Infant at Montreal Interview

[Boop 0]

My husband's interview is this Wednesday the 24th.

We've read that big strollers aren't a good idea. Do you think it might be okay to take our 9 month old son in the infant carrier (the part that goes in the car seat base)? I don't know how else to transport him besides just carry him. Of course I could do that too, he's lighter than that darn carrier. Ha.

In November we entered the US Consulate in Ottawa with him in the carrier without a problem. We had to remove him to walk through the screening but that's no trouble. I wonder if security is tighter at Montreal vs Ottawa.

Thank you in advance for your insight and advice. =)

[antda 13]

My husband's interview is this Wednesday the 24th.

We've read that big strollers aren't a good idea. Do you think it might be okay to take our 9 month old son in the infant carrier (the part that goes in the car seat base)? I don't know how else to transport him besides just carry him. Of course I could do that too, he's lighter than that darn carrier. Ha.

In November we entered the US Consulate in Ottawa with him in the carrier without a problem. We had to remove him to walk through the screening but that's no trouble. I wonder if security is tighter at Montreal vs Ottawa.

Thank you in advance for your insight and advice. =)

Boop-I don't know specifically about the Montreal consulate (lol..I've never been there)....But....

I can tell you that based on my experience on bringing my infant/baby son (who was 3 months old at the time, and is now 8 months old) to the Buffalo, NY USCIS office, for my citizenship interview, this is what I did:

We brought in the car seat (or as you like to call it..the infant carrier)...

We also brought in his baby bag with diapers and other baby items...

We didn't have too many problems going through the metal detectors....

And in fact the security guards liked him...lol...

If I were you, I would leave the stoller at home, and just bring the carrier/car seat instead...

You can choose to carry him in too...but if it is going to take a long while for the interview...I recommend you bring the seat instead, as the baby is probably more comfortable there (lol..and your arms will be less tired by leaving him in the carseat instead)...

Lol..I know what you mean though, about the carseat being too heavy...As my baby's carseat, with the baby in it, is the same way too...

But again, if you are going to be there for awhile, you're better off with the carseat...trust me..

Be sure too, that your baby is changed, fed, and entertained beforehand and while you are there too...

Hope this helps. Good luck with your interview. And good luck with the rest of your journey too.

Ant

P.S. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk more about parenting/baby issues..What a co-incidence that our babies are similar in ages too!

Edited March 23, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[antda 13]

P.S. Here is the link to the story about my citizenship interview experience...

Ant’s Citizenship INTERVIEW PASSED.…BUT….(Part 1 of 2)…. (11/18/09) My Helpful Very Detailed Buffalo, NY Experience Here…

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/229436-ants-citizenship-interview-passedbutpart-1-of-2/page__p__3506047__fromsearch__1

Hope this helps too. Good luck.

Ant

[OBX 51]

My husband's interview is this Wednesday the 24th.

We've read that big strollers aren't a good idea. Do you think it might be okay to take our 9 month old son in the infant carrier (the part that goes in the car seat base)? I don't know how else to transport him besides just carry him. Of course I could do that too, he's lighter than that darn carrier. Ha.

In November we entered the US Consulate in Ottawa with him in the carrier without a problem. We had to remove him to walk through the screening but that's no trouble. I wonder if security is tighter at Montreal vs Ottawa.

Thank you in advance for your insight and advice. =)

Here's a link to a recent VJ member's post. They interviewed in Montreal with their newborn. There's a little bit in the review that might help. Good luck!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/246297-cr1-interview-montreal-311/page__p__3787971__fromsearch__1entry3787971

Edited March 23, 2010 by OBX

[Boop 0]

Ant your experience and advice is helpful. Thank you for sharing. =) I will use the car seat for sure.

OBX that review was great thank you.

I think I can take a breath now and just worry about not getting too lost in Montreal. Ha.

[kballtex 0]

Yep you should be fine. One thing I will point out is after you enter through the front door/security area you have to travel down a flight of stairs before going into the elevator. The stroller for us ended up being a bit of a pain as I had to fold it up / pack all our stuff up underneath and hope it didn't fall out. Pretty sure at one point my wife was feeding him in the waiting area.

[antda 13]

Ant your experience and advice is helpful. Thank you for sharing. =) I will use the car seat for sure.

I think I can take a breath now and just worry about not getting too lost in Montreal. Ha.

Boop-No problem..Glad to be able to help you here...

Good luck with your interview, and good luck in bringing the baby along too...

And yes, do post about that afterwards too, baby and all!

Btw..Personally I think it is better to bring the baby along...

What better "proof" of a "genuine marriage" than an actual baby! lol....

Yep you should be fine. One thing I will point out is after you enter through the front door/security area you have to travel down a flight of stairs before going into the elevator. The stroller for us ended up being a bit of a pain as I had to fold it up / pack all our stuff up underneath and hope it didn't fall out. Pretty sure at one point my wife was feeding him in the waiting area.

Kballtex-Congrats on your baby! Congrats on passing your interview too!

Glad that you had no problems bringing in your baby to the interview..Wow..4 days old..that's early..awww....Glad everyone liked them there too.

I know what you mean about the stroller too....yeah it's more troublesome to travel on stairs with that..

Lol...As for feeding the baby in the waiting area...likewise, I had to do the same thing too..

(though for me it was kind of awkward to nurse my son while an IO was talking to me in the waiting room...talk about awkward!..... ..oh well...babies have to eat, regardless...lol...)

Ant

Edited March 25, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[brightskte 18]

When Mathew and I had our interview on Tuesday it was like a baby boom was going on at the consulate. There were babies everywhere!!! Was soooo cute!

I would think that a stroller would be too much to handle with the stairs and stuff. I would stick to the car seat thing if possible. I saw all kinds of those there that day.

[kballtex 0]

Boop-No problem..Glad to be able to help you here...

Good luck with your interview, and good luck in bringing the baby along too...

And yes, do post about that afterwards too, baby and all!

Btw..Personally I think it is better to bring the baby along...

What better "proof" of a "genuine marriage" than an actual baby! lol....

Kballtex-Congrats on your baby! Congrats on passing your interview too!

Glad that you had no problems bringing in your baby to the interview..Wow..4 days old..that's early..awww....Glad everyone liked them there too.

I know what you mean about the stroller too....yeah it's more troublesome to travel on stairs with that..

Lol...As for feeding the baby in the waiting area...likewise, I had to do the same thing too..

(though for me it was kind of awkward to nurse my son while an IO was talking to me in the waiting room...talk about awkward!..... ..oh well...babies have to eat, regardless...lol...)

Ant

I think the fact that he was getting restless from his dirty diaper sped up our interview. "Get me outta here!"

[antda 13]

When Mathew and I had our interview on Tuesday it was like a baby boom was going on at the consulate. There were babies everywhere!!! Was soooo cute!

I would think that a stroller would be too much to handle with the stairs and stuff. I would stick to the car seat thing if possible. I saw all kinds of those there that day.

KaylaMathew-Congrats on passing your interview too..

I agree, Babies are cute, indeed... (lol..Though they can be a handful at times....)

Baby boom, indeed!

I think the fact that he was getting restless from his dirty diaper sped up our interview. "Get me outta here!"

Kballtex-Lol...My son was the same way too....

We couldn't wait to get out of the USCIS office to change his diaper...

Lol..I was tempted to change it right then and there...

But ummm....We couldn't find a garbage can....

(and for all I know it could set off an alarm...just kidding....What's the deal with the metal detectors anyways?)

So we just changed it in the car...Thank goodness we parked right by the front door, across the steet...lol....

Lol...babies pee and poop too...And when they want the diaper off, they want it off, regardless!

Oh wait until you get to the "I'm going to take the diaper off myself" stage...lol...(that's another story...)

But whatever works for a fast interview, then so be it...

Besides, who wants to be in an immigration office longer than they should?

Hungry Baby + Wet/Dirty Diaper = Speedy interview and approval!

HmmMaybe I should offer a "baby for rent to immigration office service"....guarranted speedy approval, or your money back!

Just kidding........Though interesting concept...lol.....

Lesson learned: Bring a baby to an immigration interview...Really, it helps..

Ant

Edited March 26, 2010 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Boop 0]

Thank you everyone. =)

We had a good experience. I'm glad we brought him in the car seat and left the stroller at home. He was old enough that we were able to get away with changing his diaper in the car before and after. He was tired and cranky to be stuck in the car seat while in line so early and I don't blame him one bit. But he awesome while we were in the building though.

I am so glad we all went together. I like to think having our happy baby with us was good luck; we were approved.

[antda 13]

Thank you everyone. =)

We had a good experience. I'm glad we brought him in the car seat and left the stroller at home. He was old enough that we were able to get away with changing his diaper in the car before and after. He was tired and cranky to be stuck in the car seat while in line so early and I don't blame him one bit. But he awesome while we were in the building though.

I am so glad we all went together. I like to think having our happy baby with us was good luck; we were approved.

Boop-Congrats on the approval, and thanks for sharing about that here on VJ!

Glad that you had a good experience, and had no problems with your son at the interview either.

I agree, bring the carseat, and leave the stroller at home/in the car.

And babies are generally happy in their carseat anyways..

And yes, Happy Baby=Good Luck Approval...

Lol..Maybe we should have a "rent a good luck baby" service to those who are going for interviews...(just kidding, but yes, babies do bring good luck...after all, who can resist a cute baby..lol...)

Ant