May 19, 2008 CR1 Interview!

[Moosker 7]

Sorry in advance for the long post, I just want to give details, and I know from reading other people’s posts that they really, really helped me in my journey!

I left Monday morning, picked up A&M in Toronto, arriving in Montreal at around dinner time. We unpacked ourselves at the Delta Montreal hotel and took a walk to see where the embassy was located, so we’d be prepared the next morning! It really was about a 7 minute, very easy walk from our hotel. (I definitely recommend staying there! Cheap, and probably the comfiest bed I’ve slept in at a hotel!) On to the important stuff…

Tuesday morning I woke up at 5:45 a.m., and A&M and I left the hotel at 6:17 a.m. to walk down to the embassy. After a short walk, we were in front of the embassy and waited, and waited, and waited. I was first in line! Others didn’t start showing up until around 7:00 a.m., if not later. A few minutes before 7:30 a guard unlocked the door, and waved his hand for us all to move over to the left door so he could open the right door. (I’ll write fewer details for my actual embassy review, but there’s certain details that just made me laugh, so I’m going to write about them!) There was a lady in line with a sleeping baby in her arms, and a little 3 year old clinging to her leg. In a very thick accent she asked me if she could go ahead of me. In my head I’m thinking (are you kidding me? Were you here for 45 minutes waiting in the freezing cold?) But she had kids, so I said yes When the guard opened the door, he asked “Who was here first” (which I appreciated) and the lady pointed to me, but mentioned I said I would let her go ahead, which I nodded to. He asked her for her appointment letter. She looked around and realizing holding her baby that she couldn’t get her letter so she asked if someone could hold her child. I looked around, smiled, and said “sure!” Poor kid wakes up and looks at me funny….on that note, the lady didn’t have an interview, didn’t know what was going on, and was asked to go to the side until we were all let in.

Ok on to my actual review! Guard asked me for my interview letter & my passport, checked it out, and told me to go to the next guards and they’ll tell me what to do. I’m the only one going through security, guard tells me to put my bags through the scanner (like at the airport), take everything out of my pockets and put them in the little tray, along with my belt. Sadly, all I had was a bobby pin for my hair in my jacket, and I thought to leave it in, but then realized, better be safe than sorry! I laid my little hair pin in the box and he sent it through the scanner! Too funny. He asks if I have any electronics, no, okay “go downstairs, sit down, and wait for the next security guard to take you upstairs” (...as he handed me my bobby hair pin).

I walked down a large flight of stairs to a room with a low ceiling. They have a booth there like in the malls that you can take passport photos for no more than $5 incase you forgot. I waited around 10-15 minutes and by then there are a few more people with letters B, C, D, and E with me (I had A). The guard asked for us all to follow him into the elevator. I love visa journey for all the little tidbits of information I’ve received. I read that you leave the elevator opposite of the end you came in. So I stood facing everyone, who obviously turned around looking at the door they came in. I laughed to myself, because only the security guard and I were facing the right door!

We were told to sit down and wait to be called, and he took our papers that we brought with us, clipped with our plastic letter (passport included). They either call you by your name or by your letter (so don’t forget which letter you’re given!) I really don’t know what time everything happened, but after waiting for around 10 minutes I was called to #9 and it was at a 'bank' looking window. It has glass, you hear the immigration person through speakers and they probably hear you the same way. Standing at the counter, he could only see from my mid-stomach up. There’s also a little area to slide your things to him when he asks for it.

It’s been a few days, but here’s what I gave him, and he asked for from what I can remember. Two passport pictures, express post envelope, asked me to verify all the addresses on the DS-230 to make sure everything looked okay, asked for 2008 taxes my husband filed, I mentioned our co-sponsor (father in law) and he said he’d take a look at those as well. He did a quick glance over them and put them in my huge folder. He did a little small talk about what my husband does (finishing school & has a part time job). He did keep trying to trip me up though, continuously asking what my husband does full time. Almost thinking I was lying? Well I wasn’t, so everything was good. Asked if I have ever had a problem crossing the border, no, okay good, I’ll call you back here for fingerprints in a bit.

Back down I sat in the big waiting room. Talked to a very nice lady & her son from Vancouver, B.C. (I can’t believe they don’t do CR1 interviews in Vancouver! She had to fly all the way to Montreal.) After probably another 15-20 minutes I was called back to the same window to do my fingerprints, which is this little box that digitally takes your prints, a quick 5 minutes process. Back to the waiting room I went!

After a good 20 minutes (maybe longer) I was called to room 8, looks like you’re walking into a closet, literally after opening the door, it’s the tiniest room ever, and another ‘bank’ looking system with the glass, speakers, and a little area to hand her things through. She was a very nice lady with pretty pink nails and some smelly perfume Her computer was taking forever so a little awkward silence happened and she eventually generated a fingerprint, and I put down my left thumb to verify it was me. I took the oath, swearing that everything that I would say and that is in my files in true. She asked how we met, specifically what day we got married, what he does, where I went to school, what I went to school for, asked if I plan on working when I get there (oh yes), and what I hope to do for work, she asked a few more questions that I really can’t remember (sorry!) and then said “well, everything looks good” (I don’t think I really clued in) and she handed me a paper that says “Welcome to the United States of America”. She gave me back my original documents (certified marriage certificate, certified birth certificate). She informed me I’d get my passport/package in the mail in about a week, and it’ll tell me all the information I need to know. Then she smiled and I smiled…and then I was confused! So I said “so I leave the same way I came in?” She said yes. I just thought, okay the last thing I want to do is leave and I wasn’t supposed to! Better to double check…just so all you vj’ers know, when you get that welcome to America paper, you’re allowed to leave!

I walked quickly back to the hotel, and I was so excited I totally over passed where I was supposed to turn, but got back to our room at 9:30 a.m.

Now, as of this morning (Friday) I received my passport in the mail, along with a heavy manila enveloped all taped up saying “do not open”. There were a few papers telling you about moving to the U.S. and what to expect, about your social security card, etc. Just walks you through some questions people probably have.

If you’re nervous for your interview, DON’T BE! It was so relaxing, all the people working at the embassy are pretty cordial if you know your stuff, and have the things they ask for. They smile at you, joke around a little bit, and probably know it’s a stressful journey for a lot of us. Just relax, it’s definitely overrated!

Good luck to everyone else with interviews, you’ll do great!

[minnew 4]

Congratulations on receiving your Visa! Great review! Oh and don't you mean May 19, 2009?..not 2008.

[Moosker 7]

Oops! I'll change that....silly me!

Ok, I can't change my typo...May 19, 2009 I meant! Sorry!

[It's me 1]

great news!

[gixbr 0]

Great review, thanks for all the info Congratulations!!

[OBX 51]

Great review and congratulations

[redglasses 1]

Congrats!

[sdw 10]

Congrats

[W H C 0]

congrats.

[maritoni 3]

Congratulations!

[Eca y Bubu 0]

Congratulations!!! and thanks for the info

[M_n_M 1]

First off, congratulations!! Our interview was on the same day and we were both approved! I totally agree about the interview itself not being as stressful as we all think it to be. Before the interview I was FREAKING OUT. But when the interviewer started really asking questions, they were easy, and not stressful questions. (I was SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO overprepared with documents and things that she didn't ask to see at all--but it was far better being overprepared than underprepared.) Of the documents I took, all she asked to see were pictures (and I really think it was because she liked looking at the pictures...lol.)

Good luck to everyone else waiting... I pray for the best!

[AddyG 0]

Nice review Moosker! Glad we could go through this step together. The only thing anyone has to be worried about is the computers being slow and the fingerprint scanner not working!! I was the first in line the next day and my process took 2 hrs longer than Moosker's! It really is an easy and relaxed process though! Nothing to fear unless you have some crazy wierd circumstances!

[GheTToJaTTi 0]

congrats