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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on June 27, 2008: |
~Laura and Nick~
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
My mom and I left on Thursday morning, bright and early. The train ride wasn't that bad, we got great seats and I got some great shots along the way. Mostly I just wanted to get there and get it over with!!!
So...
I woke up bright and early (5:45am) on Interview day and made the 4 or so block walk to the Embassy. There weren't many people on the streets, it was cool and a nice enjoyable walk. I couldn't believe how calm I was...not one bit of nervousness.
The embassy is on 1155 Rue St. Alexandre which is on the corner of Rue St. Alexander and Rue LeBlanc O, it's a tall gray building.
If you are coming off of Rue. St Catherine street like I was (The huge shopping street) There is a pharmacy on the corner, turn right there and the embassy is on your left on Rue St. Alexandre.
I got there around 6:40am and waited for them to open the doors.
They let me in around 7:30 with no appointment letter (I never got one), just asked if I had a cellphone and I handed over my email from Montreal confirming my date and they also asked for my passport. Then we walked up a few steps to a glass wall with two doors, they let you in one at a time. The man asked me to put all my stuff in the container to be scanned (Just like an airport) and then to walk through the metal detector. They never made me empty my file folder (Thank GOD!) Nothing went off (yay me) and then they made me spread em so I could be scanned with the wand thingy. I made my way through the door on the right (Which is on your left when you come in but is on your right when you are through the detectors) Then you go down a set of stairs and go into another waiting room.
At around 8am, a very nice but quiet man came down the elevator about 5 minutes later and escorted us up to floor 19, he made sure that we were the ones with the letters, anyone else in the waiting room who didn't have a letter was not allowed on.
We got up to the 19th floor....WOW!! What a view!!! Wish I could have brought my camera!!! They called me first to window 14 (Which is down a hall and into another little room) and the very kind lady asked for:
My email from the consulate (in replace of my appointment letter)
My birth certificate and a copy
My medical
My passport and 2 pictures
My divorce paper and a copy
DS156K
The I-134 and the letter from Nicks employer (They didn't even want his tax, pay stubs or bank stuff)
Nick's letter of intent (not mine! what a waste of paper!)
My express post envelope.
Then she gave me a slip of paper and asked me to go and pay at the cashiers. (You go out and turn left and walk to the end on the left and pay) I did and went back and sat down.
Shortly, she called me back and did the fingerprints (Stand back and put your arms straight out when you do the thumb part, it's easier) and she also took the copy of the receipt, showing I had paid.
Then I sat back down and waited to be called for my interview.
Literally 10 minutes later a man called me to window number 8.
When I walked in I was instantly greeted with a huge smile by honestly the kindest man I have EVER met. His name was Gregory. He welcomed me and we talked casually about how Nick and I met, what the video game we met on was all about (he seemed pretty interested in that) and he asked me a bit about New Jersey. Then he said "Oops! I forgot to turn on my computer and log in!!!" He said he was retired and only did this part time and it was his first day there!! LOL He seemed kind of embarrassed but I just said "That's okay!!!" and we laughed and talked casually about how dependent we are on computers these days. We talked a bit about my work at Lowe's and what I may be doing when I move down. It didn't feel at ALL like an interview. We talked a bit about how long my process took, he asked when we got approved and I told him rather quick, like 3 months. He said he didn't understand why it took some people so much longer since they were the ones making the final decision!!! LOL It was weird. Then he asked me to put my finger on the little scanner to make sure it was me. He asked for my middle finger and said "Yep, that's definately you!!!" I said "Oh thank Goodness!!!" and we laughed. He asked me to raise my right hand and swear everything I had stated was the truth and that I intended to Marry Nick. I did. He asked me when we were getting married.
He slid the DS156K back under the glass and had me sign the bottom. Then double checked through my file to make sure I had signed everything so he didn't have to have me come all the way back to Montreal (he was joking and we laughed)
He then casually said "So, no kids for you guys yet?" I said "not yet, we want to be together just us for a bit first" He said "Good plan"
He then said "Well Laura....I am very pleased to say you are approved! I'm very impressed with your application, very organized! I wish you both much luck, Congratulations!!!"
I told him I wanted to give him a big hug and thanked him very very much.
He gave me back my divorce certificate and my birth certificate back and told me they would be mailing my visa off either that day or Monday. He told me about how the visa would look in my passport and talked about how the POE would be, etc. He talked to me about not leaving the States without authorization. I said "Advanced Parole?" He said "wow, you've done your homework!" LOL I said "I sure have!!"
That was it...and it was only 8:55am.
Montreal was lovely and the whole experience was so stress free. 
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #3058