Canadian24

Depressing !
 
https://www.newsweek.com/us-immigration-backlog-hits-all-time-high-2095846

@Journeyman23  I feel you! As someone else said here, it might be perhaps because of summer vacations. But also, they usually hit the quota in August so they might not want to schedule too many. The quota restart October 1st. Last year they did a big jump in August, fingers crossed it's the same this year.  Here are my notes from last year:
As of May/June 2024, they are scheduling January 2023
As of July 2024, they are scheduling January 2023
As of August 2024, they are scheduling May 2023 (January to May (someone is January 5 and another is May 15 at the same time)
As of 3 September 2024, they are scheduling June- August 2023 for end Sept interviews 
 
You can also check out the "Consular Updates" tab in our Google Sheet to get a sense of the patterns. It really varies month to month, sometimes there's nothing for ages, then suddenly a bunch come in. 
 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NnYTWRgdQB9gj2SyQjBL3fzz5-OS9FJZQXFXCbSe0Ig/edit?gid=911492914#gid=911492914
Really hoping it’s like last year and we see a wave in August, and it's not a slowdown because of the new administration. Fingers crossed!
 

@Canuck201 Made you an editor!
 

That's a good idea. Just easier for everyone. Perhaps we can update the link in the top post

Yes of course! I think I just made everyone an editor. If you are not in it, just request editing acces directly in the Google sheet and I'll accept it.
Here is the link again: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NnYTWRgdQB9gj2SyQjBL3fzz5-OS9FJZQXFXCbSe0Ig/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Yes of course! I think I just made everyone an editor. If you are not in it, just request editing acces directly in the Google sheet and I'll accept it.
Here is the link again: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NnYTWRgdQB9gj2SyQjBL3fzz5-OS9FJZQXFXCbSe0Ig/edit?gid=0#gid=0

@Cryons4time  That's a great point! I didn't think about that. Fingers crossed you are right! You are giving us some hope! And thank you for your info. I added to the spreedsheet.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NnYTWRgdQB9gj2SyQjBL3fzz5-OS9FJZQXFXCbSe0Ig/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Yes of course! I think I just made everyone an editor. If you are not in it, just request editing acces directly in the Google sheet and I'll accept it.
Here is the link again: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1NnYTWRgdQB9gj2SyQjBL3fzz5-OS9FJZQXFXCbSe0Ig/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Thanks for trying to stay on top of the spreadsheet to keep things organized. Could I have access to the new spreadsheet as well? 

Chargeability- Philippines 
PD - Feb 2019
DQ- April 2024.
 
 
not sure if you noticed from this spreadsheet ! Last year - people who were DQ’ed Jan 2023 to May 2023- most got the IL in Aug 2024. Probably they are short staffed due to summer vacations. Just saying !
 

My DQ is April 2024 for EB1. No IL for me yet. Waiting for it patiently.

Omg! Congrats!! You must be so happy! Thank you for letting us know! So ggod to hear that things are moving!

Hello!
EB2-NIW
PD: Jul 03, 2023
DQ: Jan 03, 2024
IL: Jun 24, 2025
Interview: Aug 08, 2025

PD Jun 9, 2023; DQ Feb 2024. EB2-NIW, filed with Chen. At the time of filing 4 peer reviewed scientific journal publications. Citations were only 50+, but my case was strong as the publications belong to the top journals in my field.
 
Regarding the interview. We spent a total of 1.5 hours at the Consulate, from security screening to leaving the building. I trust someone must have post their interview details in this forum so I won’t go in details about the interview. Below are the procedures and especially some notes that will be useful for many applicants at MTL:
 
1. Security screening:
 
Once entered the Consulate premise on the ground floor, I was instructed to take my backpack elsewhere as backpacks are not allowed in the building. A Tims Horton nearby with a kind lady allowed me to leave my bag in the store after I explained to her my circumstances.
 
Only my documents and water bottles were allowed. Phones had to be switched off. Phones, keys, electronics, earphones were stored in a locker before I headed to the interview floor.
 
2. The interview procedure itself consisted of 4 parts:
 
- All documents and photocopies were checked and verified for completeness, given back to us; then we were issued a ticket number and waited for the next step.
- An officer called our number to collect our documents, scan our photos and passports, and asked a few questions about our visa category, current address, employment, etc. Pretty straightforward. Then we waited.
- Called again for fingerprinting
- Called for the last time for the formal, actual interview by another officer. Interview questions were more personal such as my career goals and my endeavors are, what companies I wish to work for upon migrating to the US, how long we’ve married for, where did we live in the past 10 years. He went thru our police certificates and made sure the Canadian ones are valid (less than 2 years old). Questions were into the details, but the officer was courteous and polite. We were told that he would need to do “another security check before finalizing the approval”. Kept our passports and told us to check the status the following week (our interview was on a Friday).
 
I checked my status in the afternoon on the same date and it was “Issued”. We were pleasantly surprised for the quick results.
 
Some noted for interview candidates at Mtl:
 
- Don’t bring your backpack. Just your documents and a clear file.
- Make photocopies of ALL original documents before the interview. They don’t make photocopies for you. You will be turned away if you don’t have copies of important documents like passports and birth certificates.
- For our case, expired police certificates from previous countries of residence were accepted, although we visited (short trips for a few days) those countries after the certificates were issued. We never come back there to live or work. If we did, I guess we would have to obtain the latest certificates.
- Once you leave the building after the interview, you won’t be allowed to come back in.
 
Hope that helps!

I had an interview at MTL consulate this morning. My case is EB2-NIW. The interview went well, original police certs and birth certs were given back to us at the interview, except for our passports. The officer said that he “will approve our case in the afternoon or next week after a security check”. Wondering what that is and any chance of getting AP or refusal? He kept our passports and gave us an instruction sheet on how to check the visa status and the passport shipment. 
 
Any idea what that “security check” is? Most people got their approval on spot but we didn’t. We just don’t want to have our passports at the embassy for months if our case goes to admin process.

Have anyone received IL for EB2-NIW this week?

I believe they're waiting for the July Visa Bulletin, as they suspect the dates could retrogress by 6 to 24 months. If that happens, it would mean extra work rescheduling interviews for applicants whose priority dates are no longer current.

Hi everyone,
 
I wish to share my experience in this ‘journey that requires patience.’ I extend my sincere gratitude to all those who have shared their experiences, as your contributions are immensely valuable to this community. Too long, but may be helpful for others!
 
Background:
I was in the U.S. on an F1 visa and worked under STEM OPT for 2.5 years. I missed out on the H1B lottery twice. My employer then decided to sponsor my green card and had to leave the U.S. because my OPT expired. I applied for Canada PR when I was studying in the U.S., so I moved to Canada. I continued working for my US employer from Canada while the green card process was ongoing. While in Canada, I missed out on the H1B lottery again twice. During my time in Canada, I applied for B1/B2 so I can visit the States. I visited the States via the land border more than 100 times for personal reasons with no problems at the border. I applied for Canadian citizenship at the end of last year, and it is still in process (it was a pain filling out my absences due to my numerous travels). Profile:
Class: EB2 Country: ROW Priority date: 21 Sep 2022 I-140 Approval: 9 Sep 2023 (approved in 3 days via premium processing) NVC Welcome Letter: 02 Oct 2023 Civil documents ‘A’ received by NVC: 18 Jan 2024 Civil documents ‘B’ received by NVC: 29 Jan 2024 I got a letter back from NVC to send in my proof of residence in Canada. I forgot to add to the first document. DQ: 09 Feb 2024 Interview Letter (IL) received: 31 Jan 2025 For some time now, Montreal sends IL for EB category at the end of the month. Interview Date: 18 Mar 2025 @ 9:30AM Once you get an IL, your status will show ‘In-Transit’, then when Montreal receives the physical files from NVC, it will change to “At Montreal’, then it will later change to ‘Ready’. Current visa status: Issued as of 18 March. Medical exams:
I did medicals on February 25, with Dr. Lydon. The process was smooth. Be sure to get all your vaccines and send them to him when you register for an appointment. Depending on your age, you may need only an x-ray, an x-ray and blood test, or an x-ray, blood test, and urine test. The x-ray is in the basement of the building. Blood and urine tests are done across the street at Life Labs (it’s recommended to make an appointment online ahead of time to reduce waiting time). In my experience, you will spend a maximum of 20 minutes at Dr. Lydon’s office and about 20 minutes at the x-ray. The medicals were sent to the consulate about 10 days after the exam (unless you have a follow-up with Dr. Lydon). You will see an update to the ‘Last Update date’ to your DS-260 case status once they receive your medical results. Hotel reservation:
I stayed at the Best Western Hotel (recommended: a 2–3-minute walk to the US Consulate, fair price, friendly reception, and flexible with late check-out).
 
Interview:
Interview was scheduled for 9:30AM. Arrived at the embassy at 9:20AM. If you have kids and cannot get a babysitter for them, go with them (It’s nice to email the Consulate about that but not required). Remember to take their ID and some books for them and yourself to keep them busy while waiting. I went through TSA/Airport-like security and was given a ticket number and a small piece of paper that tells you how to arrange your documents before you see the officer. You will then be directed to go to the first floor.
Once I got to the first floor, I just grabbed a seat and waited for your number to show up on the screen.
First Officer: Documents check and verification. They will ask for the originals of the civil documents. You will NOT need to go with photocopies as they have all the photocopies that were sent to NVC. They will cross check to make sure all the information is correct. The Officer asked for a copy of I-140 approval (weird). I told her I would have to look through my documents if I brought it. She later asked me to sit down and show it to the officer during the interview, if I find it. The time with this Officer took about 20-25 minutes because she also checked my spouse’s documents as we applied together. I was then asked to sit down and wait for my number to show up to see the second officer. Second Officer: Fingerprints. She took my biometrics (4 left fingers, 4 right fingers, and then the index fingers) and told me to sit down until I am called for the interview with the officer. She took about 5-10 minutes. Third Officer: Actual interview. There was a long wait before we were called. We were first asked to take an oath to provide true information. After the oath, our biometrics were taken (this time, only the left 4 fingers) as a form of a signature to the oath. I was asked to sign the offer letter (note: this is employer sponsored. Not required for NIW folks!), and she signed her portion. She did not ask about the i-797 form (i-140 approval) – this is not required so I do not understand why the first officer asked! She asked a couple of questions: How long have you been working for your employer? What is your job title? Where are you intending to settle in the US? Have you been arrested before? What was your visa status when you were in the US? Have you had trouble crossing the border in the past? How long have you been in Canada? After these, she told me your visas have been approved, and I have issued your visas. You should get your passport soon and she handed us a paper on how we can track our passports. She told me to do our landing before 25 August (which is 6 months from the medical). The interview took about 15 minutes and finished at 12PM exactly. So, expect about 2.5 hours (it could be less depending on your ticket number) to go through this process. All the staff (visa officers and security) were nice and friendly.  This is more like formality and nothing serious!
 
After Interview:
In about 2.5 hours after the interview, my status had changed from Ready to Issued. At 12:40PM on 19 March, I received an email that my passport has been released to Purolator with the tracking information. At 1PM on 20 March, I missed the delivery, although I was home. They did not knock harder or ring the bell. Purolator left a notice at my door. At 9:30AM on 21 March, I picked up my envelope (passport & do not open envelope’) from the Purolator office. Next steps:
Looking forward to landing before 25 Aug 2025. Planning on apply re-entry permits to enable me stay in Canada for 1 more year due to some personal reasons. Navigating tax residency issues.  
I’m happy to answer any questions. Good luck everyone!
 
Glory to God! God is the greatest! Jesus is Lord! #gratefulheart🙏

So far this month, have any interview letters been sent out?

Hi everyone, I had my interview yesterday and wanted to share my experience. Visa was approved after officer asked a few questions: what is your highest academic qualification? What is your field of study? Have you ever been denied entry to US, When did you come to canada? Have you ever been arrested?. The officer asked the same questions from my spouse as well. Our passports were retained and were told will be stamped with the visa and sent back to us via the registered courier.
 
I know every case will be unique but the only documents requested were originals of birth certificates, 2 passport photos, marriage certificates, and police certificates. We also had photocopies but were not required. We also did fingerprinting and were told to swear an oath with the officer.
 
We did our medicals at telus clinic in montreal one week before the interview. My medical report was sent a day before the interview but my partner's report was not done yet. We explained we completed the medical the same day. The officer was not concerned and still retained our passports.
 
We got all the vaccines at the clinic as well. We were told covid vaccine is no more required. One thing to note is the cost of taking vaccines at the clinic is significantly higher so if you can get all the required vaccines in pharmacies before your appointment you can save on cost. 
 
Wishing everyone all the best. I do not have access to edit the excel spreadsheet hence my long detailed post.
 
Cheers
 
 

@a7medfx It's usually not the whole month. You should get your IL the next batch!

I did not recognize DOF was retrogression. It was current when I got DQ

Yes, My PD will be current on April VB. DQ is real on 2023 not typo. Thanks,

@WaitingEB-1AJan23 Congrats! So happy for you and your family! Thank you for sharing in details how it went!  

We had our interview last week, and it went well—my green card was approved! I am so happy and relieved! I first contacted the lawyer and started the process two years ago!
- After a 30-minute wait, we were invited to a counter to show our original paperwork: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, police certificates, and translations … This took around 45 minutes. I had everything organized and also copies of everything. Please note that they wanted a few copies, so it was also essential to bring them! I had a new passport and the old one with me. This was also important! I also needed to provide a copy of the new passport.  In the end, the officer asked for the two photos. It was a relief that all the paperwork was accurate. I believe this was not the case with many people before us. 
-After a 15-minute wait, we were invited to a counter to take our fingerprints. That was fast.
- After another 15-minute wait, we were invited to the interview (another counter). We were first asked to swear/affirm that we were telling the truth. I was then asked about the reason for my ‘extraordinary ability’ (I applied EB-1A ). I discussed my research. The officer then asked where do we plan to move. I said we don’t know yet. The next question was about my birth of origin, whether I have lived somewhere else but in Canada and my native country, and where and when. He also clarified this from my spouse. Then he asked if we had been in the US before and had ever been refused.  He then asked if we were ever arrested. Then he said that he was approving our green card application! He explained that we would receive the passports in two weeks and then explained the landing process. We must land before early September but can land anytime after we receive the package…  we can come back to Canada to arrange the final move. He also told me I could clarify the US address when we landed (the address to mail the green card). 
-Everyone was very kind and friendly. The atmosphere was welcoming—people were smiling! We were congratulated in the end. It was a smooth process that took less than two hours.
-We did not bring bags or phones; I had everything inside a large document folder. I got an updated CV and some degree certificates, but they were not asked. At the end of the interview, they returned all the original birth certificates, etc., 
-The embassy entrance is between the pharmacy and RBC. The door is next to the bank’s door. No signs are outside, but the street number is on the door. We entered 15 minutes before our interview time. After we entered the external door, the officer came out from the door on the left and asked to see our passports. Then we were asked in, and there was a security check, just like at the airport. They put a sticker on our passports and gave us a number. We then went to an elevator and upstairs.
-I forgot to ask when/how to pay for the green cards… Perhaps we will receive that information with the package.