|
|
| Montreal, Canada |  Review on April 29, 2008: |
bmc9678
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
Our visa interview went great. My fiancée is from Montreal and I had been there on several occasions so we knew the area well. We elected to say at the hotel La Tour Centre Ville. It is located across the street from the Consulate. If you were thinking about staying their rooms they are very plain but often a good price for downtown Montreal.
Our appointment was April 2 at 8:00 AM. We arrived at 7:00 AM with our Timmy Hoes (Tim Horton’s) in hand and we were the second ones there. Around 7:30 they opened the door for us, which was great because the wind was very cold that day. A few things you should know for the interview. They will not allow backpacks or briefcases so do not plan on taking those. We carried all our documents in several large envelopes including the very large medical exam results. We noticed several people with trash bags or gift bags to carry their documents, which they seemed to allow. Once you are in you will go through an airport like security check. You cannot bring purses, cell phones, I pods or MP3 players so keep that in mind. Once were cleared security we were given a tag with a number on it and told to go down a flight of stairs and have a seat in a waiting area. After a few minutes about 4 or 5 of us gathered there when a security guard lead us over to an elevator to take us up to the 19th floor. Once you are up on the 19th floor you are basically in a large room filled with chairs and maybe 20 or more movie theater like ticket windows throughout the room. Everyone sits behind glass in these booths and you interact this way. I imagine this is done for security reasons but it was not what I had imagined. You’ll be directed to a window and called up by your letter you were given downstairs. You’ll submit whatever document they ask for. Next you’ll pay your visa fee. For us it was $131.00 and it had to be U.S. currency. After you have paid they will tell you to have a seat and wait for you name to be called. While you wait you have a beautiful view of Montreal. There will be lots of people there looking for visas for various issues but we were able to talk to a nice guy from Newfoundland who was marrying a woman from Hawaii. I must say it was nice to finally talk to someone going through a similar process. We compared notes. Anyway be prepared to be called over the loud speaker to come to a specific window where more documents will be submitted or your fiancée will be finger printed. Everyone was very nice and patient. Finally you will be called to come to a room where you will have the actual interview. Its kind of strange cause it feels like you in a closet with its own little movie theater ticket booth. You’ll be sworn in. Our interviewer was very nice and asked a few questions of both of us such as what I did for a living and for how long. They asked her what her plans were after she arrived in the U.S. He asked how we met. We met online and he wanted to know what web site or service. All the questions were easy and I say the interview it self was only around 10 minutes. He told us her visa would be approved and she would receive it in the mail in a few days. We were out of there at 9:30 AM. The interview was on a Wednesday and she received her passport with the visa in it the following Tuesday.
A few things we would recommend that proved helpful.
Be Organized
We had three 8 ½ x 11 manila envelopes with paper grouped that were similar and wrote on the outside what was in each. One with DS forms, another with personal information such as bank letters or employment info, and the last envelope was phone record, pictures, and letters between my fiancé and I (which they never asked for but better to have then not.
Get There Early
Either way you will wait but the sooner you get inside the sooner you will begin getting processed. The appointment time didn’t see to matter although our time was early. If you have to wait they will line you up outside and there will be a security person letting you in and out. You will feel like you are waiting to get into the newest nightclub.
Make copies of just about everything
We found these helpful because they will make copies for you but the’re $1.00 per copy and I know we had to turn in a copy of her birth certificate. Also you have to turn in a lot of papers and if they lose them it would be nice to have them for your records.
Relax
As long as you’ve done everything they ask you’ll be fine. Its seems to be more of a formality they anything.
Good Luck with your interview. I know we feel better. Now all we have to think about is her moving, getting married, and starting the process for her permanent residency. What a relief knowing this is over with.
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #2807