Review of Interview in Montreal May 16th, 2011

[redfragglekat 0]

We had our interview in Montreal May 16th, and we're still waiting on passport return. Here's a recap of how it went (I read these recap posts obsessively before my interview, so I thought I'd post one for others too!)

We found out May 9th that my K1 Interview was May 16th in Montreal. I was in Washington DC with my fiance. Frantically booked a medical appointment in Montreal for Wednesday May 11, and drove all day Tuesday May 10th to make it to Montreal. Went for the 11:00 am medical appointment and was stuck there until 4:30pm! It was very busy there that day as a number of truck drivers were in for medical screening before getting their licenses. Bring a drink, lunch or snack with you - the one kiosk for snacks was closed at 2pm, and you don't have the freedom to come and go once you are in line for your bloodwork, or in line for your xray, or in line for your physical etc etc.

We hung out in Montreal and played tourist (we stayed at the Quality Hotel on Avenue du Parc - right across from a grocery store, a Cora's (great breakfast and lunch) and close to a dog park and a 5 minute drive (or $20.00 cab ride)from the medical building.) On Friday May 13th after 2:30pm we returned to the medical building to pick up my results.

We tried to distract ourselves with tourism throughout the weekend. Monday morning rolls around and I frantically worked on double checking everything. Our appointment was for 1:45pm so we arrives at 12:45, just in case. The security guys turned us away and had us stand out in the rain. Until 1:00pm when another guy came out and told us to go sit in the coffee shop around the corner until 1:15pm.

We returned at 1:15pm and stood in the rain until the pizza delivery guy was ushered through the security screening checkpoint at 1:30pm. The guys needed their lunch. After that we were allowed inside. There were six other people having their interviews during the same time period. We chatted and compared our experiences.

We were sent up to the 19th floor of the building (one elevator, only three floors that elevator goes to, can't make a mistake!). We were given a number and told to sit and wait. When our number was called we were sent to one service window to hand in a specific documents (DS-230, and DS-160 and my passport) then were told to go back and sit down.

Ten minutes later we were called to a different window with a different person and told to hand in my fiance's letter stating his intent to marry me, and to provide my sealed envelope of medical information. They broke open the seal and removed the CD with the xrays on it and returned them to me, and directed us to sit down in the waiting room again.

We waited for half an hour and were called to yet another window with a different person who said "We have a lot of people waiting, so this will be the shortest interview ever!"

She asked:

Do you intend to get married?

Where did you two meet?

Where will you live?

When will you go to the US?

And then she handed over the "Welcome to the US" letter!

It was rather anti-climactic, really.

So, I've been sitting here waiting, hotel bills mounting, checking the DHL website four times a day, and worried that maybe I didn't sign a piece of paper or something. How much longer do I wait for my passport to be returned? It's been six business days (nine days total - darn long weekend!), so I know it could be a while yet, but I'm getting antsy! Come on passport fairies! Be nice to me!

:-)

Good luck to everyone else preparing for their interviews!

[redfragglekat 0]

Just called DoS who says that my passport hasn't even been stamped yet. It is officially in administrative processing "AP" until the moment it's stamped, but there doesn't seem to be any missing information or anything that the DoS call centre person can see anyway.

How many people does it take to stamp a passport?! 6 business days...and counting

[Happy75 2]

Well ours was on the 18th of May and we're also waiting. I'm not going to call DOS until next week. It also felt anti-climactic for us too. She just said congratulations we will send you the visa in the mail as she was walking away. We did not get a letter. What does yours say?

Edited May 26, 2011 by Happy75

[sdfghjk 0]

I had my interview on the 13th and i'm still waiting aswell I called DOS yesterday and the computers crashed so im going to my dads later to use his magic jack to make the call (FREE) especially with the 20 minute hold the first time they picked up and hung up, and then 15 mintues the second time.

I hope to get something soon POE is june 1st or around there

[SF2007 48]

It seems AP is in fashion nowadays. My interview was on April 18 but due to my medical being delayed, I had to mail it with my passport 3 weeks ago.

My fiance and I call DOS every other day and were told yesterday we were in AP. I hope it's just a matter of days... Maybe they're backlogged and everyone falls into AP for a while until they can manage to stamp the passport in bulk?

[redfragglekat 0]

Well ours was on the 18th of May and we're also waiting. I'm not going to call DOS until next week. It also felt anti-climactic for us too. She just said congratulations we will send you the visa in the mail as she was walking away. We did not get a letter. What does yours say?

The letter basically explains the next steps... that the passport will be mailed to the DHL location, gives instructions on how to choose your designated location, and tells you that there's no way to call DHL or the Consulate to get more info. It explains a bit about entering the country and that you have 90 days to get married. That's about it, just 1 sheet, text on front and back.

I had my interview on the 13th and i'm still waiting aswell I called DOS yesterday and the computers crashed so im going to my dads later to use his magic jack to make the call (FREE) especially with the 20 minute hold the first time they picked up and hung up, and then 15 mintues the second time.

I hope to get something soon POE is june 1st or around there

Let me know if you get yours, eh? If you do, it'll be my cue to panic LOL

[redfragglekat 0]

Maybe they're backlogged and everyone falls into AP for a while until they can manage to stamp the passport in bulk?

The DoS call center person yesterday (Katie) said that the DoS system shows "AP" for all cases that are "in between" like this, still getting reviewed administratively. She said it's not necessarily an indication of something going wrong, just that Montreal is slow.

Joy. *rolls eyes*

[sdfghjk 0]

well i did call today and the woman said i was definetly approved and that its very common to not get any news for this amount of time she also said to call monday or tuesday if i dont hear anything.. so until then im not allowed to panic

[teday 0]

I am slightly panicking! Interview May 18. They told us a week to get the visa and silly me.. I believed them!

Planning a June 4 wedding but now wondering if that was such a smart idea. ahhh

[sdfghjk 0]

I am slightly panicking! Interview May 18. They told us a week to get the visa and silly me.. I believed them!

Planning a June 4 wedding but now wondering if that was such a smart idea. ahhh

I think thats cutting it close, considering on the actual paper they give you it says 12 days on it.

[APlusJ 1]

We had our interview on May 11th and still, nothing! My fiance emailed mtl though, and they replied saying they had computer problems, and couldnt print visas but we should have ours within a week! So, hopefully that means they are all fixed!!

[redfragglekat 0]

JUST got the DHL notification that the passport has left Montreal en-route to Ottawa! Not sure if there's Saturday delivery/pick up but it looks like Monday for sure! (Was worried that the American holiday weekend would delay everything until Tuesday, but it looks like they got it out of the Consulate before their long weekend!)

Will keep y'all posted!

[SF2007 48]

happy your passport is on is way back. Keep us posted

[octopus 0]

Hi! i had the same date (May 16) as you on your interview. i checked online and nothing yet. How did you know that your passport has left Montreal?

I am hoping i could get my passport by Monday.

Thanks.

Edited May 28, 2011 by octopus

[SF2007 48]

Monday is Memorial Day in the US. The consulate will not be open for business.