Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
April 5, 2016 |
| Embassy Review : |
Interview Date: April 4th, 2016 at 10:00am
Like many others we stayed at the Courtyard Marriott right across the street. Super clean, and comfortable, free wifi and has the option of room service. It was also convenient for my husband to walk to the Medisys office to pick up his medical packet the day of the interview. (10 minute walk).
We woke up at 6 am to begin getting ready for the day, at 6:45 my Husband went to go pick up his medical (they opened at 7:00 am). While I stayed at the Hotel to Iron his clothes and get ready (yes as a lady it took me longer to put myself together lol).
He arrived back at the room around 7:30am. We finished getting ready, packing all of our things, and then at 8:30 am we went downstairs, put our bags in the car in the garage (Parking was an extra $25, but was valid until 3pm the day of interview.) And we checked out of the Hotel. From the lobby we walked across the street and down the road to the Consulate. PLEASE BE SURE TO REALIZE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL DOORS TO THIS BUILDING AND ONLY 1 IS THE US CONSULATE, IT HAS A BIG EAGLE- U.S. SEAL ABOVE THE DOOR. YOU CAN SEE IT ON GOOGLE MAPS (:.
We arrived to the consulate at 8:40am there was no line what so ever, a lady opened the door for us as soon as we walked up. She gave us our number and a sheet explaining about how to contact Canada post and the courier shipping etc. We then were turned to the security guard. I mean literally turned, the lobby is extremely small. He asked us to remove everything from our pockets and place it in a bin (very similar to an Airport) and to remove our coats and set them on the conveyor belt. A Man directly in front of us was turned away for having a backpack. All we had on our possession was the accordion folder full of our paperwork, the Medical envelope, Car key, and my husbands wallet. Our belongings went through the belt, as we passed through the metal detectors. Husband went first, he beeped and had to be wand over (not sure what that was about, probably his earring or maybe a zipper...) anyway...
We grabbed our things and the security guard grabbed our keys and told us "because of the remote we have to hold on to this." They gave us a number for it, beware the number is smaller than a carnival ticket and could easily be lost! We were then escorted up to the elevators, and a lady was inside who controlled the buttons, it was just the 3 of us, and she promptly took us to the 19th floor. From there we walked down a hallway where a lady informed us where to sit-- in the middle section. By now it was about 9:00am.
The room is set up similar to a DMV. There are HUGE windows with a beautiful view of the City, but sadly your chairs face away from them. Theres a TV with an inspirational 'USA' video on. There was a counter (where it looked like you could organize your documents) a phone, a broken coffee machine, a snack machine and a drink machine. Remember that they only like american money and won't accept card. On the side you come in on there are a few service windows, the womens restroom, and of course the right side of chairs reserved for NON-Immigrant visas, on the opposite side is the area for US citizens who were renewing their passports, the mens restroom, and other service windows. It was surprising how few people were dressed up... even those there for immigrant visas. I worried all that morning that my Husband was under dressed (we had left his suit jacket back home, and he opted not to wear a tie) But he was dressed more professionally then 90% of people there.
I digress. We sat there for close to 45minutes (knowing we were there early) They called my husbands number to window 3, and this is where they asked for the paperwork. He did the fingerprints, right hand, left hand, thumbs. Then asked him for his passport, 2 pictures, medical, and his original birth certificate. Stood there for a moment as she reviewed those items, then the lady asked if he had our Joint sponsors 2015 W2's (which we did.) Gave my husband back the originals we had sent in with the AOS, along with the pictures we sent in with our I-130. Then she handed him the battered-spouse pamphlet (which she also wrote our # on- I suppose in case we forgot it.) He sat back down at 10:05am. Then around 10:15am he was called to the FINAL window. He was asked to raise his right hand and make an oath, then the questions commenced from a man in his late 20's-- appeared to be of Indian decent, overall pleasant man. The following was asked in no particular order;
1.When did the relationship begin?
-- September 3rd, 2012.
2.When did you get married?
--January 1st, 2015.
3.Have you lived anywhere other than Canada?
--Yes, the United States.
4.How long?
-- From 2006-2014.
5.How did you stay there?
-- TD visa.
6. Did you over stay?
--Yes, by 6 months and 3 days.
7. Who had the TN visa that you were under?
-- My father.
8.Did you go to school?
-- Yes.
9. Did you work?
--No.
10. Have any kids?
--No.
11. When was the last time you saw your wife?
-- She's in the lobby, but before that I saw her in January.
12.Who is your joint sponsor and how do you know them?
- XXX (name kept private), they are my wife's Aunt and Uncle.
And that was it, it didn't even take very long. He was given the coveted welcome to the USA letter, we had to sit on the opposite side of the room to wait to be escorted to the elevator, then retrieved our key and were back at the car by 10:30am. (:
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| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0