Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
May 23, 2009 |
| Embassy Review : |
I drove with a fellow visa friend from Toronto; it took about 6 hours, very easy drive! We stayed at Delta Montreal (a very nice hotel with very comfy beds!), a 7 minute walk to the embassy.
Interview morning I woke up at 5:45 a.m., left the hotel at 6:15 a.m. to walk down to the embassy. After a short walk, I was in front of the embassy, first in line! I waited about 45 minutes alone. Others didn’t start showing up until around 7:00 a.m., if not later. A few minutes before 7:30 a guard unlocked the door, and waved his hand for us all to move over to the left door so he could open the right door. When the guard opened the door, he asked “Who was here first”.
Guard asked me for my interview letter & passport, checked to make sure I had an interview that day, and told me to go to the next guards and they’ll tell me what to do. I was the only one going through security, that guard tells me to put my bags & jacket through the scanner (like at the airport), take everything out of my pockets and put them in the little tray, along with my belt. He asks if I have any electronics (those are not allowed), no, okay “go downstairs, sit down, and wait for the next security guard to take you upstairs.”
I walked down a large flight of stairs to a room with a low ceiling. They have a booth there like in the malls that you can take passport photos for no more than $5 incase you forgot. I waited around 10-15 minutes and by then there are a few more people with letters B, C, D, and E with me (I had A). The guard asked for us all to follow him into the elevator. I love visa journey for all the little tidbits of information I’ve received. I know you leave the elevator opposite of the end you came in. So I stood facing everyone, who obviously turned around looking at the door they came in. I laughed to myself, because only the security guard and I were facing the right door!
We were told to sit down and wait to be called, and he took our papers, clipped with our letter we were given that we brought with us (passport included). They either call you by your name or by your letter (so don’t forget which letter you’re given!) I really don’t know what time everything happened, but after waiting for around 10 minutes I was called to #9 and it was more of a bank looking window. It has glass, you hear the immigration person through speakers and they probably hear you the same way. Standing at the counter, he could only see from my mid-stomach up. There’s also a little area to slide your things to him when he asks for it.
It’s been a few days since my interview, but here’s what I gave him, and he asked for from what I can remember. Two passport pictures, express post envelope, asked me to verify all the addresses on the DS-230 to make sure everything looked okay, asked for 2008 taxes my husband filed, I mentioned our co-sponsor (father in law) and he said he’d take a look at those as well. He did a quick glance over them and put them in my huge folder. He did a little small talk about what my husband does (finishing school & has a part time job). He did keep trying to trip me up though, continuously asking what he does full time. Almost thinking I was lying? Well I wasn’t, so everything was good. Asked if I have ever had a problem crossing the border, no, “okay good, I’ll call you back here for fingerprints in a bit”.
Back down I sat in the big waiting room. Talked to a very nice lady & her son from Vancouver, B.C. (I can’t believe they don’t do CR1 interviews in Vancouver! She had to fly all the way to Montreal.) After probably another 15-20 minutes I was called back to do my fingerprints, which is this little box that digitally gets your prints, a quick 5 minutes process. Back to the waiting room I went!
After a good 20 minutes I was called to room 8, looks like you’re walking into a closet, literally after opening the door it’s not even a room, but it’s another ‘bank’ looking system with the glass, speakers, and a little area to hand her things through. She was a very nice lady with pretty pink nails and some smelly perfume. Her computer was taking forever, but eventually it generated the finger print it wanted, and I put down my left thumb to verify it was me. I took the oath, swearing that everything that I would say and that is in my files in true. She asked how we met, specifically what day we got married, what he does, where I went to school, what I went to school for, asked if I plan on working when I get there (oh yes), and what I hope to do for work, she asked a few more questions that I really can’t remember (sorry!) and then said “well, everything looks good” (I don’t think I really clued in) and she handed me a paper that says “Welcome to the United States of America”. She informed me I’d get my passport/package in the mail in about a week, and it’ll tell me all the information I need to know. Then she smiled and I smiled. I said, “so I leave the same way I came?” She said yes. I just thought, okay the last thing I want is to leave and I wasn’t supposed to. Better to double check!
I walked quickly back to the hotel, and I was so excited I totally over passed where I was supposed to turn, but got back to our room at 9:30 a.m.
If you’re nervous for your interview, DON’T BE! It was so relaxing, all the people working at the embassy are pretty cordial if you know your stuff, and have the things they ask for. Just relax, it’s definitely overrated!  |
| Rating : |
Very Good |
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ver 5.0