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Montreal Interview Review

By keysjangle in Canada

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keysjangle Rising Star

keysjangle   145

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I arrived at the Consulate a little later than I had wanted to - around 6:50AM. There were a few people there already, maybe 5 groups. Get there early! I spotted a woman with a huge purse and a man with a laptop bag ahead in the line. "They'll get turned away and I'll move up in the queue!" I thought to myself, and which was correct. 

Security showed up at 7:30AM to let us in. The two people I had spotted were baffled by being turned away - oopsie daisy! The guard let the first few of us in after checking our interview letters then closed the door. Have ready: passport, DHL/Loomis confirmation and interview letter. A man inside the door checks your Loomis document, and attaches a sticker with your booking reference number to the back of your passport. You then wait to be called up through security. Remove your belt, jacket, everything in your pockets, etc. Typical baggage x-ray and walk through metal detector procedure after - same deal as TSA without the groping. Once complete you go down the stairs and find a seat nearest to the elevator in the waiting room. We waited down there for maybe 15 minutes when a guard showed up, removed the barrier from in front of the elevator door and told us to head up to the 19th floor. As he removed the barrier people had already crowded behind him - so yes, get as close to those doors as you can. I got in right by the back left behind another couple (they had their baby, didn't want to smush them!) We got upstairs and exited to be greeted by a lady asking to see our interview letters. Once she checks it she gives you your number. I got C2 :)

Some time passed until I was called to Window 2. There, I handed over my original birth certificate, original police certificate, original birth certificate, passport photos and my I-864EZ with originals. She also took my fingerprints and went over some info from my DS-260 (she didn't ask to see a hard copy.) When that's finished you go and have a seat again and wait to be called up for your interview. I went back to my seat at 8:20. Around 8:45 I got called up for my interview at window 7. 

I was greeted by a nice guy, Lawrence. He asked me a couple of housekeeping questions, had me do a quick fingerprint check and then swore me in. He asked me a few basic questions:

- When did you get married?

- How did you meet? + follow up questions

- What does your husband do?

- What is his rank?

- What are your plans after getting your visa?

 

Those are the main ones I can remember, the whole thing was a blur! While he was asking questions he was stamping paperwork, writing on it and typing on the computer. He then passed back my marriage and birth certificates and told me with a smile he was approving my visa as he handed me my welcome letter! :D He reminded me about removing conditions and I thanked him again and stumbled out at 9AM. It was hard to remain composed! You exit the consulate the same way you come in. There were a ton of people in the waiting room and more waiting to come in outside. So I'll remind you again: Get there early!!! 

All in all, a very smooth experience. Keep your eyes and ears peeled so that you're not scrambling to hand paperwork over. I overheard a lot of people

who weren't answering questions clearly/properly or just seemed to have no idea what was going on. Don't be one of them! 

Good luck! Bon chance!

USCIS

Jul 15/11 - Sent I-130 Package from Honolulu

Jul 18/11 - I-130 package received & signed for in Chicago
Jul 19/11 - Priority Date
Jul 21/11 - NOA1/USCIS Acceptance Confirmation received
Jul 29/11 - Received I-797C hard copy
Aug 4/11 - Touched
Feb 16/12 - NOA2 Approval (212 days since Priority Date)


NVC

Feb 28/12 - NVC Case Number, BIN & IIN Assigned, Optin E-mail for EP Sent

Mar 2/12 - DS-261 Submitted
Mar 5/12 - Electronic Processing Opt-in Accepted, AOS Invoiced & Paid
Mar 7/12 - NVC receive IV electronic package, AOS shows "Paid", AOS Package Sent
Mar 9/12 - IV Bill Invoiced & Paid
Mar 12/12 - AOS fee shows as "Not Paid - Rejected": Human error. AOS re-paid.
Mar 13/12 - IV is "Paid." Will have to be re-paid post imminent "Rejected" status. NVC e-mail "Checklist Cover Letter" asking for my $$$
Mar 14/12 - IV is "Rejected - Not Paid", Re-paid, AOS is "Paid"
Mar 16/12 - IV is "Paid", DS-260 submitted & Package sent
Mar 19/12 - IV Package Received
Mar 20/12 - Case Complete E-mail Received (21 days at NVC)


Final Steps

Apr 10/12 - Interview date assigned: May 9 @ 8:30AM

May 1/12 - Medical Date
May 9/12 - Interview result: Approved!
Jun 22/12 - POE
Jul 23/12 - SSN assigned
Aug 10/12 - Green card in hand

ROC

Mar 25/14 - ROC sent to CSC

Mar 28/14 - Package delivered to CSC

Apr 1/14 - Check cashed

Apr 3/14 - Received NOA1, Receipt Date: 3/28

Jun 15/14 - Move to San Diego

Jun 23/14 - RFE / Package sent: Aug 6, ETA Aug 8

Aug 22/14 - New Card in Production

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Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Yes its very obvious who found VJ and who did not!! Congrats

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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gad33 Collaborator

gad33   47

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Congrats. :dance:

People shouldn't be surprised by the bag thing it is posted right on the door. I must have had a nice bunch of people waiting for the elevator as everybody lined up mostly in the order they came in.

Does the welcome letter say anything interesting/useful I didn't get one.

1 Dec 2011 Mailed I-130
8 Dec 2011 NOA 1
20 Dec 2011 NOA 2

NVC

17 Jan 2012 Phoned NVC. Case Number allocated
18 Jan 2012 Emails received re AOS fee and Agent
20 Jan 2012 Electronic opt in email sent & response received
20 Jan 2012 AOS fee paid
20 Jan 2012 Form DS-261 Choice of agent filed
27 Jan 2012 Email received re choice of agent received. Can now pay IV bill
29 Jan 2012 IV bill paid
31 Jan 2012 Received written notification case at NVC (dated 18 Jan)
8 Feb 2012 Emailed AOS
9 Feb 2012 DS-260 submitted online & docs emailed
14 Feb 2012 Case Complete
5 Mar 2012 received email - interview date 10 April
10 Apr 2012 Visa Approved
10 Apr 2012 Email from Loomis - passport picked up from Consulate

June 2012 Moved back to US

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skr Apprentice

skr   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Yes its very obvious who found VJ and who did not!! Congrats

So true!! For me one of the telling signs was how people stood in the elevator. If you'd read VJ then you knew the doors would open to the back, not the way you entered.

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Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

So true!! For me one of the telling signs was how people stood in the elevator. If you'd read VJ then you knew the doors would open to the back, not the way you entered.

yep, I thought it was soo funny how when I entered the elevator everyone huddled to the front,lol!! suckers!! lol

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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Neela & Jitu Proficient

Neela & Jitu   79

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance: :dance:

06/03/11-Got Married!!

USCIS(199)Days ROC

08/12/11-I-130 Sent 04/15/14-I-751 Sent
08/15/11-(NOA1) Hard copy received(08/17/2011) 04/17/14-I-751 Delivered

02/21/12-Expedite Request sent 05/05/14-Check cashed & NOA received (receipt date 4/18)
02/28/12-Supporting Documents Sent 05/12/14-Biometrics letter received (scheduled for 6/4)
03/01/12-Receive USCIS letter(expedite request is under review) 05/16/14-Early walk-in Biometrics
03/01/12-(NOA2) Approved!!Received via email & sms. 11/07/14-Approval letter received dated (11/04/14)

NVC(21)Days 11/15/14-GC received
03/05/12-NVC Received (3 days after NOA2 approval)
03/20/12-Receive Case #,IIN&BIN # from NVC & give email addresses.

03/21/12-Submit DS-261 & sent in Optin email
03/22/12-Optin acceptance email received & AOS bill invoiced & paid
03/23/12-AOS bill appears as PAID.
03/26/12-Emailed I-864 Package.
03/30/12-IV bill invoiced & paid.
03/30/12-AOS package has been reviewd & accepted as per operator
04/04/12-IV bill appears as PAID,submitted DS-260,emailed IV pckge
04/06/12-IV checklist as per Operator & RESEND PCC.
04/09/12-Receive IV Checklist in Email
04/10/12-CC (received CASE COMPLETE!!! email)
05/03/12-Interview date assigned for June 11 (Reschedule 4 May 22)
Medical/US Consulate/POE
05/15/12-Medical at Toronto
05/22/12-Interview--APPROVED!!!
05/25/12-Visa Received/ In Hand!
05/27/12-POE at Queenston Bridge (Lewiston,NY)

iei0pv8engaw9.png

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keysjangle Rising Star

keysjangle   145

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Thanks guys :)

The welcome letter discusses ROC on one side and setting up Loomis on the other (which you should already have done anyway.)

USCIS

Jul 15/11 - Sent I-130 Package from Honolulu

Jul 18/11 - I-130 package received & signed for in Chicago
Jul 19/11 - Priority Date
Jul 21/11 - NOA1/USCIS Acceptance Confirmation received
Jul 29/11 - Received I-797C hard copy
Aug 4/11 - Touched
Feb 16/12 - NOA2 Approval (212 days since Priority Date)


NVC

Feb 28/12 - NVC Case Number, BIN & IIN Assigned, Optin E-mail for EP Sent

Mar 2/12 - DS-261 Submitted
Mar 5/12 - Electronic Processing Opt-in Accepted, AOS Invoiced & Paid
Mar 7/12 - NVC receive IV electronic package, AOS shows "Paid", AOS Package Sent
Mar 9/12 - IV Bill Invoiced & Paid
Mar 12/12 - AOS fee shows as "Not Paid - Rejected": Human error. AOS re-paid.
Mar 13/12 - IV is "Paid." Will have to be re-paid post imminent "Rejected" status. NVC e-mail "Checklist Cover Letter" asking for my $$$
Mar 14/12 - IV is "Rejected - Not Paid", Re-paid, AOS is "Paid"
Mar 16/12 - IV is "Paid", DS-260 submitted & Package sent
Mar 19/12 - IV Package Received
Mar 20/12 - Case Complete E-mail Received (21 days at NVC)


Final Steps

Apr 10/12 - Interview date assigned: May 9 @ 8:30AM

May 1/12 - Medical Date
May 9/12 - Interview result: Approved!
Jun 22/12 - POE
Jul 23/12 - SSN assigned
Aug 10/12 - Green card in hand

ROC

Mar 25/14 - ROC sent to CSC

Mar 28/14 - Package delivered to CSC

Apr 1/14 - Check cashed

Apr 3/14 - Received NOA1, Receipt Date: 3/28

Jun 15/14 - Move to San Diego

Jun 23/14 - RFE / Package sent: Aug 6, ETA Aug 8

Aug 22/14 - New Card in Production

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gad33 Collaborator

gad33   47

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Thanks guys :)

The welcome letter discusses ROC on one side and setting up Loomis on the other (which you should already have done anyway.)

Nothing exciting then. Maybe you're not "Welcomed" if those things don't apply.

1 Dec 2011 Mailed I-130
8 Dec 2011 NOA 1
20 Dec 2011 NOA 2

NVC

17 Jan 2012 Phoned NVC. Case Number allocated
18 Jan 2012 Emails received re AOS fee and Agent
20 Jan 2012 Electronic opt in email sent & response received
20 Jan 2012 AOS fee paid
20 Jan 2012 Form DS-261 Choice of agent filed
27 Jan 2012 Email received re choice of agent received. Can now pay IV bill
29 Jan 2012 IV bill paid
31 Jan 2012 Received written notification case at NVC (dated 18 Jan)
8 Feb 2012 Emailed AOS
9 Feb 2012 DS-260 submitted online & docs emailed
14 Feb 2012 Case Complete
5 Mar 2012 received email - interview date 10 April
10 Apr 2012 Visa Approved
10 Apr 2012 Email from Loomis - passport picked up from Consulate

June 2012 Moved back to US

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jazzly Explorer

jazzly   3

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Congratulations! I agree, VJ makes difference. If I had found it before my interview, I would have been prepared for domicile much more and my case wouldn't be in AP at this point. A lawyer gave us wrong advise on domicle :(

Anyway, I was in first 10 people who showed up, we didn't have to wait for elevator. May be it was different that day.

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keysjangle Rising Star

keysjangle   145

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

!! I knew you guys had to be familiar with VJ. I noticed you headed straight for the back left corner! ;) How did your interview go?? haha, too funny!

USCIS

Jul 15/11 - Sent I-130 Package from Honolulu

Jul 18/11 - I-130 package received & signed for in Chicago
Jul 19/11 - Priority Date
Jul 21/11 - NOA1/USCIS Acceptance Confirmation received
Jul 29/11 - Received I-797C hard copy
Aug 4/11 - Touched
Feb 16/12 - NOA2 Approval (212 days since Priority Date)


NVC

Feb 28/12 - NVC Case Number, BIN & IIN Assigned, Optin E-mail for EP Sent

Mar 2/12 - DS-261 Submitted
Mar 5/12 - Electronic Processing Opt-in Accepted, AOS Invoiced & Paid
Mar 7/12 - NVC receive IV electronic package, AOS shows "Paid", AOS Package Sent
Mar 9/12 - IV Bill Invoiced & Paid
Mar 12/12 - AOS fee shows as "Not Paid - Rejected": Human error. AOS re-paid.
Mar 13/12 - IV is "Paid." Will have to be re-paid post imminent "Rejected" status. NVC e-mail "Checklist Cover Letter" asking for my $$$
Mar 14/12 - IV is "Rejected - Not Paid", Re-paid, AOS is "Paid"
Mar 16/12 - IV is "Paid", DS-260 submitted & Package sent
Mar 19/12 - IV Package Received
Mar 20/12 - Case Complete E-mail Received (21 days at NVC)


Final Steps

Apr 10/12 - Interview date assigned: May 9 @ 8:30AM

May 1/12 - Medical Date
May 9/12 - Interview result: Approved!
Jun 22/12 - POE
Jul 23/12 - SSN assigned
Aug 10/12 - Green card in hand

ROC

Mar 25/14 - ROC sent to CSC

Mar 28/14 - Package delivered to CSC

Apr 1/14 - Check cashed

Apr 3/14 - Received NOA1, Receipt Date: 3/28

Jun 15/14 - Move to San Diego

Jun 23/14 - RFE / Package sent: Aug 6, ETA Aug 8

Aug 22/14 - New Card in Production

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