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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on March 31, 2011: |
Wobbles
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
My appointment was scheduled for Monday, March 28 at 8:30 a.m., but following the advice posted, I was there early, about 40 minutes before the doors opened-it was very cold. I had gone up the day before and done a reconnaisance trip. I stayed at the Queen Elizabeth hotel (expensive, but one night of pampering before the interview was worth it). The Queen E is about a 5 block walk to the embassy, which is closer to Rene Levesque blvd than St. Catherine's. There was one couple ahead of me. I had only taken with me my document case, x-ray (which nobody looked at or wanted) and a very few things in my pocket-wallet with some cash/credit cards, just in case, a couple of tissues, just in case, and a lipstick. The sign on the Consulate door says no purses (no qualification as to size) but I did notice women with small purses were admitted.
The guards inquired as to the purpose of my visit, looked at my passport and appointment letter, then sent me through the left side of the doors. It seems people there for other purposes go through the right door. You do the usual "airport type" screening-take off coat, belt, watch, empty your pockets into the trays which go through the screening machine, then go through the metal detector and get "wanded". After you replace all your possessions, you go down some stairs to the waiting room. Again, good advice to sit near the elevator and try to get on first as you go out the rear doors of the elevator. (there are some pay phones and a photo booth in the waiting room if you need them). The guard comes and takes the first batch of people-as many as will fit in the elevator on a first come first served basis. When you get upstairs, someone directs you to some windows where you are given a two part ticket with your "call number" on it. I think you also pay fees there if you haven't already paid everything. Then you are instructed to sit in the centre section of the waiting room and watch for your number to come up on the screen. I was first. You go to the designated window which also shows up on the board. There, you hand over your passport and part of your ticket and get fingerprinted. One odd thing. We had filed our application electronically, but the man asked me to fill out that long 4 or 5 page document by hand. I asked if I had made a mistake, but he said "no, it's a new system, and we need it on paper". So be prepared if you have completed the immigrant application electronically. Fortunately, I had a copy of the electronic application and could do it fairly quickly, but another couple there didn't have their copy and were having trouble remembering things like trips to the U.S. etc.
Once I got that done, I was directed to another window, where they took the originals of documents we had scanned and filed electronically, birth certificates, police clearance certificates, my first husband's death certificate, our marriage certificate etc. I was told to go back to the waiting area again.
Within a very few minutes, I was called to a different booth where I was interviewed by a very nice blonde woman. The questions were typical, where did you meet your husband, when were you married, what state will you be living in. I was never asked to swear an oath at all. Before I knew it, I had the "welcome to the United States of America" letter. It was very well organized, and, with the exception of having to complete the application again, pretty much what I expected.
While the blonde woman was interviewing me, she was typing notes into a computer. I'm not sure what the purpose of that is, perhaps just her observations, or perhaps some personal information that the Customs and Border people will ask about to confirm that you are who you say you are when you finally make the official crossing. No idea.
The "Welcome" letter gives some basic information and instructions on how to pick up your passport with the new Visa in it. Make sure you register with DHL in advance. The welcome letter says you should expect to receive your documents within 2 weeks of your appointment and the reverse of the letter gives instructions on how you can check on line to see if your package is ready for pick up.
In any event, I was out of there around 9 a.m. The pre-interview jitters were much worse than the interview itself.
As others have said, try to have your documents well organized and take copies of absolutely everything with you.
Good luck everybody.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #7347