Montreal CR-1 Interview

[homefry 0]

My husband and I just had my CR-1 interview in Montreal. Here’s what happened, in case anyone is curious.

Our appointment was for 8:30 but we arrived at 7:30 and there was already a lineup of 15 people outside the embassy in the freezing cold. After about 10 minutes a guard started letting people in, dividing them into non-immigrant and immigrant applications. There was more waiting inside, then came the security check. We had to take everything out of our pockets and put all bags, coats, scarves, hats and documents on a tray. Just like at the airport. We walked through the metal detector and were given a piece of paper and a ticket stapled to it with the letter “E” (ie we ended up only 5th in line for the immigrant visa group). We got all our stuff back right away, except the cell phone, which they held in a security box.

Next we walked down a flight of stairs into a waiting room. And by the way, there is a passport photo booth there- in case anyone forgot to bring passport photos (not that they even asked for ours…). After only 5 minutes, a man came down and called out letters A to E and we got on an elevator to another waiting room upstairs. By then it was only about 7:45. We waited about 1 hour to be called out by name and then went down a corridor to window 11. A somewhat grumpy lady verified some details about our documents from behind the glass. She asked for the Xpress Post envelope, sealed medical results (but not the xray), and passport. I asked if we could pick up the visa later this week, and she said “no, we only mail them” She took my fingerprints over and over again, but still seemed unhappy with the results. That was part I of the interview.

Then we went back to the waiting room for another hour until we were called for part II. Part II was in a tiny private room, divided by glass. The official was a slim 40-something lady with a professional but kindly manner. She first made us both raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth. Her first question was “How did you meet?” to which I answered, “at church in Vancouver, in 2006”.

She then turned to my husband and asked him what he was doing in Vancouver. There was a bit of confusion because she assumed he had been living in Canada. When I tried to explain that he never lived there, she gently but firmly reminded me not to answer questions directed at my husband. The conversation continued with my husband explaining the situation. She also asked my husband when he proposed to me and seemed impressed that he remembered the exact date. She then asked my husband several questions about his work. Finally, she asked me what I did for work and whether I planned to keep my job in Canada, how often we visit each other, how far it is to visit, and how far it will be to my work in Canada. That was about it. Most of the questions were directed at my husband. She did not ask to see any documents or photos.

Next I had to get my fingerpints re-taken, numerous times again, since they did not seem to be turning out well. While waiting, my husband and I studied my fingers and discovered that they are unusually smooth with hardly any rings. Finally the same lady called us back and said everything was fine and “Welcome to the USA”. I had to sign something and she said the visa would be mailed to us within 2 weeks. At that moment I decided to be bold and ask again whether we could pick up the passport later this week, and to our surprise she agreed! She gave us an orange slip of paper and said to come back the next day at 3PM!!!

The interview was not scary at all, as the official had a really nice manner and seemed genuinely interested in our story. But it does seem somewhat ridiculous that we carried a massive pile of documents including Xpresspost envelope, huge chest XRAY, passport photos, cards addressed to us, a years worth of phone bills, financial documentation, over 150 photos of our life together, and copies of everything else we’d sent to the NVC, all the way from Vancouver and did not have to show any of it. Better safe than sorry I guess.

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Congratulations!

[slider100 8]

Congratulations!!!

[mstangie 0]

How long did you have to wait for an interview homefry?

[Avery 0]

Woo Hoo! Way to Go and congratulations!!! =D Very nice review! And always always better safe than sorry with this haha!

[trailmix 77]

Congratulations

[wmtc 0]

Congratzz!!!!!

Edited December 22, 2009 by wmtc

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Big congrats to you! And thanks for the helpful review.

Good to hear that there's another person doing the CR-1 interviews now -- the last several VJ CR-1 interviews seem to been done by the same male CO.

[kballtex 0]

Awesome! Hope ours goes that smoothly.

[lgg 2]

Congratulations! I dunno why, reading your review made me a little nervous... I get all stuttery and tongue-tied when I'm nervous!

Great review, now I will at least prepare myself accordingly.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Congratulations! I dunno why, reading your review made me a little nervous... I get all stuttery and tongue-tied when I'm nervous!

Great review, now I will at least prepare myself accordingly.

I would imagine that they expect some nervousness in most people... It's typically quite a nerve-wracking situation!

I'd only worry if the CO puts on a Miss Piggy costume and makes amorous overtures.

Edited December 22, 2009 by Wyatt's Torch

[lonie 0]

Congrats!

[Revenesque 2]

Thanks for the review! Congratulations!

[Dan and Ali 3]

Wow -- I'm so glad to hear your interview went so well! At least you were prepared, even if they didn't ask you for any of it

Congrats!

[bankermai 1]

Congratulations!!!