Visa Approved

[look2me40 0]

For such a draining process, everything couldn't have gone smoother or with less fanfare. I'll do a small review of the hotel/consulate/medical as well as some overall Montreal thoughts.

Hotel: We stayed at Le Square Phillips. We were going to be here a week...with medical on Monday and interview on Friday so I wanted a place central to both the medical and consulate as well as with a kitchen to save on food expenses. The hotel is pretty nice. Has a pool. Located 2 minutes from the consulate and 8 minutes from Medisys. Staff was nice. Free parking in their garage. A little on the more expensive side but well worth it. Only issue came today, when apparently the Olympic Athlete parade is going on down St. Catherine street and ending...yep...in Phillips Square...so I am a tad worried about road closures since we have to get to the airport by 4. If it's an issue there's a shuttle and a bus right down the street so no biggie.

Medisys: Got there about 12:00 for a 12:30 appointment. At the counter she presented her appointment letter, vaccine list, medication letter from Dr. and passport then waited for her name to be called. When called, they took her height, weigh, blood pressure and gave blood. Took eye test with contacts in and contacts out. Signed forms...then went back to the waiting room for X-ray (which apparently comes on CDs now and not the large thing it used to). Went back for X-ray and took off shirt and bra (kept pants on.) Took X-ray then back out to waiting room to hand the lady at the counter a piece of paper. Waited again. Dr comes out and called her back for the last time. Get undressed to socks and underwear (minus bra) and put on gown. Sat on table and Dr. checks the pulse and lungs. Next is the breast exam...asks about any issues with lumps in past. Lays you back on the table and pokes you in the stomach and asks about stomach pain. Dr. checks spine next and asks questions about pain in back. Next he checks reflexes. After that he asks about tobacco use and history. Medical complete...go back out and wait to be called to pay. Medisys accepts cash, debit or credit CAD. 213.22 total after tax. All in all, not a painful experience and completely non evasive. Took about an hour and a half total.

Consulate: Got there about 6:15. First in line on St. Alexandre street with back to yellow posts and facing the door. Door opened about 7:40 (sign does say the hours are 8:30 to whatever though). By the time 7:40 rolled around, there was a line about 30 deep. Anyway, we are asked for our passports and the appointment letter (the portion with the time/date stamp on it.) We hand it to the guard and he tells us to go to the next guard by the conveyor belt. We are asked to empty pockets, take off belts and sweatshirts and place them in bins to go through the scanner. So we walk around to the right and walk through the metal detector. The guard okays us and we grab our stuff and head downstairs. We sit right next to the elevator and wait to be allowed up. (FYI, there's a photo booth right there in that area if you need photos. $4.) The guard steps out of the elevator and takes our letter A and appointment letter. Tells us and a few others to get on board. Inside, someone was leaning against the doors that actually open and the guard warned them. So we get upstairs and sit. Shortly we're called back to window 11. She asked us for passport and copy, birth certificate and copy of it. Affidavit of support and supporting documents...and the police check. That was it. They already had all other documentation with them...including passport photos. (I'd say bring everything in triplicate anyway...never can be too safe.) So she took that information and asked us to go pay the fee at window 14. Paid the fee and went to sit down again, waiting to be called back. Called back to window 11 again. This time she asked if all info was correct on the 156 (I believe) and took her fingerprints. Said we were all set and to go sit down and we'll be called back to room 7 or 8. So about 15 minutes later, we're called back to room 7. An older lady with long gray hair...very nice...was there behind the glass. Asked her to place finger on scanner to test fingerprints. Then she gave us the oath and asked us the following:

1: How did we meet?

2: Who visited whom first?

3: When did I propose?

4: Where do we live?

5: What's my job?

6: Asked her if she liked Maryland.

7: What's her job?

8: Do I have health insurance?

9: When's the wedding?

That was it. All in all a pretty easy process if you pay attention to detail and plan accordingly. I may have taken a little risk scheduling the medical on Monday and the interview being on Friday, but all went smoothly and we were well prepared. We were able to pick up the medical results on Thursday afternoon. The only advice I would give would be to remain calm and use the information in this forum to your advantage. Everything is spelled out for you in detail. The process of gathering information is the daunting part...the medical and interview are a snap if you're already prepared going into it.

As far as Montreal goes, pretty nice city. Some of the places we ate that I would suggest:

Nonno's in Little Italy. Everything tastes very fresh as it's probably all bought at the Marche de Talon that same day. Frite Alore was ok. It's a burger barn with lots of poutine choices. I had a nice goatcheese burger with bacon.

[Ontarkie 14,221]

Congrats, glad everything went smooth.

[sachinky 465]

Many congratulations!

[OBX 51]

Congratulations!

[look2me40 0]

One edit to the hotel review...had to pay $20 a day for parking. One edit to the consulate review...had to give updated letters of intent to the interviewer in room 7.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Congrats! I'm glad everything went smoothly

[slider100 8]

Congratulations!

[ARMANI KHAN 3]

congrates...

[coraliesolms 47]

YAY!!! Another one gets through!!

[TimandJoyce 1]

congratulations!!

[Kimbear 53]

For such a draining process, everything couldn't have gone smoother or with less fanfare. I'll do a small review of the hotel/consulate/medical as well as some overall Montreal thoughts.

Hotel: We stayed at Le Square Phillips. We were going to be here a week...with medical on Monday and interview on Friday so I wanted a place central to both the medical and consulate as well as with a kitchen to save on food expenses. The hotel is pretty nice. Has a pool. Located 2 minutes from the consulate and 8 minutes from Medisys. Staff was nice. Free parking in their garage. A little on the more expensive side but well worth it. Only issue came today, when apparently the Olympic Athlete parade is going on down St. Catherine street and ending...yep...in Phillips Square...so I am a tad worried about road closures since we have to get to the airport by 4. If it's an issue there's a shuttle and a bus right down the street so no biggie.

Medisys: Got there about 12:00 for a 12:30 appointment. At the counter she presented her appointment letter, vaccine list, medication letter from Dr. and passport then waited for her name to be called. When called, they took her height, weigh, blood pressure and gave blood. Took eye test with contacts in and contacts out. Signed forms...then went back to the waiting room for X-ray (which apparently comes on CDs now and not the large thing it used to). Went back for X-ray and took off shirt and bra (kept pants on.) Took X-ray then back out to waiting room to hand the lady at the counter a piece of paper. Waited again. Dr comes out and called her back for the last time. Get undressed to socks and underwear (minus bra) and put on gown. Sat on table and Dr. checks the pulse and lungs. Next is the breast exam...asks about any issues with lumps in past. Lays you back on the table and pokes you in the stomach and asks about stomach pain. Dr. checks spine next and asks questions about pain in back. Next he checks reflexes. After that he asks about tobacco use and history. Medical complete...go back out and wait to be called to pay. Medisys accepts cash, debit or credit CAD. 213.22 total after tax. All in all, not a painful experience and completely non evasive. Took about an hour and a half total.

Consulate: Got there about 6:15. First in line on St. Alexandre street with back to yellow posts and facing the door. Door opened about 7:40 (sign does say the hours are 8:30 to whatever though). By the time 7:40 rolled around, there was a line about 30 deep. Anyway, we are asked for our passports and the appointment letter (the portion with the time/date stamp on it.) We hand it to the guard and he tells us to go to the next guard by the conveyor belt. We are asked to empty pockets, take off belts and sweatshirts and place them in bins to go through the scanner. So we walk around to the right and walk through the metal detector. The guard okays us and we grab our stuff and head downstairs. We sit right next to the elevator and wait to be allowed up. (FYI, there's a photo booth right there in that area if you need photos. $4.) The guard steps out of the elevator and takes our letter A and appointment letter. Tells us and a few others to get on board. Inside, someone was leaning against the doors that actually open and the guard warned them. So we get upstairs and sit. Shortly we're called back to window 11. She asked us for passport and copy, birth certificate and copy of it. Affidavit of support and supporting documents...and the police check. That was it. They already had all other documentation with them...including passport photos. (I'd say bring everything in triplicate anyway...never can be too safe.) So she took that information and asked us to go pay the fee at window 14. Paid the fee and went to sit down again, waiting to be called back. Called back to window 11 again. This time she asked if all info was correct on the 156 (I believe) and took her fingerprints. Said we were all set and to go sit down and we'll be called back to room 7 or 8. So about 15 minutes later, we're called back to room 7. An older lady with long gray hair...very nice...was there behind the glass. Asked her to place finger on scanner to test fingerprints. Then she gave us the oath and asked us the following:

1: How did we meet?

2: Who visited whom first?

3: When did I propose?

4: Where do we live?

5: What's my job?

6: Asked her if she liked Maryland.

7: What's her job?

8: Do I have health insurance?

9: When's the wedding?

That was it. All in all a pretty easy process if you pay attention to detail and plan accordingly. I may have taken a little risk scheduling the medical on Monday and the interview being on Friday, but all went smoothly and we were well prepared. We were able to pick up the medical results on Thursday afternoon. The only advice I would give would be to remain calm and use the information in this forum to your advantage. Everything is spelled out for you in detail. The process of gathering information is the daunting part...the medical and interview are a snap if you're already prepared going into it.

As far as Montreal goes, pretty nice city. Some of the places we ate that I would suggest:

Nonno's in Little Italy. Everything tastes very fresh as it's probably all bought at the Marche de Talon that same day. Frite Alore was ok. It's a burger barn with lots of poutine choices. I had a nice goatcheese burger with bacon.

congrats! Glad you had a great interview!

[Veronik 19]

Congratulations! It's reassuring to hear how smooth things actually are at the consulate!

[J & J 3]

congrats

Great review, I enjoyed reading it!

[Married2009 32]

Grats! And thanks for the reviews!

[lilacvioletiris 11]

One edit to the hotel review...had to pay $20 a day for parking. One edit to the consulate review...had to give updated letters of intent to the interviewer in room 7.

That is important information about parking. My fiance' needs to have all the cash necessary for the $131 visa fee and $20 for parking. I am printing updated letters in prep for his interview on Monday, May 3. yeah! I figure ours will go as smoothly since we have all the paperwork necessary.