Vancouver Interview 12 July

[Keisha 0]

Hi everybody. I had my interview last Thursday, 12 July, but still don't have my visa in hand.

The interview itself took me longer than I expected. It lasted about 30 minutes, and I was asked a lot of questions - about how we met, when, and then what, when we decided to get married, what do we like about each other, what I did when I lived in my country, my education, details of my job in my home country, why I came to Canada, when, where my son is, with whom, what I do in Canada, when I applied for my permanent residence in Canada, about my previous 2 marriages years ago, why I am sure that this one will be better, why we decided to be in US and not Canada, if I met his parents, when, if J had siblings, if I met his brother, if I ever was refused entry to the US, what J does professionally, how often we visit each other, how we decided to get married if we don't know each other well enough (we know each other for about 3 years and met about every second month last year and we lived together for 2 weeks, then for 1 month, when I was visiting the US) . The officer asked me to show him pictures of us together, and was asking about other people on the pictures. I am glad I had pictures together with J's parents and a picture of him and my son together.

Didn't ask to see any emails or letters or phone bills or plane tickets or boarding passes or hotel receipts, which I had tons of. Didn't ask for a fresh letter of Intent or NOA2 copy, or any J's documents except for documents to do with finances. They took everything I had about finances though, I-134, 167, letter from employer, letter from the bank, tax returns for 3 previous years, recent paystubs.

I don't know why my interview was so long, but maybe because I am not a Canadian citizen and not even a Canadian permanent resident, I've been in Canada on a work permit for 3 years and I was refused a tourist visa like 4 times before they finaly gave it to me (refused all 4 times because of insufficient ties to home country), and I was divorced before, and my son is in Russia right now, and I changed my last name twice. Though I never overstayed anything anywhere, or broke any laws, or anything like that.

I was well prepared with all copies and translations except for one thing: my son's father's notarised consent that he didn't mind my son moving to the US. I didn't have it as they didn't have it on the checklist, and my son is not even in Canada now, and we will not be applying for his visa in Canada, but in my home country -right away. So I thought I would need everything regarding him later.

At the end of the interview the officer finally said it was alright, and they gave me 221g saying "insufficient information" and scary "additional administrative processing" and the list of documents to bring, which consisted only of the consent and the passport, and the letter was dated incorrectly, like a month ago. They also gave me my passport back.

I spent half a night calling Russia to get the father's consent - it had been ready, and the next day I got a copy of it by email and translated it at a translator and brought it to the consulate.

They took my passport then and told me to wait for their phone call on Monday, which is today. They told me that the visa should be ready Monday, or Tuesday at the latest - didn't mention anything about administrative processing. Nobody called by 2 p.m. today so I called myself and was told that the visa is still pending, that they will call tomorrow, or if i don't hear from them, to come tomorrow by 2:30 to pick it up.

I am just trying to breath in and out and calm myself, I have a plane ticket for Wednesday, the day after tomorrow, 7:45 a.m. But we decided with my fiance that there is nothing really alarming, they took my passport, don't need anything else from me, said it is alright, told me to come tomorrow even if i don't hear from them...

[Jasman0717 9]

It sounds like you are almost there, I hope you get the missing documents in quickly. Good luck

[Keisha 0]

It sounds like you are almost there, I hope you get the missing documents in quickly. Good luck

Thanks Jasman. I already brought them eveything, and they took my passport, and i am just waiting now.

[misa 2]

Hopefully they'll issue your visa soon! Good luck!

[Lance27 19]

Good luck!! let us know the good news tomorrow

[Carlawarla 1]

Have you heard anything yet? It sounds like a you had a grueling interview, and I do suspect that you were given much more questions because you weren't a citizen. They seemed to be specific about what they needed from you, and you gave it to the, so hopefully you'll hear something soon. Best of luck to you!!

Carla

[Lance27 19]

Were you able to pick up your passport with the visa today?

[Autumnchik 6]

Here's hoping you are out celebrating the visa right now!!!

[Tinker 0]

Here's hoping you are out celebrating the visa right now!!!

Yep, suspense is driving me crazy!

[mr_s_p 1]

Sounds like you got the same guy we did... our interview was July 11th, day before yours... Slightly darker skin, has glasses... very slight accent, though I couldn't place it.

He was very thorough in our interview, as well, and it sounds like we got away relatively unscathed with just an french birth certificate translation (of which I'm still waiting on) and certified copy of a court order from my fiancee...

Don't worry... all will go well...

Scott.

Hi everybody. I had my interview last Thursday, 12 July, but still don't have my visa in hand.

The interview itself took me longer than I expected. It lasted about 30 minutes, and I was asked a lot of questions - about how we met, when, and then what, when we decided to get married, what do we like about each other, what I did when I lived in my country, my education, details of my job in my home country, why I came to Canada, when, where my son is, with whom, what I do in Canada, when I applied for my permanent residence in Canada, about my previous 2 marriages years ago, why I am sure that this one will be better, why we decided to be in US and not Canada, if I met his parents, when, if J had siblings, if I met his brother, if I ever was refused entry to the US, what J does professionally, how often we visit each other, how we decided to get married if we don't know each other well enough (we know each other for about 3 years and met about every second month last year and we lived together for 2 weeks, then for 1 month, when I was visiting the US) . The officer asked me to show him pictures of us together, and was asking about other people on the pictures. I am glad I had pictures together with J's parents and a picture of him and my son together.

Didn't ask to see any emails or letters or phone bills or plane tickets or boarding passes or hotel receipts, which I had tons of. Didn't ask for a fresh letter of Intent or NOA2 copy, or any J's documents except for documents to do with finances. They took everything I had about finances though, I-134, 167, letter from employer, letter from the bank, tax returns for 3 previous years, recent paystubs.

I don't know why my interview was so long, but maybe because I am not a Canadian citizen and not even a Canadian permanent resident, I've been in Canada on a work permit for 3 years and I was refused a tourist visa like 4 times before they finaly gave it to me (refused all 4 times because of insufficient ties to home country), and I was divorced before, and my son is in Russia right now, and I changed my last name twice. Though I never overstayed anything anywhere, or broke any laws, or anything like that.

I was well prepared with all copies and translations except for one thing: my son's father's notarised consent that he didn't mind my son moving to the US. I didn't have it as they didn't have it on the checklist, and my son is not even in Canada now, and we will not be applying for his visa in Canada, but in my home country -right away. So I thought I would need everything regarding him later.

At the end of the interview the officer finally said it was alright, and they gave me 221g saying "insufficient information" and scary "additional administrative processing" and the list of documents to bring, which consisted only of the consent and the passport, and the letter was dated incorrectly, like a month ago. They also gave me my passport back.

I spent half a night calling Russia to get the father's consent - it had been ready, and the next day I got a copy of it by email and translated it at a translator and brought it to the consulate.

They took my passport then and told me to wait for their phone call on Monday, which is today. They told me that the visa should be ready Monday, or Tuesday at the latest - didn't mention anything about administrative processing. Nobody called by 2 p.m. today so I called myself and was told that the visa is still pending, that they will call tomorrow, or if i don't hear from them, to come tomorrow by 2:30 to pick it up.

I am just trying to breath in and out and calm myself, I have a plane ticket for Wednesday, the day after tomorrow, 7:45 a.m. But we decided with my fiance that there is nothing really alarming, they took my passport, don't need anything else from me, said it is alright, told me to come tomorrow even if i don't hear from them...

[Keisha 0]

Thank you guys for your responses!! I got the visa today!!!!! Flying to Florida tomorrow!! That was close B) The visa was not ready yesterday, but today they called me in the morning and told me to come and pick it up! And so I did.

The guy who was collecting my paperwork before and after the interview and finalising the visa was very helpful and nice.

I don't quite remember if the CO had any accent, and my accent is probably stronger anyway:D Slightly darker skin, yeah, I think so.

Feels unbelievable, like What? And I can really go now and live my life? I quess I can :energetic:

[~Nini~ 2]

Congratulations!

[Allie 5]

Congrats Happy to hear you're on your way

[Lance27 19]

Thats awesome news... Congratulations!!!!

Have a safe trip.

Edited July 18, 2007 by Lance27

[misa 2]

Congrats!!