Wrote on March 27th, 2008:

Interview day!! We woke to sunny skies and as soon as we left the hotel, we got a pretty heavy downpour of snow. We were the first ones at the US Consulate this morning. A couple arrived at the consulate, and as her cab drove off she screamed 'OMG! MY PURSE IS IN THE CAB WITH MY PASSPORT IN IT!!'..........POOR THEM! They did track it back though in time to get in the building.

At exactly 7:30am, the doors were opened and we were first in line. I don't know why it NEVER crossed my mind to bring ID, but I didn't have it. I was like "PEACE OUT STEVE, SEE YA BACK AT THE HOTEL" and Steve was left standing looking dumbstruck. I came back to the hotel and was in a brainfart. Where WAS my passport??? I don't know. I still don't know. I just couldn't leave Steve there alone, so I grabbed my MS drivers licence and headed back down to the consulate. Got taken through security and went downstairs to wait for the elevator, which was to be at 8:05am.

At 8:05am, the security guard came down and we were called up to get in the elevator. The security told me my 'husband' was already at gate 9. I walked in the room and there Steve stood-SO relieved to see me!!!

Thank God I did come back because I had to write a letter stating that I am free, clear and willing to marry him. Steve handed over all of the paperwork requested, no evidence though. She said we were approved and then we waited for him to be called for fingerprints, and pay his $131 American cash. He then waited for his interview, which was like 1 minute long or something.

I did not go in with him for that. They asked him:

-How we met
-When we decided to marry
-Why he decided to move down there (south)
-What is he going to do for work
-Has he ever been arrested

Simple enough, eh? So, we left with HUGE smiles on our faces and came back to the hotel (now it wasn't snowing, figures) and called EVERYONE!

Word to the wise, as most of you know, DO NO BRING BRIEFCASES!! ONLY BRING CLEAR BAGS-no electronics, including the remote for your car that is on your keychain. DON'T leave your purse or other belongings in the cab

The better organized you are, the better. I placed each separate document in its own malina folder, well labeled-they were impressed.

Now we have to get moved. I just reserved the U-pack moving company. Thankfully our rate went down about $200!!! I have less than two weeks to get everything packed up. Steve will be working another 5 days & he'll be done! We should be back home (to my home) by April 15th. We have one month & 9 days to plan the entire wedding.........EEK!!!

Blessings,
Libby

thanks for sharing Libby. Congrats!

Great review, Sandoz. Congratulations! That poor woman who left her purse in the cab, though.... she must have been bricking it.

congratulations

Congrats!!! Ensure u do a good inspection of the uhaul!! I used Uhaul and all went ok, but they have be known to put less than stellar trucks on the road!!

Congrats!!!!!
Just to repeat Flames9's admonishion, be very careful when using Uhaul. In Ontario they are always getting cited for putting unsafe vehicles on the road and now they only send their best vehicles here. I use Budget or Penske, no problems, ever! Drive safely!

I used a U-Haul with no problems from Ontario to Virginia (had 2 types of vehicle classifications (I am guessing long distance and local) basically and since I was going a long distance they said I would have no problems), but I have also heard so many horror stories. I think I heard that the Attorney General's Dept or something gave U-haul until last September to get the vehicles up to good order or they were going to pull their license to rent in Ontario. Also tried to call everyone to see about pricing and U-haul was the only one who did 1 way other than I think it was Budget, and she told me to call U-haul cause they would be much cheaper. Best of luck.

I wonder why the strict rules on electronics. I can understand recording devices such as cameras, recorders, etc in a sensitive place like an embassy, but car remotes and the like?

I'm going to zap you with my car remote...sorry, bad attempt at sarcasm. I guess its best to bring your documents and a key to you car and take out the metallic jewelry

Congrats!

Makes no damn sense to me either. When I was in MTL in December, they were allowing people to check their remotes, iPods, etc. at the door, but it sounds like they stopped doing that. They even checked Mom's safety pin.

hahaha ! awesome

not to everyone : upack is not uhaul

Hi everyone-thank you for your well wishes! Yes, we're using U-pack to move our stuff across the border & to where I live... we're only using UHAUL to get it to the U-pack site.

They do still check your electronics at the door-they took my car remote & my digital picture keychain

Congratulations!

Congrats Libby and Steve!
They told you about being approved BEFORE the interview?
Wow.

How unnerving; a dramatic start to the day with the woman freaking out about her purse left in the cab and you forgetting ID.
Did you find your passport?

Congratulations!

At the Calgary embassy they have this little kiosk business place just across from where you line up (inside) to get in to the embassy. For $ 5.00 they will hold your electronics - I'm sure they make a lot of money, maybe the hotel across the street in Montreal needs to get in to the goods-checked-in-here-business.

There's some irony here...I can take onto an airplane what I can't take into a building??? Doesn't that seem just a tad bit, oh I don't know....backwards?

Congratulations!! Sounds like overall it went really well. Have fun moving lol.

Oh, that's cold.

Hey, guess what....while you are trying to cross over the border on April 14....I will be at the u.s. embassay having my interview. I'm really happy for you even though you went through alittle tension...all is well. Good luck to you and your life in the u.s. Take care.
Maria