Interview Information and Help

[Timberline 0]

I have my interview this week and just freaking out over last minute stuff. I appreciate anyone's advice of the following:

I am concerned about how much to take I have a A-Z expanding file which contains all papers completed and filed: (DS-230, DS260), payment receipts as well as copies of marriage cert, birth certs, income tax submissions, police checks, etc.

But I also have a canvas type folder which is zipped that contains all my evidence, i.e. telephone bills, emails, photos, airline tickets and basically proof of our relationship to present date.

I keep reading that people are turned away from the US embassy by bringing too much, but this is a portfolio of my evidence. Do you think both these folders will be ok???

Also, payments of $404 and $88 were paid months ago. Is there anything else to pay at the interview?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

[SF2007 48]

I have my interview this week and just freaking out over last minute stuff. I appreciate anyone's advice of the following:

I am concerned about how much to take I have a A-Z expanding file which contains all papers completed and filed: (DS-230, DS260), payment receipts as well as copies of marriage cert, birth certs, income tax submissions, police checks, etc.

But I also have a canvas type folder which is zipped that contains all my evidence, i.e. telephone bills, emails, photos, airline tickets and basically proof of our relationship to present date.

I keep reading that people are turned away from the US embassy by bringing too much, but this is a portfolio of my evidence. Do you think both these folders will be ok???

Also, payments of $404 and $88 were paid months ago. Is there anything else to pay at the interview?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

I have 2 binders and was wondering if that's too big too...

[Flames9_RN 358]

99% of time Mtl does not even ask for evidence! But YES its best to be prepared. Quality over quantity! I used a plastic Accordion style binder that had like 12 compartments! Have ur passport and Interview letter in the front! Brought a few pics of us together and with our families, few letters, airfare receipts, chat logs from yahoo (few pages only) nothing that crazy! And No she did not attend the interview with me. The interview itself is very quick, lucky to be 10 minutes and most of that time they are going through your paperwork to make sure it is in order!! Best of luck

[Saylin 1,605]

I have my interview this week and just freaking out over last minute stuff. I appreciate anyone's advice of the following:

I am concerned about how much to take I have a A-Z expanding file which contains all papers completed and filed: (DS-230, DS260), payment receipts as well as copies of marriage cert, birth certs, income tax submissions, police checks, etc.

But I also have a canvas type folder which is zipped that contains all my evidence, i.e. telephone bills, emails, photos, airline tickets and basically proof of our relationship to present date.

I keep reading that people are turned away from the US embassy by bringing too much, but this is a portfolio of my evidence. Do you think both these folders will be ok???

Also, payments of $404 and $88 were paid months ago. Is there anything else to pay at the interview?

Any help is appreciated. Thank you.

I think you should be fine.

I've read reviews where they saw other people being turned away, but it was for having backpacks, or purses, or large bags. I've not seen any reviews on where they were turned away for having folders/portfolios/binders.

And nope, nothing else to pay at the interview.

[Flames9_RN 358]

yes, no electronics. Back in 2004 when I was in line, they turned away people with big back packs/purses. And ELEVATOR opens from the rear,lol Back then for cr-1/ir-1 (maybe it has changed now) one did not get a # until you reached the actual floor. So people (non-VJ'ers)would get into the elevator and huddle by the front--Us VJ'ers would goto the rear where it opened,lol

[Canadiandggal 49]

I had one large 13 pocket expanding folder and a Document folder (one pocket thing). In the expanding one I had all my copies from i130's,payments,flights,evidence,phone calls,chat logs, pretty much anything I could think of.

In the one pocket document folder I had my passport and copy, appointment letter and copy,the ds320 and copy,birth certificate and copy,i864 and copy, Ok everything that was asked for on the "appointment letter" lol.

I brought these items in a "grocery bag" the reusable type think it was from loblaws and I had no problems with it.

I had one large 13 pocket expanding folder and a Document folder (one pocket thing). In the expanding one I had all my copies from i130's,payments,flights,evidence,phone calls,chat logs, pretty much anything I could think of.

In the one pocket document folder I had my passport and copy, appointment letter and copy,the ds320 and copy,birth certificate and copy,i864 and copy, Ok everything that was asked for on the "appointment letter" lol.

I brought these items in a "grocery bag" the reusable type think it was from loblaws and I had no problems with it.

[Timberline 0]

I think you should be fine.

I've read reviews where they saw other people being turned away, but it was for having backpacks, or purses, or large bags. I've not seen any reviews on where they were turned away for having folders/portfolios/binders.

And nope, nothing else to pay at the interview.

thank you very much for taking the time to respond and putting my mind at rest

[Timberline 0]

I had one large 13 pocket expanding folder and a Document folder (one pocket thing). In the expanding one I had all my copies from i130's,payments,flights,evidence,phone calls,chat logs, pretty much anything I could think of.

In the one pocket document folder I had my passport and copy, appointment letter and copy,the ds320 and copy,birth certificate and copy,i864 and copy, Ok everything that was asked for on the "appointment letter" lol.

I brought these items in a "grocery bag" the reusable type think it was from loblaws and I had no problems with it.

I had one large 13 pocket expanding folder and a Document folder (one pocket thing). In the expanding one I had all my copies from i130's,payments,flights,evidence,phone calls,chat logs, pretty much anything I could think of.

In the one pocket document folder I had my passport and copy, appointment letter and copy,the ds320 and copy,birth certificate and copy,i864 and copy, Ok everything that was asked for on the "appointment letter" lol.

I brought these items in a "grocery bag" the reusable type think it was from loblaws and I had no problems with it.

Thank you for your reply. It sounds like i have everything in order then .... whew

[JeannieL 44]

I have all my originals and copies separated with plastic coated paperclips. Are paperclips allowed??? Just wondering because of the metal detector and security.

A friend of mine had her interview a few weeks ago. She took 1 expanding file folder and a binder, and a photo album and she was allowed in with all of it. They did keep her car key for her to pick up on the way out.

[BlueBonnet 84]

I didnt interview in Montreal, mine was in Vancouver. I started assembling my Evidence book when my then fiance, now husband applied for the K1. I got old phone records from my land line, cell phone, and work ( bad, I know! ) for 3 years. I got emails, and "skype" conversations, I had facebook conversations not only between us, but between my friends, and his friends and family. I had passport pages for proof of stamps, airplane ticket reciepts, flight ittineries, hotel reciepts, food reciepts, gas reciepts. If we went somewhere, like zoo or aquarium, I would grab the booklets they offered. I got old cards that had been send for birthdays, valentines day and xmas .. I got everything in there. And of course pictures .. I had maybe 20 over 3 years that I put in. After 5 months .. it was 4" thick and litterly wieghed 12 pounds ( I know because it had to be wieghed for carry on for the plane ride ) ... the Consulate officer never even looked at it !

But there were 2 other women there that day. They had significantly less evidence to offer, but the CO didnt look at theirs either.

One thing I did notice though, was that I felt like the CO went through the original package that is sent when you filed for the K1. I heard him shuffling through paperwork for about 1/2 hour before calling each of us up one at a time. I will admit, that my SO and I front loaded the initial petition and that may be why he didnt look at my evidence book .. or maybe it scared him thinking how long it would take him to view it all .. it was after 4pm when I got called up, maybe he was just ready to go home.

I think, in all honesty, it is better to be prepared for anything than not to be prepared.

[iampatricias 17]

I have all my originals and copies separated with plastic coated paperclips. Are paperclips allowed??? Just wondering because of the metal detector and security.

A friend of mine had her interview a few weeks ago. She took 1 expanding file folder and a binder, and a photo album and she was allowed in with all of it. They did keep her car key for her to pick up on the way out.

Oh dear... I didn't think of that... I am also using lots of paperclips and small binder clips... though I guess if they scan them, they'll see they're really just paperclips? Can they be used as weapons?

[JeannieL 44]

Oh dear... I didn't think of that... I am also using lots of paperclips and small binder clips... though I guess if they scan them, they'll see they're really just paperclips? Can they be used as weapons?

You are probably right. When they scan them they will see it is just paper clip. But I just wanted to find out for sure if they are permitted. I would hate to be standing there taking them all off before they would let me through. Lets hope someone else responds that knows for sure :-)

[iampatricias 17]

Hey JeannieL - paperclips and binder clips are acceptable. Non-electronic keys are also fine. And the big x-ray is not needed

[Flames9_RN 358]

You go thru Airport like security. It is Electronics they are concerned with! And of course, bombs, guns,lol

[JeannieL 44]

Hey JeannieL - paperclips and binder clips are acceptable. Non-electronic keys are also fine. And the big x-ray is not needed

Thanks so much! Now I don't have to go through and take everything apart! Soooooooooooooooooo how did the interview go? I have been waiting all day!