US Immigration from Canada

Hey!

I am waiting on a K-1 visa right now and my fiance in the USA seems to believe that visa interviews are the exact same as job interviews. It's to get to know each other and for some odd reason he seems to believe that the individual being interviewed is supposed to ask questions about the visa and what comes next. I have no idea where he got this idea as he has done little to no research about this visa. Wouldn t it look odd to the interviewing officer if the person they were interviewing didn't know much about their own visa? He also believes that, just like a job interview, that I SHOULD have questions to ask the interviewing officer because it will increase my chances of getting a visa and it makes me look good . I don t believe they care at all about what comes next and whether I know it or not, they probably only care if I have the right documents that they need to be looking at. However I could be completely wrong. I have read through many of the consulate reviews, specifically Montreal, and none of the posts indicate that interviews are going to be like a job interview. So, does anyone have any insight into this? Feel free to laugh as well, I know this is goofy.

Obviously this post goes out to ALL visa types that have interviews and if I posted this in the wrong forum I apologize.

Hi,

We're in the process of putting together our AOS from F-1 package. We've gotten almost all of the required evidence and paperwork together, but we've been waiting on our joint sponsor's I-864. Their package is now complete, but as we live in different states there's no way we'll have our entire AOS package prepared and mailed by 02/23 (their package has to be mailed to us so we can add it to the AOS package). They (and we) will now have to use the new, updated version of the I-864 to complete our application.

Has anyone managed to find the new one? The press release from USCIS (https://www.uscis.gov/news/news-releases/uscis-announces-public-charge-rule-implementation-following-supreme-court-stay-nationwide-injunctions) states that the updated I-864 will be published the week of Feb 2, but when I download the form from their webpage it is still dated 03/06/18, with an expiration date of 03/31/2020, which is the form they're no longer accepting.

Any suggestions? Or is it a waiting game until they publish the new one?

Here s a review of my CR-1 Visa Interview in Montreal from Tuesday, Feb 18th. Appt scheduled for 8:30AM.

I got to the embassy at 8:30AM and the security guard let me in. Lady at a podium just took my passport (didn t even look at my interview letter) and scrolled through her little tablet. Then gave me my passport back with a sticker on the back of it. And handed me 2 slips of paper with the same number I 517. This is the number they will call you with as you get called up twice. I put my little bag with my binder and things in it and also my jacket on the conveyer belt. They ask you to empty out your pockets including the jacket pockets.

I stepped through the security gate and the security guard manually went through my bag then let me go. You take the elevator up just 1 floor. (They have everything clearly labeled in the elevator).

Once upstairs, there s a fairly large waiting room, but it gets pretty full. There s a tv on the wall beside the elevator. This tv will ring every time a new number is called and will show which window to go to. There are 12 windows total, but I think 1-5 are the only ones doing the immigrant visas. I might be wrong. I took a seat around 8:40AM.

Few things to note in the waiting area: no food allowed (there was a sign). There are water fountains and washrooms. Also there was this one female security guard who was very strict about people sitting. Also there was 2 young teens with their parents, and the 2 teens were sleeping against each other s shoulders. And that female security guard came over and clapped her hands in front of their faces really loud. And said you re not allowed to sleep here, you need to watch for your number. The mom told the guard they were together, but she didn t care lol poor kids.

Waited about an hour until I was called up to a window. They took my number slip. The man took the following:

• Passport
• Med package
• 1 photo
• Birth cert
• Marriage cert (short form)
• Police check

He opened the med package, took the papers and gave me the cd back (I think it s my X-ray). When he asked for my marriage cert, he told me to give him the one I submitted online. I explained that the website says to submit the long form which I did, but it was rejected, and I just wrote a note saying I d bring the right one to the interview. I showed him both through the glass window and it seemed like he wasn t even sure which one to take. Then I pointed to the long form and said this is the one we tried submitting. And then he pointed to the short form and told me to just give that one.

Then he confirmed my Canadian address, which I had to update verbally. (Even though I called NVC to tell them of my new address and the new address was on my interview letter, they still had my old cdn address on their computer.) Then he asked about my US address, which I also updated verbally. Then I did some fingerprinting and he gave me the domestic violence pamphlet. And he said they d call me up again.

I waited about another hour before they called me up again through the tv screen. This time it was a lady who was a bit more friendly. She made me raise my right hand and take an oath that I would tell the truth, then fingerprinted to confirm the oath.

She asked the following:

• How did we meet? When?
• How long have we dated?
• What does your husband do?
• Where do I plan to live?
• First marriage for both? Any Kids?
• Have I been arrested?
• Have I been in the US for longer than 6 months?
• Have I travelled outside of canada/us in the past 6 years?
• Have I ever been to China?
• Do I plan to go to China?

Then she said everything looks good and that I should get my passport back in 1-2 weeks. She gave me the Welcome to the US paper and highlighted the site to track my passport.

I think I was out around 10:45AM. So about 2 hours 15 mins total.

I m a bit surprised that they didn t ask for any of the additional docs I brought. My husband started a new job since we submitted. So I had a new I-864EZ, his 2019 W2s, offer letter, and latest pay stub. But I didn t give any of it.. I ll bring them to the POE just in case. But everything seems in the clear so far.

The visa status on CEAC tracker showed issued by 9pm same day.

Hello all I am following up with my post about criminal record checks.

I went in and requested the privacy act with finger printing and I had said please include this name in the other names section, as it was my previous married name and don't use it anymore.

I looked on the receipt the officer had created for me. It showed the previous name and my current legal name as I went back to my maiden name.

I received my copy today in the mail that I will be taking to Montreal. It is addressed to me, current legal name, but there is no mention of other names searched.

Is this a non issue or do I need to get some clarification from Montreal?

if a picture is needed for reference please let me know.

Thanks in advance

Ashley

Wow, I am tentatively pleased to announce that today (Feb 19) I got an email from USCIS that implies my I-130 was approved; my case status was changed to "Post Decision Activity" and informed me that they have sent my case "to the Department of State for visa processing". It further directs me to consult the website where I "can find general information on Consular Processing" and that the "website will provide information on what do next, who to contact and how to inform us of any changes in your situation or address."

I believe that, regardless that I do not have the formal NOA2 letter in hand, that this is effectively what this means, based on the language in the email and on my USCIS account.

My file was only transferred from Nebraska to the Vermont service center on February 4. So if I am correct in interpreting this, it took only 15 days for a decision on the I-130 after transferring!