LukeCanada

On a slightly happier note, whenever you guys get your visa, the process at the Point Of Entry is very much painless. It took me 3 minutes extra to go through Customs in Calgary airport. I brought a photocopy of my marriage certificate since I've been married for over 2 years on the day of entry. The border agent said he'd make a note and that it does matter that I told him about it.

My Visa is in hand and flight is booked in 2 days. I want to thank everyone in this thread and also all the other resources provided on Visjourney.com. It helped guide me through the process and set my expectations appropriately LOW. It's been an awful long process for me, and I know from reading this thread that many of you are suffering even longer waits than I have. I wish you all the best! Honestly, what an inhumane process and wait time for people who are getting married, trying to start a family, or trying to raise kids. Here's the timeline in case whoever's in charge of the spreadsheet wants to include it: Oct 2 2022: Paid for I-130 Aug 30 2023: NVC case creation date Nov 27 2023: Consulate Received Mar 7 2024: Interview letter received Apr 5 2024: Interview & additional processing DS-5535 requested, DS-5535 was filled in and sent on the same day July 25 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) July 30 2024: Passport requested from me, sent via Canada post on the same day, received by Montreal on July 31 2024 Aug 9 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) Aug 12 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) Aug 13 2024: Status changed to ISSUED from REFUSED Aug 16 2024: Tracking number issued Aug 19 2024: Passport picked up with Visa in hand I'll bring a copy of my marriage certificate to show the border agent. Because of the extensive wait time, I will be married for over 2 years by the time I cross the Port of entry. Hopefully they won't mess it up and give me a short term green card instead of the 10 year one due to my CR-1!

Ah, same here. I stayed an extra night just in case the flight gets delayed. Pretty expensive medical. Oh well, at least you're in the final stretch now!

Since it's over 6 months, you'll have to do another medical? Bummer. Hope it's not too difficult or expensive to do another medical. Not everyone lives in Vancouver/Toronto/montreal!

My Additional Processing DS-5535 is now finished after just over 4 months. Not sure how to add data to the tracking sheet, but here are some dates: This is for Canada, CR-1, and interview at Montreal. I never traveled to any "suspicious" countries, just western europe, japan, mexico, and of course, USA. Oct 2 2022: Paid for I-130 Aug 30 2023: NVC case creation date Nov 27 2023: Consulate Received March 7 2024: Interview letter received April 5 2024: Interview & DS-5535 requested, DS-5535 was filled in and sent on the same day July 25 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) July 30 2024: Passport requested from me, sent via Canada post on the same day, received by Montreal on July 31 2024 Aug 9 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) Aug 12 2024: Status updated on CEAC.STATE.GOV site (no reason given) Aug 13 2024: Status changed to ISSUED from REFUSED No tracking # for the passport just yet

I asked, interviewer said "Oh we just need some more info from you, that's all". Very informative isn't it?

I was Document Qualified on Jan 9th and interviewed at Montreal on Apr 5th. Got DS 5535ed after a pretty quick and painless interview. I asked if I'm missing any documents, he said no. "We just want to get some more information from you, just fill out this online form, it'll come straight to our office, then you'll send your passport to our address and we'll send it back to you" So I'm a little confused, I wait for them to review and approve the DD 5535 (which I sent back on Apr 6th 2024) before I send away my passport, correct?

Interviewed at Montreal on Apr 5th, they requested a DS 5535 for extended travel history check. Last year I went to the USA to visit the wife, they pulled me aside at Vancouver airport for additional questioning but eventually let me through. Now I'm worried I'd be refused entry if I tried to visit. Think they'll let me through again? I'm a Canadian citizen and she's an American citizen, and I've visited USA and came back without any overstaying for about 70 times. That last experience scared me though And I have no idea how long this DS 5535 is going to take to clear and get my CR-1 Visa approved... sigh

Just wanted to share some info of my experience: Received Interview Letter on March 7th, and interview's scheduled for Apr 5th. Not much time to plan a medical or find cheap flights to Montreal! Since Dr Cheema is the only medical examiner in western Canada, I booked with him. The process was very easy via email. I asked for a few dates about 10-14 days ahead, and they replied back within a few hours with multiple openings. I flew to YVR the day before to ensure I don't miss the appointment, since Dr. C only do medicals from 7-11am and I'm from way out of town. Dr. C's location is easily accessed via Sky train + Bus (R6 express), although it is fairly far away from Vancouver itself. I got a transit day pass for unlimited train/bus rides. I waited for half an hour at the office, they checked my vaccination records, took a picture, and I paid $355 as listed on their website. The examination process was very quick and Dr. C was very nice and gentle. The Dr's office scheduled for an appointment with Life Labs nearby and I walked over there, waited half an hour, and had my blood drawn. Life Labs are super busy so be prepared to wait, and don't expect polite service. After that I took the bus to get X-rayed. The Xray lab is on the same R6 bus route, so it was easy to get to. Waited half an hour again, was rather rudely guided to the X-ray machine, but overall it was rather uneventful and efficient. Overall the whole process took about 2.5 hours from start to finish.