LiteV

We were allowed to take our 15-month old US citizen with us. If your minor is that young, it's also allowed to bring in some snacks for them and maybe an activity book for them to color for toddlers. We didn't take any snack for our child because we thought we couldn't - we saw some others that did. He later became so fussy, and they wouldn't let us run to the car to get anything after we got in.

I’ve been a long-time lurker but felt compelled by AA-H’s snide remarks and the virtual little finger-waving he was doing as though he was talking to a toddler. I only shared my experience. You don’t have to believe it – that doesn't mean it’s not true. I am also certain that I entered the comment in the right cell, and someone must have modified the spreadsheet to jumble the data. Nevertheless, I have benefitted immensely from this forum and thought it’s only appropriate to give back if it’s going to help some other people. I went to the consulate with my family on the 9th of September and had my interview ~10:30AM (those with the same appointment time band would recognize us) and we were approved on the spot. Like others have commented, the interview was uneventful and was more of a document review. The next day, we got a refusal letter – specifically: (see the inset below) I reckon not everyone got this letter. I believe I must have been sent this letter because I have been working onsite in the US for some time now and there was no way I could stay for up to 4 weeks after the interview without jeopardizing my job. So, I sent an email to the consulate that I would like to have our passports back. I didn’t get a response to my email, but I went to the consulate anyway. I told the security that I had an interview the previous day and was told to contact them if I wanted our passports back. The security personnel reached out to the officials upstairs and a few minutes later, the security team brought down our passports. I emailed the consulate again at the end of September that I would be bringing my passport on September 30. I didn’t get a response from them either. I also did not know there was a public holiday in Canada. I went back the next day (Oct. 1st) and the security personnel was hesitant with accepting our passports. I figured if I was refused, I could simply send it in using a courier but wanted the benefit of knowing that I hand-delivered my passports myself. After some explanation, the security team was magnanimous enough to call the officials upstairs for some clarification. Surprisingly, I was told I could come in and was told which window to go. The agent that attended to me told me they would get back to me the next day. I was surprised and not sure what he meant, and asked if our passports were going to be ready but was told they would keep me posted. I was asked to write down my phone number again. The wait started and was not sure what to expect. I got a call late in the afternoon – around 2:30 PM on October 2nd, that our passports are ready and asking if I could be at the consulate at 3:00PM. I pleaded I could only be there at 3:15PM. We stayed at an hotel in Laval, and Montreal’s traffic can be so unpredictable. I rushed and got to the consulate at around 3:22PM and told the security team that I got a call to come in. I got upstairs and showed them my ID and our passports were handed back to us. From the conversations I had with the security team, I guess what happened with me wasn’t standard practice, I guess I was lucky and I’m thankful for that. We crossed the border today and the border officials endorsed our passports. I am very grateful to the various contributions on this forum. The interview itself was as described. The only things I was unsure of was if I could bring a 15-month-old that was not part of our application with us. We did and was allowed to bring the baby in. I also thought we couldn’t bring snacks for our little ones, but saw some other families that did. I'd be happy to answer any question and fill in any gaps.