|
|
| Montreal, Canada |  Review on October 26, 2006: |
Karly-n-Bruce
Rating:  | Review Topic: K1 Visa
We arrived at the Consulate at 745 and there were people waiting outside. Bruce noticed that there were also people inside, so we went in and were asked to show my appointment letter and passport (which I already knew about). We went through the security checkpoint fairly quickly and we were sent downstairs to wait until 8 when the guard would bring us upstairs via elevator. We didn't wait long and the guard was ready for us. They packed us in like sardines and we were off to the 19th floor. Once there, we turned left and sat down in front of window 14 (which was still closed). Around 815, the window opened and we were in business. I was fourth in line but third to get a number because the person in front of me was picking something up. My number was C3 which is kind of weird because my last name starts with a C and 3 is my favourite number. Anyway, we were asked to sit in the "immigrant visa waiting area", which we did. We were sitting approx. 10 to 15 minutes and we were called to window 11. Before I was asked to give any documents, the lady on the other side of the window was looking through our file and she said to give her a second because there was a ton of paperwork there. We waited and she asked if we had any photocopies of our original petition (I-129F) because she couldn't find it. I started to panic knowing that I had photocopies of SOME things from the initial package, but not our original petition. I breathed a sigh of relief when she found it attached to another paper. She stapled it where it belonged and then asked me for my documents. I have to give her the DS-156, DS-156K, I-134 (affidavit of support), my birth certificate (with a copy), my medical envelope and my passport. She asked us to go to window 14, pay our 100$ and come back with the receipt. We did and she kindly asked us to sit back down and wait to be called for our interview. The closer it got to my number being called, the more nervous I got. The two interviews before ours were in room 8 and we were asked to go to room 7 (which happens to be one of Bruce's favourite numbers... weird with the favourite number thing). Bruce came in with me because he was told on numerous occasions that he was allowed in the interview room however, once inside, the girl behind the glass asked him if he would please leave. I didn't really think anything of it because I was more focused on answering the questions and getting out of there (preferably with a visa, lol). As soon as I laid all of my stuff on the chair in the room, I noticed an orange piece of paper that was meant for a re-entry into the Consulate and it was signed. The first thing I was asked to do was read the consent thing on the bottom of the DS-156K and sign it. For those of you who have already done the interview, that consent is about swearing to marry your fiancé 90 days after entering the States, blah blah blah so I thought it was odd that I would be signing it before being asked any questions. I'm beginning to think I was approved before going in for the actual interview, but you never know I suppose. Anyway, after signing the DS-156K, she fingerprinted me and I forget if she made me take an oath of truth before or after she questioned me, but she did that too. She said that everything seemed to be in order and she just needed to ask me a few general questions. I said ok and these are the questions she asked:
Have you ever had any problems with the Police/Law?
Have you ever had any problems with the Canadian Government?
Have you ever had any problems with Immigration or US Customs?
How did you meet your fiancé?
When did you decide to marry?
What are your plans for marriage?
I think that was it. She gave me the ticket that would let me back into the Consulate the following day and I was on my way. I couldn't help but smile when I opened the door and saw Bruce standing in the hallway. He later told me that he was glad I did so because he was freaking out in the hall wondering why they would have kicked him out. He thought the worst was going to happen and thinking back now, we're both wondering if it had to do with our age, but that's just an assumption because the other couples we saw both went into the interview and one wasn't asked to leave. So, we headed back to the motel until the following day.
I examined the ticket and it stated that we could re-enter at/until 2:30pm so we decided to get there around 830 or so and attempt to get in early. We waiting in a line outside the building for a good fifteen minutes or so and were ushered in by a guard. She noticed my ticket and asked to see it. She said she would call upstairs to see if it's ready or not (because it had 2:30 written on it) and came back asking for a piece of photo ID from me. She went back into the guard area and came back with "Sorry, but you'll have to come back at 2:15 to pick this up". We were disappointed because we wanted to get back on the road early in order to get home in time for supper, but it didn't exactly turn out like that. We headed back to the motel (which was across the street from the Consulate) and waited there for a few hours (Bruce slept and I watched TV). We headed back to the Consulate around 2 and waited outside in another line until 2:20. Bruce wasn't allowed in with me, so I went through the security checkpoint again and downstairs to wait for the elevator. We were sent to window 12 and I was the third in line (again). It was a matter of hand the person behind the window the ticket and get your visa package/passport back. A really quick and painless thing but it sucks that you have to wait an extra day in order to get it (I don't trust Canada Post, lol). I was out of there within 5 or 10 minutes and that was it.
I can't believe I spent the past few months worrying and really stressing about this! It was so extremely easy and relatively painless.
Thanks to everyone here for the information and for answering my questions. Everyone at the Consulate was very nice, patient and helpful. An all around great experience. :thumbs:
**On a side note: The Hyatt is very close to the Consulate (a lot closer than I thought) about a 5 minute walk and probably MUCH nicer than the Tour Centre-Ville (which is where we stayed). Le Tour served its purpose, but it was kinda smelly and nothing special at all. 
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #967