Interviewing at Montreal Consulate

[Krikit 1,163]

1. Arrive closer to your interview time as opposed to arriving when the Embassy opens. (Unless, of course, that is when your interview time is.) That way you won't have to wait en masse at the elevator room..... you can be processed through on your own.

2. Have your interview appointment letter and passport in hand at the 1st Security checkpoint (entry door). Ignore the notice on the interior door telling you to have your $100 cash out. You won't need this until you are upstairs.

3. Once you exit onto the 19th Floor from the elevator, follow the arrows on the floor leading to the left. Go to Window 14 and present your letter. Receive your ticket stub and sit down in the waiting area. Your number will come up on a monitor hanging from the ceiling and tell you which window to proceed to.

4. There are four categories of visitors being processed. These are identified by the letter on your ticket stub. K Visas were identified by the letter "C" during my visit. Each time a new number is called, you will hear a beep. This will draw your attention to the screen, where a number will be flashing.

5. There are washrooms and vending machines in the waiting area.

6. The room containing Windows 9-12 are where K Visa applicants are processed. This is the same room you will return to when picking up your passport containing the approved visa.

7. You will be called up twice:

- The first time you will be asked for the originals and photocopies of the documents identified in your interview letter and checklist. You will then be sent to Window 14 to pay the fee..... U.S. cash only. Pay the fee and return the receipt to the Window you just left, then go back to the waiting area and have a seat.

- When your number comes up on the screen again, it will tell you a room number to go to. This is a closed-door interview room close to the room containing Windows 9-12. You may walk right in.

7. When your interview is over, and you have been approved, you will be given a slip with the date and time to return for your visa. Bring this with you, along with your photo ID, to re-enter the Embassy. Anyone accompanying you to the Embassy will not be allowed in with you.

8. Return to the room containing Windows 9-12. Window 12 is where you will pick up your visa. Have a seat and wait your turn.

9. Do not loiter directly outside the door of the Embassy. You will be asked to move for security reasons.

All the staff at the Montreal Consulate are very professional and customer-service oriented. All in all, a very pleasant experience.

[billsgirl 0]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE INFORMATION. ALTHOUGH MY INTERVIEW IS PROBABLY SOME TIME OFF, I WILL KEEP THIS. I AM FROM MONTREAL AS WELL, WELL ACTUALLY ST. JEAN SUR RICHILIEU, ABOUT 40KM FROM MONTREAL. I AM STILL WAITING FOR MY NOA2. BUT THANKS AGAIN..

[Krikit 1,163]

You are very welcome, Debbie. Lucky you, for living nearby! I just loooove Montreal! Good luck with your application.

[billsgirl 0]

You are very welcome, Debbie. Lucky you, for living nearby! I just loooove Montreal! Good luck with your application.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU AS WELL ON YOUR JOURNEY...HOPE IT ALL GOES WELL..

[Cygnet 0]

Thanks for the posting tips, Krikit!

Congratulations!

Edited May 17, 2006 by Cygnet

[Jersey Girl 2]

Thank you for the valuable, practical tips!

[Freda 0]

OH thank you so much!!!! I have my interview in 22 days *gasp* and I spent today gathering all the stuff together. So all this info is very helpful.

[no one 0]

Thanks so much for posting this!

I've just asked these questions in another thread earlier today, but I'll ask it again here since it might be helpful for others who'll be bookmarking this thread (like I am!) ...

"Since I'll be travelling on my own, I'll need to bring my cell phone with me (security/safety reasons). I recall reading somewhere a while back that there's a coffee shop across the street where I can leave my stuff with them (e.g. cell phone, personal belongings) for a small fee... Does this place still exist? If so, where is it and what's the fee?"

[Cassie 8]

The cafe in question is on the bottom floor of the LA Tour Centre-Ville hotel. It's right across the street from the consulate building, on the opposite corner. If I remember correctly, they hold your stuff for 5 bucks, but that was the going rate 2 years ago. If you stay at the Tour Centre-Ville, they have a locked room for keeping articles that belong to their guests -- they are completely used to assisting people going for their interview.

[Krikit 1,163]

Thanks so much for posting this!

I've just asked these questions in another thread earlier today, but I'll ask it again here since it might be helpful for others who'll be bookmarking this thread (like I am!) ...

"Since I'll be travelling on my own, I'll need to bring my cell phone with me (security/safety reasons). I recall reading somewhere a while back that there's a coffee shop across the street where I can leave my stuff with them (e.g. cell phone, personal belongings) for a small fee... Does this place still exist? If so, where is it and what's the fee?"

I didn't pay much attention, because I didn't bring a cell phone or anything with me, but there is a wall of cubbies in the security area when you first go in. People were coming back from their interviews and handing a chit to the security officer sitting at that desk to get their belongings back. It appeared those items were being held for them while they were in the Embassy. I don't think they were being charged a fee but I can't say for sure.

Good luck on your interviews everyone!

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yes there is a coffee shop close by that does charge a fee to hold ur belongings.

[ernie 0]

This post needs updated, now that Montreal no longer issues visa's the same day.

Ernie

[NinoniAndBoosBoos 6]

1. Arrive closer to your interview time as opposed to arriving when the Embassy opens. (Unless, of course, that is when your interview time is.) That way you won't have to wait en masse at the elevator room..... you can be processed through on your own.

2. Have your interview appointment letter and passport in hand at the 1st Security checkpoint (entry door). Ignore the notice on the interior door telling you to have your $100 cash out. You won't need this until you are upstairs.

3. Once you exit onto the 19th Floor from the elevator, follow the arrows on the floor leading to the left. Go to Window 14 and present your letter. Receive your ticket stub and sit down in the waiting area. Your number will come up on a monitor hanging from the ceiling and tell you which window to proceed to.

4. There are four categories of visitors being processed. These are identified by the letter on your ticket stub. K Visas were identified by the letter "C" during my visit. Each time a new number is called, you will hear a beep. This will draw your attention to the screen, where a number will be flashing.

5. There are washrooms and vending machines in the waiting area.

6. The room containing Windows 9-12 are where K Visa applicants are processed. This is the same room you will return to when picking up your passport containing the approved visa.

7. You will be called up twice:

- The first time you will be asked for the originals and photocopies of the documents identified in your interview letter and checklist. You will then be sent to Window 14 to pay the fee..... U.S. cash only. Pay the fee and return the receipt to the Window you just left, then go back to the waiting area and have a seat.

- When your number comes up on the screen again, it will tell you a room number to go to. This is a closed-door interview room close to the room containing Windows 9-12. You may walk right in.

7. When your interview is over, and you have been approved, you will be given a slip with the date and time to return for your visa. Bring this with you, along with your photo ID, to re-enter the Embassy. Anyone accompanying you to the Embassy will not be allowed in with you.

8. Return to the room containing Windows 9-12. Window 12 is where you will pick up your visa. Have a seat and wait your turn.

9. Do not loiter directly outside the door of the Embassy. You will be asked to move for security reasons.

All the staff at the Montreal Consulate are very professional and customer-service oriented. All in all, a very pleasant experience.

[Stuart and Thea 95]

thanks for the bump ninoni! I had this post bookmarked on my other computer, but I couldn't retrieve any of my bookmarks when it crashed, been looking for it ever since!