Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
October 28, 2019 |
| Embassy Review : |
My interview was at 7:30am. I arrived at the Consulate around 6:50am and was 2nd in line. I do also recommend lining up early to avoid having a longer waiting period inside. At 7:30am exactly, security let us in one at a time. First is passport check and they put a sticker on the back of the passport and I was also given a pink slip and a laminated sheet. Next is security check, very similar to airport screening. I did bring my cellphone in, they turned it off then gave me a sticker for when I come back to pick up my phone. After I was directed downstairs to wait and it was the opportunity to sort out my documents in the order as instructed on the laminated sheet. To the best of my recollection this was the order of documents that were applicable to me:
1) Passport
2) 2 passport photos
3) medical envelope
4) original birth certificate
5) original marriage certificate
6) original police certificate
7) original AOS
8) petitioner's 2018 tax return and W-2s
After a few minutes (room had more people now), the security called us to line up in front of the elevator. He wouldn't open the elevator until everyone was lined up. We were taken to the 19th floor and instructed to sit and wait to be called up for document check. Only waited a few minutes before I was called up to the window. Document check was fairly smooth. The lady verified my marriage date, if it was my first/only marriage, me and spouse's phone numbers and addresses. Next she asked for each document one by one. The only slight hiccup was my birth certificate. The original I brought was different from the initial one I submitted at the NVC stage. Officer asked why it was different and I had to explain that after I submitted to NVC, I misplaced it so needed to apply and get a new one for the interview. She then asked if I brought a photocopy of the new birth certificate but I didn't and she said that's fine. After she was finished with documents, she took my fingerprints then gave me pamphlet on domestic violence then instructed me to sit again.
I only waited 5-8 minutes to be called to interview window. It is a private stall-like room (door is left open), standing in front of interviewing officer with glass window in between. Officer was a nice and smiling lady. She asked me how I was doing then proceeded straight to interview. My questions were
1) she verified my birth certificate situation again asking why I got a new one
2) who is the petitioner?
3) where does the petitioner live?
4) How did we meet?
5) What year did we start dating?
6) Confirmation of my spouse's work title
7) Have I ever been arrested?
8) What is the longest I've stayed in the USA?
9) Have I had any issues when crossing the border since my marriage?
After that, she told me she is approving me and that after checking through my documents, everything looks good to go. She went over very briefly the domestic violence pamphlet and how to track my passport+visa package in the mail. She told me to budget more time at the airport/land when I do cross for visa processing. She gave me the "welcome to united states" letter and gave back my birth and marriage certificates and asked if I had any questions. After that, I was good to go.
I was out around 8:25am so the whole thing took almost an hour.
My passport was ready for pick-up 4 business days after my interview so not that bad of a wait at all. With my passport was my original police certificate (I didn't catch that they missed giving that back at the interview but glad they mailed it back to me).
Overall, experience was smoother than I thought. I totally understand and felt all the nervousness too but remaining polite and confident helps a lot. Best wishes to you all! Hope this review will be helpful! |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0