Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
December 19, 2015 |
| Embassy Review : |
I had my consulate interview on Friday, December 18th, 2015 @ 8:30AM in Montreal. I will briefly explain my last few weeks experience to get me to have a successful interview.
I made a small package months earlier with all the important documents needed for the interview, but about 2 weeks before the interview I decided to put together a binder so it would be easier to flip through to the necessary pages and display photos easier.
I am glad I did this when I did, because I realized that part of my original Police Check/Background Check was missing! So, I flew back to Canada immediately and requested another one. Because the woman at the police station said the processing times had gone up due to an influx of applicants and being close to Christmas, she gave me the number to the office where they process them! I called about 30 times that day, no one answered. There is an option to leave a voicemail--just do that! Someone will call you by the days end to let you know if they have processed it (they processed my application in less than 8 hours and mailed it out, in case you make the same mistake).
Secondly, I had to go to my Medical Examination. I went to Medisys on Sherbrooke, in Montreal. Remember to bring FIVE PASSPORT PHOTOS (no one told me this and I had to run down the street and have them taken) + YOUR PASSPORT + INTERVIEW LETTER + VACCINE RECORD!!
If you are healthy and honest, this will be a total breeze. I had the flu shot given to me there, my blood taken, a simple physical exam, and a chest x-ray. The doctor told me that he was very happy for me, that this was a very easy and obvious examination for him, and totally pointless for me. He wished me the best of luck and to never lose my smile! He was very kind.
NOW ONTO THE IMPORTANT STUFF:
I stayed at an Airbnb that was directly across from the US consulate. I went there the night before to double check that I was indeed, at the right location. It is across the intersection from the Starbucks.
Now, if you only take one thing away from this: DRESS APPROPRIATELY! I honestly can't believe how many scruffmufins went to the interview! There was a man with sweatpants beside me with LITERAL poop stains on his rear end! I couldn't believe that I was the only woman in a pencil skirt, simple blouse, hair tied back into a smart looking bun, and winter dress boots. Don't bring attention to yourself with an extravagant or sexy outfit or too much makeup, either. Try to look like a clean, smart, and simple human being and it will be MUCH easier for you.
Anyways, I got up early and sat at the Starbucks (because it was freezing) and waited until about 7:00AM... I walked over there and stood in the cold and I am SO GLAD I did! Almost immediately, I had about 6 people walk up and stand behind me. (Thanks for the tip VisaJourney, to stand on the left side... as I was first in line on the correct side!)
By the time they opened to do screening at 7:30AM, there was a line of at least 30 people. I was given Applicant #1 and because I left everything that would have been 'checked' at my Airbnb, the screening was a total breeze... don't be dumb and bring any kind of bag, purse, electronic, even an Apple watch will be taken! Simply bring your binder and coat... leave everything else at your hotel/airbnb/home!! (THEY WILL TURN YOU AWAY OR IT WILL COST YOU TIME!)
Then after the screening, they will point you to a stairwell that leads you to the basement... go through that room and sit right beside the elevator that has red tape blocking it!! There will be a lot of waiting at this point, as they send big groups of you in the elevator together (whoever is closest to the elevator gets sent up first... and the elevator is crazy slow)!
Then, once you are actually in the consulate: you will be directed to sit 'in the middle' when you get up there... just sit in the front row of the middle, it's easier.... make sure you have your passport ready, the 2 passport photos, and your medical to hand over to the 'teller'. I had a very quiet man (at Wicket #1) check my paperwork out and he was very nice. Just remember to be very courteous and professional as they deal with a lot of hooligans (remember, the poopstain guy). They will be relieved to have someone with their paperwork together, who speaks clearly, and is nice.
The 'checking in' process took about 5-10 minutes as I had a change in address. He took my birth and marriage certificate, my large medical envelope, passport, and 2 photos. He took my fingerprints. Double checked the phone numbers and addresses of current and my intended US address.
I was directed to sit back down, and almost immediately was called back to Wicket #8 where I had my 'interview'.
The 'interviewer' was a mid 20-30's young guy who looked like a hipster. He was incredibly nice and made me feel very comfortable. He swore me in, took my fingerprints, handed back my birth and marriage certificates and then asked me the following:
1) How did we meet? (Instagram... he responded with, 'that's actually more common than you would think haha!')
2) Have you ever been in the States longer than 6 months? (No... he responded with, 'I see here you have been for EXACTLY 6 months... *long stare*... that's allowed though...*wink*).
3) Have you ever had a problem at the border? (I had a withdrawal of application... He responded, 'let me look that up... I don't see it here... but it's a good thing you told me just in case it showed up somewhere.)
4) Have you ever been convicted of a crime? (No... He responded, 'None, that you've been caught at... *wink*).
Then it was over lol!
He handed me my 'Welcome to the USA' sheet and said that he was done grilling me, and to expect my package in the mail within the next 2 weeks!
(No need for all my photos that I prepared, my proof of relationship, or even that Police Certificate that I flew back weeks early for haha!... Obviously you need to have this, just in case they ask!!)
I asked him, 'is there any chance that I could pay to expedite that so I can spend Christmas with my husband?' And the response was no, unfortunately due to technical difficulties and long processing times, my visa wouldn't be printed for at least another 72 hours and then it would have to be mailed. He started to hand me back my passport and said that I could have it back though, but it would delay the process by months.
So, I said no thanks and left!
I didn't have to pay anything or do anything else... I was back at my Airbnb by 8:33AM haha! It really does pay to be early as everyone was nice and not annoyed yet by all the scruffmuffins!
In summary, dress professionally, speak clearly, have your paperwork organized and prepared, and be nice and everything will go perfectly for you as well!!
Thanks to all the other VisaJourney stories, as I read a ton of them the night before and recognized some of the stories and people that all of you spoke about!
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0