The Big IR-1/CR-1 DQ'd Message Group (Part V)

[LJSJMS 8]

On 10/27/2023 at 1:39 AM, Ontarkie said:

I think this is the latest in the month I've seen them send them out. COngratulations! One step closer. 

Thank you! Glad I finally have an interview date 🙏

[ash_1337 6]

Hey everyone! First of all, I'm SO relieved to see that the interview letters went out this month - I've been thinking of everyone, I know I would've been beside myself back in August if that happened when I was expecting mine. Second, this website (and this thread) have been a saviour throughout this entire process. My interview was this week. I have a friend who used a lawyer and received a 221(g) I used this forum and was approved. It would feel like a disservice to not post my experience after I leaned so heavily on this thread.

 

My interview was on the 26 (Thursday) at 8am. I arrived at 7:45am, presented a printout of my interview letter, and they let me in the consulate right away. All I brought was my folder of documents and my phone, I went through security (like airport security) and locked my phone in a tiny phone-sized locker on the ground floor.

 

At 8am, there's less staff working. I probably waited about 30ish minutes before I was called to the first window for document collection - this lady was very friendly. She confirmed that my medical had been received and asked for:

• my photos
• my passport
• my original, longform birth certificate (make sure you have the one with your parents' names on it)
• my original marriage certificate
• my original Canadian background check (+ one that I had for another country, I also provided a translation signed off on by a native speaker who is a friend)
• she asked for the hard copy of my I-864 (more on this below) 
• she also asked for "financial evidence" for my sponsor - she didn't specify which type, I gave his 2022 W2, his 2022 1040 tax return, and 2022 tax transcript
• she took fingerprints

I had read mixed opinions about whether I needed the I-864. One HUGE takeaway from this forum was to submit an updated I-864 through the CEAC website before your interview if any of your info has changed (I wonder if my friend's 221g may be related to missing this step), but note that we were only able to submit a second batch of supporting docs ONCE. Save copies of your completed I-864s on your computer, I brought printouts of both the original and the new I-864 and handed them both over.

 

My husband's employment had changed (he took time off to come and be with me and to take courses) and we now had his 2022 tax return info so we uploaded a new I-864 and I also brought quarterly financial statements as evidence of his assets - they never asked for these and instead still relied on last year's tax docs. If anyone's interested I can also post or send a list of all the docs I brought to my interview.

 

I spent maybe 10-15 minutes at the first window while she checked and updated all of my documentation info, then I waited another 30-40 mins before being called to the second window for my interview. This lady was friendly but more serious and to-the-point. I can't remember everything she asked, but the following definitely came up:

• how did I meet my spouse
• have I ever been arrested in any country
• have I ever had issues with US immigration
• what other countries have I travelled to
• what was my longest stay in the US (I brought a printout of all my US and international travel dates and lengths of stays for the past 5 years)

It took about 5 mins and at the end she said "I'm going to be able to approve your visa". I left the consulate and happy cried. Altogether, I was in the consulate for about an hour and forty-five minutes. By the following day (the 27 - Friday), my visa was issued and I received a tracking number. I opted to have it sent to a post office pickup location that is walking distance from my place and it says it will be here by Tuesday.

 

Ok, that was real lengthy - but thank you again to everyone who posts here, it was so, so helpful for me. Hang in there, it does end! 

 

 

[dhruvroom 6]

3 hours ago, ash_1337 said:

Hey everyone! First of all, I'm SO relieved to see that the interview letters went out this month - I've been thinking of everyone, I know I would've been beside myself back in August if that happened when I was expecting mine. Second, this website (and this thread) have been a saviour throughout this entire process. My interview was this week. I have a friend who used a lawyer and received a 221(g) I used this forum and was approved. It would feel like a disservice to not post my experience after I leaned so heavily on this thread.

 

My interview was on the 26 (Thursday) at 8am. I arrived at 7:45am, presented a printout of my interview letter, and they let me in the consulate right away. All I brought was my folder of documents and my phone, I went through security (like airport security) and locked my phone in a tiny phone-sized locker on the ground floor.

 

At 8am, there's less staff working. I probably waited about 30ish minutes before I was called to the first window for document collection - this lady was very friendly. She confirmed that my medical had been received and asked for:

• my photos
• my passport
• my original, longform birth certificate (make sure you have the one with your parents' names on it)
• my original marriage certificate
• my original Canadian background check (+ one that I had for another country, I also provided a translation signed off on by a native speaker who is a friend)
• she asked for the hard copy of my I-864 (more on this below) 
• she also asked for "financial evidence" for my sponsor - she didn't specify which type, I gave his 2022 W2, his 2022 1040 tax return, and 2022 tax transcript
• she took fingerprints

I had read mixed opinions about whether I needed the I-864. One HUGE takeaway from this forum was to submit an updated I-864 through the CEAC website before your interview if any of your info has changed (I wonder if my friend's 221g may be related to missing this step), but note that we were only able to submit a second batch of supporting docs ONCE. Save copies of your completed I-864s on your computer, I brought printouts of both the original and the new I-864 and handed them both over.

 

My husband's employment had changed (he took time off to come and be with me and to take courses) and we now had his 2022 tax return info so we uploaded a new I-864 and I also brought quarterly financial statements as evidence of his assets - they never asked for these and instead still relied on last year's tax docs. If anyone's interested I can also post or send a list of all the docs I brought to my interview.

 

I spent maybe 10-15 minutes at the first window while she checked and updated all of my documentation info, then I waited another 30-40 mins before being called to the second window for my interview. This lady was friendly but more serious and to-the-point. I can't remember everything she asked, but the following definitely came up:

• how did I meet my spouse
• have I ever been arrested in any country
• have I ever had issues with US immigration
• what other countries have I travelled to
• what was my longest stay in the US (I brought a printout of all my US and international travel dates and lengths of stays for the past 5 years)

It took about 5 mins and at the end she said "I'm going to be able to approve your visa". I left the consulate and happy cried. Altogether, I was in the consulate for about an hour and forty-five minutes. By the following day (the 27 - Friday), my visa was issued and I received a tracking number. I opted to have it sent to a post office pickup location that is walking distance from my place and it says it will be here by Tuesday.

 

Ok, that was real lengthy - but thank you again to everyone who posts here, it was so, so helpful for me. Hang in there, it does end! 

 

 

@ash_1337Congratulations 🎉 

 

Can you please share your document check list? I have my interview scheduled on 4th Dec.

 

My wife's income is not sufficient, so I have 1 joint sponsor and his spouse in I-864 so does that mean I have to fill 3 forms again and have it signed by my wife and other two joint sponsors?

 

I have following changes:

- I have become Canadian Citizen and gave up my Indian citizenship.

- My Canadian address has been changed

- my wife’s address has also changed.

- she also has an U.S. passport.

- My wife and I both have changed our Jobs as well.

 

Looking at what you said in your post, do I have to fill my DS-260 also due to above changes?

 

I was thinking of uploading my Canadian and her US passport on ceac portal. And update our addresses during the interview.

Edited October 29, 2023 by dhruvroom

[nap782 4]

12 hours ago, dhruvroom said:

Congratulations 🎉 

 

Any specific documentation checklist you can share? I have an interview at 4th Dec

 

I have following changes:

- I have become Canadian Citizen and gave up my Indian citizenship.

- My Canadian address has been changed

- my wife’s address has also changed.

- she also has an U.S. passport.

 

i am thinking of uploading my Canadian and her US passport on ceac portal. And update our addresses during the interview.

 

Everything I brought with me (bolded is everything they asked to see):

 

Passport ( + photocopy of biographic page)

Two Passport Photos (5cm x 5cm)

Long-form birth certificate (with parents names, photocopy as well)

Marriage certificate ( + photocopy)

DS-260 confirmation page

Receipt of medical examination + x-ray (just in case)

RCMP Police Certificate ( + photocopy)

Form I-864

Spouse IRS Transcript for 2022

Photocopy of Spouse Passport biographic page (US Passport)

 

The only thing I can find about updating your address is to do it online on your USCIS account https://myaccount.uscis.gov/. I would imagine everything that needs to be updated can be done there potentially.

 

 

 

[ind2can 11]

23 hours ago, nap782 said:

You have to register your passport to either be picked up from a set list of Canada Post locations or you pay extra (I think $23?) to have Purolator ship it to your address. I don't believe picking it up from the Consulate in Montreal is an option.

 

https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv

 

I picked up my passport from Purolator in Ontario and I believe in that case they check that the names and address match. Not sure what it would be like if you went to a Canada Post location in Montreal but I think a piece of photo id should be enough.

 

https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/support/kb/other-products-services/post-office/what-id-is-required-to-pick-up-mail-at-the-post-office

 

Thank you @nap782, Looks like my drivers license and care card should be proof enough to pickup my passport from Canada post. I anyways have a better experience with them than purolator

 

[HoneyBadger26 56]

Anyone else notice that when they "updated" the Consular Operations page, they didn't really update it? It says last update was October 25, but the scheduling status is the same as it was a month prior...

 

[ed91 4]

Late to update but got my IL on Friday, DQ was July 26 and interview is set for Dec 18!

[akcr1 1]

I just registered for my appointment and selected one of the post offices in my city (Toronto). I realize there's the premium delivery option as well which delivers it to my home address. I'd rather have it delivered to a Canada post for safety, but I wanted to know if the delivery timescales for both are the same. I have heard some people got their passport 2 days after their interview, so I'm hoping for the same.

[Leo The Great 137]

10 minutes ago, akcr1 said:

I just registered for my appointment and selected one of the post offices in my city (Toronto). I realize there's the premium delivery option as well which delivers it to my home address. I'd rather have it delivered to a Canada post for safety, but I wanted to know if the delivery timescales for both are the same. I have heard some people got their passport 2 days after their interview, so I'm hoping for the same.

My mom got her passport via Purolator on the third day after interview for an extra charge of $23 CAD.

Edited October 30, 2023 by Leo The Great

[ash_1337 6]

On 10/30/2023 at 2:53 PM, akcr1 said:

I just registered for my appointment and selected one of the post offices in my city (Toronto). I realize there's the premium delivery option as well which delivers it to my home address. I'd rather have it delivered to a Canada post for safety, but I wanted to know if the delivery timescales for both are the same. I have heard some people got their passport 2 days after their interview, so I'm hoping for the same.

 

I waffled back and forth because I also wanted my passport back quickly, but the Canada Post pickup was just as fast. Interview Thursday morning, picked up my passport at a Vancouver post office Monday afternoon.

[ash_1337 6]

On 10/28/2023 at 5:46 PM, dhruvroom said:

@ash_1337Congratulations 🎉 

 

Can you please share your document check list? I have my interview scheduled on 4th Dec.

 

My wife's income is not sufficient, so I have 1 joint sponsor and his spouse in I-864 so does that mean I have to fill 3 forms again and have it signed by my wife and other two joint sponsors?

 

I have following changes:

- I have become Canadian Citizen and gave up my Indian citizenship.

- My Canadian address has been changed

- my wife’s address has also changed.

- she also has an U.S. passport.

- My wife and I both have changed our Jobs as well.

 

Looking at what you said in your post, do I have to fill my DS-260 also due to above changes?

 

I was thinking of uploading my Canadian and her US passport on ceac portal. And update our addresses during the interview.

 

Did you have your joint sponsor(s) in the I-864 that you originally submitted, or did you add them after uploading your I-864? I only updated a new version because my spouse's employment info (thus maybe our sponsorship criteria) had changed.

 

I'm going to add the documents that I brought as well, with the ones they asked for bolded:

• Confirmation email from panel physician that my medical had been sent 
• Printout of my interview appointment letter
• 2 Photos
• DS-260 printout
• My passport (+ photocopy of page w picture)
• My original longform birth certificate (+ photocopy)
• Original marriage certificate (+ photocopy)
• Canadian RCMP check (+ photocopy)
• Printout of original + updated I-864 
• Spouse's 2022 W2, IRS tax transcript, & Form 1040 Tax Return (+ photocopies)
• My spouse's birth certificate (+ photocopy)
• Photocopy of the photo page of my spouse's US passport
• My US + international travel history itemized by date, location, length of stay (not required but was helpful to reference instead of trying to memorize)
• Quarterly bank statements for the past year demonstrating my spouse's assets

 

 

[akcr1 1]

17 hours ago, ash_1337 said:

 

I waffled back and forth because I also wanted my passport back quickly, but the Canada Post pickup was just as fast. Interview Thursday morning, picked up my passport at a Vancouver post office Monday afternoon.

Thank you, and was this through the Premium delivery option (where you had to pay $19) or was it free?

[Shades8 36]

The consular operations website was updated today, it now says as of today they were scheduling people DQed in August.  Did anyone get an IL today? 

[HoneyBadger26 56]

5 minutes ago, Shades8 said:

The consular operations website was updated today, it now says as of today they were scheduling people DQed in August.  Did anyone get an IL today? 

I thought ILs didn't go out til the 2nd or 3rd Wednesday. I wouldn't complain if I got one right this second lol But we were DQd in September. Hopefully we will be in this batch!

[Shades8 36]

4 minutes ago, HoneyBadger26 said:

I thought ILs didn't go out til the 2nd or 3rd Wednesday. I wouldn't complain if I got one right this second lol But we were DQd in September. Hopefully we will be in this batch!

That’s what I thought too! Now I’m going to be checking my email in the middle of the night tonight.