My Interview at the Montreal Consulate

[La Souris 19]

Here is a summary of what happened during my interview.

We were the first in line at 7 am. The door opened at 7:30 and the couple behind us with their (super cute) baby went in first, then us. So we had letter B. They also gave us a letter describing how the interview would take place (see it here: front and back).

Security, elevator, a little wait and I was called to the first window.

Gave her the documents as requested in the appointment letter (we did the Electronic Processing):

• Passport (+copy)
  
• Pictures
  
• Medical results (without the X-Ray CD)
  
• Marriage certificate (+copy)
  
• Birth certificate and its translation (+copy)
  
• DS-230
  
• I-864 and financial evidence (+copy of the evidence)
  
• Xpresspost Envelope
  

She insisted she had to write my name with my husband's family name - even though I'll never use that name. Kind of weird, but whatever.

She then took my fingerprints - ok, now you can laugh at me but I was too short to put my thumbs correctly on the reader so I had to stand on my tippy toes.

Back to the waiting room for a few minutes. Enjoyed the view (I could see my neighbourhood and different places where I used to work). Brought crosswords... but my brain was off and the wait was short.

I was called to the interview room. After swearing that we would say the truth, the officer asked us the following questions:

- What do you do for a living? (to both of us - my husband does something rare so he then asked him how he came to that field).

- How /When did we meet?

- If my husband was honouring me by learning French - my husband said a few words in French - it was getting funny.

- If, in return, I was learning Bostonian and could say something - I said "Chowdah" (with the right accent!) and we all laughed.

- Then, he asked me who translated my Birth Certificate - I used a certified translator (member of the OTTIAQ and all) who's also a public notary --- however, the stamp she used was not an embossed seal and he was curious about that. I showed him her business card where her certification was listed and that was ok. However, I would strongly recommend that anyone who has to get documents translated get the copies embossed with a seal no matter what is written on the NVC website - I used a certified translator and nearly had to redo it just because of that.

- He asked me if I was ready to move to the USA and I told him as soon as I get the visa. He then said: "Let's take care of that!" and gave me the Welcome to the USA letter (you can read it here). [our faces then: :D ]

We were out of the consulate at 8:55 and the line of people was getting real long - so it's a good idea to be there early if you can.

-----

Things we brought but were not asked about: current income evidence (2009 W2, taxes, recent paystubs), pictures, foreign passport (I hold another one in addition to the Canadian one), previous Canadian passports (with stamps of time spent in other countries to show I was never there long enough to have to get a police certificate), husband's birth certificate.

-----

Thanks again for your help

[slider100 8]

Woohoo, Congratulations!!!

KnR

[zenaxe 22]

Here is a summary of what happened during my interview.

We were the first in line at 7 am. The door opened at 7:30 and the couple behind us with their (super cute) baby went in first, then us. So we had letter B. They also gave us a letter describing how the interview would take place (see it here: front and back).

Security, elevator, a little wait and I was called to the first window.

Gave her the documents as requested in the appointment letter (we did the Electronic Processing):

• Passport (+copy)
  
• Pictures
  
• Medical results (without the X-Ray CD)
  
• Marriage certificate (+copy)
  
• Birth certificate and its translation (+copy)
  
• DS-230
  
• I-864 and financial evidence (+copy of the evidence)
  
• Xpresspost Envelope
  

She insisted she had to write my name with my husband's family name - even though I'll never use that name. Kind of weird, but whatever.

She then took my fingerprints - ok, now you can laugh at me but I was too short to put my thumbs correctly on the reader so I had to stand on my tippy toes.

Back to the waiting room for a few minutes. Enjoyed the view (I could see my neighbourhood and different places where I used to work). Brought crosswords... but my brain was off and the wait was short.

I was called to the interview room. After swearing that we would say the truth, the officer asked us the following questions:

- What do you do for a living? (to both of us - my husband does something rare so he then asked him how he came to that field).

- How /When did we meet?

- If my husband was honouring me by learning French - my husband said a few words in French - it was getting funny.

- If, in return, I was learning Bostonian and could say something - I said "Chowdah" (with the right accent!) and we all laughed.

- Then, he asked me who translated my Birth Certificate - I used a certified translator (member of the OTTIAQ and all) who's also a public notary --- however, the stamp she used was not an embossed seal and he was curious about that. I showed him her business card where her certification was listed and that was ok. However, I would strongly recommend that anyone who has to get documents translated get the copies embossed with a seal no matter what is written on the NVC website - I used a certified translator and nearly had to redo it just because of that.

- He asked me if I was ready to move to the USA and I told him as soon as I get the visa. He then said: "Let's take care of that!" and gave me the Welcome to the USA letter (you can read it here). [our faces then: :D ]

We were out of the consulate at 8:55 and the line of people was getting real long - so it's a good idea to be there early if you can.

-----

Things we brought but were not asked about: current income evidence (2009 W2, taxes, recent paystubs), pictures, foreign passport (I hold another one in addition to the Canadian one), previous Canadian passports (with stamps of time spent in other countries to show I was never there long enough to have to get a police certificate), husband's birth certificate.

-----

Thanks again for your help

Hey, way to go !! Good stuff - congratulations !! Thanks for the review, everyone I read puts me there so they are quite helpful. I also appreciated reading the letter front and back.

Take care and best of luck.

Edited March 25, 2010 by zenaxe

[mikey78 6]

Congrats!

[Bern. 3]

Yay! I'm so happy for you La Souris. I hope my interview on friday goes as smoothly...I leave for Montreal tomorrow.

So basically, they only asked for what you should have sent for NVC?? No additional financial stuff? That's mostly what I'm worried about. The army will drive me mental. XD

I hope you get your visa soon, well you should...you're from Montreal ;O

[Tim and Erin 3]

Congratulations!

Every time I read someone's interview review, it makes me more excited about my own future happiness.

Thanks for showing us the example of the interview letter and "Welcome to U.S.A" letter. I'm sure we all appreciate the gesture.

Good luck to you and your spouse.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations - and great information in your review - I know that will help others!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Congrats on the approval!

The AOS "Welcome to America!" letters are totally different! That's news to me.

[Kimbear 53]

Congrats La Souris!!! way to go!

[sdhiman 0]

Congratulations!!! Glad to know everything went so well

[OBX 51]

Great review. Congratulations!

[lgg 2]

Felicitations, Little Mouse! SO good to read this and can't wait to read about the rest of your journey!

Great, news!

LGG

[sdw 10]

Congrats

[Leafgal 3]

Nice review, always great to hear. Congrats.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Congrats!!