024 hi, i assume you had your interview today? Hope it went well

Hi, Yes I did! Everything went well and I got approved! Was an easy process and similar experience to people who shared before me ( officer who verifies documents, fingerprinting, then interview). 

 

The only thing I want to add, and maybe I missed that, is to not bring a bag to the consulate. You can bring your paper binder, but they didn't let me bring the bag inside and I had to go ask around the shops if they can keep my bag over for a couple of hours. The nearby Tim Hortons accepted and were well aware of the situation :D. 

The officer hinted that it's best to enter and get the stamp ASAP. I'm not done with Canada yet, so I'm not sure what to do. Is it okay if I get the stamp and then have the green card delivered to USA address while in Canada, then have my relatives ship the card over to me to Canada?

[Canadian24 11]

16 hours ago, MikeS2024 said:

Hi, Yes I did! Everything went well and I got approved! Was an easy process and similar experience to people who shared before me ( officer who verifies documents, fingerprinting, then interview). 

 

The only thing I want to add, and maybe I missed that, is to not bring a bag to the consulate. You can bring your paper binder, but they didn't let me bring the bag inside and I had to go ask around the shops if they can keep my bag over for a couple of hours. The nearby Tim Hortons accepted and were well aware of the situation :D. 

The officer hinted that it's best to enter and get the stamp ASAP. I'm not done with Canada yet, so I'm not sure what to do. Is it okay if I get the stamp and then have the green card delivered to USA address while in Canada, then have my relatives ship the card over to me to Canada?

@MikeS2024  Congratulations! Did the officer say why it is best to enter and get the stamp ASAP? Di you catch what was he talking about? Was he simply hinting at possibilities of Trump doing weird things? or was it something else you think?  Thanks!

[mgsctravels 41]

17 hours ago, MikeS2024 said:

Hi, Yes I did! Everything went well and I got approved! Was an easy process and similar experience to people who shared before me ( officer who verifies documents, fingerprinting, then interview). 

 

The only thing I want to add, and maybe I missed that, is to not bring a bag to the consulate. You can bring your paper binder, but they didn't let me bring the bag inside and I had to go ask around the shops if they can keep my bag over for a couple of hours. The nearby Tim Hortons accepted and were well aware of the situation :D. 

The officer hinted that it's best to enter and get the stamp ASAP. I'm not done with Canada yet, so I'm not sure what to do. Is it okay if I get the stamp and then have the green card delivered to USA address while in Canada, then have my relatives ship the card over to me to Canada?

 

50 minutes ago, Canadian24 said:

@MikeS2024  Congratulations! Did the officer say why it is best to enter and get the stamp ASAP? Di you catch what was he talking about? Was he simply hinting at possibilities of Trump doing weird things? or was it something else you think?  Thanks!

 

I was also of the mindset from multiple conversations that you should activate your visa as soon as you can. You just never know with the current climate. I am still finalizing move dates, employment, etc., but drove to the U.S. yesterday for a few hours just so I could get the Green Card started.

[WaitingEB-1AJan23 3]

2 hours ago, mgsctravels said:

 

 

I was also of the mindset from multiple conversations that you should activate your visa as soon as you can. You just never know with the current climate. I am still finalizing move dates, employment, etc., but drove to the U.S. yesterday for a few hours just so I could get the Green Card started.

Congratulations! Do you know if the CRA considers us non-residents in the moment we get the stamp?  I am hoping to have my interview on March but still need to sell our house... I also wonder how to deal with the ohip card after receiving the stamp but still staying in Canada couple of months after that. 

[Canadian24 11]

13 hours ago, WaitingEB-1AJan23 said:

Congratulations! Do you know if the CRA considers us non-residents in the moment we get the stamp?  I am hoping to have my interview on March but still need to sell our house... I also wonder how to deal with the ohip card after receiving the stamp but still staying in Canada couple of months after that. 

@WaitingEB-1AJan23 Tax residency status criteria differ per country. As soon as you activate your green card you become a US tax resident. It doesn't make you a Canadian tax non-resident automatically. It's simpler and easier to sell everything before activating your green card. Owning a house in Canada that is not rented to a third party makes you a tax resident of Canada (see CRA emmigration info). But know that if you sell after activating your green card, your house capital gain will be taxed in the US side too as you will be a US tax resident then. But the limit on the exemption for Principal Residences capital gain in the US is usually 250KUS per person or 500KUS per married couple. But that exemption to also be verified with the US state where you will become a resident. Cross border accountants can help you, but I found the same info on the internet as they said with a lot, a lot of research (CRA emmigrant, IRS immigrants and your State tax info immigrants). Know that Cross border accountants usually charge for phone calls (I got a 1000$ surprise invoice for the phone call with info that I already knew).

[monk_yatso 38]

6 minutes ago, Canadian24 said:

@WaitingEB-1AJan23 Tax residency status criteria differ per country. As soon as you activate your green card you become a US tax resident. It doesn't make you a Canadian tax non-resident automatically. It's simpler and easier to sell everything before activating your green card. Owning a house in Canada that is not rented to a third party makes you a tax resident of Canada (see CRA emmigration info). But know that if you sell after activating your green card, your house capital gain will be taxed in the US side too as you will be a US tax resident then. But the limit on the exemption for Principal Residences capital gain in the US is usually 250KUS per person or 500KUS per married couple. But that exemption to also be verified with the US state where you will become a resident. Cross border accountants can help you, but I found the same info on the internet as they said with a lot, a lot of research (CRA emmigrant, IRS immigrants and your State tax info immigrants). Know that Cross border accountants usually charge for phone calls (I got a 1000$ surprise invoice for the phone call with info that I already knew).

Thanks for the info. Although i’m yet to attend my interview, just curious to know…. if i keep renting my principal residence here in toronto? What’s gonna happen? 

[Aaron_ 26]

On 1/24/2025 at 11:16 PM, MikeS2024 said:

Hi, Yes I did! Everything went well and I got approved! Was an easy process and similar experience to people who shared before me ( officer who verifies documents, fingerprinting, then interview). 

 

The only thing I want to add, and maybe I missed that, is to not bring a bag to the consulate. You can bring your paper binder, but they didn't let me bring the bag inside and I had to go ask around the shops if they can keep my bag over for a couple of hours. The nearby Tim Hortons accepted and were well aware of the situation :D. 

The officer hinted that it's best to enter and get the stamp ASAP. I'm not done with Canada yet, so I'm not sure what to do. Is it okay if I get the stamp and then have the green card delivered to USA address while in Canada, then have my relatives ship the card over to me to Canada?

Congratulations @MikeS2024, aside from not bringing a bag to the consulate other than our documents folder, are we allowed to bring our phone to the consulate?

[WaitingEB-1AJan23 3]

1 hour ago, Canadian24 said:

@WaitingEB-1AJan23 Tax residency status criteria differ per country. As soon as you activate your green card you become a US tax resident. It doesn't make you a Canadian tax non-resident automatically. It's simpler and easier to sell everything before activating your green card. Owning a house in Canada that is not rented to a third party makes you a tax resident of Canada (see CRA emmigration info). But know that if you sell after activating your green card, your house capital gain will be taxed in the US side too as you will be a US tax resident then. But the limit on the exemption for Principal Residences capital gain in the US is usually 250KUS per person or 500KUS per married couple. But that exemption to also be verified with the US state where you will become a resident. Cross border accountants can help you, but I found the same info on the internet as they said with a lot, a lot of research (CRA emmigrant, IRS immigrants and your State tax info immigrants). Know that Cross border accountants usually charge for phone calls (I got a 1000$ surprise invoice for the phone call with info that I already knew).

Thank you SO much for the info!

Edited 22 hours ago by WaitingEB-1AJan23

[Canadian24 11]

22 hours ago, monk_yatso said:

Thanks for the info. Although i’m yet to attend my interview, just curious to know…. if i keep renting my principal residence here in toronto? What’s gonna happen? 

@monk_yatso Do you mean you have a lease or do you mean you are planning to rent your Toronto principal residence after activating your greencard?

[WaitingEB-1AJan23 3]

23 hours ago, Canadian24 said:

@WaitingEB-1AJan23 Tax residency status criteria differ per country. As soon as you activate your green card you become a US tax resident. It doesn't make you a Canadian tax non-resident automatically. It's simpler and easier to sell everything before activating your green card. Owning a house in Canada that is not rented to a third party makes you a tax resident of Canada (see CRA emmigration info). But know that if you sell after activating your green card, your house capital gain will be taxed in the US side too as you will be a US tax resident then. But the limit on the exemption for Principal Residences capital gain in the US is usually 250KUS per person or 500KUS per married couple. But that exemption to also be verified with the US state where you will become a resident. Cross border accountants can help you, but I found the same info on the internet as they said with a lot, a lot of research (CRA emmigrant, IRS immigrants and your State tax info immigrants). Know that Cross border accountants usually charge for phone calls (I got a 1000$ surprise invoice for the phone call with info that I already knew).

Hi, I wonder if we are to return the OHIP card immediately after receiving the stamp. In our case, it will most likely take 3 months before we can actually move after the interview (resign from our current job, etc.).