K-1 people waiting for interviews at Montreal

[OBX 51]

Finacee just got her visa approved today. Was quick and painless apparently

Good luck to everyone else waiting!

Another congratulations

[SapphireDreams 71]

Jill - Is it a board rule? Maybe if you got permission from the board members, they can overrule it? I don't see how 1 dog per duplex is fair at all! Or maybe there is a fee you can pay?

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

Hi everyone, i'm new on here and have a question.

We rec'd our K2 packet and I went for my medical, i'm ready to send off my checklist and then wait for my K3.

Does anyone know, currently how long the timeline is between when you send off your K2 and when they send you an interview date?

Is the K3 just a letter with your interview date?

I'm hoping if I send off my checklist this week, that I will have an interview date by May at the latest? We are hoping for me to be there by June, so I could get my son ready for school etc...

How long is the interview? and will my son have to come with me? (he's listed as well)

How long does it take to get medical results back? and do they send them to Montreal? I am waiting for an immunization result to come back within 2 weeks, and I hope this does not stall the process.

Sorry for all the questions, I just figured you guys may have the answers as it is Montreal.

Thanks

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

Sorry...clarification.... It's the K3 packet I have...

I am reading that Montreal is backed up... I was hoping for a 2-3 month turn around for interview, but now it looks like 4-5

Is my local York Region Police certificate sufficient? It's a Canada Wide database where they search your name for any records. This is just like RCMP right?

Results from medical take a couple of weeks i'm sure... this does not delay process does it?

Thanks

[bauser 0]

Hey poprocks,

Regarding the packets and interview timing:

I submitted my packet 3 (DS-230 part 1 and document checklist, contents may vary since I'm applying for K-1) in mid-December and have my interview on March 19th. That is a 3 month turn-around, with the actual notice of appointment (called packet 4) arriving around the 2-month mark. Packet 4 has the interview appointment letter along with instruction sheets about security screening and XpressPost prepaid mailers (again, contents may vary but they'll all have the interview appointment). If you sent the checklist (and any other required documents) by the end of this week, you should probably get your interview in late May or early June.

Regarding the medical results:

Did you go to Toronto or Montreal? In Toronto the results are ready in 2 days for pickup. If you chose the mailing option, they'll courier the results to your home. I'd image that would tack on at least a few extra days. So if the doctor is waiting for an immunization result in 2 weeks, you should have the results in 2 weeks + 4-5 days...

[SapphireDreams 71]

So I went to go see if I could edit my DS160 online today because I noticed I filled out a question wrong - the one about ever having a US visa before, I've received a B2 in my passport a couple of times, so I should've said yes.... and I wanted to change the picture and the amount of years I plan to stay from 10 to 75... at the end I realized it said that there was no way to edit etc. and that once you submit it is final - so oopsy...

Anyways, I ended up getting a new confirmation # and it's a new form, so I emailed them to tell them and make sure I didn't just really screw up my application! I hope it's not a big deal...

I also filled out the DS156 online, the link that was on the appointment letter. There are a few odd questions that I feel don't really pertain to us K1'er's but oh well, I just

No all I need to do is get my XpressPost envelope.

[July09Bride 1]

So, tomorrow I am driving to London (Ontario) where Duncan lives for a brunch with his mom, great-aunt, and him. After that, we're driving to Toronto for his medical exam. He's expected to be at the Dr.'s office by 6am. Yikes! Such an early morning... that's why we decided to drive up the afternoon before. Have a nice evening (hopefully relaxing) and then off to the Dr. bright eyed and bushy tailed.

I *think* I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! This has been such a long process. Wow! We dated for just over 8 years before he proposed. And as soon as we get back to London on Monday, we're sending off our checklist and the required forms. Just to start the waiting process to get the appointment letter.

I only have one concern... our wedding is planned for July 17th. <sigh> I sure hope his interview is wayyyy before that!

Here's a question for you all... I've read conflicting information. Some places I have read that Montreal will only send out the Visa. I've read in other locations that people can return the next day to pick up the Visa, etc. Which one is the "real" truth... from your experiences?

Thanks all!!!

Krista

[SK&SP 0]

Thanks SO much for the congrats on getting the visa everyone!. It really was the most wonderful feeling to know that the "what-ifs" were gone, that David IS coming home =)

So now that we have floated down off our cloud a bit I will give the review of the interview, dictated to me by David, lol.

"I arrived at the consulate at 6:30am, I was fortunate enough to have a friend from my home city that took the trip with me and stood outside the consulate to keep me company. About 15 min. after arriving a woman and a man both for their visas showed up at 6:45 so I was glad to be the first one there. Sure enough by 7:15 there was a long line of people. At 7:35 the lights inside the building turned on and the guard took the chain off the front door. Said goodbye to my friend, he wished me luck and the guard stepped outside. He asked who was first in line and he told me to enter the door, I handed him my interview letter, and was told to enter the building. Once inside, there was another guard that asked for my passport and to put all my belongings into a bin to go through the x-ray machine. Was told to step through the metal detector and then was told to go downstairs and wait. After spending about 10 min. in an awkward basement room with 4 other people also applying for their visas, the guard came down and took us to the 19th floor. Once upstairs we were told to take a seat in a large room until our letter was called. Even though I was given the letter A, both B and C were called before me to the windows.

After about 15 min. my letter was called and I went up to the window (reminded me of a bank teller window) she seemed very polite, asked me how I was, I did the same, she asked me for my short form birth certificate and a copy (which I didn't have because I had the LONG form and a copy) but she photocopied the short form one for me. She also asked for my pre-paid envelope, affidavits of support, passport photos and she asked me if I had filled out the DS-160 and I gave that to her also. She gave me a form and told me to go the the cashiers window at #14 which is the only cashier window. By this time many people had been let in to apply for different things, passports and such, so I had to wait in line for the cashier. I paid my fees and went back to her window to give her the receipt. She handed the photos that we originally submitted with our I-129F to me and told me to have a seat in the waiting room and that my name would be called shortly. Shortly.........it was anything but. I sat in this waiting room for just under 2 hours, that was the bulk of the time I spent in the building. I was so insanely nervous that my stomach was actually flexing, lol. And I had to run to the washroom so bad, but I was afraid that I would miss my name being called, because if they called a name and no one answered they went right on to the next one.

Finally after the longest wait of my life...my name was called and I was told to go to booth #7. Once I was in the room I was told to close the door. Standing in a 4x4 plain white room looking at a woman behind a teller-like window I was told to raise my right hand and I swore to tell the truth. Immediately she began by asking me how we first met, when we first met and when we first met in person. She asked to see some pictures and I handed her the pictures that we originally submitted. She asked me about all the pictures, there were approx 6 or 7. She said that she understood that Amy has a daughter and how I got along with her. I told her that I spent 3 months in California with Amy and her daughter and we had an instant connection and that she loves me and I love her. She then asked what draws Amy and I together as a couple. That was the last of the questions, then she asked for Amy's recent letter of intent. She then asked me to sign a form saying that I still wished to marry Amy. And said congratulations, everything seems to be in order and I'm going to go ahead and grant your visa.

She handed me a form of things that you do after you get your visa and asked me if I had my long form birth certificate. I went to hand it to her and she said no, I don't need it, just hold on to it for any possible further processes. She told me to keep all my important information with me as I may need it later as well. I thanked her and walked out of the office still shocked how short and easy the interview was. I went into the washroom and cried I was so happy, now that it had set in that I actually was approved and that I was coming home!

I ran back to the hotel and called Amy and gave her the wonderful news, that was a GREAT phone call!!.

NOTES:

There is 4 to 5 hotels within 5 blocks of the consulate, the cheapest I found was a Travel Lodge that was $70 a night.

I would say it is KEY to be organized. I was thanked several times for being so organized.

There is a LONG list of things you can't bring into the consulate, so try to bring as LITTLE with you as possible, it will make it so much easier to get through the security check.

Make sure you triple check all your important documents before hand, be as sure of yourself as possible, it helps with the nervousness.

The streets signs and lights are super confusing, so if you are driving to the consulate the morning of, give yourself plenty of time, and even if you are walking there do a pre-walk just to make sure of how long it takes and where the consulate is."

So now....we are not so patiently waiting for the visa to come in the mail (we were SO hoping it would only take 2 days) but hoping for Monday, and then David will be on a plane Tuesday coming home!! YAY!!!!!! :D :D

Good luck to everyone with interviews coming up soon!!!

[July09Bride 1]

SK&SP, congratulations!!! I can't wait until we're in your shoes.

I can't sleep tonight and it is only the medical exam on Monday. I'm going to be a wreck for the interview (I'm going with Duncan for that, too). Let alone what I'll be like the night before the wedding!

Congratulations again... I can only imagine the huge smiles and major excitement you're feeling right now.

[SK&SP 0]

Hey guys =)

Well, visa still didn't come in the mail today and we're getting a bit anxious about it. I know it could take a week, but David has been checking with Canada Post and they don't even have a record of it being in their system yet...like it hasn't even been put in the mail yet =( Even called customer service and they confirmed that no, they have nothing on it yet.

All David has is an "item" number..is that the right thing to track it?

Did anyone else try and track their envelope, and did you ever see anything come up on the Canada Post site?

Thanks everyone!

[francie 0]

question: do u need to print out the DS160 online that u answered? or just the confirmation receipt?

[k34 0]

I printed three copies of the whole thing just in case (not sure what would ever require that to be necessary - but over-preparing reassures me).

Of course that could be why my folder to take to the interview is about 4" thick

Sorry, trees

[k34 0]

Oh wow... it's entirely possible that I am losing it I realized that I didn't actually answer the question, so I thought I would check to see if it says anything about whether you need the whole form or not in the pkt 4... then I realized that my file is at my office, so I can't check. Then from there I got thinking should I really keep it at my office? What if there's a fire or something there? But then again if I keep it at home there could be the same issue. Should I have two complete copies in different locations? What a ridiculous train of thought! Wow... how much worse is this going to get?!

[francie 0]

lol! we got the same thought about fire! like i was so anxious that i would want to bring all my documents everywhere i go!

i read again the instruction in the packet 3 and it says that you need to complete the form and print 2 copies including the confirmation receipt! but i printed 2 copies only of the confirmation page! sucks!

i dont know if i screwed up with this or what...

can u guys tell me i didnt.. puleassseeee

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

lol! we got the same thought about fire! like i was so anxious that i would want to bring all my documents everywhere i go!

i read again the instruction in the packet 3 and it says that you need to complete the form and print 2 copies including the confirmation receipt! but i printed 2 copies only of the confirmation page! sucks!

i dont know if i screwed up with this or what...

can u guys tell me i didnt.. puleassseeee

Oh my goodness me too! I actually printed two copies and never even had a chance to print the confirmation receipt before it said 'session timed out' I was in a panic!!! But the app does have the bar code on it, and I checked with my immigration lawyer and he said I should be ok on this, so I went ahead and sent in my packet 3 with one of the copies of the DS-160... not sure if they were asking for it? But I will also make a second colour copy, so in essence i'll have two copies for the interview... I managed to print my son's conf page but not mine