Hi everyone,
I just got back home after a bunch of flight delays and wanted to share my pre-interview and interview experience here.
I am an EB-2 immigrant visa applicant - DQ date: 30th Aug 2021; interview date: 17th July, 2023. My visa got approved, a big thanks to everyone here.
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Things that changed in my case from my DQ date till the time I got the interview:
Company that filed my petition got acquired in a successor-in-interest merger
Got married
Applied for a non-immigrant visa while waiting for the interview (not B1/B2)
Things I got done before receiving the interview letter:
Vaccination documents - I did have my vaccination documents from my childhood. But since it was all over the place, I took the antibody titer test. I went to a nearby walk-in clinic and got all the tests done (I had to get a TDAP as there is no way of showing immunity for that, so unless you have proof that you took a TDAP in the last ten years, you will have to get a booster shot). My titer test showed that I did not have the required Hep B immunity level (although I did get all three vaccinations as a child). To ensure that there are no issues during medical, the doctor said I could take another shot to show immunity. So I got a shot and then took a titer test four weeks later. That showed the required immunity and I was all set or the medical. The Hep B shot is not covered by OHIP.
Acquisition Documents - Given the acquisition (successor-in-interest) of my original petitioner, the new company had to apply for an amended I-140. They could not file this for premium processing directly, but could only request for premium processing after sometime had passed. End to end, this took about five weeks as the request for premium processing got approved, and I got the amended I-140 approval within 14 days after that.
Things I got done after getting the interview letter:
Got new PCCs
Booked my appointment for medicals
Got a copy of the amended I-140 approval
Got the employment letter from my new employer (dated within a month of the interview on the US employer letterhead, and it mentioned the acquisition too)
Started getting all the documents for the interview together
Booked flights/hotel for stay (I suggest to take a flight to Montreal atleast two days before the interview given the number of flight cancellations going on at present, and to stay at a hotel close to the consulate if possible.)
Medicals for Interview:
I went with Dr.Randall Lee for my medical. I decided to go with Dr.Randall Lee as everyone here seemed to have a pleasant experience with him/his office. I called his office for an appointment and got one about five weeks before my interview date. I had travel plans to the US and wasn't sure if I could do medicals before that. I checked here in the forum and people said I could do it regardless of when I'm traveling (after/before doesn't matter) and that I just needed to remember to give enough time for the doctor's office to submit the medicals to the consulate and that I would have to enter the US within six months of medicals being done (if visa gets approved).
The medicals by itself was smooth (except that it took a while). I took only the documents the receptionist mentioned on the call when I booked the appointment, which were the following:
List of any medications
Valid passport
DS-260 confirmation page
Immunization records (antibody titer test and old vaccination records)
NVC interview letter
Prescription for corrected vision (I just told them I have corrected vision - didn't have to show any proof for this)
(photos are taken at doctor’s office)
My appointment was at 0930AM and I met with the doctor only after 1030AM. With the blood work and the X-ray after meeting the doctor, it took me about three hours to get done with the medicals. I could have gotten the blood work done later, but I wanted to finish everything with regards to the medical in one shot, so I chose to wait and finish that as well. Both blood work and X-ray are in the same building, so I could get everything done in one place. The doctor told me that I would receive an email saying the medicals were submitted. But when I checked with the receptionist, she said I should call in to check and that an email would not be sent.
After ten days, I saw the 'Last Updated Date' on CEAC change. I called in the next day and they said the medicals were submitted, and that they would send the vaccination record that they submitted. I waited for about 7-8 days, and during this time, I saw my 'Last Updated Date' on CEAC change everyday for three days. I called them to check again and they said it was submitted and then shared the vaccination record with me. I would suggest to follow up with them if this isn't received.
Interview Document Preparation:
I got all the originals of the civil documents I submitted to NVC, and took copies of each of them. These primary documents were the following:
Birth Certificate
Unexpired passport
Police certificates (recent ones)
Marriage certificate (I was not married at the time of DQ, so this was not in the documents that I had sent to NVC)
Passport size phots - 2 (I took mine at Staples)
Employment letter (from my new company) along with a copy of the amended I-140 approval
Proof of legal status in Canada (NVC requested me to send this additionally after receiving the first set of documents before DQ, so I added this as well to my list)
I took my NVC interview letter and DS-260 confirmation page along with the above (these were't asked).
I also took a couple of supplementary documents which were the following:
Previous US tax returns (last two) and W2s
I-94
Travel history
Copies of old US visas
Diplomas (copy) and original transcripts
Old work authorization documents/I-797s if any
Resume
Copies of US paystubs (last three months) from when I worked there
DS-260 application with corrections/updates written in pen (I did this more for myself to understand as to what I would have to tell them has changed over the last two years)
Spouse's documents (their employment verification letter, last three months paystubs, lease, last year's W2, last year's US tax return, copy of their US visa and I-94, last three months' bank statements, driver's license)
Additionally, I also took some of my Canadian documentation:
Canadian bank statements (last three months)
Lease in Canada
Canadian Tax return + T4
Before the Interview:
I planned to fly there two days before my interview. My flight got cancelled and then delayed, so the extra day gave me some relief and I made it later that same night.
The US Consulate was five minutes away from my hotel. I walked there the previous day to see where it was, so that I don't waste time on the interview day looking for the consulate.
Interview:
I got to the consulate half an hour before the interview, and there was already a line with about 12-15 people there. The security guard started letting in people who were waiting for American services first around that time. Once they were all done (apart from those who had later appointments), they started letting in the rest of us. I would suggest to not bring a backpack as they don't have place to keep that. They only have small lockers where you can keep your phones and any other small items in.
When I got in, they checked my passport to see whether they had my name on their list and then gave me a token with a number on it. After this, I had to pass through security. I then waited for my number to be called.
After about 45-50 minutes, my number came up and I went to the counter where this friendly lady asked for my passport and then got my documents that they received from NVC. She then proceeded to ask me for my current Canadian and US addresses. She asked me if I had any valid US visas, which I said I did. She made a note and told me that if the IV is approved, this would have to be cancelled and was making a note of the same. Once that was done, she asked for my original birth certificate, original police certificates (she checked the dates and that it was all clear), marriage certificate and copy, employment letter (I gave her the new one with the amended I-140 approval) and an extra copy of that. She asked me if I wanted to add my spouse to the case. I told her that they already have their own immigration ongoing and so I didn't want to add them. She verified my SSN and asked if I wanted to request a new one. I remember it being mentioned in this forum that the SSN we have is only for work with DHS authorization (it's written on the SSN) and that we should request a new one. So, I told her I would need a new one. She made a note of the same. She took my fingerprints and then asked me to wait in the waiting area until my number came up again for the actual interview. (this is from what I remember)
After about an hour and a half or so, I was called for the interview. The interviewer was very friendly and first stated the oath. After that he went on asking questions about my position and where I found the position in the company I was working in at the US previously, what my longest stay in the US was, what status I was at that time. He asked me if I'll be working at the new company, and that is when I informed him about the acquisition, and mentioned I had attached the amended I-140 approval there. He said that's alright and that as long as I have an amended I-140 approval, it's all good as USCIS needs to be informed about it. He then asked about my spouse, where they work, stay, and from where I'll be working. I asked him if I would need to provide proof of my legal status in Canada as I had to provide that to NVC, and he asked to me give it as it's good for them to know I'm in Canada legally. (this is from what I remember)
He then said my visa was approved, and went on to cancel my non-immigrant visa that was still valid.
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Overall, the entire interview took a total of about two and a half hours. Other than the time it took, it was smooth. My status on CEAC changed to 'Issued' by the time I got back to the hotel. I was not asked for any other documents apart from the primary documents I listed.
I'm yet to receive my passport. After that comes entering the US and getting the physical green card, new SSN.
Thanks to everyone in this forum who helped and shared their experiences! Finding this forum was gold, and I wish everyone all the very best for their interviews. The wait was real long, but there is light at the end of it.
