|
|
| Montreal, Canada |  Review on November 22, 2023: |
Mern V
Rating:  | Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
My interview was on Monday November 6, 2023 at 8:15.
The building is non-descript, I assumed there would at least be an American flag but there is nothing to indicate that you are at the consulate unless you are looking into the front doors and you'll see the insignia etched into the glass of the doors on the left. So I'm glad I checked it out the day before, to ensure where I was going the following day. For reference, it is at the corner of Rue. Sainte-Catherine and Stanley St., with a Second Cup coffee shop on the other side of Stanley, and an "Aritzia" clothing store across the street on Sainte-Catherine. The building has glass doors, and when you walk into the front lobby, the consulate doors are immediately to the left.
I arrived about 5 minutes before my scheduled time. I was one of 3 people waiting, and entering was quick and efficient; precisely at 8:15.
I handed my passport to the woman sitting at the desk, She put a sticker on my passport and gave me a number before handing it back to me. I then went through security (much like airport security), secured my phone in an adjacent locker, and proceeded to the first floor via the elevator.
It was not extremely busy, and I waited only about 5 minutes before being called to the first window.
He asked who is my petitioner. I said "Husband" and then said his full name.
He then asked for the following documents:
1. My Passport
2. Original marriage certificate
3. My original Canadian birth certificate (make sure you have the long form)
4. RCMP background check
5. One passport-size photo (he scanned and handed back to me)
6. My husband's 2022 tax transcript (I had the transcript, W2, and actual tax return as well as his Canadian return (he lived part of the year here with me) so he took everything and thanked me for being so diligent).
He verified everything on his system, and asked if this was my husband's, and my, first/only marriage (yes). He also noted the new documents that I had uploaded to the portal last week, and I verified that this was evidence of my husband's new employment offer and 3 months of paystubs. He acknowledged and thanked me for the update.
I was also finger-printed at this time. The scanner is right there at the window, to the left on the counter.
In total this process took about 5-10 minutes, and he asked me to return to my seat and wait to be called to a 2nd window.
I probably waited about 15 to 20 minutes before being called up again.
She had my documents, and asked me to swear an oath that I would tell the truth. I was also finger-printed again, with a scanner right there on the counter.
She then asked me simple and direct questions:
- Who is my petitioner (I said "Husband" followed by his full name).
- Verified my husband's address and phone number in the States.
- Verified my address and phone number in Canada
- Asked where my green card would be sent in the States ("I assume at your husband's address in Florida?" -- I said yes)
- Had I ever been arrested in any country? (No)
- How many times have I visited the US, and have I ever overstayed? (many times, to see family... and never overstayed)
- Had I ever lived outside of Canada? (Yes, in the States) -- What was my status while there? (TN-1, then marriage)
- Is this marriage the first/only marriage for both husband and myself (yes)
- Date of my marriage (Feb 24/2003 -- almost 21 years...)
- Do we have any children? (yes) Is she American? (yes)
- Why are we returning to the US now? (Because my husband has family there, and we wanted a change)
She wasn't very "chatty" but she was friendly enough and accepted all my answers cordially. She handed me back my marriage and birth certificates, then said, "I plan to approve you today" -- one of her systems was down so she said that I wouldn't hear from them unless they needed something else.
I was out the door before 10 a.m.
Frankly, I was stunned at how simple and efficient the whole process was. I brought EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink (loaded down with documents!) but they only asked for the bare minimum. I really thought it would be more intense but it was so straight-forward, I left there thinking something wasn't right! LOL.
I met a friend and we did some site-seeing -- got back to my hotel around 4 p.m. and checked the status of my visa and it said "ISSUED".
Much relief, much celebrating.
The following morning (Tuesday) I received an email that my visa was being processed/sent via Purolator and was given the tracking information.
It's estimated to arrive today (Wednesday).
All told, I'm incredibly happy and pleased with how things went. It's a lot less scary than you think! Good luck to everyone going through this process!
UPDATE: Visa arrived by Purolator courier before noon today (Wednesday Nov 8th). Whoo hoo. Efficient!
| |
|
Consulate / USCIS Member Review #32724