Interview went well (Montreal)

[J&K 0]

Congrats Mo!

[Detty2809 0]

Congrats!!

[billsgirl 0]

Monique.....i am sooo happy for you...about time..huh??.....well congrats and all the best to you...

[Buttons 0]

Well, at 6:00 a.m. (ok.. 6-ish) when the guy at the hotel's front desk said it was -30 outside I decided not to go line up by 7:00 a.m. as planned. To hell with it - I'm not a penguin after all!

So at 7:15 I left the safety of the nice warm hotel room and walked the 50 steps or so over to the consulate with my scarf wrapped around my head like an old Italian granny. I was the first person there and by the time they unlocked the doors and invited me in at about 7:25, I truly began to question whether this visa was actually worth standing outside in the freezing cold for. Ok.. not really, but I did consider just coming back later.

Then the doors were opened and all was forgotten. It was definitely more pleasant than going through airport security. I did not have to take my shoes off and the guards/officers were very nice. After the security check, I was given a chit which read "A - window #9". The guard told me not to lose it cause it meant I was first in line. I was shown downstairs to the waiting/elevator area. Two other girls joined me. At exactly 7:45 a guard came down and took us up to the 19th floor. At window 9 we gave up our passports and interview letters. By 8:00 I had already been called up to window 12 (first and by name) to hand over all the necessary documents and then directed to pay at window 14 when it opened at 8:10 and leave the receipt at window 12 when I was done.

By 8:30 I was called into interview room #8 to (of course) be interviewed. The guy was very nice, in fact everyone was very nice. He asked me how we met, what first attracted me to David, what David does, what my plans are for work in the US and then whether I had any convictions or problems crossing the border. When I told him that I'd never been prevented from crossing, but pulled into secondary last August, he waved it off, calling it 'special attention' and saying it was common and not held against us.

He then took my index prints for the extra screening that they are doing, which consists of name checks and FBI checks mostly to look for overstays and law trouble in the US. Strangely enough he mentioned that part of this was already done. I can't remember if it was the name or FBI check. He told me that my case was cut and dry and that they'd probably be mailing my visa out today or tomorrow and that I'd get it either tomorrow, or by Friday or Monday for the latest.

I confirmed that I was good to go once the security checks came back and he said yes and wished me luck. And that was it. I said goodbye and left. I left the embassy by 8:50 and by that time there was quite a lineup waiting to clear security. After seeing that I was glad I decided not to be a big baby and stick out the 10 mins I had to wait in the cold earlier. Of course I was so hyped by this point that I forgot to wrap up like an old Italian granny again and by the time I got back to the hotel I really did think I'd never be able to feel my ears again. Damn Montreal was cold!!!!!

Strangely enough, once I got over last week's panic attack, I have felt no worry at all and did not feel nervous at the embassy today. In fact, thanks to VJ and you guys, I felt like an old hand. There was another young woman there who was doing the K3 process and of course did not know that Montreal had changed their 'next day' policy. She was told to go buy an xpresspost envelope and come back (was given a golden ticket to do so). She and her husband had already paid 2 lawyers to get this far. Of course I told her about VisaJourney and she ended up asking me all sorts of questions about what happens next. Her lawyer told her that she would probably be given her greencard today at the interview. Anyone else ever hear of that? Anyway, I was glad to give what advice I could.

We drove back to Toronto almost right away and now I am safely at home. I plan to sleep like a rock tonight.

So that's my interview over. I'll keep you updated as to when I actually get the visa in the mail, though it sounds to me like they are just buying time.

Good luck everyone still interviewing this week!

Monique

Congrats !!!

[SoL. 0]

Congrats!!!!

[Officer's Fiance 0]

AH MO- Congratulations!! I am so happy for you that everything went well. I was thinking of y'a!

Tanya

[Allie 5]

Congrats Monique Happy to hear all went well. Thanks for sharing your story.

Is it a requirement to bring an Xpress Post envelope to the interview

[mozplay 29]

Is it a requirement to bring an Xpress Post envelope to the interview

From what we are understanding and being told now, YES it is a requirement to bring a pre-paid, signature required 12"x15" Xpress Post envelope with you to the interview (addressed to yourself of course).

Thanks for all the congrats all, though until I get my grubby little hands on the visa, I really won't feel approved yet. I tell you what - not having my passport with me is nervewracking!!!!!!

Mo

[Leafgal 3]

Congrats that is wonderful news for sure. Hope you get your visa right away so you can get on with the rest of your plans.

[together2love 0]

Congratulations! Things are going to warm up for your REAL soon!

[ene 0]

Is it a requirement to bring an Xpress Post envelope to the interview

From what we are understanding and being told now, YES it is a requirement to bring a pre-paid, signature required 12"x15" Xpress Post envelope with you to the interview (addressed to yourself of course).

Thanks for all the congrats all, though until I get my grubby little hands on the visa, I really won't feel approved yet. I tell you what - not having my passport with me is nervewracking!!!!!!

Mo

First of all, congrats Mo! I wondered if I'd bump into you at the consular office. With regards to your comment about the x-press pot being a requirement, I'm not sure if it's a requirement as of yet. I didn't bring one (even though I had read about the new law in VJ-I took my chances) but got my visa the next day. The two people who handled my case asked me if I had the envelope and I told them that in the letter they sent out in November, they had given me two options and I had decided to go for the option of picking it up in person. Then he told me that they're trying to mail the visas as much as they can. But the adjudicator in room C8, gave me a yellow card with re-entry permission into the consular office for the next day... I think it really depends on the person. I took my chances and pretended not to know about this new law and was willing to go out and buy the enveloppe had it been required... This is my experience and hope it'll be the one for the others as well.

[mozplay 29]

Is it a requirement to bring an Xpress Post envelope to the interview

From what we are understanding and being told now, YES it is a requirement to bring a pre-paid, signature required 12"x15" Xpress Post envelope with you to the interview (addressed to yourself of course).

Thanks for all the congrats all, though until I get my grubby little hands on the visa, I really won't feel approved yet. I tell you what - not having my passport with me is nervewracking!!!!!!

Mo

First of all, congrats Mo! I wondered if I'd bump into you at the consular office. With regards to your comment about the x-press pot being a requirement, I'm not sure if it's a requirement as of yet. I didn't bring one (even though I had read about the new law in VJ-I took my chances) but got my visa the next day. The two people who handled my case asked me if I had the envelope and I told them that in the letter they sent out in November, they had given me two options and I had decided to go for the option of picking it up in person. Then he told me that they're trying to mail the visas as much as they can. But the adjudicator in room C8, gave me a yellow card with re-entry permission into the consular office for the next day... I think it really depends on the person. I took my chances and pretended not to know about this new law and was willing to go out and buy the enveloppe had it been required... This is my experience and hope it'll be the one for the others as well.

Excellent! Very happy for you that you got your visa - hopefully they will continue to be as understanding with others who have been caught up in the change.

Monique

[KarenCee 3]

Congratulations Mozplay! Good luck to those who have interviews coming up soon too!

[Peggy 1]

Congrats

[Asamu 0]

Congratulations!!!!! Yeah yeah YEAH!!