Montreal medical & Consulate interview Reviews

[capavasi 11]

Hey guys! Long time creeper here. This site has helped so much, just settling my nerves alone so I figure it’s my duty to pass on my experience to people going through the same process! Just a little background info: My fiancé and I filed for the k-1 visa April 10, 2017. He is the petitioner from the USA and I am from Canada.

 

I just had my interview today in Montreal and I was APPROVED! I’m so happy to be almost done! It was very anti-climatic compared to the paper work and getting everything accumulated over the past couple months.

 

Medical Exam Review:

My appointment was for Nov. 30/2017 at 2pm. I arrived around 1:30pm, it’s a very tall light rosey-pink champagne looking building. If you’re entering from the Main Street the elevators you need are on the left side which are floors 19-30. Floor 22 is the clinic and it’s listed under “horizon” in the elevator. It must have been a very busy day for them, there was no where to sit, barely anywhere to stand. I was there for about 4.5 hours total. When I arrived they asked for the confirmation letter of my interview (basically proof that you need this specific medical exam), my passport, a photocopy of my drivers license, 5 color USA style passport photos and vaccine history. They require you to fill out a quick little questionaire about you (your current address/intended address in the USA, MTL case #) and your medical history. There is an x-ray, blood test, urine test and visual test (similar to eye doctors, just covering one eye at a time and reading letters), and they give you all required vaccines if you don’t have what is needed (for an extra charge starting at $55 I believe). The psychical type part was a breeze, take off everything but underwear, typical eye/ear/throat and BP. And he tested for reflexes, and a quick breast/abdomen/lung exam. After this we went through the same questionaire as in the waiting room but with more doctor official info. Then it was done. 

My results were there 3 business days later after 2pm. They say they will call you, I didn’t recieve a call, but an email around 3:15pm and they close at 4pm. 

 

K-1 Visa fiancé Consulate Interview Review:

 

Side note: I had my fiancé with me, he just had to show his passport to come in and he was not able to attend the interview with me. 

 

My interview was at 7:30am. We arrived at around 6:50am. There is a Starbucks and a Tim Hortons near by if you need something to eat or a morning coffee. There was about 10 people lined up with the same interview time as me, a couple for 8am who were told to get to the back of the line. They DO tell you to line up against the wall. (Along the right side on the same street as Starbucks.) They let 4 people into the first part of the building a time.

You must have your appointment letter and passport out at this time, same with your partner if they are with you. This is where you recieve your number. I was #4. 

Next room is the security check (similar to airport security). I had brought a fairly large size purse with me, big enough to hold my binder and medical exam results easily. Which I was able to keep it me the whole time. We were required to turn off our cellphones and hand them in and got a ticket to pick them up after we were done. DO NOT LOSE THIS. Next we went down a flight of stairs to a waiting room for about 5 minutes and then we went on an elevator to the 19th floor. To another waiting room where the magic happens. They call you do a window (#1-4 I think) and this is where you provide the documents they require. Which are: 

 

1. Proof of payment (for consulate fee $265 USD, also the sheet you can print off from the email showing the interview date)

2. Passport and color photocopy 

3. 2 color 2x2” passport photos 

4. Original police certificate(s)

5. Original and photocopy of LONG FORM birth certificate. They did have short form option but I had both. 

6. Divorce certificate if applicable.

7. Medical exam results UNOPENED

8. Affidavit of Support 

9. Recent tax return (2016 - they ask to keep the copy so make sure to have a couple).

10. Letter of Intent within 30 days of interview

 

 

I was called to window #3, provided the docutments above. THIS IS NOT THE INTERVIEW. She asked me to confirm my current address here in Canada with a phone number, and my fiancé’s address in the USA with a phone number. Just basic things. You need to give them your finger prints on the electric scanner, LEFT 4 fingers first, then RIGHT four fingers, and then two thumbs. She took all the info provided and gave me a pamphlet about domest abuse and some other stuff and wrote my number (#4) on it. Told me to sit down and wait to be called again for my interview.

 

After about 5 minutes I was called for my interview, which was in a little room with a lady on the other side of a glass window. She was super friendly. I had to swear an oath and do finger prints again, exact same as before. From here she asked me some very basic questions such as: 

 

1. How did we meet?

2. When did we first meet?

3. What does your fiancé do for a living?

4. Is this your first marriage?

5. Have you ever visited him in the USA?

6. Have you ever been stopped at the boarder?

 

She asked them in a casual conversation manner, one question leading into the other. If I didn’t know better I wouldn’t have known I was being interviewed. She then said “Mam, congratulation you have been approved” and handed me the neon pink “welcome to America” sheet. 

She did inform me that the courier current is about 2-3 weeks delayed due to the holidays coming up, so unfortunately it might be a few more weeks until I’ll be able to see my fiancé again - ALTHOUGH Ashe did give me the option of either taking my passport that day and visiting during the holidays and then sending my passport back to them to finish the visa process. All in all the whole intervtook maybe 7 minutes? Between 5-10 for sure. We were there for just over an hour for the entire process. But we’re approved! YAY!

 

Some afterthoughts: we were staying in the Holiday Inn in China Town. 

From our hotel it was about a 12 minute walk downtown to the Medical exam building and about a 6-7 minute walk to the US Consulate. There was a simple grocery store near by (IGA) located in a mall. Which also had a very good brunch restaurant called “Eggspectation”.

Also the only English movie theatre is the Scotia Cineplex downtown as well. 

 

Sorry if my info is all over the place! I’m typing as I go! 

[spa 12]

Thanks for posting this and congratulations! Did you end up giving your passport there or do you plan to send it back to them later?

[capavasi 11]

1 hour ago, spa said:

Thanks for posting this and congratulations! Did you end up giving your passport there or do you plan to send it back to them later?

I left it with them.  As long as it’s here before janurary 3rd I’m happy. That’s when we’re planning on getting married!

[Noelle23 0]

For you or your sponsor did you have a letter of employment with your affidavit of support or just the tax return? Thanks!

[capavasi 11]

17 minutes ago, Noelle23 said:

For you or your sponsor did you have a letter of employment with your affidavit of support or just the tax return? Thanks!

No they didn’t require it any letter of employment, although we had it just in case 

[Noelle23 0]

39 minutes ago, capavasi said:

No they didn’t require it any letter of employment, although we had it just in case 

Okay, thank you!

 

Also - will you let us know when you receive your visa? So curious about the times! Our interview is the 13th. 

[pajobra 1,395]

Normally they just ask for the tax transcript from the year before but when I went she asked for that and said if you have other things to support the affidavit please give them to me.I gave her everything I had pay stubs, w-2s and employment letter. Might be good to have them just in case. Depends on who you get asking for forms.

[A & C 1 35]

My status changed the 'ready', woot!! but when I submitted the DS 160 it didn't ask for payment like I thought it would.

When do we pay the fee $265? DS-160, p3, p4 or at interview?  aviator99 D and T Cm6307

 

 

[DeepakChani 738]

Question: When scheduling your interview, was there immediate dates available or was there only appointments available several weeks ahead?  

[villemarie 4]

I also just saw my status change to "Ready" on CEAC but have not received a letter or email from the Consulate.

How did it work for those you have heard from the Consulate? Letter in the mail or email?

Should I pay the Visa Fee now and book an interview or wait??

 

Thanks!

[DeepakChani 738]

2 minutes ago, villemarie said:

I also just saw my status change to "Ready" on CEAC but have not received a letter or email from the Consulate.

How did it work for those you have heard from the Consulate? Letter in the mail or email?

Should I pay the Visa Fee now and book an interview or wait??

 

Thanks!

I would think you need to Submit "Packet 3" first (https://ca.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/07/Packet3Instructions-K1.pdf) . Once this is submitted via email, you will get Packet 4 which will give instructions on how to schedule medical and interview. 

[villemarie 4]

5 minutes ago, deepakchani said:

I would think you need to Submit "Packet 3" first (https://ca.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/07/Packet3Instructions-K1.pdf) . Once this is submitted via email, you will get Packet 4 which will give instructions on how to schedule medical and interview. 

But Ive received NO instruction whatsoever from the Consulate. Is it ok to go ahead of them??

[DeepakChani 738]

2 minutes ago, villemarie said:

But Ive received NO instruction whatsoever from the Consulate. Is it ok to go ahead of them??

I would call the Consulate to ask is it OK to send them because you already have your number. I have read on this website that some people send Packet 3 ahead of time and they have no problem.

[villemarie 4]

7 minutes ago, deepakchani said:

I would call the Consulate to ask is it OK to send them because you already have your number. I have read on this website that some people send Packet 3 ahead of time and they have no problem.

Thank you for your replies
Unfortunately the Consulate is currently not taking phone calls about these matters... Ive emailed them but they gave a standardized response of course  

I will wait!

[aviator99 51]

On 2/6/2018 at 12:27 PM, A & C 1 said:

My status changed the 'ready', woot!! but when I submitted the DS 160 it didn't ask for payment like I thought it would.

When do we pay the fee $265? DS-160, p3, p4 or at interview?  aviator99 D and T Cm6307

 

 

Hmm not during the DS-160 that's for sure, i'm not sure really, definitely not P3 cause I already emailed my P3 last Friday (no P4 response yet). Mayyyyybeee when we get P4 and can go online to setup the interview, I think their site might allow the payment of the fee but i'm not completely sure really. Worst case is we just pay it at the embassy. But not DS-160 and not P3 thats for sure.

 

1 hour ago, villemarie said:

I also just saw my status change to "Ready" on CEAC but have not received a letter or email from the Consulate.

How did it work for those you have heard from the Consulate? Letter in the mail or email?

Should I pay the Visa Fee now and book an interview or wait??

 

Thanks!

 

When was the "last updated" date indicated on your CEAC? I was just looking at your timeline and it left the NVC on Jan 17th and just changed to ready today? Wowww that seems so long. Ours left Jan 24th and changed to ready Feb 2nd. 

 

Packet 3 comes via mail (sometimes), but you are better off emailing Packet 3 right away when it says READY on the CEAC site and hope they respond ASAP with Packet 4. But it can take a while. Give it a few days and if you don't hear from them, email Packet 3 again.

 

Packet 3 states you cannot book an interview until you receive Packet 4. All interviews booked before receiving Packet 4 will be cancelled. You can't pay the Visa fee yet because there is no place to do that until (maybe) the interview-booking stage or when you actually go to the interview. All communication with Montreal is done via email so Packet 4 will come via an email response to your Packet 3 email.

Edited February 7, 2018 by aviator99
Added info