General Consensus on Interviews and approvals in Canada

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

I hear that Canada is a 'low risk' country for fraud/staged immigrations to US... Is it true that generally if your relationship is well documented and you have no 'red flag' history that approvals are granted?

I mean, life here in Canada is very similar to the US.... it's not as if we are 'dying to get out of this Country'. I love Canada, and if I had a choice, I would have stayed... but love prevails, and he with the most poker chips wins lol! My fiance would never be able to leave his work and career.

I just worry, cause our entire relationship is dependent on this entire process, so of course I would be anxious and hope for the best. It's just nerve wrecking to think that your fate rests in the hands of your interviewer.

Do you think they pretty much form an opinion before you ever even have your interview and the interview is just to further explore some of their findings?

My fiance is way more confident than I.... I have always been a worry wart and until I have it in my hands, i'll be a mess

[JillA 2]

I believe so. Canada is a low risk visa fraud country. Spralienes will tell you that at her interview the guy said something along the lines of we're not worried about Canadians!

I hear ya, I always say that our lives are in the hands of the USCIS employees! It's stressful and nervewracking.

Edited March 2, 2009 by JillA

[TimandJoyce 1]

I can appreciate what you're saying!! I too am worried because well, you just don't know what's going to happen. And Tim's more confident than me too!!

As long as all the criteria is met, there won't be a problem.

My hopes was that coming from Canada, approvals "may" be a little quicker, but that doesn't necessarily mean so. So now I'm hoping that it will be approved in 4-5 months, so hopefully in April or May, we'll hear something, ( been two months already), and that in June, I'll have the interview.

Best wishes for your journey!

Edited March 2, 2009 by TimandJoyce

[Tankgurl38 0]

But there are also cases from Canada that have been denied, it is easier, but they can still say no.

Recently there was the one couple where the Canadian half admitted to using drugs once in the past three years at her medical exam. At the interview she was denied and I think banned from the US for three years and ordered to go to rehab, just because she was honest and said she had tried a substance once.

So you just never know.

[Flames9_RN 358]

The Interview for us canucks is 99.999% of the time PAINLESS!! 99.99% of the tiem at interview, they do not even ask for evidence (pictures, letters, etc) Lucky if the interview lasts 10 minutes, and majority of that time it is silence, just the interviewer looking over your paperwork. Lot of my interview time was spent talking about where the interviewer had been posted. The people that seem to have problems are the ones with over stays, or have had DUI's or other criminal problems that require waivers!

[Danu 19]

*hugs* almost everyone here can identify with you. Even though I've read a lot of stuff and made sure our package is perfect I'm still worried (though more about the NOA2 than the interview). I think its hard specifically to say odds are better, its just that as you said, not many of us are like OMG GET ME OUT OF HERE, where as they are in other countries. Most people say with many of the Visa Waiver countries that if you have your NOA2 then you are pretty much in the clear. I've heard a lot of people say they weren't even asked for their new evidence at the interview!

[JillA 2]

But there are also cases from Canada that have been denied, it is easier, but they can still say no.

Recently there was the one couple where the Canadian half admitted to using drugs once in the past three years at her medical exam. At the interview she was denied and I think banned from the US for three years and ordered to go to rehab, just because she was honest and said she had tried a substance once.

So you just never know.

Really? Wow. That sucks.

[Jasman0717 9]

I don't recall seeing any denials from Canada. I don't see any denial stats in the timelines link but will still guess that it is very low. Good luck

[bowflex 0]

As long as you have all your documents in order you most likely won't have anything to worry about. I got an incredibly horrible person that did the interview for my wife and we were initially told that we'd have to file more paperwork and stuff, but after getting our lawyer to send in the docs that she refused to look at in the first place, my wife's visa was approved. It does depend on the person that you get for the interview but I've only heard of a handful of cases that were like my wife's where they had any trouble at all. Good luck!!!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

But there are also cases from Canada that have been denied, it is easier, but they can still say no.

Recently there was the one couple where the Canadian half admitted to using drugs once in the past three years at her medical exam. At the interview she was denied and I think banned from the US for three years and ordered to go to rehab, just because she was honest and said she had tried a substance once.

So you just never know.

Really? Wow. That sucks.

I know, I read that... that's why I say... if we have a 'clean record' and past according to their standards. I have never stayed in the US for more that 1 week at a time, we always return when we say we would, and I have never ever worked in the US (even though my industry would make it very easy for me to do so)... I was always paranoid that it would affect our relationship....

It's just so hard... cause when there is no immigration issues, you usually just say, ok, we're in love, time to move in together, or time to get married... but this whole process is like 'may we please oh please be together?'

On another note, I am such an easily excitable person. I just know that at some point, i'm bound to cry... especially if the interviewer says 'what do you love about your fiance' or 'when did you so and so' or 'how does he get along with your son'.... the flood gates will open.... 'I love him because he has loved me like no other, he makes me feel invincible, like there is nothing we cannot conquer, I feel complete with him, his love is unconditional.... at this point the interviewer and their desk will be floating away in my stream of tears.... lol! My fiance says to try and keep it together, crying may look staged... HAHA! oh gosh, trying not to cry is like trying to resist an unwrapped unclaimed twinkie sitting on the kitchen counter lol!

Man, I love him so much, I cannot wait for the day that I can wake next to him each morning.... and because of this, I stress and review my papers, come up with scenario's that are unlikely, but my heart feels slave to my mind... and I feel slave to the system

Sorry, having a down day, my fiance just left yesterday after being here for a week.... it's always the first 24 hour post visit blues.....

Maybe a good Tim Horton's coffee will ease the pain lol!

Thanks for all the support guys.... glad I found this place

ps. just a disclaimer that this is the first of many paranoid posts to come lol! HAHA!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

As long as you have all your documents in order you most likely won't have anything to worry about. I got an incredibly horrible person that did the interview for my wife and we were initially told that we'd have to file more paperwork and stuff, but after getting our lawyer to send in the docs that she refused to look at in the first place, my wife's visa was approved. It does depend on the person that you get for the interview but I've only heard of a handful of cases that were like my wife's where they had any trouble at all. Good luck!!!

What proof did they refuse? That sucks! How much longer did it take?

i'm hoping I get someone (preferrably not on a Monday, as it is the most depressing work day of the week)... and that they have a happy home life.... not someone who's wife just told him off before he left for work and he hasn't gotten lucky in 4 months lol! Just kidding... my problem is that I deal with stress with humour... i'll have to keep the jokes to a minimum

[Danu 19]

But there are also cases from Canada that have been denied, it is easier, but they can still say no.

Recently there was the one couple where the Canadian half admitted to using drugs once in the past three years at her medical exam. At the interview she was denied and I think banned from the US for three years and ordered to go to rehab, just because she was honest and said she had tried a substance once.

So you just never know.

Really? Wow. That sucks.

I know, I read that... that's why I say... if we have a 'clean record' and past according to their standards. I have never stayed in the US for more that 1 week at a time, we always return when we say we would, and I have never ever worked in the US (even though my industry would make it very easy for me to do so)... I was always paranoid that it would affect our relationship....

It's just so hard... cause when there is no immigration issues, you usually just say, ok, we're in love, time to move in together, or time to get married... but this whole process is like 'may we please oh please be together?'

On another note, I am such an easily excitable person. I just know that at some point, i'm bound to cry... especially if the interviewer says 'what do you love about your fiance' or 'when did you so and so' or 'how does he get along with your son'.... the flood gates will open.... 'I love him because he has loved me like no other, he makes me feel invincible, like there is nothing we cannot conquer, I feel complete with him, his love is unconditional.... at this point the interviewer and their desk will be floating away in my stream of tears.... lol! My fiance says to try and keep it together, crying may look staged... HAHA! oh gosh, trying not to cry is like trying to resist an unwrapped unclaimed twinkie sitting on the kitchen counter lol!

Man, I love him so much, I cannot wait for the day that I can wake next to him each morning.... and because of this, I stress and review my papers, come up with scenario's that are unlikely, but my heart feels slave to my mind... and I feel slave to the system

Sorry, having a down day, my fiance just left yesterday after being here for a week.... it's always the first 24 hour post visit blues.....

Maybe a good Tim Horton's coffee will ease the pain lol!

Thanks for all the support guys.... glad I found this place

ps. just a disclaimer that this is the first of many paranoid posts to come lol! HAHA!

lol. You sound a lot like me. Just reading that almost made me cry thats about the only thing I'm worried about at the interview, cuz I tend to cry as well, or get a huge lump in my throat that prevents me from talking, but I'm sure they have been through a few weepy people before.

[Flames9_RN 358]

As long as you have all your documents in order you most likely won't have anything to worry about. I got an incredibly horrible person that did the interview for my wife and we were initially told that we'd have to file more paperwork and stuff, but after getting our lawyer to send in the docs that she refused to look at in the first place, my wife's visa was approved. It does depend on the person that you get for the interview but I've only heard of a handful of cases that were like my wife's where they had any trouble at all. Good luck!!!

What proof did they refuse? That sucks! How much longer did it take?

i'm hoping I get someone (preferrably not on a Monday, as it is the most depressing work day of the week)... and that they have a happy home life.... not someone who's wife just told him off before he left for work and he hasn't gotten lucky in 4 months lol! Just kidding... my problem is that I deal with stress with humour... i'll have to keep the jokes to a minimum

Majority of people find the interview the easiest part of the whole process

[JillA 2]

Don't worry, we've all be there worrying about the what ifs and having freakout moments.... Just be organized and prepared and you have nothing to worry about! If you have nothing to hide, there is nothing to worry about!

[rexalite 0]

The Interview for us canucks is 99.999% of the time PAINLESS!! 99.99% of the tiem at interview, they do not even ask for evidence (pictures, letters, etc) Lucky if the interview lasts 10 minutes, and majority of that time it is silence, just the interviewer looking over your paperwork. Lot of my interview time was spent talking about where the interviewer had been posted. The people that seem to have problems are the ones with over stays, or have had DUI's or other criminal problems that require waivers!

How do they track overstays from Canada when passports aren't stamped on entry to the US? Do they ask questions about stays and lengths of stays?