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| Montreal, Canada |  Review on November 4, 2011: |
sallycat
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
Hey all! I wanted to share our experience, and most importantly POE as it appears that once people have had their interview they disappear from this site until the adjustment of status phase.
We had our interview in Montreal. We arrived at the consulate at 6:15am and were first in line. We stood to the left side of the doors as we'd read on this site. Around 6:30am more people started to arrive.
The doors opened at 7:30am. We were taken inside and did the initial securing scan, then were directed downstairs. We sat at the left side of the elevator and were the first ones in. We had read here that we needed to go right to the back as the elevator opens at the back side. Again, we were first out and first to get our number.
We were told to sit in the middle section and a little after 8am our number was called. We went to the window where we submitted my passport and my medical records. Then told to go sit down. About 10 minutes later we were called to another window. Provided the original copies of financials, I-864, marriage certificate, birth certificate and police records. They also asked for the d-260 but if you filled it out online try to have the confirmation page if possible.
We were then told to go sit down.
5-10 mins later we were called to a little room where we had our interview thru a glass window. The gentleman was so nice and asked us where we met, where the wedding was and what were my plans. When they ask "what are your plans" what they mean is "when do you plan to move to the u.s"
We were there no more than 10 minutes, he handed all my originals back and said my visa was approved.
By 9am when we left the building the line was down the street and the waiting room we had left was packed. It seats 139 people. Also, there is only one person doing the interviews for the CR-1 so if you get there too late you're going to wait a very long time! Better to wait outside and be the first few in the door than waiting inside for hours!
That night online around 8pm I received an email and confirmed online that my visa departed by loomis courier. I checked in the morning and by 8am it was ready for pick up. I had it shipped to the hub closest to my house. I lived in Windsor and the hub was London.
When you get your visa there is a package inside you cannot open. You take that to the border guard at POE. Be prepared....you will be at the border for about an hour. I crossed at the bridge in Detroit. The guards were very friendly and did their best to get the package processed as fast as possible.
If you plan to import your car that day and it is older ( mine is a 2003) you may want to pick up a form from the bridge that you can have a dealership fill out stating it meets specifications to bring to the us. My car being a 2003 they had a book they could look in to determine if it met specifications and I didn't need the letter from the dealership.
My package was processed and car imported within 1 hour. One guard works with you thru the entire process at POE. Also, they don't go thru your stuff in the car. I also made about 3 trips to bring stuff in afterwards as I was just moving over the border. They didn't care. My husband had the majority of my stuff in his truck and they just sent him on ahead. An itemized list is probably helpful, but I don't think it is required. If you have pets, make sure they're with your spouse and they have the documents for the pet. That way the pet doesn't have to wait in the car while you do the POE process.
I hope someone finds this information helpful. I would've like to have had the heads up about the package and POE processing in advance. However, I took everything in stride, was organized and most importantly polite with the guards. They treat you differently when you have a visa, no interrogation etc., just become very helpful and welcoming. So don't be nervous and know it's only one more hour of time before you get to spend the rest of your life with your partner - TOGETHER under ONE ROOF!
Our timeline was exactly 8 months from the date of our marriage until visa issuance.
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Consulate / USCIS Member Review #8644