CR1/IR1 interviews in Montreal this week

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

hi wyatt .

can u send me the link for the list please

Here is Sdhiman's review, copied and pasted from the Review Section of the website (which is located on the top right hand of the page -- above the forum info):

I hope people find this review useful, especially the ones doing Electronic Processing since its still new thing in Montreal!

Wait outside the Consulate: We got to the Consulate around 7 AM and didnt expect to be the first in line! There were 3 people already in line and soon after the line started to grow long pretty quickly. The light inside the consulate turned ON around 7:20 am which gave us some hope that soon the doors will open! It wasnt good weather to be waiting outside but anyways around 7:30 am the guard opened the door and asked everyone to move to the left side to line up. We already knew which side the line forms so we were on the right side (left) to begin with!! The guard looked at the interview letter and let us in.

Security: When inside, you have to go through security and again they confirm to make sure your name is on the list of people to be interviewed that day. The security guy had me scared for a bit because he couldnt find my name at first!

Waiting Room: After you go through security, you go downstairs and wait for the guard to come take you to the 19th floor. We got letter "C" because the woman ahead of us did not bring her dependants to the interview. I felt bad for her since she seemed surprised when the guard outside asked her about dependants. Back to waiting area, there is a picture booth for people who forgot to bring pictures. After waiting for a few minutes, the guard asked people with letters A, B, C, D and E to follow him to the elevator and took us to the 19th floor. We were asked to sit down in the far right hand corner of the room.

Document Collection: After waiting for a little bit, we were called to window #10. The woman there was VERY pleasant and had me give her the following in order:

1 - Medical Report (without the X-Ray)

2 - Express Post Envelope (she was so nice that she reminded me to note down the tracking number which I had already done!)

3 - Original DS-230

4 - Original and photocopy of Marriage Certificate

5 - Original PCC

6 - Original and photocopy of my Birth Certificate

7 - Photocopy of my passport biographic page (I couldnt find it at first so she told me not to worry and that she will make a copy herself)

8 - Financial documents (I-864 + Tax Return + Employment letter + Paystubs) ** She didnt specifically asked for anything, just asked me for financial documents

9- Pictures

She had a copy of all documents I sent in during NVC stage and entered the information on her computer. Then she asked me to do fingerprints and confirmed everything was allright. We were asked to go back in the waiting room and wait to be called for interview. I noticed that since we did EP, this first document collection/entering information on computer took longer than other people but then we did everything including fingerprinting in 1 time and didnt have to go twice.

Back to waiting room: It was 8:45 am and they just called letter "A" yet so I was expecting my call to be around 9:15 but before letter "B", they called us to the interview room #7. I still dont understand why they called "C" before "B"

Interview Room: It was a small room, we were asked to place our documents folder, purse etc on the chair sitting in the room on the left hand side. The interviwer was a really nice woman with a very warm smile. She asked me if I wanted my husband to be in waiting area or to be here with me in interview room. Ofcourse I wanted him to be there so then she asked us to raise the right hand and take the oath. After that she asked us the following questions:

- What do you do? (My husband)

- When did you propose (My husband and then asked me to confirm if that was "about" right?)

- How did you guys meet? (Me)

- Do you have health insurance (My husband)

Then she said, "Welcome to USA" and I said outloud, "that's it"??!! She laughed & said yes you are done and yes she knows its a long wait but its all done now! My husband told her that I was worried and nervous but even he didnt expect it to be such a short interview!

I asked her if I can pick up the visa in person but I was told it will be mailed and the max time for me to get it is 2 weeks. She said she knows I will get it before but she always says 2 weeks. We collected our documents and left the room. I could not believe that we were done so quickly!! We left the consulate and were back in the hotel by 9:20 AM.

This was a wonderful experience and everyone at the consulate did their best to make us feel comfortable! Now the wait for visa begins!!!

[lonie 0]

Congrats!!

[Malrothien 6]

Wonderful review, Sd! I think I'm kinda glad now that we didn't do EP, LOL.

[sdhiman 0]

Mal...you will be allright! Your interview is in 3 days...do you feel the excitement/nervousness yet?

This is so exicting....I see movement on my package!!

2010/02/26 09:57 MONTRÉAL Item accepted at the Post Office

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Mal...you will be allright! Your interview is in 3 days...do you feel the excitement/nervousness yet?

This is so exicting....I see movement on my package!!

2010/02/26 09:57 MONTRÉAL Item accepted at the Post Office

Whee! How will you be doing your POE? Flying or driving?

[sdhiman 0]

Whee! How will you be doing your POE? Flying or driving?

Driving....March 13 or 14th....cant wait :) My husband is driving up here to pick me up. We are going to make a road trip out of it, visiting family on the way!

[Malrothien 6]

Mal...you will be allright! Your interview is in 3 days...do you feel the excitement/nervousness yet?

This is so exicting....I see movement on my package!!

2010/02/26 09:57 MONTRÉAL Item accepted at the Post Office

Thanks, Sd! I am definitely nervous, yet excited - I'm not worried about proving our relationship since we've lived together, I immigrated to Canada 4 years ago and passed that test. I am only worried about the domicile stuff, but as I've posted before, the folder is 2 inches thick with proof of my being here and what I have done since last month.

I can't believe they have already sent your package out! That is AWESOME!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Driving....March 13 or 14th....cant wait :) My husband is driving up here to pick me up. We are going to make a road trip out of it, visiting family on the way!

Awww. That sounds fun!

Part of me wishes that my wife could join me on my cross-country trek, but then I think about how most of the trip would likely consist of, "Honey...you should pass that guy. Okay...now speed up in the outside lane there. Okay, good. Baby? I have to go to the bathroom, can you take the next exit? Honey, you're going too fast. Babe? Can we stop for a snack? Shouldn't you have taken that turn? Sweetie, are you listening?"

[andyw1 0]

Hi All,

Posted my review, but here is copy:

We got to the Consulate around 6:45 AM and were second in line (I think FIFO was there first) and we all huddled under the doorstep to keep out of the snow. People started arriving around 7pm started lining up on both sides of the door. When the guards opened up at about 7:30, everyone had to move to left hand side of the door (as you look at it). The guards were very friendly, but only allowing a couple of people to go through the door at a time. As we went in, we had to show invitation letter and passport. Once inside the security area, they check our names against a list and gave us a letter, first couple got a A, we got a B. (you have to put your stuff through the x-ray and you walk through a metal detector).

We went down to a small waiting room, with a photo-booth incase you’ve forgotten your pictures (only 4$ for four) and waited for another security guard to come. After about 5 minutes, the room had filled up, and people with letter A, B, C, D, E were invited to go with the guard in the lift. This seemed to be a very slow lift, but it takes you to the 19th floor (great views of a snow covered Montreal) and were directed to sit and wait till we were called. I think that we were sitting down ~ 7:50

There were 3 parts to the interview: Document review, finger printing and interview.

Document Review: After waiting for a little bit, we were called to window #11. The guy was pleasant and friendly, but told me to relax (because I wasn’t laughing at his jokes and I was nervous. I handed in

1 - Express Post Envelope

2 - Medical Report (without the X-Ray)

3 - Pictures

4 – Original and translation of my Birth Certificate (which he copied for me as I’d forgotten to bring additional copies)

5 – He asked for updated financial information including 2009 W2 (he commented that he was impressed we’d started doing our taxes – which we hadn’t, just had the W2)

6 – I gave him an updated copy of the DS230 and I864 since things had changed since we first submitted.

He asked a couple of questions, name of father and mother and places I had lived and compared it to information on the forms. After that we went back to the waiting room (~8:20) while he reviewed the docs

Letter A were called up to do finger prints and then shortly after we were called. Nothing to that, putting left hand fingers on the pad, then right hand, and then the two thumbs. Takes about 2 minutes and then it’s back to the waiting room.

At about 8:45 they called letter "A" and then shortly after letter “C”. We were called up just after letter “A” had left.

The interview room is very small, with a low chair, useful for putting your documents on, but not for sitting and talking with the interviewer (it’s like going to the bank). The interviewer was a nice guy and was really friendly and put you at ease. We both raised our right hand and took the oath. After that he asked us:

- What did you meet?

- What did we do

- Do we have kids

He then went through the file and gave me my originals back. Then he reached down and pulled out a paper and said, "Welcome to USA" and told us that we would get paperwork in the mail and then should just cross the border. The actually green card would be triggered at that point and mailed to the address in the US. I asked if I could stay and pick up the visa but he said no, that it would be mailed and I should get it early next week. After that we left and headed back to the hotel, back there at 9:30.

The staff at the consulate did their best to make us (me, I was nervous) feel comfortable and the whole experience was very easy.

[sdhiman 0]

Awww. That sounds fun!

Part of me wishes that my wife could join me on my cross-country trek, but then I think about how most of the trip would likely consist of, "Honey...you should pass that guy. Okay...now speed up in the outside lane there. Okay, good. Baby? I have to go to the bathroom, can you take the next exit? Honey, you're going too fast. Babe? Can we stop for a snack? Shouldn't you have taken that turn? Sweetie, are you listening?"

I can so relate to that so I let my husband handle the driving part and I handle the talking part I cannot even describe how relieved I feel now that interview is over. It feels like a HUGE burden has been lifted off my shoulders. You all will feel the same way once you are done.

Now it would have been perfect if I can take some time off from work to move but it doesnt seem that way. We will be driving over the weekend and both will be back to work Monday morning. That will be interesting as well!!

[sdhiman 0]

Andy...you were letter B? So you were the one who responded to the guy who didnt know about the Expresspost envelope.

I read your review but I didnt think you were nervous at all..I remember telling my hubby that everyone is so calm & I seem to be the only one feeling so anxious!!

Thanks, Sd! I am definitely nervous, yet excited - I'm not worried about proving our relationship since we've lived together, I immigrated to Canada 4 years ago and passed that test. I am only worried about the domicile stuff, but as I've posted before, the folder is 2 inches thick with proof of my being here and what I have done since last month.

I can't believe they have already sent your package out! That is AWESOME!

Good Luck Mal...Fingers crossed for you....will wait for your approval and review

[Kimbear 53]

Grats sdhiman and andy! I'm sure the others this week will do fine! Good luck to you guys!

[Pauley 2]

Awww. That sounds fun!

Part of me wishes that my wife could join me on my cross-country trek, but then I think about how most of the trip would likely consist of, "Honey...you should pass that guy. Okay...now speed up in the outside lane there. Okay, good. Baby? I have to go to the bathroom, can you take the next exit? Honey, you're going too fast. Babe? Can we stop for a snack? Shouldn't you have taken that turn? Sweetie, are you listening?"

"Honey, why are you slowing down? You'd like to stand over here on the curb? Wait, why are you driving away? Can I have my luggage back? Sweetie? Hello?"

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

"Honey, why are you slowing down? You'd like to stand over here on the curb? Wait, why are you driving away? Can I have my luggage back? Sweetie? Hello?"

Haha. I was SO going to go there in my post, too...

[Malrothien 6]

Sd, thanks. I don't know how much of a review I'll be able to give since it's my husband who is going. But I will let you all know as soon as I do!