Montreal Consulate Pictures/Maps

[Saylin 1,605]

Hi everyone!

So, back when I was waiting for my interview, I was looking around here for pictures of the consulate, specifically a drawing of the inside, so I would know what to expect. Well, all I found was this old thread with pictures of the outside (http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/103460-montreal-united-states-embassy/ ). Then, last April (2011), when I went to pick up my medical results at Medisys, I decided to stop by the consulate to see it for myself as well as take a few pictures on my smartphone (blog post with pictures here: http://journeythroughimmigration.blogspot.com/2011/04/us-consulate-in-montreal.html )

Recently, a VJ member has been messaging me about where to line up exactly outside for the interview. So, I decided it was time to get out Paint ( ) and have some fun. I took three pictures and put in some markings of exactly where to stand for the line outside the consulate. I then hand-drew some pictures of the INSIDE of the consulate. That blog post can be found here: http://journeythroughimmigration.blogspot.com/2012/03/consulate-maps.html

And for those of you that are lazy () and don't want to click the last link, I'll post the maps/drawings here:



The main street (running ~ north/south) is Rene Levesque. They have doors on that side, but those aren't the ones you want. On Saint Alexandre (running ~ west/east) are the doors where you want to line up. The 1 is where the first person would be, 2 where the second person would be, 3 where the third person would be, etc. So, when facing the doors, the line extends to the left.




A closer view of the consulate. Again, 1 is where the first person is, 2 where the second person, etc etc.




Front view. Numbers again are for the line, leading off to the left. Stand as close as possible to 1 and the doors.




This is the first part of the consulate, entering through the doors at 1. You then move through a security checkpoint and through a scanner, at 2. You're then directed down a long staircase, at 3. You arrive in a large room, at 4, with a telephone, picture booth, and lots of chairs surrounding the elevator. At 5 is the elevator. When you enter, stand at the far left corner, marked by the X.




View of top floor where the documents are handed in and interview takes place. You enter by the elevator at 1. The secretary is there to greet you and show you where to line up (follow red arrows). At 2, you'll one by one go up to a window where you get a number (C1 means you're first). EDIT 4/27/15: I have just heard that you don't go to spot 2 anymore. You get your number right at the secretary's desk when you get off the elevator. You then sit down in one of the chairs. At 3, you hand in all documents (AOS package, certificates, medical results, etc). You also get your fingerprints done here. After sitting back down, you'll then be called to one of the interview rooms at 4. Once all finished, you leave back through the elevator and out the consulate.

P.S. I was going to include ALL the pictures (including the ones I found and took) in this one post, but apparently there's a maximum of 5 photos per post So, if you want to see the others, you'll have to click on the above links


Anyways, that's all folks! Hope this post (specifically the hand-drawn pictures) helps those going to have interviews in Montreal.

Edited April 27, 2015 by Saylin

[MCMLXXXII 29]

This is awesome! Now I know exactly what to expect. My wife is already amazed with my directional abilities but she will be even more amazed when I know the inside of a building I have never been inside before!

Thanks a lot for your help. Your paint skills are awesome!

[Saylin 1,605]

This is awesome! Now I know exactly what to expect. My wife is already amazed with my directional abilities but she will be even more amazed when I know the inside of a building I have never been inside before!

Thanks a lot for your help. Your paint skills are awesome!

Haha, that'd be awesome to see your wife's face when you just know where everything is

And thanks. My uber awsome Paint skills

[alizon 77]

Just another little detail that isn't in a lot of the Montreal consulate reviews but happened to us: though the guard downstairs told the whole crowd to go to 14b, the secretary stopped each and every person getting off the elevator, asked them what kind of visa they were getting, and then told them where to go. Some people tried to sneak around her after hearing her tell us to go to 14b, but she stopped them and made them wait in line to speak to her first. So basically, getting in the back left of the elevator is really important, but you can't be slow getting off the elevator either. Make sure you're the first to step up to the secretary and get her clearance before rushing off to 14b. (At least, that's how it went for us.)

Edited March 27, 2012 by alizon

[Saylin 1,605]

Just another little detail that isn't in a lot of the Montreal consulate reviews but happened to us: though the guard downstairs told the whole crowd to go to 14b, the secretary stopped each and every person getting off the elevator, asked them what kind of visa they were getting, and then told them where to go. Some people tried to sneak around her after hearing her tell us to go to 14b, but she stopped them and made them wait in line to speak to her first. So basically, getting in the back left of the elevator is really important, but you can't be slow getting off the elevator either. Make sure you're the first to step up to the secretary and get her clearance before rushing off to 14b. (At least, that's how it went for us.)

That's new. For me, before getting on the elevator, the guard asked for all the spousal visas to come up, and let us go on the elevator first. All the other visa types had to wait.

And yeah, you have to be first in the elevator, standing in the back left, and you have to be the first out. Now it looks like it's even more important to be the first one out as you have to speak with someone first before getting in the line.

Edited March 27, 2012 by Saylin

[MCMLXXXII 29]

Saylin where is the stick figure of yourself standing in line and sitting in the chair?

[alizon 77]

That's new. For me, before getting on the elevator, the guard asked for all the spousal visas to come up, and let us go on the elevator first. All the other visa types had to wait.

And yeah, you have to be first in the elevator, standing in the back left, and you have to be the first out. Now it looks like it's even more important to be the first one out as you have to speak with someone first before getting in the line.

Yeah, he didn't differentiate between visa types when letting people on the elevator; he just squeezed everyone in! I wonder if that's an actual policy change or if it just depends on who happens to be working that day.

I don't think anyone else there was from VJ because no one seemed to deliberately sit close to the elevator except us!

[Saylin 1,605]

Saylin where is the stick figure of yourself standing in line and sitting in the chair?

Here ya go:

[pocheros 101]

When I had my interview in August 2011 the guard told all immigrant visas to get in the elevator (and I think that included K1s- at least, that's when I got on the elevator, and I don't think I was the only K1 )

Great maps Saylin

[Inky 1,110]

Really? in 2009 we were told to line up --------------------------> that direction of the door not the way you are saying. They even had little cord things like the air port does and told us if we did not move to the other side (not the way you ref to line up because thats how we were standing at the time already) we would not be allowed in.

[Saylin 1,605]

Yeah, he didn't differentiate between visa types when letting people on the elevator; he just squeezed everyone in! I wonder if that's an actual policy change or if it just depends on who happens to be working that day.

I don't think anyone else there was from VJ because no one seemed to deliberately sit close to the elevator except us!

Yeah, I don't know if it changed, or it was just that guy for the day. As you said, most people don't mention the little details in their review, so no way to know.

When I had my interview in August 2011 the guard told all immigrant visas to get in the elevator (and I think that included K1s- at least, that's when I got on the elevator, and I don't think I was the only K1 )

Great maps Saylin

Well, although K1s are defined as non-immigrant visas, they technically are immigrant visas as you're immigrating to the US permanently.

And thanks

Really? in 2009 we were told to line up --------------------------> that direction of the door not the way you are saying. They even had little cord things like the air port does and told us if we did not move to the other side (not the way you ref to line up because thats how we were standing at the time already) we would not be allowed in.

They must have changed it as the reviews I were reading last year said to line up on the left.

And there were definitely no cord things when I went!

[pocheros 101]

In August I lined up on the left, just as Saylin indicated.

[Elisinha 1]

Wow, Saylin!!!!

You Rock!!! Thanks for all the details !!!

[Saylin 1,605]

Wow, Saylin!!!!

You Rock!!! Thanks for all the details !!!

Thanks

And you're very welcome! Hope it helps!

[CAdreamer 14]

I Saylin and her mad Paint skilz!

Thanks so much for these!