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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on August 24, 2011: |
mllover
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
We were a DCF case as my USC husband lives in Canada. From Vancouver, I flew to Montreal for my interview. Used priceline to get a great deal on Le Meridien Versailles Hotel on rue Sherbrooke ($85/night), 2 metro stops and short walk from Consulate.
I woke up at 5:15am day of the interview, left my luggage (cell phone, purse too) at the hotel and departed 6am. Took the metro (started at Guy-Concordia Station) to McGill Station. Walked to the Consulate from there, stopping at McDonald\'s enroute at rue St. Catherine for breakfast. Left McD\'s at 6:50am with my coffee. A few mins later was at the door to consulate on rue St. Alexandre. There was one person there ahead of me. Lined up to the left of glass double doors. By about 7:20am the line was at least 10 people long, maybe more.
I carried only a plastic shopping bag as recommended by VJers. Had my docs in an accordian file folder. Also brought lipgloss, small lotion from the hotel, hotel key, cash, cards, map, sunglasses.
At 7:30am-ish they opened the door to let us in. The one lady in front of me realized she was missing a document and so let me go ahead of her...I was now first in. Had to show passport and Appointment Confirmation Letter showing date and time of interview to get in. They let you in one at a time to go through security.
At security, took off my necklace as it was a bit chunky and put all items through scanner. I thought they\'d make me throw out the lotion and lipgloss, but nope. They let me take everything up with me! There was a small question about the necklace--I guess wondering if it had a dangerous clasp!--but the guard told the other guard, \"no, just jewelry\" and it was fine.
Note: A lady behind me (3rd in line outdoors) had a large bag and another bag and even though I warned her she would have trouble with it (no large bags allowed) and could she offload it to a friend, she ignored my advice. She got stopped inside and had a lot of trouble at security but finally got through after 30 people went ahead of her. HOWEVER, sneaky or smart, she managed to reclaim her spot 3rd by arriving in the waiting area near elevator just before the guard started letting people on elevator. Everyone at that point was seated waiting to get on. But she stood right in front of the elevator! I still got on first as I was seated closest to elevator on left side.
Probably not what she should\'ve done, but the guard didn\'t stop her. He did announce that only immigrant visa applicants would be let upstairs at this time. He did NOT \"hand pick\" who went upstairs from the immigrant visa group as someone else reported on here from last week. So it still pays to be the first one closest to elevator when sitting waiting.
In first, I went straight to the back left of elevator, facing the back. Doors opened in front of me (back of elevator) and let me out first to head left and follow the lady to the lineup to get a number. She looked at my passport and appointment letter then...YES! I got the coveted C1!!
I got called up and was asked for Appointment letter again and Medical. He didn\'t look at the xray cd or immunization record. Took my fingerprints digitally. And confirmed my DS-230 which I had an updated copy of for him with address change on it. Then I got directed to go pay $404 at the cashier (not previously paid).
Called back, this time to a sort of curt man with a down to business attitude who wanted my payment receipt ($404), police clearance original only and original + copy of each: my longform birth cert, marriage cert. Plus passport bio page photocopy. He took AOS (I-864) from my husband and Co-Sponsors. Must be original forms with all signatures. He wanted all Sponsors' 2010 Tax info only. I submitted an IRS stamped \"received\" copy of my husband\'s 1040 Form and all schedules/attachments that went with his return. (This is because he only just filed it in July so there was no time to get a transcript instead). For the Co-Sponsor I had a 2010 Tax Transcript, but he also took their Form 1040, W2\'s and all related Schedules! Interesting...and good thing I brought BOTH.  Not sure if this was required or if he just took it because I told him I had it.
Then...this is where it got a bit scary. He asked if my husband was living in the US. I said no, but that he was setting up to do so and has been taking trips down to find employment and setup a place to live for us. He asked if I had anything to prove this (i.e., Evidence of Domicile), and this was the part I was most worried about going in because we have to prove \"intent and credible steps to re-establish domicile.\" I replied, \"yes, I have his US Driver\'s License, US Voter Registration, and a signed lease.\" He said he wanted to see them and took those items plus I had a copy of my husbands US passport and Social Security Card which he took. He did not want to see my proof of husband\'s US bank account or US credit card. He noticed that our lease was signed with friends, (also the Co-sponsors), and asked how I knew these people, looked a bit skeptical, and said \"So this is all with the same person?\" I said yes. He sort of cut me off and asked me to go sit down again and would get called back.
Now I was sweating bullets...would they believe that we intend to move to the US?
I got called back, now to the window with the dreadlock lady who swore me in to tell the truth, etc. She is very nice. But not tooooo nice. ha ha! I knew she was going to grill me a bit about this domicile thing. She asked about the lease, was it a lease with friends? Yes. Was my husband living there yet? No, but spending some time there to get setup. Where is he working? What does he do? What do I do? Where will I work when I go to the US? Where did we meet? She wanted to know all about that. Then she asked if I swear that we really are moving to the US? And I said I do! She had me look over my DS-230 and sign it. More typing..then, with no smile, \"Okay your visa is approved.\" She handed me the paper for DHL and that was it. It was odd that she didn\'t smile and didn\'t seem that happy about approving me, but who really cares! I\'m in!
I was first in, first out. Departed Consulate at 9am. WOW! That was unexpectedly early.
Ah! THANK YOU to everyone on VJ! I owe this to all the great info on this site!
(updated on August 24, 2011)
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8183