update to my post on Montreal consulate (didn't post right)

[ascorpiana 0]

Arrived by Via Train from Toronto on Sunday and checked into my hotel the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth. Talked to my husband for a couple of hours and then turned in for the night.

November 5th: Woke up and 530am, organized etc. and stopped at a bank just in case there were any further fees. Left the hotel at 71 and it as a brisk 10 minute walk northeast on Rene Levesque and turned left onto Rue St. Alexandre and joined the line. I became the 8th person in line. A very nippy morning indeed and I was thankful there was no rain. About 745am a guard finally let the first 6 people through. Then my group. A young lady asked to show the interview letter and the courier confirmation. And then I was asked to move to the right. Next I went up 3 steps and through a door to go threw a scanner similar to the airport only you didn’t have to take your shoes off.

**Of note: NO CELL PHONES, NO USB KEYS, NO CAMERAS, NO FLASHLIGHTS, NO LIGHTERS, NO BIG BAGS, BRIEF CASE OR CAR KEYS.

I actually did have car keys, a usb key and a mini flashlight which the guards took for me and stored – gave me a ticket to retrieve the items later. Went through the scanner and then was told to take all my approved items and go downstairs to a waiting room. At about 8am the guard came and opened the locked elevator and firmly told everyone to move in and push together. (16 sardined people and thankful everyone deodorant was working)

Elevator opens and you go to the left to booth 14 to which you show your interview letter and are assigned a number – I was the third person and assigned C3. (Don’t worry if they call a number before you it is merely how you were assigned to the ticket booths.

I was the 3rd person called at 830a went to booth 3, nice middle aged blonde lady had my file. I pulled out the items on my checklist and she took them as well as my passport. She finger printed both hands, confirmed our addresses and told me to take a seat and I would be called to either booth 7 or 8. About another long 15 minutes I’m finally called to booth 8.

Ah I finally meet the often described young woman of colour with dreads…………. She starts looking through my file , shoves a sheet at me under the slot and asks me to read it out loud. I read it nice and clear! She then hand prints my right hand again. Miss Dreads then proceeds to ask if I have the original Divorce paper. ( I said no, It’s not on my required list and I sent a copy with the I130 petition. She says I still need to see the original. (hmmmm I am already getting irritated) Next she asks for the deed to my house and a document from the bank to say my home is mortgage free. She says because of the i-864 guidelines you’re basically supporting yourself. I said no I do not have that with me as it was NOT on my list. I said I did have my property professional appraised and they can only do the appraisal via the owner of the home. To which she said oh so the only time a person can get an appraisal is if they are the full owner. I said no I did not say that as you can have the bank arrange and appraisal for a lien of credit etc. She says I will need a copy of the deed and something from the bank stated there is no current mortgage to prove that you have the ability to liquefy the asset if need be. She proceeds to say she has to ask these questions on behalf of homeland security. She also states that of all the documents the I-864 is the trickiest and it has a lot of small details that are easy to overlook. I smile and say I’ve read that material numerous times and I did not see anywhere that it requires what you are asking and I wish that if that was required it had been on my checklist so I could present it today to you. She said that’s okay I will have you courier it to me and she hands back my passport  She said your visa is temporarily denied until proof of the documentation listed, so courier as quick as you can, and of note your physical expires April 2013 so you will need to complete it before that. I ask her will I need another interview here again, and she says no as long as I can provide the requested documentation it should be fine.

Needless to say I left stressed, sad and irritated beyond belief.

Home and took another day off to try to locate these files, seeing lawyer to morning so hope to get these documents back to the Consulate.

Overall impression: Posts on here are right on the money. If you sent anything electronic or made a copy definitely bring it.......I could kick myself as I thought about bring my divorce paper.

I suppose the most annoying aspects are like this: (1) you need to bring your divorce papers in the State of California as you do in all provinces of Canada. (2) They took my prints, I stood there stating and I'm sure they tape it my oath of telling the truth to the best of my knowledge. It talks about perjury.........so if I'm swearing to tell the truth as one would in a courtroom I presume........why cross examine my documentation unless stating my oath meant nothing. (3) Nothing worse than you in business go into a meeting without all the knowledge.........I would have gladly waited a bit long to obtain these extra documents prior to going to Montreal.

Sorry all for my original post........I entered and it posted uncomplete before.

BTW thank you everyone for contributing this is an awesome source and I hope my experience will save someone else frustrations down the road