SO SORRY! Belated Consulate Review!

[Blitz 3]

Oh my goodness, I feel terrible - here I was on this forum almost daily up until my interview and then when I get approved, I haven't been on at all. I sincerely apologize, I should've posted my review MUCH sooner. First and foremost, THANK YOU to everyone who has helped along this "journey" - Trailmix, Wyatt's Torch, and everyone else - so many of you were great at answering questions, I can't possibly list all of you! I think it's so honourable how many of you still come on here to help others even long after you have been approved and moved to the US.

Here's my review that I started in the airport on the way home, but never finished. I'd use packing and having a newborn (sleepless nights) as my excuse, but I know we're all busy. I'm just so glad it's finally my turn to write one, not just read them! And I might give Wyatt a run for his money because I tend to ramble!

5:30 a.m. alarm went off (couldn't fall asleep until about 3:30 a.m. though). Took the Metro from my hotel (near Barri-UQAM) to Station Place Des-Arts and had about a 5 min walk from there. I stayed at a cute little botique-like hotel (found on hotwire.com for $49/night) and although it wasn't walking distance from the consulate, it was close to everything else and absolutely perfect for what I needed for 4 nights (relatively clean, nice duvet, good pillows - I always bring my own pillowcase - flat screen TV, modern decor, the guy who worked there most of the time was very nice and helpful). I would definitely recommend it. IMO, the metro in Montreal is super easy, so it was no biggie that I had to take it to the consualte.

6:15 approx - arrived at the consulate. I didn't get a chance to scope it out first, and it was still relatively dark when I first got there, so I actually walked right past it a couple times. I was surprised about it's location - seems hidden in a back alley. I noticed the yellow posts though, and lined up on that side. I was shocked that I was the first one there (I'm not usually ways on time for things, let alone the first to arrive!), so I went to get a coffee and breakfast sandwich at the shop on the corner. Came back a few minutes later, and still nobody there. Prob about 6:30 or so, a girl walks up and gets in line behind me. She's from Montreal, there to get her K-1 visa so she could join her fiance in Nashville. She was super cool, so we chatted a bit and the time passed quickly. Then another guy came about 5 min after her. And not long after that Pauly and his wife showed up.

Pauly might be able to say when the doors opened - I didn't have a watch and wasn't really paying attention to the time.

The security guards opened the door and asked for my letter and passport. Went though security. I was pleasantly surprised that they did have a place to leave any belongings that weren't allowed inside - but I'm not sure if there are exceptions to what you can and can't leave. I only had a drink.

I went downstairs first and was soon joined by a few more (Montreal girl, Pauly, etc) and waited with the security guy called us to go up the elevator (A-E, I think) to go up the elevator. Totally stoked I had letter A!

Soon after arriving upstairs - you guys weren't kidding - what a beautiful view of the city! Too bad I was too nervous and focused on the interview to really care to enjoy it!

I was called to a window and the nice, blonde lady asked for my passport, Xpress Envelope, and then asked me to sign the DS-230. I told her there had been some changes to the DS-230 since I submitted it so we went through it and she circled the places I needed to change/add something (i.e. adding the birth of my son on Feb 1, and changing the answer to "yes" where it asks if you have ever been denied at the border because I was denied AFTER I had sent in that form to NVC). That was all no problem.

She took my finger prints and then told me to go sit down and wait to be called again. I thought she was supposed to take my medical too, so I asked her about that and she said something like "oh yeah, I would've had to call you back for that". She gave me back the DVD that Dr. Seiban's office put my chest x-ray on, and told me that I might want to have it to give to a doctor in the States.

Then it was sitting and waiting some more. I would say about 8:30 a.m. I was called to one of the rooms. Oh man, was I nervous!!! I have a heart arrythmia and was certain it would start racing like crazy, but I kept telling myself - this is not life or death, worst case scenario is that I'm denied and my husband will have to move back to Canada! And we both love Canada.

When I walked in the little room, I immediately thought the officer looked like Connan O'brian (s?). Anyone else have him? He was very nice - asked me to put my stuff on the chair, hang up my coat, etc. I was releived that he was so nice, but I still felt intimidated by him...for obvious reasons, but also because he had this look that he would be nice, but would't hesitate to pounce if he smelled something fishy.

I did feel like he grilled me more than I expected. It's kinda a blurr now, but I believe these are most of the questions he asked as he flipped through my stuff:

1. When did you meet?

2. Where did you meet?

3. What year did you get married? Then he looked at my marriage certificate and goes "Hmmm, that's interesting, I've never seen one like this before". The certificate he had (as submitted and approved by NVC) was THE original one I received from the marriage commissioner - with her original signature, so I didn't think it could get any better than that. But luckily, I had ordered another one from Vital Statistics. Ironically, after I ordered it, I was sorta kicking myself - thinking it was a waste of money, but it turned out to be a good thing to have. So I told him I had another one, he looked it over and was satisfied.

4. Where is your husband now? I told him he was back in Alberta with "my kids" and he goes "oh, they're not his kids?" and I corrected myself and said "I meant our kids"...he kinda smiled. No biggie.

5. How old are your kids? When I said 2 and 7 weeks, I was hoping he understood the sacrafice of leaving my newborn (mostly breastfed) son at home for 5 days! That was not easy, let me tell ya (but taking him would've been even more hard).

6. What do you do?

7. What does your husband do? He asked to see his school transcripts form last year (to prove domicile, I assume) and then something to prove that he had a job offer recently (just printed an email from a potenital employer who offered him a job). Wheh! We had lots of assets and a co-sponsor, but since we are both unemployed at the moment, I was most worried about that question! He was cool with it.

8. Have you ever been denied at the border? Yes. He was cool with that too.

Then he took my finger print again, slid a peice of paper under the window and said "I would like to welcome you to the United States of America". I said "thank you" and instantly got tears in my eyes. It's funny, he might've thought they were tears of pure joy to be moving to the United States, but I would've been just as happy living in Canada - they were tears of RELIEF that this long, tiring, stressful process is OVER (for now) and my little family - hubby and kids - can finally live together legally for the first time in almost 16 months. You all understand, I know!

He then explained that my passport would be sent back to me, etc. He told me that it would be activated the next time I went to the US, so he said to "make it count?" Anyone else have that??? What does he mean by that - "make it count????" My husband and daughter have already left for the US, and my newborn son and I will be flying down there on Tuesday (Alberta to California), then my parents will be driving our stuff across the border a few days later, so I hope that's "making it count". There is just no way I wanted to make the 26+ hour drive with a newborn and little kid. So I hope my parents have no problems with our stuff (we signed a letter designating them our "agent" temporarily).

So I think that's about it. I will add more if I think of it. Sorry for being so stupid, but how do I add it to my timeline? I couldn't see to find where to do that. Thanks again everyone for all your help!!! I hope I can come back on to offer help to others who are in the middle of the process too.

Now....I'm just paranoid about health insurance!!! I was so excited about the US passing the health care reform bill the weekend after my approval - it honestly felt like the perfect "Welcome To America Gift" because I have a pre-existing condition and we were worried about how much my insurance would be. I'm still going to miss our stress-free, hassle-free Canadian Health Care though!!! It's been nothing but amazing for me and my family.

Thanks again. Good luck to all of you!!!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Congratulations! Great review:-).

What the officer meant when he said 'make it count' is that your green card isn't actually 'activated' until you officially cross the border and they administratively record your 'entrance' to the US, so flying will not be a problem. Did you register the birth of your son with the Consulate so he has his official papers ready to go too? Also, make sure your parents have a list of the personal belongings that they are moving down on your behalf and there is a form they can use for the entry of unaccompanied belongings - I will go and see if I can track down the number again.

Here it is: http://forms.cbp.gov/pdf/CBP_Form_3299.pdf

Edited April 4, 2010 by Kathryn41

[trailmix 77]

Hi Blitz,

Glad your interview went so well

You didn't mention which hotel you stayed at? I'm wondering if it's the same one my Husband stayed at - can't remember the name right now lol

It was a boutique hotel, not far from the consulate, about a 10-15 minute walk.

As for having your parents drive your stuff down, not a problem - you may already know that you need to give them a photocopy of your visa and a list of items you are importing. If you haven't done that list yet you may want to use form 3299

http://www.upack.com/forms/CBP_Form_3299.pdf

[Pauley 2]

Pauly might be able to say when the doors opened - I didn't have a watch and wasn't really paying attention to the time.

Doors opened a little before 7:30 that morning. Was really nice to meet you!