montreal k-1 interview review

[iteachkids81 1]

I arrived in Montreal Thursday night, via Greyhound. Stayed at the Suites Labelle on Labelle Street (right of st Catherines, a 3 minute walk from the greyhound station).

In the morning I took the 20 minute walk down Rene Levesque Blvd to the consulate. I arrived at 7am and there were 5 people ahead of me. I saw "DanandAmy" and we chatted a bit. Fortunately someone else in line mentioned to me that the fee was payable CASH ONLY and held the spot for me while I ran around the corner to an ATM.

The doors opened at 7:30 and they let in the first 5 people. I was next in line. Once I got through and was scanned through security the guards told me. "we ran out of plastic letters. when the security guard comes to take the first group up, tell him you need to go to window 9 with that group. tell him we told you we had no more letters" (the people ahead of me all had plastic tiles with letters A-E on them)

I went down to the waiting room. the security guard came and asked for people with the letters. they all lined up. I explained to him what the guards upstairs had said and he said "you have no letter, sit down" well, I'm not one to mess with a 6'4 tall scary lookin dude. so I sat.

15 minutes later he comes and lets us all into the elevator (well as many as could fit) we get up there and he says "if you were told window 14 go here, window 13 go here" I said "I was told window 9" he says. "have a seat" So I sat. and he brings up the rest of the people who were waiting, and they go into their lines, and then he asks where I am supposed to go. he tells me window 14. So there was no point in me coming early, since a whole elevator full of people get in line ahead of me. (this is just the line where you show them your appointment letter and they assign you a number)

I am assigned C11. the people who were behind me in line outside are C1. I was not happy about this. Thankfully i did bring a book.

When my number got called (an hour or so later) I went to a window and gave the lady all my paperwork, passport, birth cert, medical papers, proof of fiance's income, letter of intent, crim check. she then gave me a piece of paper and told me to pay the fee at window 14 and then when she called me back to give her the reciept).

I paid and then waited another 2 hours for her to call me back. then she took my fingerprints (electronically) and had me sign a couple of things I had forgotten to sign previously.

Then I waited again. Another couple hours. Finally at 1:00 they called my name. I stepped into the little room and the guy took a finger print for verification. He asked me to raise my right hand and swear I was telling the truth. He asked how I met Rich. What website, what date. so I told him the story. He asked when and where we met in person. I mentioned I had been teaching on a J-1 in NYC and he asked if I plan to teach when I go back. I said yes or childcare. He asked about wedding plans, and what is Rich's job. Then he said, "I have no doubt you guys are in a relationship. I'm going to issue your visa" and he explained that when the envelope arrives there will be 3 things, the passport with the visa, an info sheet and a envelope with all the papers that is sealed and is to be opened at the border upon entry to the US. He reminded me that I must move within 6 months and to make sure to get married within 90 days of moving. I told him we had already figured out the math.

He smiled and wished me a good day. I never got his name. I didnt have to show him any proof. no pics, no phone bills, bus tickets, engagement cards... nothing.

then I ran back to my hotel just as i got there it started to rain hard. I checked out and ran to the bus (as by then it was pouring buckets). called and texted people to let them know.

overall it was ok. just a LOT of waiting and that stupid security guard on a powertrip!

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Well I'm glad you were approved, congratulations!!

Sorry about the wait part.

My fiance thought I was crazy for getting there at like 6:30 but I was thankful.

Best of luck on the move!!!

[LindaB 0]

Congratulations!

I was caught in a torrential rainstorm too when I was there for my interview 4 weeks ago today!

[iteachkids81 1]

Well I'm glad you were approved, congratulations!!

Sorry about the wait part.

My fiance thought I was crazy for getting there at like 6:30 but I was thankful.

Best of luck on the move!!!

I wish I had gotten there a little earlier, but I was sluggish... ah well. I finished a book and started a new one while i was there. (finished it on the bus later this weekend as I was travelling between montreal, ottawa and hamilton) Lots of bus time logged this weekend.

will be moving dec 7. wedding will be feb 28

[Pandora01 0]

Thanks for the review and congratulations on obtaining your visa!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Super congrats!!!

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Well I'm glad you were approved, congratulations!!

Sorry about the wait part.

My fiance thought I was crazy for getting there at like 6:30 but I was thankful.

Best of luck on the move!!!

I wish I had gotten there a little earlier, but I was sluggish... ah well. I finished a book and started a new one while i was there. (finished it on the bus later this weekend as I was travelling between montreal, ottawa and hamilton) Lots of bus time logged this weekend.

will be moving dec 7. wedding will be feb 28

Wow, that's a long time to wait to move....I don't know if I would have been able to wait that long knowing I had a document in my hand that allowed me to be with the man I love.

Do what is best for you though!!

Congrats again!

[iteachkids81 1]

Wow, that's a long time to wait to move....I don't know if I would have been able to wait that long knowing I had a document in my hand that allowed me to be with the man I love.

Do what is best for you though!!

Congrats again!

yeah, we had originally thought the interview would be October and figured a Feb wedding would fit in the timeline. when we found out the interview was sooner, we discussed moving up the wedding date, but Feb 28 was my mom's birthday (she died 10 years ago) and we thought that it would be special to have it on that day. It still fits in the timeline so we will do it.

We're just having a standard wedding now as opposed to a small ceremony now and a bigger one later. we've got the place booked, and i've got my dress and shoes. so we are just focusing on wedding plans now for the next six months.

[Ontarkie 13,979]

Congrats

[BH45 0]

Congrats on your approval. I did the same thing. My interview was in Feb and delayed moving until the end of June.

Best of luck with everything.

[JillA 2]

CONGRATS!! I was approved July 10th, but I'm only moving mid-November. That's what is working best for us, and I can't wait to get there and finally be together!!

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I arrived in Montreal Thursday night, via Greyhound. Stayed at the Suites Labelle on Labelle Street (right of st Catherines, a 3 minute walk from the greyhound station).

In the morning I took the 20 minute walk down Rene Levesque Blvd to the consulate. I arrived at 7am and there were 5 people ahead of me. I saw "DanandAmy" and we chatted a bit. Fortunately someone else in line mentioned to me that the fee was payable CASH ONLY and held the spot for me while I ran around the corner to an ATM.

The doors opened at 7:30 and they let in the first 5 people. I was next in line. Once I got through and was scanned through security the guards told me. "we ran out of plastic letters. when the security guard comes to take the first group up, tell him you need to go to window 9 with that group. tell him we told you we had no more letters" (the people ahead of me all had plastic tiles with letters A-E on them)

I went down to the waiting room. the security guard came and asked for people with the letters. they all lined up. I explained to him what the guards upstairs had said and he said "you have no letter, sit down" well, I'm not one to mess with a 6'4 tall scary lookin dude. so I sat.

15 minutes later he comes and lets us all into the elevator (well as many as could fit) we get up there and he says "if you were told window 14 go here, window 13 go here" I said "I was told window 9" he says. "have a seat" So I sat. and he brings up the rest of the people who were waiting, and they go into their lines, and then he asks where I am supposed to go. he tells me window 14. So there was no point in me coming early, since a whole elevator full of people get in line ahead of me. (this is just the line where you show them your appointment letter and they assign you a number)

I am assigned C11. the people who were behind me in line outside are C1. I was not happy about this. Thankfully i did bring a book.

When my number got called (an hour or so later) I went to a window and gave the lady all my paperwork, passport, birth cert, medical papers, proof of fiance's income, letter of intent, crim check. she then gave me a piece of paper and told me to pay the fee at window 14 and then when she called me back to give her the reciept).

I paid and then waited another 2 hours for her to call me back. then she took my fingerprints (electronically) and had me sign a couple of things I had forgotten to sign previously.

Then I waited again. Another couple hours. Finally at 1:00 they called my name. I stepped into the little room and the guy took a finger print for verification. He asked me to raise my right hand and swear I was telling the truth. He asked how I met Rich. What website, what date. so I told him the story. He asked when and where we met in person. I mentioned I had been teaching on a J-1 in NYC and he asked if I plan to teach when I go back. I said yes or childcare. He asked about wedding plans, and what is Rich's job. Then he said, "I have no doubt you guys are in a relationship. I'm going to issue your visa" and he explained that when the envelope arrives there will be 3 things, the passport with the visa, an info sheet and a envelope with all the papers that is sealed and is to be opened at the border upon entry to the US. He reminded me that I must move within 6 months and to make sure to get married within 90 days of moving. I told him we had already figured out the math.

He smiled and wished me a good day. I never got his name. I didnt have to show him any proof. no pics, no phone bills, bus tickets, engagement cards... nothing.

then I ran back to my hotel just as i got there it started to rain hard. I checked out and ran to the bus (as by then it was pouring buckets). called and texted people to let them know.

overall it was ok. just a LOT of waiting and that stupid security guard on a powertrip!

Firstly, let me congratulate you. I wasn't the first to do so, but I'll do it anyways. I agree with you about the security guards, I also felt the dude with the beard was on a powertrip (Mom had to check her safety pin ) but he was smiling when we were leaving so maybe the bran muffin he had for breakfast kicked in. I thought that when we were in the Consulate waiting for the second coming it took too long, but compared to you that's nothing, anyways you got approved so what's a few hours. By the way, any chance that the book that you were reading was A Brief History of Time.

[Carlawarla 1]

Congratulations!

[Walt and Shannon 0]

Congratulations! I'm preparing my packet 3 and was discouraged to see that the average wait time between receipt in Montreal of the packet and interview time was 4-6 months. They must be high-balling it? In any case I'll make sure to get everything done BEFORE I send the packet in case I get a speedy interview date.

I'm glad all went well! That must be a big relief to get that out of the way

[WaitForever 0]

Congratulations! I'm preparing my packet 3 and was discouraged to see that the average wait time between receipt in Montreal of the packet and interview time was 4-6 months. They must be high-balling it? In any case I'll make sure to get everything done BEFORE I send the packet in case I get a speedy interview date.

I'm glad all went well! That must be a big relief to get that out of the way

Hi Psalm. By my calculations your interview date is set 3-4 months (83-124 days) after your NOA 2 date, not your packet 3 response. So if its all accurate you should have your interview date Nov-Dec 08.

Thanks...Carl