CR1/IR1 Interviews via NVC

[trailmix 77]

So for those of you going through NVC or finished NVC in fact, when you speak with - is it the Dept of State? about your wait time for getting an interview in Montreal, what do they tell you. How do you contact them anyway only via phone or email as well?

Have you ever contacted Montreal and said hey, the NVC has had my completed file for a year, when do I get an interview?

I guess really I don't understand the relationship between the two - does NVC say hey, we have 25 people waiting and Montreal says - sorry no room or?

Actually while we are on the topic of immigration what exactly is the difference between filing your CR1/IR1 DCF and non DCF. (I understand the 'non' I just don't know the flow for doing it DCF - do you bypass NVC?)

Edited September 28, 2007 by trailmix

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

So for those of you going through NVC or finished NVC in fact, when you speak with - is it the Dept of State? about your wait time for getting an interview in Montreal, what do they tell you. How do you contact them anyway only via phone or email as well?

Have you ever contacted Montreal and said hey, the NVC has had my completed file for a year, when do I get an interview?

I guess really I don't understand the relationship between the two - does NVC say hey, we have 25 people waiting and Montreal says - sorry no room or?

Actually while we are on the topic of immigration what exactly is the difference between filing your CR1/IR1 DCF and non DCF. (I understand the 'non' I just don't know the flow for doing it DCF - do you bypass NVC?)

I can't tell you much about the DCF process, though there are probably many people here who know it intimately.

When I speak to the NVC they just give me the standard disclaimer about scheduling according to the capacity of the "Embassy." I have phoned the Dept. of State and they just tell me that the NVC does the scheduling and check their files for the dates. They tell me that they have no additional knowledge. I have phoned and e-mailed the NVC. Phoning is much faster. MTL answers e-mails fairly quickly but I've never been able to contact them by phone. I believe that they are no longer answering their phones. I tried to phone them once but I fell asleep after waiting for 45 minutes. MTL is an appointment post. NVC schedules the interviews and coordinates with MTL (in case of rescheduling or other unforeseen difficulties).

[misa 2]

Good questions. I'd love to know whether or not NVC contacts MTL each month or vice-versa. Yeah, the consulates are under the Department of State so they're the ones to complain to about wait times.

As far as DCF, those who file DCF bypass both USCIS and NVC. They file the I-130 directly at the consulate with all the required docs (for the I-130). It's used to be approved on the spot pre-Adam Walsh law but now I think it takes a couple of weeks for them to verify the petitioner's background. When it's approved the petitioner is notified and the case is sent to Montreal. I think (and hopefully a Canadian DCF can step in here to clarify), Montreal sends them packet 3 and then they receive packet 4 after they're entered into the system and an interview scheduled.

[trailmix 77]

Good questions. I'd love to know whether or not NVC contacts MTL each month or vice-versa. Yeah, the consulates are under the Department of State so they're the ones to complain to about wait times.

As far as DCF, those who file DCF bypass both USCIS and NVC. They file the I-130 directly at the consulate with all the required docs (for the I-130). It's used to be approved on the spot pre-Adam Walsh law but now I think it takes a couple of weeks for them to verify the petitioner's background. When it's approved the petitioner is notified and the case is sent to Montreal. I think (and hopefully a Canadian DCF can step in here to clarify), Montreal sends them packet 3 and then they receive packet 4 after they're entered into the system and an interview scheduled.

Interesting! I thought that was how DCF went but wasn't sure. It sounds easy!

Well it seems to me that there is complaining to do about the wait times, on the other hand I haven't got 'case complete' from the NVC yet so it might be premature for me to start hounding them about an interview? Or maybe not

[djc 0]

Purely speculation here, but I think Montreal contacts NVC and says, no room for any CR1 interviews, so sad, too bad, go away and cry.

Now, on the rare occasion, Montreal may say, we have room for TWO interviews, give us the lucky files.

NVC always say that their interviews are limited in number by the consulate. Now do they ever say how many interviews were scheduled for that month, or even if ANY were scheduled, nooooooooooo, nobody knows.

A few of us have tried emailing Montreal and asking if they were planning any CR1 interviews anytime soon and none of us have received a reply back. Can you believe it? Outtasight, outtamind. I cannot believe that they just ignored our emails. Now THAT is totally unacceptable.

[trailmix 77]

Purely speculation here, but I think Montreal contacts NVC and says, no room for any CR1 interviews, so sad, too bad, go away and cry.

Now, on the rare occasion, Montreal may say, we have room for TWO interviews, give us the lucky files.

NVC always say that their interviews are limited in number by the consulate. Now do they ever say how many interviews were scheduled for that month, or even if ANY were scheduled, nooooooooooo, nobody knows.

A few of us have tried emailing Montreal and asking if they were planning any CR1 interviews anytime soon and none of us have received a reply back. Can you believe it? Outtasight, outtamind. I cannot believe that they just ignored our emails. Now THAT is totally unacceptable.

I agree with you, it is unacceptable for them to completely ignore an inquiry. After I posted this today I actually did send Montreal an email and basically asked them how long we can expect to wait for an interview - they probably won't answer based on your experience.

I emailed them a few weeks ago to ask them what the scheduling procedure is for K visas vs CR1/IR1 - I got a 'non-answer' so I emailed them back and asked them to clarify - no response.

What have you done to expedite your case? I assume you have done all the calling/emailing the NVC, consulate etc.. Have you already contacted your state representatives?

Edited September 29, 2007 by trailmix

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Indeed, DCF has nothing nada blip zero to do with NVC . Given that you both reside legally in Canada, you show up at a Consulate, file your I-130 and get NOA from Montreal in like 3 weeks. Then packet 3 and so on. As per waiting times, they seem to be the same.

And yes, after Adam Walsh the USC has to undergo a quick record check conducted by the FBI (you don't do anything, they do) to prove they're clear as it pertains to crimes against children

[djc 0]

What have you done to expedite your case? I assume you have done all the calling/emailing the NVC, consulate etc.. Have you already contacted your state representatives?

Been there, done that, sick and tired of being rejected and treated like a common idiot. Let me know if you get anywhere.

[trailmix 77]

Here is the reply I received from Montreal in reply to my email on Friday:

Q. Can you please tell me how long we should anticipate the waiting time will be until he gets an interview at Montreal.

A. Unfortunately we cannot tell you as your case is with the National Visa Center.

You may call them at 603-334-0700. Once they schedule your interview they will then

transfer your file to our office.

Thank you.

I had forgotten I had even emailed them on Friday, one of those spur of the moment things I guess.

I want to get some facts as I am going to write to the Consul General about wait times, so I am going to call NVC today as well and ask them about wait times for Montreal.

Tried to get through a few times this morning but no luck there so I will try later.

[trailmix 77]

So I just received an RFE from NVC, aside from writing 'to present' in two fields, they have also requested proof of my Husband's residency in Canada - well his landed immigrant papers anyway.

This is a tad frustrating as this is not in the instructions for the DS-230. I asked her why and she said it is because it is not required in all cases so the instructions are 'generic'. Lovely.

Anyhoo, in the course of this phone call I asked her about interviews - no way to know how long it will take, scheduled 2nd week of every month.

So I said "basically you contact Montreal and say hey we have an IR1 application here that is complete and is ready for an interview and they tell you - oh we can fit them in on March 3rd" ? She said yes, that is how it happens.

So now I have all my non-information I can write my letter to Mary B.

[C&C 0]

So I said "basically you contact Montreal and say hey we have an IR1 application here that is complete and is ready for an interview and they tell you - oh we can fit them in on March 3rd" ? She said yes, that is how it happens.

You do realize she doesn't know, right? I've asked about this many times and tried different strategies - open ended and giving a leading response such as you did, different suggestions each time, and in each case a different way that it might work. In the 3 cases that I suggested a way that it works, the answer was yes. More often, and the more truthful response I think is that they don't know anything in more depth than the principle that they only schedule based on Montreal capacity - they really don't know specifics beyond that. Their armor to us is the story that everyone is waiting in line and it's fair and we just don't know... but they're wrong - something is wrong and we need to bring it to their attention with the specifics that we know from sharing information with each other.

I got a new girl on the phone tonite. She actually asked her supervisor twice for help to questions she knew she didn't know the answer, and then the third time I stumped her she said i'm sorry I don't know - this one was the specifics on the capacity issue and who is that capacity for. Then she gave me that Montreal number with option 4 that we all know hasn't operated for months anyway - that pissed me off cause that's not her fault, her stupid supervisor gave it to her. Girl was too honest - she won't last. We'll wear her down I guess. I hope she replaced that girl with the gun-moll accent and attitude.

LISTEN PEOPLE!

I think there is a fair chance that it is a mistake, and no one has noticed cause we are talking to the wrong people at NVC and MTL inquiry, that our queue has not budged since early April. I think that if more people here would try to write a letter such as this one below, that someone important might actually notice. PLEASE consider doing this! I want to see those of you with the April complete dates getting an interview invitation this month! I kinda would like to have my husband by spring although I should have him by Christmas. You really wanna wait for a couple more months before saying something? Write these dude and dudettes and write your Senators, please! I talked to a very good immigration lawyer here and while I was disappointed this was all she could offer me, after laying out the situation, I am thinking it is the only advice i've got and I'm going to heed it - "squeaky wheel, squeeky wheel"!

October 1, 2007

Maura Harty, Asst. Secretary, Consular Affairs

Stephen A. Edson, Deputy Asst. Secretary, Visa Services

U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Consular Affairs

Washington, DC 20520

Mary B. Marshall, Consul General

Gary L. Sheaffer, Consular Affairs

US Consulate, Montreal

P.O. Box 847

Champlain, NY, 12919-0847

Director, National Visa Center

32 Rochester Avenue

Portsmouth, NH 03801

Copies to:

The Hon. John Cornyn

US Senate

5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1150

Dallas, Texas 75244-6199

The Hon. Kay Baily Hutchison

US Senate

961 Pickle Federal Building

300 E. 8th Street

Austin, TX 78701

Manager, MTL Inquiries, Montreal-IV-DV@state.gov Manager, NVC Inquiries, NVCInquiry@state.gov

RE: Stall in IR1/CR1 spousal immigrant visa interviews in Montreal

Dear public servants,

Please take action to resume scheduling of IR1/CR1 interviews for Canadians at the US Consulate in Montreal. The last group of Canadian spouses in my online community to receive an invitation for their IR1 or CR1 interview in Montreal had cases complete at NVC and joined the interview queue in the first few days of April, 2007. Those with cases complete only a few months earlier received invitations within weeks and had their interviews within a few months. In early April, you stopped allocating interview time and scheduling interviews for IR1/CR1 candidates at Montreal. We are now 6 months beyond that time with no progress.

You have continued to support interviews for other visa classes at Montreal. Spouse and fiancé candidates for K nonpermanent visas with case complete dates as late as August 2007 have already received their interview invitations; those with case complete dates from the spring are already reunited with their “better halves”. Yet separated IR1/CR1 spouses living in Canada, who’ve been in the system for much longer, and have earlier case complete dates, are still waiting to be invited to an interview.

Kudos for getting the Ks to their interviews so quickly, but why have you put IR1s and CR1s aside? Please get us back on the schedule! My husband’s case was complete on June 8. He should have had his interview in September and should be here with me by now. It would be wonderful to have him here by Christmas. Could you please try?

[trailmix 77]

Hi C&C,

I agree with you.

Yes, I realize that she is giving me the canned answer - which is the non-answer. I just felt, before I could write to anyone, I had to be able to say - this is what is happening - which I have now done (saying hey, I heard second hand that this is what is going on would have sounded a bit lame on my part ).

I think you are right about mentioning that we have the information we share with each other (obviously not mentioning where). There is something wrong here, I don't know if it is just that they don't know (or don't care).

In thinking about this I thought well, how could they NOT know that people are waiting for interviews - now I believe that IR1s/CR1s are being overlooked.

Anyway, I have already written up my letter and I will get it in the mail tomorrow.

I don't know how many of the people I will write to, I'm starting with Mary and over the next few days I will send more.

Edited October 2, 2007 by trailmix