STILL WAITING FOR STATUS UPDATE

[ritaburglar 15]

My interview was on November 14th at 8:00am - I was approved pending medical.  I had my medical appointment over a week in advance but there was an issue with getting the X-Ray back so my medical wasn't received by the consulate until November 15th am.  The consulate officer told me that if my medical was received in short order that it wouldn't put me behind at all and that my passport should be mailed on that Friday.  I now know from reading these forums that it was a blatant lie.  There was an update to my file on November 15th and November 22nd.

 

It is now December 2nd and I'm still 'refused' in the CEAC portal which means at best my passport will go out next Friday (4 weeks post interview).  I am posting this because this forum has been so helpful for me trying to get answers since the consulate seems to have a problem giving people any information while their lives hang in the balance.  When I went for my interview there were 15 windows and only 3 seemed operational.  Obviously there is a staffing problem! This is beyond infuriating knowing that if the doctor's office hadn't messed up, I would probably be with my hubby in the US by now!  

 

This is my story and I will update regularly in hopes of helping some other poor soul in this situation find peace.  My in laws are pretty heavily involved in politics in VA.  I have my father in law reaching out to his congress person today and he will escalate this to the Governor if need be.  This is not acceptable to hold onto people's passports (from another country - in my case Canada) for this length of time with no communication.  I have clients in the US and my hubby and I are seeing a fertility specialist in NYC so this is beyond maddening as I'm sure it is for all of us here in this situation. 

 

I have been in this process since late 2019 and to have this delay at the end is maddening.  I will update here as Montreal updates me at their glacial pace!

[Dashinka 24,479]

Hopefully you will have a resolution soon.  Btw, a state Governor really has no sway with USCIS, or the Department of State, but I understand the thinking.  Probably best to pursue the Senator before the Governor if no help from the House member.

 

Good Luck!

Edited December 2, 2022 by Dashinka

[ritaburglar 15]

10 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

Hopefully you will have a resolution soon.  Btw, a state Governor really has no sway with USCIS, or the Department of State, but I understand the thinking.  Probably best to pursue the Senator before the Governor if no help from the House member.

 

Good Luck!

Thank you!  We have an email into the senator as of this am! Fingers crossed....worth a shot!

[Tiabeanie 39]

I understand your frustration, I had my interview 2 weeks before you and my file showed refused and at the time they said no additional documents needed.

 

Well I emailed them 2 weeks later and didn't hear back from them a week later for them to tell me that they're waiting for my police certificate since I did it wrong (jeez would've been nice if they told me this the day of my interview).

 

Like yourself I'm frustrated with the lack of communication and just how slow they are. I could've done my police certificate 3 weeks earlier if they communicated. I haven't been able to work for over a month and this is very stressful for me.

 

I'm hoping they approve you soon but I think it's egregious that it's taking nearly a month to just approve your medical.

[ritaburglar 15]

6 minutes ago, Tiabeanie said:

I understand your frustration, I had my interview 2 weeks before you and my file showed refused and at the time they said no additional documents needed.

 

Well I emailed them 2 weeks later and didn't hear back from them a week later for them to tell me that they're waiting for my police certificate since I did it wrong (jeez would've been nice if they told me this the day of my interview).

 

Like yourself I'm frustrated with the lack of communication and just how slow they are. I could've done my police certificate 3 weeks earlier if they communicated. I haven't been able to work for over a month and this is very stressful for me.

 

I'm hoping they approve you soon but I think it's egregious that it's taking nearly a month to just approve your medical.

Wow! That is unbelievable!  It is just plain disrespectful TBH.  Good news on my end is I already received a response from our congressperson in the US and they are officially inquiring about my file.  Hoping it speeds it along.  My lawyer says that it typically helps.  Did you end up getting your visa approved?  It really is inhumane how they handle this.  I'm in shock and disbelief that there has been zero movement on my file. 

[Tiabeanie 39]

3 minutes ago, ritaburglar said:

Wow! That is unbelievable!  It is just plain disrespectful TBH.  Good news on my end is I already received a response from our congressperson in the US and they are officially inquiring about my file.  Hoping it speeds it along.  My lawyer says that it typically helps.  Did you end up getting your visa approved?  It really is inhumane how they handle this.  I'm in shock and disbelief that there has been zero movement on my file. 

I'm happy that you got your connections to put heat on them to process your case quicker. From the stories I've read about the Montreal consulate I think they're grossly incompetent. I'd think it should take no more than 2 weeks for them to process an application that's only missing a document especially if it's a straight forward case.

 

I haven't had my visa issued yet. I just recently sent my police certificate so I'm hoping it gets to them by early next week. I'm praying that I don't have to wait too much longer.

 

 

[ritaburglar 15]

Just now, Tiabeanie said:

I'm happy that you got your connections to put heat on them to process your case quicker. From the stories I've read about the Montreal consulate I think they're grossly incompetent. I'd think it should take no more than 2 weeks for them to process an application that's only missing a document especially if it's a straight forward case.

 

I haven't had my visa issued yet. I just recently sent my police certificate so I'm hoping it gets to them by early next week. I'm praying that I don't have to wait too much longer.

 

 

I'm so sorry you are going through this! I wouldn't wish any of this on my worst enemy!  Hope you get a resolution soon.   Here is the reply from my lawyer who used to work for the state dept. in case it helps anyone get any clarity.  Apparently Montreal is ridiculous right now:

 

"

Congressional inquires are actually super helpful most of the times. (From my own experience with the State Department.) I’m having problems myself contacting Montreal for other files that are taking longer than expected. (though the circumstances of those files are very different from yours). Your file should have been a simple one for them to mail out quickly. 

 

I’m sorry you are experiencing this delay but hopefully it can continue to move along. Please let me know if the Consulate reaches out to you. I continue to monitor your file everyday on CEAC."

[Tiabeanie 39]

5 minutes ago, ritaburglar said:

I'm so sorry you are going through this! I wouldn't wish any of this on my worst enemy!  Hope you get a resolution soon.   Here is the reply from my lawyer who used to work for the state dept. in case it helps anyone get any clarity.  Apparently Montreal is ridiculous right now:

 

"

Congressional inquires are actually super helpful most of the times. (From my own experience with the State Department.) I’m having problems myself contacting Montreal for other files that are taking longer than expected. (though the circumstances of those files are very different from yours). Your file should have been a simple one for them to mail out quickly. 

 

I’m sorry you are experiencing this delay but hopefully it can continue to move along. Please let me know if the Consulate reaches out to you. I continue to monitor your file everyday on CEAC."

Something needs to be done because the wait times is beyond ridiculous.

 

I hope for both of us that our cases resolves soon and please do update when you are approved.

[SalishSea 17,801]

On 12/2/2022 at 6:25 AM, ritaburglar said:

I have my father in law reaching out to his congress person today and he will escalate this to the Governor if need be.

Governors are not federal, and as such, do not help with federal agencies such as DOS.

[SalishSea 17,801]

On 12/2/2022 at 10:13 AM, Tiabeanie said:

I'm happy that you got your connections to put heat on them to process your case quicker.

No "connections" required.  Any USC/LPR can ask their US senator or congressional rep with help with any federal agency (they are required to help - it is codified into law).  They don't "pull strings," and it is not "putting heat."  They simply inquire on the progress of their constituent's case.

[ritaburglar 15]

6 hours ago, Jorgedig said:

No "connections" required.  Any USC/LPR can ask their US senator or congressional rep with help with any federal agency (they are required to help - it is codified into law).  They don't "pull strings," and it is not "putting heat."  They simply inquire on the progress of their constituent's case.

Yes, you are absolutely correct.  Anyone can contact their congressperson and fill out the paperwork to get this done.  I was just lucky to not have to do any digging for this info since we had the contact.  I filled out the paperwork on Friday to have them inquire on my behalf.  Best it will do is get my file out of the bottom of a pile somewhere, or picked up from behind the desk that it fell.  My lawyer said this is very helpful in his experience so I suggest anyone in my situation pursue this.  You don't want to sit back and wait while weeks pass that are un-necessary.  

[SalishSea 17,801]

6 hours ago, ritaburglar said:

Yes, you are absolutely correct.  Anyone can contact their congressperson and fill out the paperwork to get this done.  I was just lucky to not have to do any digging for this info since we had the contact.  I filled out the paperwork on Friday to have them inquire on my behalf.  Best it will do is get my file out of the bottom of a pile somewhere, or picked up from behind the desk that it fell.  My lawyer said this is very helpful in his experience so I suggest anyone in my situation pursue this.  You don't want to sit back and wait while weeks pass that are un-necessary.  

Right.   I just wanted to clarify for everyone else that no special connections are needed.   As far as ‘digging’ for info, that would also not be an issue.    US senators and congressional reps websites have all the info needed for constituents to request their assistance with federal agencies.

[ritaburglar 15]

My status changed to "ISSUED" this morning!!  3 weeks + 1 day from my interview and 1 business day after we put in a request with our congressperson.  I will update you all when I receive my tracking # and passport as I couldn't find many threads about medicals delaying this process.  My medical was received by the consulate the morning after my interview.  I was completely dumbfounded by how long this took.  

[Rick1982 1]

Where did you go for your medical?

[ritaburglar 15]

1 hour ago, Rick1982 said:

Where did you go for your medical?

Dr. Randall Lee in Scarborough, ON.  I DO NOT recommend.  The doctor was nice but the admin staff were extremely rude when I was inquiring about the delay and evan after I was promised that it would be done in plenty of time.