K1 Visa Interview Experience Montreal May 2014

[jonesmiller 0]

Hi there people,

Here is a short update on my experience at the US Consulate in Montreal. My interview was today May 6th at 8 am this morning, and I was outside on Rue Saint Alexandre again with my visa approved at 8.52. I have been reading the forums on Visa Journey without being a member, and it has helped me tremendously. I hope, that I can be of help to anyone who feels the anxiety attending the K1 visa interview here in Montreal. It is hard to explain for people who have not tried this before, but probably not hard to imagine, that it really takes its toll to have your future decided based on an interview (oh and a ton of paperwork).

WAITING OUTSIDE

As I said, my interview was at 8 am, but I was already there around 6.45. There was noone at the consulate of course, and the sign outside says, that the consulate opens at 8 am. Just a heads up from the people walking down Rue Saint Alexandre heading towards Boulevard René Lévesque. You can already see the building, and you know it is the US Consulate because the numbers on the street indicates, as you are walking. The entrance is on the left hand side. At some point when getting close to the building, you might be tempted to walk up some stairs, but you should stop, because you will be greeted with a sign saying, that this is private property, and you are not allowed to access the area (mind you I did not walk up the stairs). So do not walk up the stairs to what you might think would be the entrance to the US Consulate. Instead, continue a few meters ahead, and you see the entrance just off the sidewalk on your left. You will also see a sign saying not to bring backpacks, explosives, cell phones, electronic car keys (yes you better believe it no electronic car keys), food, etc. A guy in front of me had brought a backpack with all his documents, and the guard told him to get rid of it, and they would/could not store it for him, and he was not allowed to carry it around or leave it on the premises. Personally, I did not bring my phone or watch, and I made sure, that I used plastic bags for all my documents, and I had for once dressed up nicely:-) thanks to the advice already found here on Visa Journey.

GETTING INSIDE

My advice is to dress up nicely and according to the weather. It was a little chilly early this morning, and I saw a guy who had dressed up extremely nice, but he was only wearing a shirt, and he seemed to be pretty cold. Well I think the time was around 7.30 when I arrived from drinking an apple juice at the Tim Horton´s café, and got in line behind approx. 15 to 20 people. Around 7.40 the guard outside started to let people in, and it did not take that long to get inside. Once I got inside a woman asked me about Loomis information and my passport, so I think the procedure for now is to have your passport and appointment information ready. It was a bit confusing, because when I looked at my appointment information, there was no mention of a Loomis reference number under Loomis Information, but I got to the bottom of it. She checked my appointment information and made a comment close to the Reference ID under Applicant Details instead, which was the section she was looking for (so I guess they should stop making people confused haha). Anyways, she looked at my passport and everything checked out of course. From reading the forums here on Visa Journey, I got the impression, that I would be given a number as soon as I entered the consulate, but that was not the case. Instead the woman gave me back my passport and appointment confirmation and told me to hand it to the receptionist upstairs, which again was pretty confusing, because the next thing that happened was the security check, and from the guards I received contradicting information (but not really a big deal).

THE SECURITY CHECK

So the next thing was the security check. Make sure, that when you walk up the 4 or 5 steps to the security check area, that you stay on the right side of the railings (mind you I did stay on the right side), since you will not be able to access the area from the left side of the railing. I know it is a small detail, but again it is potentially confusing, because it looks like you can access the security area from either side. I entered and for some reason the guards were really friendly and was kind of joking around. They gave me trays, where I could put my keys, wallet, and documents, and they ran my coat through the scanners separately. After that, I went through the scanner on the right side of the room, and everything went nice and smooth, but here is the potentially confusing part. After I was cleared, they told me to go downstairs, but the lady just before upon entering told me to go upstairs to the receptionist, and I was not under the impression, that a security check would be next for me. Well just writing down all these details, so you know what to expect, and again it is not really a big deal:-)

WAITING FOR THE ELEVATOR

I went downstairs, and I have read a couple of reports here on Visa Journey about staying close to the elevator while waiting to get upstairs to the 19th floor. The reason is, that you want to stay all the way at the back left of the elevator (when facing it), so you can quickly get to the reception area and get things done quickly without too much waiting hassle. I got in line at the consulate around 7.30 am (my appointment was at 8 am), and I was still too late to be a first mover. Actually, I was the last person to enter the elevator, and a couple of people was left behind and had to wait, because there was not enough room to fit everyone. I thought to myself, that this would take all day, but I was lucky.

ON THE 19TH FLOOR AND DS-160

I hear the "ding" sound and the elevator opens. The first thing I see is people rushing out to be first. I had no choice but to stay at the back. I step out and a line is forming on the left side of the room, that kind of leads up to window 1, 2, 3, and 4 further ahead. Even the first movers were confused and started to line up, but I stuck to what the lady said initially, and I waited in line at the reception desk instead of being swayed to the "other" line. I think one guy got number A0, an older guy who was there with his son got number A1, and I got number A2, which was pretty fine with me, considering I failed to make good use of the elevator exploit:-) My number was quickly called, and I was instructed to go to window 2. I went there, and I was greeted by an angry looking woman, who seemed very impatient and a little bid fed up. I had a ton of original documents as well as copies of it all. I can´t remember the order in which she asked, but she asked for my passport, medical exam results, birth certificate, two pictures, and the affadavit of support. She was not always specific about whether she wanted originals or copies, but I gave her everything she wanted. Then she went on to ask for the confirmation page of the DS-160 form. I told her, that I did not have it. She then said, that she would have me exit the consulate and obtain a copy because the instructions were clear. I had already been scavenging the Visa Journey forums, and I have found people in similar situations as me, that they were unable to print the confirmation page, because the DS-160 could no longer be retrieved when attempting to retrieve it online. I insisted, that it was not possible for me to obtain, and explained to her the situation. I was firm but polite. She gave me a "I don´t know about that" line, and then she went on to take my finger prints. First four left fingers excluding my left thumb, then four right fingers excluding my right thumb, and then two thumbs up at the end:-) She instructed me to go back to the waiting area and wait until my number (A2) was called again in order for me to have my interview, so that is what I did.

THE INTERVIEW

A guy called me to window 10, which was in a slightly more secluded area, but it was not like I was called into an office with closed doors or anything like that. I was greeted by a man asking me how I was, and answered "Fine thanks, and you?". He then went on to give me a laminated piece of paper with an oath, that he asked me to read aloud. I read it out loud, and he took my fingerprints one more time as a signature for the oath. He asked me a couple of questions about where we met, how long we have been engaged, my fiancées occupation, and other straight forward and very easy to answer kind of questions. At one point he asked me to elaborate so I did, but he stopped me in my tracks almost immediately and went on to the next question. He also asked if I had ever been arrested, and if I had ever stayed in the US illegally. I think it took less than five minutes, and he told me, that he was approving our application. He printed a "Welcome to the United States of America" letter for me, that even had instructions on Loomis (these instructions are good) etc. That was it. I exited the embassy I am guessing at 8.51, and shortly after asked a passing woman on the street what time it was, and she replied 8.52. I couldn´t believe it. All this stress for such a miniscule thing.

Feel free to ask questions and good luck to everyone;-)

ADVICE

Be nice and precise

Do as you are told

Don´t bring backpacks

Don´t bring electronic car keys,

Dress nicely

Remember to breathe if you get nervous

[Lenny&Sanna 114]

Congratulations. Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us.

[Abby & Andre 27]

Thank you for sharing for experience! My fiance will be having his interview in Montreal very soon. We actually just received Packet 4 today and I am waiting on him to get home so we can schedule the interview. LOL

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K-1 Process to K-1 Progress Forum~

[Comic 66]

Congrats

[Ben7336 2]

Hi there people,

Here is a short update on my experience at the US Consulate in Montreal. My interview was today May 6th at 8 am this morning, and I was outside on Rue Saint Alexandre again with my visa approved at 8.52. I have been reading the forums on Visa Journey without being a member, and it has helped me tremendously. I hope, that I can be of help to anyone who feels the anxiety attending the K1 visa interview here in Montreal. It is hard to explain for people who have not tried this before, but probably not hard to imagine, that it really takes its toll to have your future decided based on an interview (oh and a ton of paperwork).

WAITING OUTSIDE

As I said, my interview was at 8 am, but I was already there around 6.45. There was noone at the consulate of course, and the sign outside says, that the consulate opens at 8 am. Just a heads up from the people walking down Rue Saint Alexandre heading towards Boulevard René Lévesque. You can already see the building, and you know it is the US Consulate because the numbers on the street indicates, as you are walking. The entrance is on the left hand side. At some point when getting close to the building, you might be tempted to walk up some stairs, but you should stop, because you will be greeted with a sign saying, that this is private property, and you are not allowed to access the area (mind you I did not walk up the stairs). So do not walk up the stairs to what you might think would be the entrance to the US Consulate. Instead, continue a few meters ahead, and you see the entrance just off the sidewalk on your left. You will also see a sign saying not to bring backpacks, explosives, cell phones, electronic car keys (yes you better believe it no electronic car keys), food, etc. A guy in front of me had brought a backpack with all his documents, and the guard told him to get rid of it, and they would/could not store it for him, and he was not allowed to carry it around or leave it on the premises. Personally, I did not bring my phone or watch, and I made sure, that I used plastic bags for all my documents, and I had for once dressed up nicely:-) thanks to the advice already found here on Visa Journey.

GETTING INSIDE

My advice is to dress up nicely and according to the weather. It was a little chilly early this morning, and I saw a guy who had dressed up extremely nice, but he was only wearing a shirt, and he seemed to be pretty cold. Well I think the time was around 7.30 when I arrived from drinking an apple juice at the Tim Horton´s café, and got in line behind approx. 15 to 20 people. Around 7.40 the guard outside started to let people in, and it did not take that long to get inside. Once I got inside a woman asked me about Loomis information and my passport, so I think the procedure for now is to have your passport and appointment information ready. It was a bit confusing, because when I looked at my appointment information, there was no mention of a Loomis reference number under Loomis Information, but I got to the bottom of it. She checked my appointment information and made a comment close to the Reference ID under Applicant Details instead, which was the section she was looking for (so I guess they should stop making people confused haha). Anyways, she looked at my passport and everything checked out of course. From reading the forums here on Visa Journey, I got the impression, that I would be given a number as soon as I entered the consulate, but that was not the case. Instead the woman gave me back my passport and appointment confirmation and told me to hand it to the receptionist upstairs, which again was pretty confusing, because the next thing that happened was the security check, and from the guards I received contradicting information (but not really a big deal).

THE SECURITY CHECK

So the next thing was the security check. Make sure, that when you walk up the 4 or 5 steps to the security check area, that you stay on the right side of the railings (mind you I did stay on the right side), since you will not be able to access the area from the left side of the railing. I know it is a small detail, but again it is potentially confusing, because it looks like you can access the security area from either side. I entered and for some reason the guards were really friendly and was kind of joking around. They gave me trays, where I could put my keys, wallet, and documents, and they ran my coat through the scanners separately. After that, I went through the scanner on the right side of the room, and everything went nice and smooth, but here is the potentially confusing part. After I was cleared, they told me to go downstairs, but the lady just before upon entering told me to go upstairs to the receptionist, and I was not under the impression, that a security check would be next for me. Well just writing down all these details, so you know what to expect, and again it is not really a big deal:-)

WAITING FOR THE ELEVATOR

I went downstairs, and I have read a couple of reports here on Visa Journey about staying close to the elevator while waiting to get upstairs to the 19th floor. The reason is, that you want to stay all the way at the back left of the elevator (when facing it), so you can quickly get to the reception area and get things done quickly without too much waiting hassle. I got in line at the consulate around 7.30 am (my appointment was at 8 am), and I was still too late to be a first mover. Actually, I was the last person to enter the elevator, and a couple of people was left behind and had to wait, because there was not enough room to fit everyone. I thought to myself, that this would take all day, but I was lucky.

ON THE 19TH FLOOR AND DS-160

I hear the "ding" sound and the elevator opens. The first thing I see is people rushing out to be first. I had no choice but to stay at the back. I step out and a line is forming on the left side of the room, that kind of leads up to window 1, 2, 3, and 4 further ahead. Even the first movers were confused and started to line up, but I stuck to what the lady said initially, and I waited in line at the reception desk instead of being swayed to the "other" line. I think one guy got number A0, an older guy who was there with his son got number A1, and I got number A2, which was pretty fine with me, considering I failed to make good use of the elevator exploit:-) My number was quickly called, and I was instructed to go to window 2. I went there, and I was greeted by an angry looking woman, who seemed very impatient and a little bid fed up. I had a ton of original documents as well as copies of it all. I can´t remember the order in which she asked, but she asked for my passport, medical exam results, birth certificate, two pictures, and the affadavit of support. She was not always specific about whether she wanted originals or copies, but I gave her everything she wanted. Then she went on to ask for the confirmation page of the DS-160 form. I told her, that I did not have it. She then said, that she would have me exit the consulate and obtain a copy because the instructions were clear. I had already been scavenging the Visa Journey forums, and I have found people in similar situations as me, that they were unable to print the confirmation page, because the DS-160 could no longer be retrieved when attempting to retrieve it online. I insisted, that it was not possible for me to obtain, and explained to her the situation. I was firm but polite. She gave me a "I don´t know about that" line, and then she went on to take my finger prints. First four left fingers excluding my left thumb, then four right fingers excluding my right thumb, and then two thumbs up at the end:-) She instructed me to go back to the waiting area and wait until my number (A2) was called again in order for me to have my interview, so that is what I did.

THE INTERVIEW

A guy called me to window 10, which was in a slightly more secluded area, but it was not like I was called into an office with closed doors or anything like that. I was greeted by a man asking me how I was, and answered "Fine thanks, and you?". He then went on to give me a laminated piece of paper with an oath, that he asked me to read aloud. I read it out loud, and he took my fingerprints one more time as a signature for the oath. He asked me a couple of questions about where we met, how long we have been engaged, my fiancées occupation, and other straight forward and very easy to answer kind of questions. At one point he asked me to elaborate so I did, but he stopped me in my tracks almost immediately and went on to the next question. He also asked if I had ever been arrested, and if I had ever stayed in the US illegally. I think it took less than five minutes, and he told me, that he was approving our application. He printed a "Welcome to the United States of America" letter for me, that even had instructions on Loomis (these instructions are good) etc. That was it. I exited the embassy I am guessing at 8.51, and shortly after asked a passing woman on the street what time it was, and she replied 8.52. I couldn´t believe it. All this stress for such a miniscule thing.

Feel free to ask questions and good luck to everyone;-)

ADVICE

Be nice and precise

Do as you are told

Don´t bring backpacks

Don´t bring electronic car keys,

Dress nicely

Remember to breathe if you get nervous

Thanks for sharing!

[Mark and julie 1]

Congs

[spielerin 24]

Thanks for such detailed information, one quick question - can my fiance attend the interview as well?