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Montreal, Canada | Review on August 30, 2011: | BellasCanadian
Rating: | Review Topic: K1 Visa
The interview piece was a “breeze” thanks to the advice of VJ members!
Let me start by saying our interview was on the Monday following what was supposed to be a Category 2 hurricane on Sunday in NYC. So I left a day earlier and met Toby in Montreal on Saturday. We stayed at the Hyatt, which was a couple blocks from the Embassy. On Monday, we arrived at the Embassy around 6:30am (just because I’m crazy like that! lol), after grabbing a cup of coffee around the corner .. and were the very first in line! People started to arrive around 7, and the line just got longer and longer. At 7:30 exactly, they opened the doors and we went in. As the sponsor, they also let me in with no problem. Toby’s name was not on the list for scheduled interviews that day (a VERY scary moment but I heard this happens regularly so I stayed calm) but they let us through anyways. We went downstairs and sat right next to the elevators .. (spent some time chatting with the people we had met in line) .. and at 8am they put us on the elevators up to the 19th floor. We stood at the very back, facing the doors and once we arrived, were the first people to get in line for the cashier window. We showed her our payment receipt and were given our number C-1.
We sat down and a couple of minutes later our C-1 was called to window 10 in the back. They took Toby’s appointment letter and medical, and did his electronic fingerprints. Then we were told to sit back down again and wait to be called. About 5 minutes later we were called to window 9, where he gave in the remaining paperwork (Birth Certificate, Marriage/Divorce certificate, Police Clearance, Affidavit of Support and Fiancé intent letter). Then we were told to sit down again while they “worked on the case.”
Maybe 10 minutes passed by and they called us to Window 8 .. it was the woman with dreadlocks. She smiled and seemed nice but was very serious at the same time. She swore us both in and spent a couple minutes sorting through the paperwork in silence. She asked Toby how and where we met, how we continued our relationship, where I worked and what I did, and how he proposed. Then she spent a few minutes typing on the computer, said our visa was approved and handed him the welcome letter! Best moment ever! We walked back out to the waiting room, quietly wished our new friends good luck as we walked to the elevator .. and we were out the Embassy door at 9am!
I was so happy that I was able to experience the whole process with him at the Embassy. My best advice for everyone it to relax and stay calm .. and just BE PREPARED! Make sure you have ALL the correct documents and photocopies.
THANK YOU to VJ! We never would have been able to make it to this point without all the amazing people and information provided on this site. See you all on the AOS side!
(updated on August 30, 2011)
(updated on September 2, 2011)
(updated on September 2, 2011)
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