Consulate Review: Montreal, Canada
Review Topic: IR-1/CR-1 Visa
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| Event |
Description |
| Review Date : |
April 11, 2014 |
| Embassy Review : |
Hi everybody!
I did the same process with Immigration Canada. The entire process took Canada 3.5 months, the U.S. 15 months. Just to put things into perspective. It sure was a loooooooooooong wait to get here.
The week went overall smoothly and the interview process was done quickly; that was also because I had more information and documents on me than originally requested. Reading all the reports here was unbelievably helpful! People were turned away because they didn't have the proper paperwork on them or the officer couldn't understand them or whatever. That must be unbelievably frustrating. Thank you to all who shared your experience here, so I could benefit.
Right after I got my interview letter end of March, I called Medisys to book my medical appointment. They book you in 3-4 business days before the actual interview to have the blood work results ready. Then I booked hotel and flight. I flew in on Sunday night with the medical scheduled the next Monday morning.
For that I brought my passport, 3 photos (US passport size), my vaccination records and the interview letter. In less than an hour, I had a very basic medical done, including x-ray, meeting a doctor and a nurse. Staff is very professional but I didn't really find them friendly. $290 and one hour later I was done. You get a receipt with an ID number and are being told to call a day (Thursday) before the interview and eventually pick your stuff up. You will get a white envelope, do not open! A brown envelope (the x-rays, I didn't open that either) and the vaccination record is stapled on. That record states that the vaccination history is not complete but you might be eligible for a blank waiver blabla. Do not panic, that is marked by the consulate and just fine like that. I went to Alberta Health a couple months before and got my proper shots for free. Medisys charges you in case you need additional shots.
My interview was scheduled for Friday, 10am. I left the Days Inn on Rene Levesque at 9am, arrived maybe 10 minutes later at the consulate a couple blocks down the road (the Travellodge is slightly closer). There are signs on the sidewalk in front of the consulate telling you where to line up. A lady came outside and checked my Courier Service registration. Do that right after you get your appointment letter and make sure you have the confirmation print on you. Do not bring anything but your documents and your hotel key, literally. People were turned away with backpacks, phones, missing Loomis etc. I had my documents in a binder and carried that in a cotton shopping bag. The entrance area is really very small. You line up in a front room that is separated from the security checks. They tell you to empty all your pockets. These guys are a bit harsh in their instructions, and if you were not nervous before, they will make you so. There was a bit of a lineup but not too crazy. Then you go through a side door downstairs to the elevator.
The rear doors of the elevator will open and you walk straight ahead to a greeter. A nice African-American lady checked my passport, marked me in a list, gave me a small laminated number (A12) and send me straight ahead to window 2.
The waiting area is again airport style. A loooooong lineup for windows 3-5 in the rear part. It was very loud in there with all those people and kind of sticky air. I went ahead to booth no. 2 and handed the lady there all my documents, photos, my medical, got fingerprints taken, checked addresses and phone numbers etc. You stand behind a glass window, like in a bank. To your right is a scanner for the fingerprints. There are speakers but they were turned off so I had a bit of a hard time to understand what was said but eventually it all worked out well. She gave me a flyer about domestic violence and your rights in the US and told me to read that, the consular officer would discuss that with me (which he did not).
Then I waited less than 10 minutes until "A12 to window 8" was announced. You walk into a very short hallway and the interview booths look just like the first ones, just slightly separated by walls. Again, the speakers were not functioning. The consular officer greeted me and let me read the oath aloud. Behind me was a dude who had lost his coupon for his phone or whatever and was discussing loudly right behind me. Thank you! So happy, when they left! Then the consular officer stressed out that I was under oath now. The interview consists of 3 major parts: Your story of your relationship, your civil documents (you need everything you ever submitted, plus whatever you think could be useful if they were asking for it) and finally, the financials. You must bring the Affidavit of Support forms with the original signature of your spouse, written with a blue pen!
He asked me when and where we had met and whether my wife was living in Canada or the U.S after I told him that we met in Alberta. I clarified all that and gave a rundown of our story and he seemed to be fine after we went to the basics of when and where. Then he asked me if I had ever been arrested. Then we went through the documents, and I had to explain a few details as I am a German citizen and my documents look differently to what he usually sees. Finally he wanted to see the original Affidavit of support, was very pleased that I had the last 3 IRS returns of my wife on me and was good after I handed him an employment letter, stating her position and income. I also had print offs of our savings etc. but did not need that. Then he asked me if I had ever resided in another country than Germany and Canada for more than 6 months and asked me again if I had ever been arrested in any country. The last question was just if I was still in the military (had records of my service on me to show I was not) and if I had anything else to tell him. I replied I had not unless he required more details.
Then typed a couple things into his computer, closed the paper file and said that based on the information provided today, he was approving my visa, "Welcome to the United States of America" and handed me the welcome sheet. I thanked him, put my stuff back into my bag and he welcomed me again. He was very, professional, no emotions at any point. Just occasionally "oh that's perfect", when I pulled the documents. I guess that's just a different approach than making candidates feel all warm and fuzzy. Anyway, I got my stuff and left, headed back to the hotel and called my wife for the great news! From leaving my room to being back, it took me 1:15h, half of that in line at the security.
Overall the interview didn't feel like a formality to me. You need to prepare and have your documents ready to go. If in doubt, bring it. Better bring too much than be sorry and be delayed even further. At the end he told me that it would take two weeks to receive the passport and the Immigration package. So, we will see how long that will last and then off to Virginia.
Good luck everybody! |
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Good |
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ver 5.0