The K1 Interview in Montreal

[SpiritAlight 1]

Edited due to Word and VJ forum mess up.

Please read this one.

The Short & Technical Story

Arrive at 7:30 am and were promptly told to get rid of the cloth bag that carried the paperwork.

NO BAGS...(except they do allow women their handbags). Paperwork is allowed in a plastic bag.

One couple ahead of us, and one family.

They all got screened through and then we were.

Remove coats, belts, everything out of your pockets, and put into bins.

Step through the x-ray machine and get wanded, too.

I beeped, but was okay enough, as I did not get a pat down.

My handbag needed further inspection and the guard asked if he could look inside. I said of course. He pulled out a tiny dental floss, the Ricola (throat lozenges) and 2 breakfast bars, asking if either of us were hypoglycemic. I said no, so he gave us a claim number and took all this stuff away. Allowed me to keep my hemp lip balm that was suspect in a (Body Shop) tiny tin. We also got a letter B (for being second).

He then led us downstairs to a waiting area, and ushered us and that first couple into the elevator and up to the 19th floor. For further descriptions of the consulate itself please read IR5formumsie's post here.

At 8 am, after couple A, at Window 11 I gave the interview letter (packet 4), passport and little letter B card. We were told to wait in the big waiting area.

At 8:20 am I was called to Window 12, where a gentle woman asked for the Letter of Intent, I 134, bank letter, employer's letter (all from my fiancé the USC). I had so much more evidence of support and showed her the file (tax forms, bank statements, etc.) and she smiled and said it was not necessary (after she had had a look at the I134). Then she asked for the medical, opened it and said due to the results she would not need to see the x-ray. Asked for birth certificate, divorce certificate, police record, passport photos (2). (more info in long story below)

And last she took my electronic fingerprints.

I asked is she wanted the photocopies of my fiancé's passport, birth certificate, anything??? No. She said, "Today you are the star. It's all about you" with a smile. That made me laugh.

Then gave me a piece of paper and told us to go and pay the fee ($100 USD) around the corner and wait in that big room.

At 8:35 (or so), got called over the PA by a woman to go to room 7. We were picking up all of our belongings and wondering where room 7 was, and so was called again. Walked in to the small room with the glass between us and the consulate officer, an older African-American woman. She was looking over the paperwork she had on her desk, gave me some back (packet 4?? I didn't even look), and started to ask questions on my past (denied entry and the police record), nothing about my fiancé and/or how we met, etc. No need to see any more evidence of our relationship we had prepared. She was strict/severe (I am not sure which adjective to use).

We were called before the other couple (A). I think our paperwork in meticulous order did it.

She ended by asking about when we intend to get married and then said the visa would come in the mail. (see details below in the long story)

We were done and outside before 9 am.

Now pour yourself a cup of coffee or make a cup if tea and settle in for:

The Human Element (aka the long story):

6:50 am:

Me: "Hurry honey, we are not going to be first" as I am already out in the hallway of my studio impatient, pacing.

Him: "Uhm, did you forget something?"

Me: "No. Let's"

Him:"Like... the paperwork!!"

Me: "Oops." haha "Well, I though you had it." Does he buy that, I'm not sure....

With paperwork in a smart little bag I got from a Geo Web conference this Summer in Vancouver, off we went. Four block walk to the metro, four stops and maneuver part of the city's underground tunnels to get as close as possible before going outside. Out onto Beaver Hall street and up the hill to Rene Levesque Blvd (us anglos still call is Dorchester. It's original name, ha). Take a left and there: St. Alexandre. What a long journey, hahaha. Well, emotional it was!

We immediately are told that the cloth bag cannot be allowed in, although my handbag which was quite big (although almost empty) was. Makes no sense to me, but he is adamant. The family before us and a guy behind us were being given the same shpiel. Everybody dispersed including the guy behind us who had to get rid of a nice backpack. My fiancé and I walk across Rene Levesque and I decide on a church doorway. Drop the bag off at the top of the stairs and wonder if it will still be there when we come out. Man, I really liked that bag...I let it go...

Go back to the consulate with our plastic bag that I had the x-ray in and now all the papers and in we go. The gate keeper who now receives us is kind and easy to deal with. Good. I relax, somewhat. I do not feel like throwing up anymore.

If anyone is in need of a bag, walking around the U.S. Consulate would be a great place to start a collection. Hahaha.

When in the large waiting room (see Short Story), I spent my time mostly looking our the North window over downtown and to Mount Royal, knowing my time here now in Montreal was coming to an end; finally. I had moved here to "facilitate" this whole process in March from Vancouver, and to be closer to Chicago.

The East window had also a great view of Jacques Cartier Bridge (which was, I believe, a gift to Montreal from France. The U.S. got the Statue of Liberty and we got this bridge) and of the Molson Brewery and part of Old Montreal aka the Old Port...and both windows gave the view of the heaps of snow that was just starting to melt.

The view kept me calm; under the circumstances, this was good.

The woman who took my paperwork at Window 12, had long strawberry blond hair, a French Canadian accent and was a pleasure to deal with. She put me right at ease, and that whole part was fun, due to the fact that each piece of paper she asked for I knew where I had it and that went smoothly. She made a comment about my police check, the one with the fingerprints, that something was missing. It don't know what it was, but she accepted it anyways. Did not ask for notarized translations for the divorce certificate and court records (that were in French). I had had them done by a friend in Maine just last week, and wish I had turned them in just because.

When I returned packet 3, I decided to include everything and more: the required papers, plus a copy of the police check and the court records (that said there is no charge), the translations by a local friend (unofficial looking), photos of my future father in law, a hand-written letter using my inks and nibs on classy paper, all kinds of stuff. Ha! Just to assist in expediting this, and they could be prepared to know all about that part of me before I got there. I strongly believe that that may have helped cut down on the time with the CO and the questioning. I cannot be sure however. The CO handed me the DS 156K to sign (I had mailed it in) at some point. I forget when. Maybe when we were done.

When my name got called and I/we didn't know where room 7 was, I started to flip out inside. Stomach turned and was all nervous all over again.

It is right in front of the waiting room to the left side of the corridor. sigh...

The conversation between the consulate officer and I went something like this (It's hard to remember it well, as I was nervous feeling the atmosphere was quite heavy):

Me: Hello.

CO: Hello.

Looks at me, and I held her gaze and never once looked away.

CO:Tell me about your checkered U.S. immigration past.

Me baffled: I don't have a U.S. immigration past. I have never been an immigrant in the U.S.

She gave me the look (I am not impressed look). I was so taken aback, at a loss, and that's when my fiancé said, I think she is asking about your being denied entry.

Me: Oh! I tried to enter Washington by car and was brought in to the office for questioning. The custom's person thought I was intending on living in the U.S., and I wasn't

She and I had locked eyes and so I continued

had boxes in the car that I was going to mail to my fiancés house - at the time we weren't engaged yet.... but I was NOT intending to stay in the U.S., I was simply going to the post office. I was turned back.

CO: Was this the only time?

Me: No, I was told at the airport that I was not allowed to visit the U.S. after that. I was told I still had not provided enough evidence of "Ties and Equities". At the time I lived with a roommate and so the lease and utility bills are not in my name, and I work for myself, so...

My fiancé: They had her sign some papers about voluntary withdrawal of entry to the U.S.

CO: Do you have those papers?

I found them right away and gave them to her.

She looked at them and handed them back (there is a slot under the glass).

All this, I must say, is me keeping the/my story I am telling her very succinct.

I figured too much detail and going on and on is not a good idea.

I would wait to be asked for more details and then respond. But that was that. I have a great (true) stories. Ha!

I many reasons as to why I might be suspected of trying to live "illegally" (whatever that means) in the U.S. all the time spent sailing there and travelling, etc.

It would have been too easy.

Not my intention though.

I always came back to Vancouver, my headquarters. B)

She went back to looking at my paperwork before her, read my attachments to the DS 230, and then asked

CO:Tell me about your charge.

Me: I tried to get more information on it, and couldn't as it has been erased from the courts. I had replaced the price tags on an item of clothing that was $20 or $30.

She looked again at the papers, and I had a huge moment of doubt, that this was not going well and she would be telling me how to get a waiver. So I asked, "May I say one more thing?"

CO: Yes. And looks at me with full attention again.

Me: What I did was at a time in my life when I had found out that my then husband had been cheating on me and I did something that was not me. I had not done anything like that previously and have not since. I was not of right mind.

She looked again at the papers, and then at me

CO: When are you intending on getting married?

I take my first breath, as I could feel that this was "the tell".

Me: “February 29th.

CO: You visa will be mailed to you. *

I was so stunned I did not react.

CO: I hope you have a Merry Christmas. With a slight smile. Mona Lisa/LDV would be proud.

Me: Oh?! And merry Christmas to you too...and thank you.

Turn quickly and my fiancé and I are gathering our belongings, coats, etc. and I remember

Me: May I ask who Operator Number Five is?

CO: We are not allowed to give out names of our staff.

Me: They helped me so much via email and I wanted to thank them.

CO smiling: Yes, she is quite good...I will tell her.

Me: Thank you.

Finally seeing a human being behind that glass separator for that moment.

We were out of there before 9 am.

*These words were like hearing you've won the lottery. Hahaha. I never buy lottery, but I can use my imagination.

When stepping outside, I just started walking as fast as possible away from the building, stopped and looked back. My fiancé was standing there and asked me where I was going. Oh yeah, let'sgo and see if that bag was still there. Nope. Gone. Oh well. A small price to pay to not miss the appointment. Breakfast? Shopping? No no...let's go home. Regroup. I just needed to get away from there ASAP. Phew.

(F) (F)

All day, all weekend I kept saying, we're done. No more appointment coming up, causing me great stress. Yippee!! Over and over. He was just laughing.

I said goodbye for the last time at the airport yesterday night to him.

Unfortunately the crazy winds and rain delayed and cancelled tons of flights. He got home with a different airline and way late (2:30 am!). What a trooper.

:star: :star:

A last thought:

I could say that luck really does have nothing to do with any of this, but I see where it does:

the NVC and the USCIS never lost any of our papers. They had them tooooooo long, but that is another story. Ha!

That has been such a nightmare for so some people here in our beloved VJ family.

Edited December 25, 2007 by Captain Ewok

[BH45 0]

It seems as though you had a painless interview. Except for the nerves, which I'm sure everyone experiences, all went well. You had your fiance with you - that in itself would be a relief.

Congrats on your approval. God speed you to your destination safely.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I'm glad that things went relatively smoothly. I think that feeling of 'let's get the Hell out of here' is something we all share. The MO is always the same, first contact is always pleasant when the papers are gathered for examination and then you get grilled with the second interview. You are absolutely correct about detail, give them too much and they will find an opening to ask away but give them very little and they will move on. I do believe that, as you did with the questions about the court proceedings, if you feel that you are getting short shrift on a topic and feel that you must clarify things, please do so. Having your papers in order is the best way to fight nervousness.

I must say one thing. Great review!!!! I am so relieved that you got it. "Checkered immigration past?" I guess you must have known that this was a straight-up old skool interrogation with a comment like that. That last question, about the wedding date you handled like a pro. You had the presence of mind to realize that until you leave the room, you are being observed. Too bad about the bag, at least they let you keep the garotte wire (err..dental floss).

[SpiritAlight 1]

Thank you for your kind sentiments BH45, and you too as always Mumsie.

Yes the "choking wire" was cleverly disguised, wasn't it?!

:lol:

To all: I am sorry about that first post.

I have requested someone to delete it.

I cut and pasted from Word and it screwed up all the quotation marks.

What a mess...not to mention I can't type and hence the typos and horrid grammar from editing and not double-checking sentence structure...hee hee!

Edited December 24, 2007 by SpiritAlight

[SpiritAlight 1]

I wanted to add this:

with no disrespect meant to you Mumsie,

I took the advise of our mostly unhelpful lawyer and checked off NO to CMIT, and YES to being denied entry.

I was uncomfortable with it, but she said, "Let them decide whether is it or isn't."

The CO never asked about what I had checked off on the DS 230; she simply read the filled out forms and my attachments with the reasons for the responses.

I hope all this long story helps someone in the future going through this with some blemishes from their past.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations - and great review:-).

[trailmix 77]

Great review Spirit

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I wanted to add this:

with no disrespect meant to you Mumsie,

I took the advise of our mostly unhelpful lawyer and checked off NO to CMIT, and YES to being denied entry.

I was uncomfortable with it, but she said, "Let them decide whether is it or isn't."

The CO never asked about what I had checked off on the DS 230; she simply read the filled out forms and my attachments with the reasons for the responses.

I hope all this long story helps someone in the future going through this with some blemishes from their past.

No offence taken. I've always been suspicious of that CMT bit because (*heavens now open and the truth comes shining through*) THEY THEMSELVES DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT CMT ACTUALLY MEANS. That's why they keep losing in court over this issue. I think they just look to see if you have the court record and that's it. Are you telling the truth, that's all they're interested in. A government agency interested in the truth, imagine that. Better call in Mulder and Scully.

Blemishes? I've got some clearasil around here somewhere, works much better than concealer....

Edited December 24, 2007 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[Chica Yeyé 41]

congratulations sister!!!

[samaci 0]

Congrats!!!

[mc2000ch 0]

congra buddy, being honest will pay off. . I think over all if you are honest about everything, they can understand you being nervous. anyway good luck to all.

[kimmbo 0]

Congrats!! great review!!

[SpiritAlight 1]

Thanks for your best wishes everyone!

:star: