MTL and POE review (port huron, MI)

[CBR 0]

As promised, here are some random pics we took while in Montreal. They are all taken from the horse/carriage ride we took from Notre Dame.

Here's our "french" meal (which was really an italian/french/? combo). Appetizers & entrees...

The interview itself went awesome. We got to the consulate at about 6:45am (yea, ouch..i know). A bunch of other people showed up by the time they opened the doors at 7:30 sharp. The nice family that got there after us, but the guards wanted to let in ahead of us insisted that we were there first (which we were lol) so we got the "A" card and were first in the door and pretty much first with everything including leaving.

We are forgetting the exact details, but it went pretty much as everybody else states. Went up to the windows a few times before the actual interview & gave various items like the appt. letter, copies of birth certs, copies of passports, $131 usd, fingerprints (jeremy's). Had to go back & repeat fingerprints because their machine/computer wasn't working right & hadn't saved them the first time. We had the lady with long curly blonde hair & she is incredibly nice. Then the good part...the interview. I went in all giddy & kinda laughing about nothing really. The guy was so nice. He made us feel at ease & got jeremy to relax a bit and laugh too. Jeremy had several POE/border denials from last summer when we were jerked around by uscis (told he could come over & just marry me & file aos...totally wrong), then told to bring certain documents to prove strong ties, but when we did they still said no. Well, he deleted them! He laughed about the pics of jer from then saying he looked kinda shellshocked. There were about 3 of them with paragraphs describing what the denial was all about. He said it was common and not a big deal. He asked about how we met (online) and said that most people he meets have met online. He asked how each others families felt about us. He asked about our age difference (11 years...me older ugh), but it didn't seem like a big deal to him. Asked about our jobs. The typical stuff. It actually was kind of fun.

POE at Port Huron went well too. We got a guy who had never done a k-1 before and saw him asking the others if they had done one, and nobody really had. He was struggling with it (we found out at the end) because of last year's denials. He couldn't get past some part of that (it alarms in their computer) even though the Montreal guy had deleted them. This guy had to delete some other part too and it wasn't working for him. After over an hour of sitting around watching him stare at his screen getting frustrated he got someone to help. This guy seemed to know what he was doing a little more. They DID stamp the I-94 "work authorized" (I'll have to post that in that other section) which was really interesting. We didn't even ask about it. And the guy was going to give us our packet. I said I think you're supposed to keep that and forward it to the USCIS or something for when we file AoS. He's like "nope that's yours to keep". Ummmmm, no I don't think so. The guy next to him nudges him and says "yea you're supposed to keep that". OMG!! I sure hope it gets to where it's supposed to go. He at least seemed interested in learning how to do the k-1 process so i'm sure he'll ask his supervisor or that other guy that was helping him. Sheesh!

We are home now, settling into regular life and it's just wonderful! We got home Tuesday and I have this whole week off to spend with him. Life is GOOD!! We are still pinching ourselves saying, "are we really here, together, finally?"

Next step, get SSN so he can work for a bit for our honeymoon! Getting married July 18th. Honeymoon to Disney is in Sept.

I hope this post isn't too long!!

[Flames9_RN 358]

congrats!!! glad he kept the package,lol

[T.O_2_FL 0]

Congrats!

Montreal is much nicer minus the snow! =)

[Kathryn41 3,205]

great post -congratulations - and enjoy these days - they are like heaven!

[BH45 0]

Congrats CBR! I'm sure you are glad to be home and together. I have 10 days to go before I head home with my hubby-to-be. I can't believe its finally here - moving day is almost here.

Hope I have a good POE experience. I'm going to enter at Sault Ste Marie MI. I've called to ensure they do the K-1 Visa process.

Edited June 19, 2008 by BH45

[Carlawarla 1]

Congratulations!! Thanks for the review and pictures. Of course you had to post pics of food if you were going to post on the Canada forum!

[Leafgal 3]

Those pictures are great, thanks. Happy you are settling into the new life together.

[SpiritAlight 1]

Congrats CBR and mate!

Great review, and not too long.

Awesome photos...I love the Old Port.

I was at that checkpoint with my AP on Wednesday at noonish, maybe 1pm I forget (what with EST and CST)...and my guy needed help too.

Did he have a mustache?

The supervisor (?) helped him, he looked like a marine: tall, bald (shaven), and kinda handsome. I belive his name on his shirt was Brea (??), I forget.

Well, it took my dude about 40 minutes to get through it with help finally from the other guy.

So happy for you to start your next chapter/book.

Edited June 20, 2008 by SpiritAlight

[CBR 0]

Spirit that's too weird that we were there the same day around the same time. We probably just left as you were getting there if it was noonish. We were there from 10:30am- about 11:45 or so.

Our guy was definitely NOT a tall handsomeish marine type. He was on the shorter side, freckly and kinda Ron Howardish.

[shiri 0]

Nope, it wasn't too long at all! I am jealous. I went to Montreal in March and loved it. I wish I was there right now. My husband lives south of there. I am glad all went well and I hope your wedding goes well! Best wishes!!!

Edited June 20, 2008 by shiri

[ChasingAmy 0]

Nope, it wasn't too long at all! I am jealous. I went to Montreal in March and loved it. I wish I was there right now. My husband lives south of there. I am glad all went well and I hope your wedding goes well! Best wishes!!!

Ok I'm a newb to this section but did I just read right that I can have a temp EAD stamp if I cross at Port Huron instead of having to fly in to JFK?

[Krikit 1,164]

Oh cool! Thanks for the pics and the story, CBR! That's awesome. Congratulations!!!!

[PfcsBaby 0]

Congrats and welcome to your new home. Now to the next part in your journey.

BTW: love the pics and as someone else said, it does look a lot better in MTL with no snow lol.

[kimmbo 0]

congrats on your POE!! take a nice break and enjoy your new home and then get ready for the AOS fun!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Nope, it wasn't too long at all! I am jealous. I went to Montreal in March and loved it. I wish I was there right now. My husband lives south of there. I am glad all went well and I hope your wedding goes well! Best wishes!!!

Ok I'm a newb to this section but did I just read right that I can have a temp EAD stamp if I cross at Port Huron instead of having to fly in to JFK?

Apparently they do give the EAD stamp at Port Huron. It is a long way around, though, if you are moving just south of Montreal. Just to let you know, a Canadian does not get the EAD stamp even if they do fly into JFK. In Canada, flights ending at JFK go through immigrations in Canada at the airport before they leave, not at JFK - and immigration at the airports don't give the stamp. It is only international flights originating from outside of North America (don't know about Mexico) that go through immigration at JFK.