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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on August 25, 2011: |
Lise+Michael
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
I went to Montreal for my K1 visa. Using Expedia I stayed at a small character hotel on Rue Stanley called Manoir Ambrose. It is short walk to the Consulate. I used the 747 metro express bus to and from the airport, it cost $8.00 and is good for 24 hours and also could have been used for any other bus/subway.
I woke up bright and early full of excitement and ready to leave my hotel room by 6:15 am. All I took with me was my accordion folder of documents, my wallet, reading glasses and hotel keys. I walked up Rue Stanley a short distance, then on to Rue St Catherine for 10-15 minutes which then brought me to Rue St. Alexandre....very easy to get to. I was too excited to have breakfast but there were many places already open along the way. On arrival at the Consulate I saw someone sitting on the curb and a couple standing together, I knew I had found the Consulate! The four of us chatted, three of us being VJ members. Shortly after getting there the line up began. I think it was around 7:30 the guard unlocked the door, leaving it closed, checking passports and appointment letters one at a time and then letting the person through the door. We then had to wait outside another set of doors until called in to go through security which is similar to airport security. We were then directed down a set of stairs where rows of chairs are set up.
I and the other 2 VJs sat near the elevator. At 8 am the guard came to open the elevator, calling all immigrant visa applicants. As others have said, the elevator opens from the back. A lady met us at the elevator and directed us into a line near a set of windows. All the visa consultants are behind glass partitions. I was first in line, called to the window, showed my passport and appointment letter and received a ticked with C1 and told to sit in a series of seats facing an electronic sign. I must say that this area has an awesome view of Montreal!
Very soon the electronic sign indicated that C1 was to go to window 11. I arrived at the window where a gentleman was leafing through papers. He took my fingerprints, my passport with a photocopy of biography page, appointment letter, and sealed medical package. He did not ask for the x-ray. He asked if anything changed on my forms, address etc. I did not have to give another copy of DS-230. He told me return to the seating area.
In about 5-10 minutes I was called to window 10. Another gentleman was there and asked for letters of intent to marry, long form birth certificate and copy, police clearance certificate and the 1-134. He also asked for two passport photos to attach to DS230. He asked how we met (I replied March 15, 2008 and he commented that I didn’t rush into things lol), what Michael did for a living, what I did for a living. He asked if I had ever been married.He said it would be a few minutes, they had to review the documents and I would be called back.
Back to the waiting room I went. I am so thankful to have the two other VJ ladies to chat with and keep me calm. This is the point that my butterflies in my stomach started!
I think it was around 8:45 that I was called back, this time to room 8, which is more private but the consulate agent which was a women, is still behind glass. Here she confirmed my fingerprints had me sign a document and while she was checking off things on my documents asked how we met, when we planned to get married and I really don’t remember what else. As we were talking she printed off two papers, slid them under the opening to me and said I was approved. The papers are a "Welcome to America" letter and what to expect next information.I was so happy, turned around wanting to hug someone...but I was alone! I get teary when I am happy, don’t know how I will get through the wedding ceremony without tears! There is a lady’s restroom directly across the interview room so I went in to check my eye makeup before returning into the public common room. I sat down with my VJ buddies and she gave me a hug for Michael!
So all in all it was a very good experience and I was in/out within an hour. I found the staff to be professional, clearly there to do a job and are not purposely out to give you a hard time.Leaving the Consulate I noticed the line up was still long. It is a no wonder it takes awhile to get appointments and visa/passports back! Montreal serves a lot of people.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8186