Update on Domicile

[jonesg111 0]

Well its been a long time since I've posted anything on here in regards to our domicile issue. Here is the short version...

Near the beginning of December we contacted my wife's Senator's office and explained our situation, if you want to find out about that you'll have to find the thread since I'm too lazy.

I was told that they would contact the consulate in Montreal to get some information and that the consulate had to respond within two weeks. Well after two weeks there was no response so they contacted the State Dept in Washington DC. The information there was that my case was in "administrative processing". What that essentially means is that they're awaiting further information from me. However as I had explained earlier to them we had already sent in any and all information that we had relating to domicile.

So as of this morning they have contacted the consulate in Montreal again, and once more they have two weeks to respond.

Here is an excerpt from the email I received this morning.

I did also ask VisaNet about systemic issues that might be plaguing the Montreal Consulate. The liaison acknowledged that Montreal has been short staffed since the beginning of 2009. She indicated that they have since filled the problematic vacancies and are working to bring processing back up to speed. However, it also appears that those new hires are still in a training period of sorts.

So they are having problems keeping up, maybe that will change soon.

[Sam and Ben 2]

The excuse of staff shortages will only last for so long... I'm glad to hear they've at least begun trying to fill those vacancies.

I hope you find some sort of resolve to your case very, very soon. Good luck.

[trailmix 77]

Hi Jones,

I was just wondering how you were getting on and noticed you had posted this and I missed it.

I can't believe that you still haven't heard anything back - sounds like they are at a standstill waiting for information from you when you have already provided everything you have to give them.

Hope you get this sorted out soon.

[jonesg111 0]

Hi Jones,

I was just wondering how you were getting on and noticed you had posted this and I missed it.

I can't believe that you still haven't heard anything back - sounds like they are at a standstill waiting for information from you when you have already provided everything you have to give them.

Hope you get this sorted out soon.

Yea I'm really surprised as well as to the amount of time it takes to get a response even when they have a "mandatory" time to respond.

[brocku00 1]

Hey Jones, I was actually thinking about you lately and wondered how things were going? Did you ever send anything else back in? I just sent off my 'hopefully' last package and I keep thinking that no matter what I send in, it will be denied....but maybe I'm just thinking that way since I've been denied soo many times. Technically they shouldn't be able to deny it this time since my husband is permenantly living there, he started a new job and we provided his job contract/first paycheck/business card/December sales summary, a lease agreement, a letter from US spouse, a letter from me, storage unit rental agreement and a daycare letter stating that they had room for our children. I'm hoping that this is enough and will let you know if I hear anything.

[jonesg111 0]

I'll post a quick update here.

We were supposed to hear back from Montreal by this past Friday Jan 22 which was two weeks from when the Senator's office put in their last request. I had emailed the Senator's office and called this past Friday but have not heard anything yet.

I'm normally pretty positive on most things but this is government we're dealing with here so I'm not holding my breath. I do have some more avenues that I would try before I just give up and do what the CO says which is clearly laid out that one does not have to move back to the US before their spouse.

Once I get an answer I will post it here.