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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on December 21, 2010: |
AB2CO
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Had my interview on Dec 17, 2010
Arrived in Montreal on the afternoon of Dec 16, stayed at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth . . . it's about 2 blocks or so from the US Consulate . . . an easy walk, maybe 5 or 6 minutes.
My appointment was for 9:00 am, but having read previous reviews I planned to be there waiting before 7:30 am. I was up and checked out of the hotel by about 6:30 (does anybody sleep the night before their interview?!). So I went down to the train station/plaza under the hotel and got a bottle of OJ to kill a bit of time and then casually walked over to the consulate. Got there at about 6:30 (I guess, no watch and I left my cell phone back at the hotel) . . . no signs of life and no one else there. Took an extended walk around the block, same thing. Walked a block back to Tim Horton's and got a donut and hot chocolate and killed some time inside . . . it wasn't super cold outside (maybe -10 C), but not warm either. At 7:00 I walked back to the consulate, and met another person arriving . . . so we started the line, and were joined shortly by a couple and another lady. At 7:30 the security guard took the chains off the inside of the doors, and a moment later unlocked the doors.
The security guard asked for my appointment letter and passport and let me inside to be screened . . . kinda like at the airport . . . empty EVERYTHING from your pockets, remove belt, etc., and walk through the scanner. I got the coveted letter A and was told to go downstairs and wait by the elevator. The other folks that had been waiting with me outside joined me after a few moments, and then the elevator opened and another guard took us up to the 19th floor.
Upstairs we were directed to a section of the large waiting room and told to sit and wait to be called. I was first called up to a window, and did the electronic finger printing . . . then back to wait . . . then called up to another window to review documents (they had a typo on my phone number) . . then back to wait. Then finally called to a room for the actual interview.
It's a small room, separated by a half wall and glass partition from the consular officer (a younger woman, maybe 30-ish?). She asked a few questions . . how did we meet (online), where did we meet in person the first time, what do I do for work, a little conversation about experience crossing into the US to visit while waiting on the visa process, maybe a couple more . . I don't really remember because after a few questions (and her typing into her computer as I answered) she says eveything looks ok and I am approved. I had to sign the DS230 (I think thats the one?) and she gave me the "Welcome to the USA" letter and that was it. I was a little dazed . . had to ask her just to make sure "so I'm approved???". Yup, I was approved and she was ready to move on to the next case.
It almost didn't seem real . . . but I was approved!!! She said I'd get my passport and visa back via DHL in a week or so (nothing too definitive) . . . and away I went. I was all done and approved by 8:30 am.
Don't know what else to say . . . it was almost a let down after all the waiting . . the interview was a breeze.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #6994