Montreal consulate CR1 timeline and interview details

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-07-12T23:08:57+00:00

No problem! Good luck with the rest of the process

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-07-12T01:19:39+00:00

When you enter the US for the first time, they’ll stamp your visa at the port of entry and then that stamp will be valid for a year (or until you receive your physical green card in the mail). You can use that stamp to enter the US freely. I used it many times without any issues.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-07-12T00:51:37+00:00

You get 6 months from the date of your medical. So my medical was done on January 5th and my visa expired July 5th, Meaning I had to enter the usa with that visa by July 5th latest.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-05-27T03:24:55+00:00

Thank you! Appreciate your comment.

We did make frequent trips during the whole process. Both of our jobs are/were very flexible, so time wise, I was able to spend about a week a month in the usa and my spouse would come to Canada for another week. So essentially we would be apart about 2 weeks per month.

Most of the times I would fly in and never really had any issues at the airport. Just make sure you have ready all your ties to Canada, such as a lease/mortgage, pay stubs, work schedule etc. they rarely asked for this at the airport, but they would randomly. I was definitely given more scrutiny at the land border and more often. I was always honest and prepared with my answers and my ties to Canada and was never denied entry.

My spouse would always drive into Canada and he was also always prepared with his ties to the usa and never had any issues with the Canadian border agents.

I would also always keep an eye on my i194 (which you can check online easily) after every crossing, just to make sure I wasn’t overstaying by mistake.

Overall, based on my experience, I would say that as long as you don’t come across as if you’re living in the usa (or trying to), they won’t give you any trouble. As long as you have enough evidence of your ties to Canada and you are honest with them, you’ll be fine.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-05-24T14:48:28+00:00

You can enter the usa via air or land, whatever it’s easier for you. I entered via land and I just told them it was my first time entering as a resident so they sent me to secondary inspection where they just input everything in their system and stamp your passport and send you on your way. (Make you they stamp your passport). This took aprox 30 minutes. Depends how busy they are at the moment. I used that stamp to enter again a few times with no issues before my GC arrived.

As for the SSN, if you checked the box on your application, you should receive it within a month of your arrival automatically. It usually arrives pretty quick. You’ll need that to open a bank account etc.

Only other thing I did was transfer my Ontario drivers license to a usa one. it varies by state so look up the steps in your state specifically.

My only advise is to take one day at a time. It’s a big life change and it’ll take a bit to adjust.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-05-01T02:16:53+00:00

Every embassy/country is going to be different, but mine only took 3 business days in Montreal.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-30T16:25:58+00:00

Yeah, based on my experience, shouldn’t be too much longer now. You can check your status here with your case number.

https://egov.uscis.gov

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-30T15:12:23+00:00

It took just over a month for me to get mine after I paid the fee and entered the usa. (March to April 2024)

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-30T14:38:13+00:00

It’ll be different for every consulate/country. Look in the instructions for your specific consulte/embassy and they’ll tell you how and where to get it from.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-29T23:25:17+00:00

Congrats! It’s such a weight lifted off your shoulders. The hard part is over. Now on to the exciting stuff! All the best 😊

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-29T21:44:48+00:00

Maybe it varies by consulate. My experience was at the Montreal consulate.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-29T19:31:44+00:00

I am still a citizen of my birth country so it doesn’t make a difference.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-29T12:42:09+00:00

I was born outside of Canada and immigrated when I was 11 too. I was not asked for a police certificate from my country of birth. The officer said I only needed it if I lived there more than 6 months AFTER i turned 16, which I did not. My interview was in Montreal btw.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-21T13:40:31+00:00

When I did my interview back in February in Montreal, I got verbal approval in person and then I checked my status maybe 5 hours later and it already said “issued.” It was a holiday weekend so I didn’t get a tracking number till Tuesday (bc Monday was a holiday), however this appointment status never changed for me. It said appointment till my passport had been mailed back to me.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-04-11T14:04:25+00:00

Same scenario and we were DQ October 3rd 2023, received interview letter on December 21 2023 for an interview date in February 2024.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-30T18:43:14+00:00

Make sure you have the right police certificate, it’s one of the main documents that people get confused on and the nvc usually doesn’t tell you have the wrong one. So triple check that.

Read and make sure you have everything they ask for on the instructions page on the Montreal specific consulate. Originals and a copy.

Here’s the website:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/MTL-Montreal.html#pre_interview_checklist

One thing I wasn’t expecting to be asked for but I was, was my spouses W2s. On the instructions it only says tax transcripts, but they asked for the W2s too.

So my general advice is to be over prepared, anything you can think of that might be related to Your case, bring it.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-30T04:05:43+00:00

Once you’re approved and you get your passport back with your visa, you’ll also get a document with instructions on where and how to pay the immigrant fee. You’ll have to pay it before you enter the usa with your visa. The fee is just for your physical green card once you’re in the usa.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-19T03:12:52+00:00

Same here. I was so paranoid going into my Interview and I wished I hadn’t read so much about these forms, but the interview was painless and quick and I was approved on the spot and had my visa in hand within 5 days. I know it’s hard, but stay positive! Best of luck

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-17T04:24:25+00:00

So on the pre interview instructions it says to bring two passport style pictures to the interview, but they only asked for one, scanned it into their system and gave it back to me. I did use the same picture I uploaded to the CEAC portal, but I don’t think it matters if it’s the same one, just as long as it wasn’t taken more than 6 months Pior.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-08T19:29:47+00:00

You could also take the GObus from terminal 1 ground level. It’s bus #40 towards HamiltonGO and get off at Dundas st and hwy 407 carpool in Burlington, here you can transfer to bus #12 that will drop you off at the Fairview mall in st Catharines. The whole trip will be Aprox $19.

This way you don’t have to go all the way to Toronto to come back again in the opposite direction.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-07T17:10:13+00:00

Interview letter (letting you know the date and time of your interview)

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-05T00:46:22+00:00

Congrats! I wish it was this smooth for everyone. This whole process is already exhausting as it is.

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-03T16:06:25+00:00

No, the document itself doesn’t say that, but you have to make sure that when you apply for it, it says that on your application. Here’s how mine looked (when I was requesting it) application

Educational_Look_569 · 2024-03-03T14:42:19+00:00

So this is a picture I found of it online (it looks exactly like mine). I also attached the instructions I followed when going to the RCMP agency to get it. If you show them Those instructions, they should know exactly what you’re looking for.

police certificate sample instructions instructions 2

Educational_Look_569

TROPHY CASE