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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on November 13, 2009: |
Spoom
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We had a very easy interview, and surprisingly much less stressful than, say, crossing the border. (Though my fiancee may disagree with me on that one.  ) We had all our paperwork put into a blue accordion file folder, with headings on each divider for:
- Appointment Letter (right at the front, since security needs that)
- I-129F + USCIS / NVC receipts and approvals
- Packet 3
- Packet 3 response including copies of all forms previously sent to the Consulate
- Passport photos
- Medical results
- Police certificates
- Affidavit of support
- Evidence of support
- Evidence of ongoing relationship
Separately, we also had:
- Chest x-ray film from medical (which they never look at but it can't hurt to take with you)
- Xpresspost prepaid envelope (FYI, they want the "Pack" envelope, 394 x 314 mm, i.e. 15" by 12"; make sure you get the National version if you're shipping between two regions as defined by Canada Post, we were OK with the Regional one since we were shipping to Ontario, and Ontario and Quebec are in the same region).
To give K-1 applicants a little less to worry about, I'll describe the process and the building in intricate detail.
The Consulate building is a fairly non-descript, slightly darker than most building in downtown Montreal off Blvd. Rene-Levesque (NOT Levesque Avenue, where GPS units are likely to guide you if you're not careful). *It's not immediately evident from the front that it's the Consulate.* You'll know it's the right building from two signs: One, that the front of the building from Rene-Levesque has a sign that says SNC-Lavalin in silver lettering, and two, that when you're actually on Rue Saint-Alexandre (a small offshoot road from Rene-Levesque), you'll be able to see a small circular sign above the side door that has the seal of the Consulate General of the United States. You'll also notice, if you're looking carefully, the infamous "yellow post" (there's actually two), which are actually just painted concrete guideposts outside two garages leading into the building. You're supposed to line up to the left of the door, but I don't think they particularly care where you are. It's on a very slight uphill incline; not much to worry about.
Google maps streetview of the Consulate looking at Rue Saint-Alexandre from Blvd. Rene-Levesque: http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=United+States+Consulate+General,+Montreal,+QC&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=38.954927,113.115234&ie=UTF8&hq=United+States+Consulate+General,&hnear=Montreal,+QC&ll=45.504405,-73.565455&spn=0,359.779072&z=13&layer=c&cbll=45.504298,-73.565545&panoid=oqMC1JX_ThUgFUGrRump2A&cbp=12,304.29,,0,5
We arrived at around 6 AM, and were the first ones there. I don't know if it was just the day, but we were still the first ones there until 7:30 AM. We went and got Tim Hortons after scoping out the location and finding we were the first ones, then came back, my fiancee parked the car, and we waited. Twas cold. My fiancee says she should have one of those outdoor heating elements that clubs apparently have, and I totally agree.
In any case, around 7:40 or so, after watching the guards inside walk around and later eat breakfast, they let us in. As the first ones, we gave the guard our appointment letter and were told to empty our pockets into a tray (if you've ever gone through a standard TSA airport screening, it's almost exactly the same). Remember, don't bring bags, backpacks, purses, cell phones, cameras, MP3 players, or (yes, this is on one of the letters taped to the windows beside the Consulate doors) calculators.  You'll be given your appointment letter back with a rectangular letter paperclipped to it; I believe this is your priority order.
Oddly, knowing that the Consulate is on the 19th floor of the building in question, the first thing they do is have you go *down* some stairs to a lower level, where there is a waiting room and an elevator (while the Consulate seems to only have two floors of the building, they've certainly got a lot of special security and access separate from the rest of the building). After a couple of minutes a guard will come down from the elevator and ask for those with priority letters (i.e. people with interview and not just passport renewals) to follow him. Immigrant visa applicants, thankfully, seem to be looked after first.
You'll head up to the 19th floor, where the s**t goes down.
We were the first ones requested, and we went back to Window 12. The lady matter of factly went through the stuff she wanted (passport, medical results [sealed envelope only], affidavit + evidence of support, birth certificate, passport photos, two copies of the biographical page of your passport, police certificates, and Xpresspost Envelope) and got me to sign the DS-156 Non-Immigrant Visa Application that I had sent in previously. I noted at this point that the "approved" section of the "DO NOT FILL IN THIS SECTION" was already highlighted along with various info and her signature, so I figured things were going well. She also took a set of full fingerprints from me via a green-lit electronic scanner (which is so much easier than previous methods like ink, believe me).
She then had me go to pay the $131 US Machine Readable Visa fee at one of the Windows (I think it was 14), which (as of this writing) works out to $150 CDN and change, for those wondering. They don't screw you over on the exchange like the I-90 tolls in New York. When you go to pay your MRV fee, *line up in line A, not line B*. I made that mistake and waited for the (passport renewal) people in front of me, and was then told by the cashier that I didn't have to wait.
In the meantime, my fiancee chatted with the lady about VisaJourney, which they know really well by now. She said we were one of the most organized couples they'd seen. 
I went back with my receipt and handed it to her, and then we were told to go sit back down in the waiting area, which by now (approximately 8:40 or so) was *packed*. I was a bit surprised since previously we and the rest of the immigrant visa applicants were the only ones in there. Trust me, Montreal has a lot on their plate that you don't immediately see from being here on VisaJourney.
We were then called to booth 10. The interviews, like handing over the papers, are actually done with you separated from the consular official by (presumably bulletproof) glass, with a slot at the bottom for passing papers, etc. While the earlier windows are open to a common area, the interview "booths" have a closed door, though the situation is very similar: you're talking to the official through the aid of speakers and a microphone, though you can see them quite easily on the other side of the glass.
The first thing they had us do was raise our right hands and swear that the information we had given was true. We were then asked how we met, what we did for a living, when we were planning on getting married, and if I had ever had any trouble at the border (I had previously been rejected in 2005, and I told them that in my Packet 3 response). He seemingly had no problems with what we'd told him, so the next step was for me to place my right index finger on a smaller red-lit scanner, which I'd be willing to bet is exactly the same fingerprint scanner used in US-VISIT machines if you've ever seen those. He then typed furiously for a little bit, looked a bit perplexed at something on his screen (I explained that I had been fingerprinted previously at my 2005 border rejection, Lord knows if that was what he was actually looking at)... and said "Congratulations, we are able to grant you your visa."
I was still in a little bit of shock as (for whatever reason) I was expecting the interview to last longer, but my fiancee was immediately ecstatic, and I was too as it dawned on me. I asked about AP (not likely unless you have an emergency as they want to see your commitment to moving to the States) and EAD (not until you file for your AOS), and as he was leaving his area of the booth, when they planned on mailing it (hopefully this week, you might even see it by Friday). FYI, you'll be unable to convince them to let you pick up your visa later unless you have a really, really good reason, beyond simple convenience.
We then left, texted everyone, and got some very good breakfast at a place called Bagels Etc. The whole thing from entering the building had taken about an hour.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #5225