Our Montreal Interview.........

[Cantwait2gethome 0]

Well folks, we did it...we were APPROVED !!!!

We left home around 11:30 am and got to our hotel (La Tour) around 9:30pm. We were very exhausted and tired, so did not do to much but grab a bite at the Burger King a few blocks down and then went to bed. Neither one of slept very well. All I can say is that I dreaded the room we were in. Outside of locality to the Consulate, I would not advise this hotel. Our bed was like sleeping on rocks, the room was extremely hot, in the bedroom there was crud left from other people who stayed there (will not get into the disguisting things we found), the couch was broken, our bathtub had holes in it, had to pull tooth n nail to get clean set of towels.....list could go on and on. So yeah, I dont give this hotel any kind of high rating, except...it is only a 3 min walk to the consulate and nicely centered in downtown area (can easily "tour" the area). Then again, there were several other hotel chains in same area. Wish I would have a spent a few more dollars for better hotel.

So...our alarm goes off at 5:00 am. Talk about nerves at their last straw. We end up getting out of the hotel around 6:30 and notice no one is standing at the consulate. So we go down to the Timmies and hubbie has a tea. We get back to the consulate around 6:55am. We were the third in line. The first was a young couple (not sure if they from VJ), second was a family. At 7:30 the doors open and the security guard asks one by one to see their letter. We are told to wait in the foyer until called. Once directed in, they have us put all our things in a basket and walk through the metal detector. As we go through I heard the one officer tell the other to check my purse, unusual object in there. Of course I look at my husband and start freaking a bit because all I had in my purse was a book and my wallet with a few id's. The officer pulls me to the side and tells me he has to look thru my purse. He pulls out my book and then hands me my purse back. We are given a little card with the letter C on it and window 9 below it. We are told to go downstairs, that an officer at 7:45 will usher us up to the 19th floor. At 7:45 a guard comes in and gave precise directions that anyone with letters A- E to get in line. Of course there were a few that tried to get in line that didnt have those letters (not sure if they didnt understand directions, or only heard part of what he said). Once on the 19th floor , we were directed to go to window 9. Once at window 9 we were asked for the top page of the packet that gives the date of the interview. After giving it to her ( was the infamous blonde ), she said to have seat and someone will call us. We sat for about 10 min and then heard our name called. Once at the window, the lady that helped us get our packet together was SO nice and calm. She joked and laughed with us as we got our papers ready. She said to us, " I love your organizational skills, but all you really had to do is just have forms that were more than one page, stapled." So we pulled all of our nicely paper clipped forms apart and put them into individual piles. She asked for hubbies 2 pictures, long form birth certificate and copy of birth certificate, marriage certificate and copy, copy of my divorce records from my first marriage, hubbies folder with medical (didnt ask for xray)my affadivit of support, and then anyone else who was co-sponsering, their affadivit and supporting documents. She then gave us the form to fill out for the envelope to send his passport back in. She then instructed to go pay our fee, to then return back to the seats across from her window. She said she would be back and instructed that we do not give our proof of payment to anyone but her, and she also instructed to not stand at the window, that she would call us back up. After standing in line for about 20 minutes, we pay our fee and go and sit as directed. After waiting about 30 min, she calls us back up, and we give her the proof of payment and the return label. She then instructed my husband on what to do for the finger prints. After they are scanned, she giggled and said, "Not to many get the prints on the first try". After she verified address and making sure address was correct, she instructed us to sit and wait for our named to be called. The first portion only took about an hour to do, very simple steps.

At 9:45 they started calling folks in for the interview. The first few times your instructed to go to "windows" , but for the interview, your instructed to go to "doors". The first to be called was the family of 4. They were out in about 10 min. The second to go was the young couple. They were in there about 5 min. When they came out, the girl was smiling ear to ear and looked like tinker bell on her toes. Hubbie leans over to me and says, " Dont need to guess that they got approved! " Then they call us. Walking up to the door, I swear I heard my heartbeat through my ears . As we go in, all i see is this young guy sittin on a perch stool behind a glass wall. He asks us to raise our right hand and swear to tell the whole truth.

Consular: How did you guys meet ?

Hubbie (perky as can be):We met online

Consular: What chat room ?

Hubbie: Actually we met in EQ (for those who dont know, EVERQUEST)

Consular : *giggles* Here I thought all EQ marriages were done

Hubbie : Well, we have been married for 2 years.

Consular : <starts to explain a new form of internet dating, something about making a fuzzy toon, and how these fuzzy creatures get married>

Consular: Where will you live ?

Myself : We will live with my parents till we can get settled in

Consular : And what will you do for work ?

Myself: I will stay in the nursing field, old employeer cannot reconsider me until I can give them a moving date

Hubbie : Plan to work in the same career field as Im doing now, or work for <company he is with now>

Consular: Have you ever been convicted of crime ?

Hubbie: NO.

Consular: Have you ever been rejected entrance into the United States?

Hubbie: NO.

Consular: Very nice. Im happy to say that all your paper work is in order, and are approved for your visa. The visa will arrive within one week.

Hubbie and myself : Thank you

Myself : Have a wonderful Thanksgiving

Consular : You both do the same

We were in and out in 5 minutes . Over all, the gentleman was very friendly and laid back. I really didnt feel like we were being interviewed at all. I know as soon as he said we were approved , I felt the large set of bricks lift off my chest. All in all, it took us 3 hours from beginning till we walked out the consulate doors. Everyone there was extremely friendly and helpful to us.

Afterwards, we went back to lay down for a nap, or at least try to!

We had a wonderful meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. Only about a 15 min walk from La Tour. We then did a bit of sight seeing on foot. Montreal is such a lovely place, but I sure felt like I was in whole different world. Not knowing to much french (only word I know is Bonjour--from the many border crossings , LOL) really made understanding what was written and being said , very very difficult, but well worth the trouble =)

We stopped in Ottawa, ON to visit the Parliment. Absolutely breath taking !

All in all, we had a great time, and absolutely no problems at the consulate.

Hope this helps anyone due to have their interview. As it has been mentioned by other VJ'ers, dont lose sleep over the interview! It is very simple and will seem like nothing at all. For those who may forget or lose their pictures, there is a booth in the basement that will do pics. It is $4.00 for 4 pictures. Cash only.

And a hint to those looking at hotels, check all the hotels in downtown area. I saw at least a dozen that were just a short jaunt to the consulate. Others may have had an OK experience at La Tour, but I personally will not recommend them.

We will not be landing anytime in the near future. We are looking at Feb/March to land. Our interview came much sooner than we anticipated and there are a few things we need to finish here in Canada before we move. Plus that will give us time to purge , purge, purge and do some more purging! When I immigrated to Canada, I brought 200+ boxes, plus enough furniture that as soon as the lease my husband was in expired, we had to upgrade to a much larger apartment . Granted only select items will return with me, as we will be living with my folks till we find a place we want. At that point, we are just going to buy new furniture. But he has several boxes he has to purge as well hehe.

Good luck to future interviewers !

Candy and David

Edited October 7, 2007 by Cantwait2gethome

[Jasman0717 9]

Congratulations Nice post, thanks for sharing

[samaci 0]

Yay!! Congrats!!! I was there right along with you. When I walked up, there were about 8-10 people in line already... I was given Letter D... The interview guy was nice and made a few jokes. My room at the hotel was allright.

[bradcanuck 1]

This story makes me so happy and helps lift a huge rock off my shoulders. (maybe it's the rock you slept on the other night?)

CONGRATSS!!

[Lance27 19]

Great Review, Congratulations !!!

[trailmix 77]

This story makes me so happy and helps lift a huge rock off my shoulders. (maybe it's the rock you slept on the other night?)

CONGRATSS!!

Congratulations Candy and David and Samaci!! Great review too, glad it all went so smoothly for you. Not good about the hotel, my Husband was going to stay there when he goes for his interview - now I'm thinking not!

[~Nini~ 2]

I'm sorry that you had such a bad night in your hotel. But great review! Congratulations

Now all there's left is packing... oh right, that reminds me that I still have some of my life to put into more boxes. *totters off*

Edited October 7, 2007 by Nini & Bee

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Congrats!!!! A superlative review, lots of detail which hopefully will help out those of us yet to have an interview. Bravo!

[PfcsBaby 0]

Congrats! As stressed out as I'am with my interview, its nice to hear that it really isn't that bad when you get there.

[Flames9_RN 358]

Congrats!! Sorry about the hotel i stayed there in Dec 2004. My room was ok, clean etc, but surely not modern!! i was happy it had a fridge to keep the beer cold for my 2 night stay,lol

[KarenCee 3]

Congratulations! My husband said his interview was a short and sweet one as well..five minutes! He wasn't too fussy about the hotel either (La Tour) but he was so nervous that I don't think it would have mattered if it had been a Ritz-Carlton penthouse suite! Glad to know it's behind you though, eh?

Edited October 7, 2007 by KarenCee

[Cassie 8]

Congrats!!!!!

[BH45 0]

Congrats...its very helpful to read that ppl waiting interviews really don't need to spend any sleepless nights worrying about it ...

[L_n_O 3]

great review!

congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[daisylynn 0]

CONGRATULATIONS Candy!! Very exciting! I'm so glad things went so smoothly! Great review