Good luck to all the Canadians with interviews this week!

[Married2009 32]

Sorry for the wait everyone! After our approval yesterday that took forever the hubby and I went for lunch and a bit of shopping and then celebrated with his family that night, so no time to get on the computer.

I'll write up a full review in a bit, but we didn't get out of there (after having to go back with the Expresspost Envelope) until almost noon, so it really took forever.

Wyatt, thanks for fillin everyone in. I appreciate it!

No worries! I was just concerned, worried you had run into problems . . . Grats! I am happy for you!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations everyone on the approvals - and good luck to all who are yet to come this week. We're rooting for you!

[Allie 5]

Good luck to everybody with their interviews. Don't sweat it, the interview is the easiest part of this whole journey

[trailmix 77]

Sorry for the wait everyone! After our approval yesterday that took forever the hubby and I went for lunch and a bit of shopping and then celebrated with his family that night, so no time to get on the computer.

I'll write up a full review in a bit, but we didn't get out of there (after having to go back with the Expresspost Envelope) until almost noon, so it really took forever.

Wyatt, thanks for fillin everyone in. I appreciate it!

congrats red!

[ZansGirl 0]

Actually, Le Dauphin isn't considered a cheap hotel. It's actually ranked as one of the better ones in the downtown core. I still wish I could have just had a Motel 6 for $60 or something, but c'est la vie, as the French say.

I was surprised to learn that there are no shuttles to Le Dauphin though. I was also wondering if I could just surreptitiously jump on a shuttle for a hotel that's near Le Dauphin...but I bet they'd check your hotel reservation first.

I suppose I could take public transit to the nearest Metro station then go from there. Hmm... Yes, I'm thinking as I type. So sue me.

From my research...

The only hotels with free airport shuttles..are the hotels NEAR the airport. The two cheapest options is the Areobus which takes you pretty close to your hotel, and then you can transfer to another shuttle that will take you to the actual hotels' front door, but they are like every 30 minutes or something like that... and run you about $26.00 return and remember, you need to RESERVE a seat..

Public transport i really not that hard..you cat the Cardinal at the airport..transfer to the 211 at the transfer station and that taks you to the Metro where you catch the orange line to Victoria Square. All for 2.50 but you NEED to hold on to the transfer card as that will work on the second bus as well as the metro. In all with transfers and waiting for the bus and metro..we got to the Dauphin 65 minutes later and that included the walk from Victoria Square.

I Googled public transport from the Airport to the Hotel and printed that out. The drivers ands even the passengers were all very helpful and pleasant.

[darkchilde794 5]

Congrats to everyone who has gotten approved!!! And good luck to those who still have to interview!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

From my research...

The only hotels with free airport shuttles..are the hotels NEAR the airport. The two cheapest options is the Areobus which takes you pretty close to your hotel, and then you can transfer to another shuttle that will take you to the actual hotels' front door, but they are like every 30 minutes or something like that... and run you about $26.00 return and remember, you need to RESERVE a seat..

Ooh. I missed the part where one has to RESERVE a seat on the Aerobus... Hmm...

I'll have to look into that then.

[redmen99 1]

My review is in the Review section but I'll post it here:

We arrived at the Consulate around 6:45ish and we were 4th in line. As it got closer to 7 - 7:15 more and more people lined up. The guard started to let us in around 7:30. At the security check we had to empty our pockets, take off any belts, coats, etc. Any electronic devices had to be checked in. The guard made a comment about hubby's car.. Mazda 3...good car... LOL We were given letter D.

We got through security and waited downstairs for the elevator. A few minutes later a security guard came and took us to the 19th floor. The elevator feels like it doesn't move at all and then you end up on the 19th floor. We were told to wait in the area to the right. After a few minutes more people came up, but they were for the other side and whatever they do over there. That side was extremely busy and they used the same people that you have to go to for your CR-1 Visa.

We were the only ones that electronically filed out of the group of 5 cases that was there for the day. We were the last ones called back for the document review at about 9:00 or so. They asked us for the original and copies of: birth certificate (long form)and I gave them the translation we had since his birth cert is in French, his divorce certificate, our marriage certificate, the DS-230, the financial documentation, the police report, the medical results, and the pictures. They reviewed the DS-230 with him and made sure all the info was correct. They changed what was needed like his age since his birthday was last week and little stuff here and there. They fingerprinted him and that was it. It felt like it took forever because I was so nervous that I couldn't find anything that she asked us for even though it was all in good order. My hubby just kept saying relax, breathe, you have the info in there, just take your time and find it. We didn't have the expresspost envelope (long story - but something to note the pharmacy that has a Canada Post in it does not open until 8am.) but it was not a problem. I told the woman that was taking our info that we didn't have the envelope, she said no problem, you can get it after the interview and bring it back.

We made it back to the waiting room and by 10:00 am everyone was interviewed and approved except for us. We kept an eye on interview room 7 as that was where everyone was called for their interview. It seemed like they did a CR-1 visa, then next in line was whatever they were doing on the other side and down the line. We waited about an hour before we were called back for our interview.

We walked into Room 7 and the woman asked if my hubby was ok with this pretty lady with him and he said of course. She swore us in and asked us:

When we met.

How we met.

When we got engaged.

If I had insurance in the States.

She asked for updated financials, so I gave her my info for 2009.

And that was about it. She said she needed to go copy my updated financials, but before she went she said she was satisfied with the info we gave them and gave us the Welcome to the US letter.

She then gave me back my originals that I a few seconds later forgot she gave us so when I asked her for them she said I gave them to you a little forcefully, but I deserved it for saying no you didn't. Whoops! She then gave me a sheet of paper with the info on what window to go back to and where to go for the envelope, she also gave me a card to get back into the consulate. She said to read it in the waiting area, and I said but it doesn't say where I need to go, she said yes it does, read it! Yep, I deserved that snippyness too.

The guy behind the Canadian Post counter was a great help, he must see this all the time. He made sure you kept a sticker of the tracking info and made sure you filled it out properly. SO, back to the consulate we go. He went to the car to grab our cell phones and things and I ran back up to the 19th floor. I had a wait a bit before someone saw me at the window, they asked me to sit down then someone finally came to take the envelope.

By the time we got out of there for the day it was close to 11:45. I'm guessing because we were Electronic Processing that it took longer then mailing everything in and because the other side was busy we had to wait our place in line. All in all a good experience and we were approved so now we just wait for the big move!

***all times approximate as I didn't have a watch***

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Great review! Thanks a lot for that.

[TimandJoyce 1]

Congrats to all those approvals!!! Yay...

I'm sure we'll be hearing more great news soon...can't wait!

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Congratulations to the people that passed and good luck to the rest of you!

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

So there's Mike777 tomorrow and then...wow...little old me!

Pretty exciting.

[Bern. 3]

Good luck everyone! And Wyatt, I expect a nice retailed review from you !!

[Allie 5]

Congrats to all that are getting approvals

Good luck on Thurs. Wyatt It'll be a breeze

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Good luck everyone! And Wyatt, I expect a nice retailed review from you !!

Yeah, I tend to go a little overboard with details, don't I?