IR1 / CR1 - Montreal Timeline to Interview

[Jill & Jeff 3]

Yey!!! We're next!!! Hopefully, we'll have an early January!

I wonder how far into July they got. There isn't anyone on the spreadsheet with a later July date to really gauge it. Here's to hoping!! .crossed fingers.

J-

[AB2CO 1]

I don't know how I missed this thread

CR-1 process is almost done (fingers crossed)

I called in and the AVR said Case complete (as of Nov 18th), when I tried to check my fee it said my login failed. (Yay).

Now I'm just waiting to hear when the interview is. Trying now to call and see if an interview date has been scheduled/see if my packet has been sent to the consulate.

Congrats to all

Congrats on case complete!

Don't want to rain on your parade, but you've got more waiting in your future. Montreal has fallen far behind this year . . . I waited from my June 28 case complete until Nov 20 to recieve my interview appt notification email, for a Dec 17 interview. Hopefully Montreal will start to make some progress on their backlog, but I wouldn't expect your appt to happen until maybe March at best, and I'm afraid that may be optomistic given Montreal's history. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news . . . hope Montreal surprises and you get a quicker turnaround. You might want to scan back in this thread a bit and look for the link to the spreadsheet to get a better idea of how things have gone for others.

Edited November 30, 2010 by AB2CO

[OBX 51]

Bumping spreadsheet

Montreal Spreadsheet

[Jeremy&Kathy 4]

I have a question for those who recently received their visas. We mailed in Kathy's medical exam results late and we are now waiting for Montreal to issue the visa. According to this web page, we should be able to check status online:

http://csc.public.s3.amazonaws.com/waybill_instructions_en.pdf

I have been logging in every day and compulsively refreshing the "My Account" page, hoping to see "Applicant Status: Ready for Pickup". Was anyone else successful at getting accurate and timely information about their visa return status from this new online system? Does it tell you anything as soon as it has been shipped? Or does it only display status information once it is ready for pick-up at your DHL location?

It feels rather futile, when day after day there is nothing posted there. I would like to hear from others whether or not this new system actually works!

Jeremy

[Canadiandggal 49]

I have a question for those who recently received their visas. We mailed in Kathy's medical exam results late and we are now waiting for Montreal to issue the visa. According to this web page, we should be able to check status online:

http://csc.public.s3.amazonaws.com/waybill_instructions_en.pdf

I have been logging in every day and compulsively refreshing the "My Account" page, hoping to see "Applicant Status: Ready for Pickup". Was anyone else successful at getting accurate and timely information about their visa return status from this new online system? Does it tell you anything as soon as it has been shipped? Or does it only display status information once it is ready for pick-up at your DHL location?

It feels rather futile, when day after day there is nothing posted there. I would like to hear from others whether or not this new system actually works!

Jeremy

Mine did not show up as ready for pickup until after I had picked it up On that site BUT It did show me that it was undeliverable on the dhl.ca which meant it was at the dhl location.

[Canadiandggal 49]

Ok so here... from the csc site

ghggg , Devon Primary Applicant

Passport Number: NM74665 Reference ID: 1456774

Date of Birth: 16-Aug-1987

Applicant Status: Picked up

DHL Waybill Number: s67547488

From The dhl.ca site using the reference ID

View Status U.S. CONSULATE GENERAL MONTREAL s67547488 2010-10-21

when I click on view status it says

POD Shipment # Piece # Date Time Status City

View POD Shipment # Piece # Date Time Status City

View s67547488 s67547488

(ref:1456755) 2010-10-25 10:53 Successfully Delivered BRAMPTON

2010-10-25 07:07 Undeliverable BRAMPTON

2010-10-22 08:31 Undeliverable BRAMPTON

2010-10-22 04:07 Transit Through DHL Facility BRAMPTON

2010-10-21 22:26 Depart Facility DORVAL

2010-10-21 18:55 Processed at Location DORVAL

2010-10-21 18:38 Transit Through DHL Facility DORVAL

2010-10-21 18:16 Arrived at Delivery Facility DORVAL

2010-10-21 15:27 Picked Up by DHL DORVAL

Edited November 30, 2010 by Canadiandggal

[Jeremy&Kathy 4]

From The dhl.ca site using the reference ID

...

Hey Canadiandggal, thanks for the info. Very glad I asked!

I just went to dhl.ca, clicked on "Track" and then entered our reference ID. It just says "No record found for this reference number.". Is that normal and should I assume it just means that Montreal hasn't yet sent it? Or should I worry that something is wrong?

Jeremy

[Canadiandggal 49]

Hey Canadiandggal, thanks for the info. Very glad I asked!

I just went to dhl.ca, clicked on "Track" and then entered our reference ID. It just says "No record found for this reference number.". Is that normal and should I assume it just means that Montreal hasn't yet sent it? Or should I worry that something is wrong?

Jeremy

did you put it in the reference track box?

Hey Canadiandggal, thanks for the info. Very glad I asked!

I just went to dhl.ca, clicked on "Track" and then entered our reference ID. It just says "No record found for this reference number.". Is that normal and should I assume it just means that Montreal hasn't yet sent it? Or should I worry that something is wrong?

Jeremy

Montreal may not have sent it out yet though , I suggest giving dos a call

2026631225 press 1 then 0 then 0 ...see if they have gave it to dhl yet or even printed it yet

Edited November 30, 2010 by Canadiandggal

[Jeremy&Kathy 4]

did you put it in the reference track box?

Yes. The middle column where I entered it under "Reference Number:". I'm guessing this is probably normal and as soon as it's been shipped it will display some tracking information.

[Canadiandggal 49]

Yes. The middle column where I entered it under "Reference Number:". I'm guessing this is probably normal and as soon as it's been shipped it will display some tracking information.

probably I still suggust giving dos a call to check in

[Jeremy&Kathy 4]

probably I still suggust giving dos a call to check in

Good idea. They are closed for the day so I'll try tomorrow.

[Jeremy&Kathy 4]

Wow, crazy update to our story. I would add this to my review but I can't find a way to edit it...

Another update!

It's been about 2 weeks since the IV Unit Supervisor Scott Foswell (sp) called me in response to my "plea for help" fax. This morning I faxed the consulate again begging and pleading to have our very simple case processed in time for the holidays, and preferably by next week when we had booked flights.

I got another call from Scott this afternoon after he received my fax. He explained to me that it takes 4 days for their mail to get from the ground floor up to the consulate because all of their mail goes through a security screening process (they screen for anthrax and other bad stuff). So although DHL tracking said the consulate received our mail on Nov 19, it didn't reach the supervisor's desk until Nov 23. Just a little fact for others to be aware of!

He said that he had located our file and would process it himself today. It would then be submitted for FBI name/fingerprint screening and if all goes well our visas should be printed TOMORROW!!

I was astonished to actually get this level of response and attention directly from the Consulate, after the other stories I have heard. For what it's worth, the "secret technique" that seemed to do the trick was to fax the Montreal Consulate and address it to "IV Unit Supervisor". They have two fax numbers and I sent it to both:

514.398.0973

514.398.9748

I'm thinking I will probably start a new topic to tell this whole story again. I have posted it here because I wasn't sure where else to put it... but now that I think of it I could just start another topic and post links elsewhere that reference it.

[OBX 51]

Another update!

It's been about 2 weeks since the IV Unit Supervisor Scott Foswell (sp) called me in response to my "plea for help" fax. This morning I faxed the consulate again begging and pleading to have our very simple case processed in time for the holidays, and preferably by next week when we had booked flights.

I got another call from Scott this afternoon after he received my fax. He explained to me that it takes 4 days for their mail to get from the ground floor up to the consulate because all of their mail goes through a security screening process (they screen for anthrax and other bad stuff). So although DHL tracking said the consulate received our mail on Nov 19, it didn't reach the supervisor's desk until Nov 23. Just a little fact for others to be aware of!

He said that he had located our file and would process it himself today. It would then be submitted for FBI name/fingerprint screening and if all goes well our visas should be printed TOMORROW!!

I was astonished to actually get this level of response and attention directly from the Consulate, after the other stories I have heard. For what it's worth, the "secret technique" that seemed to do the trick was to fax the Montreal Consulate and address it to "IV Unit Supervisor". They have two fax numbers and I sent it to both:

514.398.0973

514.398.9748

I'm thinking I will probably start a new topic to tell this whole story again. I have posted it here because I wasn't sure where else to put it... but now that I think of it I could just start another topic and post links elsewhere that reference it.

That's great news! Keep us updated.

If you have the time, I think it would be very helpful for others if your experience was available to read in a dedicated post.

Edited December 3, 2010 by OBX

[Jeremy&Kathy 4]

That's great news! Keep us updated.

If you have the time, I think it would be very helpful for others if your experience was available to read in a dedicated post.

I just created a new topic that tells a summarized version of the story with advice for people in my situation.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/285345-how-to-conquer-the-montreal-consulate-backlog/

[Jadenjewel 9]

Glad this finally got a good conclusion for you!!!