Please Share your Montreal Experience for CR-1 interview!

[YYZLAX 0]

Hello Everyone,

I'm new here and I wish I had known about this forum when we first filed back in July 2007.

My I-130 was approved in Nov. 2008 and I've been scheduled for an interview at the Montreal Consulate on April 15 at 9 am.

ANY tips you guys can provide for me would be great. My husband wanted to come to the interview with me but unfortunately he can't take any more time off work. He's taken enough over the past 22 months to visit me. I will be bringing our daughter with me to the interview.

I'm quite nervous about how rude and interrogating the officers will be. I know I have everything they requested and haven't done anything I shouldn't...but knowing they have the authority to still deny me...worries me. My daughter and I are dying to return home to be with my husband. She asks me almost every single day and it breaks my heart.

My attorney has never been to the consulate in Montreal so any help, tips, reminder, or sharing of your experience is great appreciated.

Thanks so much!

[Flames9_RN 358]

At the top of the page u can see REVIEWS:EMBASSY/USCIS click on that, select CANADA, and ur set!! Will see piles of reviews from Montreal and vancouver. Keep in mind some will be k1, k3. http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php As well on the search engine on VJ, put in Montreal reviews etc etc

Interview for 99.99999% of people is the easiest part. Interview itself is VERY quick, like less than 10 minutes with very basic questions asked! And no requirement for the USA spouse to attend the interview,mine did not. Most of ur time at the consulate is spent waiting for ur # to be called

As well check out http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada Welcome to VJ

other tips: Arrive early!! It may say 0900,but doors open up around 0730! many Vjers get their before 0700 and line up! you take an elevator upto the floor, and at that floor, the elevator OPENS from the REAR,lol You will need to purchase a return prepaid envelope to give them, so they canmail back your Cdn passport with Visa in it!! (ensure ur Cdn passport is valid for more than 6 months I belive,longer the better) Bring a book to read. NO big bags or electronics!!! I used a 13 file plastic accordian binder to put my stuff in!! Keep ur interview letter handy, as security guards will want to see it!! others will chime in!!

Edited March 21, 2009 by flames9

[YYZLAX 0]

At the top of the page u can see REVIEWS:EMBASSY/USCIS click on that, select CANADA, and ur set!! Will see piles of reviews from Montreal and vancouver. Keep in mind some will be k1, k3. http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/index.php As well on the search engine on VJ, put in Montreal reviews etc etc

Interview for 99.99999% of people is the easiest part. Interview itself is VERY quick, like less than 10 minutes with very basic questions asked! And no requirement for the USA spouse to attend the interview,mine did not. Most of ur time at the consulate is spent waiting for ur # to be called

As well check out http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada Welcome to VJ

other tips: Arrive early!! It may say 0900,but doors open up around 0730! many Vjers get their before 0700 and line up! you take an elevator upto the floor, and at that floor, the elevator OPENS from the REAR,lol You will need to purchase a return prepaid envelope to give them, so they canmail back your Cdn passport with Visa in it!! (ensure ur Cdn passport is valid for more than 6 months I belive,longer the better) Bring a book to read. NO big bags or electronics!!! I used a 13 file plastic accordian binder to put my stuff in!! Keep ur interview letter handy, as security guards will want to see it!! others will chime in!!

Thank you so much flames9! Do you know how long it takes for them to send your passport back to you? My husband wanted to come along so that he can help out with our daughter who's a little monkey sometimes. I'll be going to Montreal from Toronto so it's quite a trip with her and stroller and car seats. She was born in the U.S. so I'm the only person being interviewed.

I'll check out the links now!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Well it depends!! Some take a few days, some have taken almost 2 weeks!! At one time, you used to get the vuisa the same day,but that is long past! SOME have had luck and asked very nicely and gotten the visa the same day or next! Doesnt hurt to ask, and if it were I, I would mention that ur husband came up,and u have the baby, lol but thats me! Doesn't hurt to ask, all they can do is say no!!

The Canada Forum here on VJ, tends to be a bit slower on Weekends, but full of bee hive activity during the week! I highly caution you ongoing to the Off-topic forum on VJ, you will be surprised on what some people write about, guess many like getting a rise out of others, but were a very polite and fun bunch here.

And if ya didnt know, you can collect EI--or maternity benefits in the USA, if you would have qualified for them in Canada.

As well,you prob checked off the box on the DS-230 for a SSN card. Well be prepared that it most likely WON'T show,lol! After about 10 business days (after u get to the USA) head down to ur local SSN office and re-apply! You can down load the form off of SSN.GOV http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html helps speed up the process at the office. Ensure u bring your passport with the visa in it. Your actual greencard should arrive approx 1 month after u enter the USA. You normally get 1 or 3 welcome letters,then ur greencard appears a few days after,but its different for many!

Edited March 21, 2009 by flames9

[RYCK 0]

Just so you know the folks at the consulate are pretty friendly ... the security is there todo a job so they might be the least friendliest .. the people upstairs that you will deal with are somewhat straight to th point and there is somewhat of a procedure thy follow .. but overall they are not rude or do they treat you like your in an interrogation ... and thats for all interviews . They just have a job to do and so many people to deal with they don't take time for friendly chit chat .. so you should not have too bad of an experience there

[MrsCat 6]

Here are a few CR-1 reviews:

Good luck - this is the easiest part of the process. They're really nice in MTL.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...+consulate+CR-1

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...onsulate+review

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...onsulate+review

[YYZLAX 0]

Wow! You guys are really helpful here!

My case is a bit different...I already have a SSN and my daughter was born in the U.S..

Here's a quick rundown of my timeline in U.S.:

1997 - went to U.S. to study

2001 - graduated and stayed on for 1 year practical training

2002 - married my late husband (non-U.S. citizen) and stayed on with TN visa

2004 - my late husband passed away in Aug., I delivered our daughter in October

2007 - remarried to my current husband (U.S. citizen)

*this is where I received some very bad advice from my attorney and told me I MUST leave U.S. after our wedding and re-enter to apply for my greencard. Like the rule-obeying person I am, I followed their instructions and what a nightmare it was. I was asked to withdrawl my application for admittance at the U.S. pre-flight customs in Toronto and asked to apply for my K-3 visa/ I-130.

I called the attorney right away and he told me to try and drive across the border to enter again...

I said "no thank you and you are fired."*

2007/7 - hired NEW attorney and submitted application

2008/11 - approval for I-130 received

2009/4/15 @ 9 am - INTERVIEW!!!

My daughter and I are anxious to return home. She's known my husband as her daddy and has no idea that he's not her biological father. she asks for him everyday and thank goodness for webcam. We just want to be together and I will study hard (forum). I hope to bring you all good news on April 15. If you are believer, please say a prayer for our family!

[Flames9_RN 358]

good ol lawyers,lol Been a fair share of horror lawyer stories on VJ!! We used one---had not found visajourney!! She was ok, but not worth the $2500 plus the filing fees, oh well! I had a good laugh when she contacted us, and said for $1000 she would file the I-751 (which u will do down the road) Took me all of 10 minutes to do,lol

[YYZLAX 0]

Hi flames9 (and all others reading this post),

You are turning out to be my mentor here...

Can you tell me where I can find info on prepping for the interview? It seems that a lot of people here mentioned that they have benefited from tips on organizing documents etc. but I couldn't find anything specific.

I'll keep in mind to file the I-751 myself and I have yet to find out what that is. I can only take a step at a time here it seems and the interview is a HUGE step for us! My husband says I seem more stressed now that we know when our interview date is and it's true. It's less than a month away and he feels it's not soon enough.

good ol lawyers,lol Been a fair share of horror lawyer stories on VJ!! We used one---had not found visajourney!! She was ok, but not worth the $2500 plus the filing fees, oh well! I had a good laugh when she contacted us, and said for $1000 she would file the I-751 (which u will do down the road) Took me all of 10 minutes to do,lol

[trailmix 77]

Hi there,

The I-751 is to remove conditions - if you are applying for a CR1 visa you will have to do this after 2 years - but you mention he has been visiting you in Canada for 22 months. How long have you been married? If it is over 2 years yours will be a IR1 visa and you will be issued a 10 year Green Card.

Most of the threads you see about document organization are for K visas - not CR1/IR1 - because you have already sent all your documents to NVC. You don't really need to provide anything more - there might be a few things to take, like if you only submitted 1 years worth of tax returns to NVC, you might want to have another 2 years with you.

Edited March 22, 2009 by trailmix

[YYZLAX 0]

Hi there,

The I-751 is to remove conditions - if you are applying for a CR1 visa you will have to do this after 2 years - but you mention he has been visiting you in Canada for 22 months. How long have you been married? If it is over 2 years yours will be a IR1 visa and you will be issued a 10 year Green Card.

Most of the threads you see about document organization are for K visas - not CR1/IR1 - because you have already sent all your documents to NVC. You don't really need to provide anything more - there might be a few things to take, like if you only submitted 1 years worth of tax returns to NVC, you might want to have another 2 years with you.

Hi trailmix,

We will be married for 2 years on June 2 of this year so we will be just under 2 years when they mail me my greencard.

We have 2007 and 2008's tax return plus a very recent letter from my husband's employer to verify employment. I also have photos, gmail email & chat logs, join bank account proofs, friend's affidavits, our wedding invitation, his boarding passes & e-ticket from the 10 visits he made since July 2007, etc...

Hope that is sufficient proof!

[Flames9_RN 358]

If u waited until June 2nd to enter the USA and activate the visa, you could then get a 10 yr greencard!! Whats a few more months, that means more tim hortons!! lol

[YYZLAX 0]

If u waited until June 2nd to enter the USA and activate the visa, you could then get a 10 yr greencard!! Whats a few more months, that means more tim hortons!! lol

haha...well...every day seems too long for us so we would rather have the month together than wait until June 2nd for the 10 yr. greencard. We rather deal with whatever paperwork they throw our way than be apart for another month...

With that said, do you know what happens when our 2nd anniversary mark hits? Will they send us more form to fill out? How do we proceed to get the 10 yr. greencard?

Thanks!

[OBX 51]

If u waited until June 2nd to enter the USA and activate the visa, you could then get a 10 yr greencard!! Whats a few more months, that means more tim hortons!! lol

haha...well...every day seems too long for us so we would rather have the month together than wait until June 2nd for the 10 yr. greencard. We rather deal with whatever paperwork they throw our way than be apart for another month...

With that said, do you know what happens when our 2nd anniversary mark hits? Will they send us more form to fill out? How do we proceed to get the 10 yr. greencard?

Thanks!

You would apply to "Remove Conditions" 90 days prior to the two year anniversary of the activation of your visa. The short version is that it involves submitting another form, showing proof that your relationship is valid and of course more $$$.

I'm sure others that have been through that stage will come along wiith more detailed info. Good luck!!

Edited March 22, 2009 by OBX

[Flames9_RN 358]

If u waited until June 2nd to enter the USA and activate the visa, you could then get a 10 yr greencard!! Whats a few more months, that means more tim hortons!! lol

haha...well...every day seems too long for us so we would rather have the month together than wait until June 2nd for the 10 yr. greencard. We rather deal with whatever paperwork they throw our way than be apart for another month...

With that said, do you know what happens when our 2nd anniversary mark hits? Will they send us more form to fill out? How do we proceed to get the 10 yr. greencard?

Thanks!

If you enter the USA prior to ur 2 yr anniversary--ur stuck with the CR-1 visa, which is good for 2 yrs! That 2 yrs starts on the date u enter the USA. Don't worry, on ur greencard, it will have an expiratory date on it. 90 days (not 3 months,lol) prior to that expiry date on the greencard, you can file the I-751, which is super easy to do! And no it does NOT have to be exactly 90 days,lol!! Just NOT before 90 days, and NOT after the expiry date! But thats down the road. But it is easy, but does require more fingerprinting, but in majority of cases no interview, you will then end of up with a 10yr greencard. As well 3 yrs after u enter the USA on the CR-1,you become eligible to apply to be a USA citizen ( well 90 days before that 3 yrs) and no, you dont have to become a USA citizen, or you can do it anytime after 3 yrs, all up to you, and no you don't loose your cdn citizenship!1 blah blah blah!! lol Cheers

Edited March 23, 2009 by flames9